Stranded ships and cancelled routes: How the Iran war could affect your cruise

Six cruise ships, including Aroya Cruises’ Aroya and MSC’s Euribia, have become stuck in the Gulf - Giuseppe Cacace/AFP

Thousands of cruisers expecting to be basking in winter sun in the Gulf this month instead found themselves stranded in a war zone as the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran spread across the region.

The last few were expected to finally make it home this weekend, but the fallout from the war goes on for those due to set sail in the foreseeable future.

Six ships due to move to other parts of the world are currently stuck in the Gulf, so their immediate future cruises are being cancelled. In the longer term, Costa Cruises and Aida have cancelled their entire Middle East seasons next winter due to ongoing uncertainty.

Meanwhile, ships due to visit Dubai in the coming weeks are left wondering if they need to find somewhere else to go, while travel companies are scrambling to reroute thousands of passengers set to fly through the Middle East to join cruises in Asia or Europe.

Here’s what you need to know if you are caught up in it.

Celestyal and Tui Cruises ships dock near the old port, in Doha, while security alerts continue to disrupt travel - Hannibal Hanschke/EPA/Shutterstock

Which cruises are currently cancelled, and which ships are stuck at Gulf ports?

All Middle East cruises have been cancelled since the outbreak of war. That hasn’t affected too many ships, as the winter season was due to end this month anyway.

A bigger problem is that six ships – Celestyal’s Journey and Discovery, Tui Cruises’ Mein Schiff 4 and 5, MSC Cruises’ Euribia, and Saudi Arabia-owned Aroya Cruises’ only ship, Aroya – are stuck in the Gulf because the Strait of Hormuz is shut.

This is, of course, having an impact on future cruises too. Celestyal has cancelled its March 20 and 23 Aegean sailings on Discovery, and says other changes will be made on a week-by-week basis. It adds that the ships are fuelled and ready to sail once they are advised it is safe by the relevant authorities.

MSC has no cruises on Euribia on sale until May, and Aroya has cancelled all sailings until May.

My cruise itinerary includes stops in the Gulf – what will happen?

Companies are taking varied approaches here. Nicko Cruises’ Vasco da Gama was due to visit Dubai on March 20, for example, but is going to Port Louis in Mauritius instead.

On the other hand, both Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises are due to visit the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia in May, but are watching and waiting before changing their itineraries.

Crystal passengers on the current world cruise due to disembark in Dubai in April have been warned that they might be getting off in Mumbai instead. A final decision will be made on March 31.

Passengers on the Celestyal Journey, seen here berthed in Qatar, have had to disembark in Doha - Hannibal Hanschke/EPA/Shutterstock

My cruise is going ahead, but I no longer feel comfortable going – what can I do?

If you opt to cancel, your cruise line’s normal cancellation terms will apply. Travel insurance won’t help either, as none cover what they call “disinclination to travel”.

What needs to happen for me to be entitled to a refund?

If the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) warns against travel to a country, or a cruise is cancelled, passengers are entitled to a full refund. There is more information regarding which countries are on the FCDO no-travel list here, and on the UK Government’s travel advice page.

Those booked on Celestyal’s cancelled Aegean cruises have been given the choice of a refund or credit to put towards a future cruise.

Luckily for would-be passengers, cruise lines invariably go above and beyond what they are obligated to do in situations like this. When the conflict erupted, for example, MSC Cruises gave those on board a full refund, despite the fact that they had already spent time on the ship. It also covered the cost of any hotels or transfers needed.

Is it safe to go on my cruise to Egypt, Turkey or Tunisia?

Where FCDO guidelines for Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt are concerned, UK citizens are only currently advised against travelling to border areas with Iran, Libya and Gaza, so passengers who cancel their place on a cruise which is going ahead will only be refunded in accordance with the usual cancellation terms.

Stopping in Turkey? FCDO guidelines currently warn against travelling to border areas with Iran, Libya and Gaza - Miodrag Ignjatovic

It’s early in the season for the Mediterranean, so only a few ocean ships are in the region, and none have yet cancelled planned calls to Egypt, Turkey or Tunisia.

That said, river cruises on the Nile have been disrupted. Viking cancelled all its March sailings as soon as the war broke out, but resumed when no travel advisory against travel in the Nile basin was issued. Avalon Waterways has pulled its Nile cruises until May, while AmaWaterways has halted post-cruise trips to Dubai and Jordan, but opted to continue its Nile sailings as usual. When the conflict started, it contacted customers in Egypt and those about to fly, and found that all wanted to continue their holiday. Travelmarvel, new on the Nile in September, says it has had just two cancellations.

Viking River Cruises has cancelled all its March sailings on the River Nile

My cruise is going ahead, but my flights have been cancelled. What can I do?

Flight schedules are in tatters as air travel through Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi was halted as soon as the war broke out.

If you are due to sail from, say, Singapore, and your flight is through one of those hubs, it is the responsibility of whichever company booked the flights – the cruise line, a travel agent or airline – to find (and fund) alternatives.

Space is tight, but it’s worth considering alternative air routes. Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa are adding fights between Singapore and the UK and Europe to meet demand, and a limited number of departures have started to operate through the Middle East (though they could stop at any time). Flights to Asia are also possible via Hong Kong, Japan or the US.

If you are due to fly this month or next, contact whoever is responsible to make sure you are on their radar.

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