Cruise ships that have been stuck in the Persian Gulf since the Iran war began on Feb. 28 were on the move, and one has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, according to live tracking on Cruise Mapper.
Iran said on Friday that it opened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels during a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The reopening was brief, with Iran reinstating restrictions a day later.
The Celestyal Discovery left Abu Dhabi and sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Cruise Mapper. The Celestyal Journey and Mein Schiff 5 were also at sea after departing Doha, the mapping website shows.
MSC
Cruises on Saturday confirmed that the MSC Euribia departed Dubai and safely
transited the Strait of Hormuz, and was sailing to Northern
Europe for its summer season there. The Euribia's cruise departing on May 16 from Kiel, Germany, will operate as originally scheduled, with all subsequent
sailings operating as planned.
Guests whose cruises were canceled will have
the option to transfer their booking to this sailing should
they wish, and will be contacted directly with further
details, MSC said.
TUI Cruises said Sunday that the Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 departed the Persian Gulf and were sailing to Cape Town on the southern tip of Africa, then heading to the Mediterranean to do scheduled cruises.
TUI said two cruises that had been canceled have been reinstated: the Mein Schiff 4 on May 17 departing Trieste, Italy, and the Mein Schiff 5 on May 15 departing Heraklion, Crete.
Celestyal
Cruises, which has had its two-ship fleet anchored in Persian Gulf ports since the war started, confirmed Monday that both of its ships, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, transited the Strait of Hormuz.
The Discovery exited on April 17, the Journey a day later.
Both ships are repositioning to the Mediterranean. Celestyal will travel through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to get to the Med and has crew members to pick up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, said Celestyal chief commercial officer Lee Haslett.
Celestyal
said all sailings currently on sale will operate as scheduled.
The Iran war shortened the cruise lines' winter seasons and disrupted the beginning of their spring/summer seasons.