TUI Cruises has cancelled the second leg of a planned repositioning voyage for the cruise ship Mein Schiff 4, which had been scheduled to depart on April 11th, 2026. The decision follows a series of operational disruptions linked to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have affected cruise activity throughout the Arabian Gulf region.
The cancelled voyage had been intended as a 20-day passage from Cape Town to Palma de Mallorca, forming part of the ship’s seasonal repositioning from southern waters to the Mediterranean. Prior to the cancellation, the itinerary had been designed to link a series of ports across the Atlantic approaches and the Mediterranean basin before concluding in Spain.
The decision also follows the earlier cancellation of the first leg of the repositioning programme, which had originally been scheduled to sail from the United Arab Emirates to South Africa in late March. With the removal of both segments, voyages scheduled aboard Mein Schiff 4 between late February and April 2026 were withdrawn from the schedule, affecting a number of destinations that had been planned along the route.
Under the original itinerary, the vessel was to call at Walvis Bay in Namibia, known for its desert coastline and wildlife habitats, before continuing to Praia in Cape Verde. The programme then included visits to ports in the Canary Islands, including Gran Canaria and Arrecife, followed by a call at Tangier in Morocco. From there the ship would have proceeded to Barcelona before concluding the voyage in Palma de Mallorca after a crossing of the western Mediterranean.
The cancellation formed part of a broader disruption to the company’s operations in the region. TUI Cruises had also withdrawn voyages scheduled for Mein Schiff 5, including repositioning sailings and departures planned between late February and March 2026. Both vessels were operating in the Arabian Gulf at the time and were affected by the same regional security concerns.
According to the company, the developments in the Middle East had required continuous monitoring and coordination with international authorities and security advisers. The cruise line indicated that the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remained the primary consideration in determining whether voyages could proceed as planned.
At the time of the cancellations, both Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 remained in the region, where operational planning was being reassessed. Passengers affected by the changes were contacted directly and offered alternatives or compensation in accordance with the company’s policies.