Celestyal Cruises Announces Cancellation of April 2026 Sailings Due to Middle East Conflict
Celestyal Cruises has made a public announcement regarding the cancellation of all departures scheduled for April 2026. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has left two of its vessels, the Celestyal Discovery and the Celestyal Journey, stranded in the Persian Gulf. The Athens-based cruise line confirmed this unfortunate situation on March 30, stating that it has been unable to reposition these vessels back to the Mediterranean.
Currently, the Discovery is docked in Dubai while the Journey remains in port in Doha, Qatar. Both ships are unable to exit the region due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a result of escalating regional tensions. Guests from disrupted sailings have been safely evacuated and repatriated via charter flights, however, the vessels themselves remain grounded indefinitely.
The cruise line remains hopeful, with plans for the Discovery to resume service with its May 1 three-night Iconic Greek Islands sailing. Similarly, the Journey is set to operate the seven-night Greece, Italy, and Croatia tour departing May 2. This situation has not only affected Celestyal Cruises, but other major cruise operators including MSC, TUI, and Explora Journeys have also been forced to cancel Middle East sailings and adjust their deployment plans for the 2026-27 season.
Source: The Street