Cruise ships that had been stuck in the Arabian Gulf since late February have begun to resume movement following confirmation that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened to maritime traffic.
The development follows a period of disruption linked to regional tensions involving the United States and Iran, which had delayed repositioning schedules across several major companies.
The first vessel to depart was Celestyal Discovery, operated by Celestyal, which transited the strait after leaving the Gulf, marking the initial stage of a broader, phased redeployment. Her sister ship, Celestyal Journey, subsequently sailed from Doha, with both vessels having previously disembarked passengers and awaited clearance to proceed toward their next assignments.
Elsewhere in the region, Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5, operated by TUI, have reactivated their AIS tracking while positioned in Abu Dhabi and Doha, respectively, indicating preparations for departure following itinerary disruptions affecting onward voyages to Europe and southern Africa.
The vessel MSC Euribia, belonging to MSC, remains in Dubai, though it is expected to depart in due course. MSC had previously indicated that readiness to proceed would be maintained so that movement could resume promptly once conditions permitted.
In Dammam, the ship Aroya, operated by AROYA, has similarly reactivated its tracking systems and is anticipated to reposition ahead of scheduled operations in the Red Sea.
In total, several vessels had remained berthed across ports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha during the period of uncertainty. Local authorities and port operators facilitated extended stays through coordinated support, including berthing arrangements, provisioning, and technical services, enabling ships to remain operational while awaiting clearance.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz represents a significant shift after weeks of restricted movement through one of the world’s principal maritime corridors. The situation has highlighted the sensitivity of cruise deployment patterns to geopolitical developments, while also demonstrating the capacity of regional port infrastructure to accommodate prolonged, unplanned vessel layovers.