Six cruise ships from four cruise lines remain stuck in Persian Gulf ports as conflict in the Middle East escalates after the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on Feb. 28.
The ships have been stranded in Doha, Qatar, and Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates since the conflict began, unable to sail to safer waters. The only way for ships to exit the Persian Gulf is through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passageway bordered by Iran. Because of the military conflict, ships attempting to pass through it face the threat of attack from Iran, according to Associated Press reports.
Cruise lines operating in the region, which include TUI Cruises, MSC Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, and Aroya Cruises, have canceled a number of Middle East cruises as a result of the conflict. Most passengers who were on board ships in the Persian Gulf when the attacks began haven’t been able disembark yet as cruise lines work with relevant authorities and security experts to assess the situation.
Now, one cruise line is moving forward with a plan to get more than 5,000 passengers home from Middle East ports. Doug Parker shared the latest updates on cruise operations in the Middle East, and more cruise news, on the March 4 edition of Cruise News Today.
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TUI Cruises evacuating passengers from two ships in Middle EastCruise News Today Transcript:
Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.
Good morning, here’s your cruise news for Wednesday, March 4th.
Canceling cruises and evacuating passengers. TUI Cruises, which is partially owned by Royal Caribbean Group, has canceled several sailings in the Middle East due to the war in the Persian Gulf. Now, two ships, Mein Schiff 4 in Abu Dhabi and Mein Schiff 5 in Qatar, are currently holding position as the cruise line works with authorities and security experts to monitor the situation.
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Now, TUI Cruises has now begun arranging flights to return more than 5,000 passengers home, though the process could take several days due to limited flight availability.
The cruise line says that onboard operations are continuing as evacuation efforts move forward.
MSC Cruises also announced they are canceling voyages from Dubai for the rest of the season.
Celebrity Cruises completes major revitalization of Celebrity Solstice
And Celebrity Solstice has returned to service after a major renovation. The ship relaunched from Singapore yesterday following an extensive bow-to-stern upgrade, part of Celebrity’s $250 million investment in its Solstice-class ships.
The renovation also introduced new entertainment and 54 additional staterooms, bringing the total ship stateroom count to just under 1,500 cabins.
After completing sailings in Asia and Australia, Celebrity Solstice will head to Alaska for the summer 2026 cruising season.
Viking orders more expedition and ocean cruise ships
And Viking is expanding the fleet with new expedition ships and future ocean ship options. The cruise line announced an order for two new expedition vessels scheduled for delivery in 2030 and ’31. The ships will join a Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis and will be built in Italy.
At the same time, Viking has secured options for two additional ocean ships expected to be delivered in 2034. The new orders are part of Viking’s long-term growth plan, which already includes several ocean ships scheduled to debut now through the end of the decade.
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And cruise stocks were mixed Tuesday. Carnival Corporation: down 2%, 28.53. Royal Caribbean: up slightly, 301.31. Norwegian: down 4%, 21.27. And Viking: up 3.2%, 76.42.
If you have a lead on a story, let us know: tips@cruiseradio.net. And have yourself a great Wednesday. I’m Doug Parker with Cruise News Today.
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This story was originally published by TravelHost on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Come Cruise With Me section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.