Five cruise ships make it through Strait of Hormuz before reclosure

Five cruise ships stranded in the Arabian Gulf since the start of the Iran war have passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

On Friday (April 17), Iran announced the strait was open to commercial vessels, finally creating a window for the movement of ships following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire on April 7.

However, on Saturday Iran said it was closing the strait again in response to a decision by the US government to maintain its blockade on vessels travelling to and from Iranian ports.

Celestyal Discovery was the first to make it through the strait, on Friday evening, with sister ship Celestyal Journey and MSC Euribia leaving Gulf ports in an attempt to follow along with Tui Cruises vessels Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5.

According to the Marine Traffic app, all five ships made it through the strait before it re-closed and are now continuing with their repositioning.

MSC Cruises said in a statement: “MSC Cruises confirms that MSC Euribia has departed Dubai, has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz, and is now en route to Northern Europe. The passage was completed in close coordination with relevant authorities.”

The line confirmed Euribia would be able to resume its planned Northern Europe season earlier than anticipated, starting with a cruise departing Kiel on May 16.

Guests with bookings on cancelled sailings are being offered the chance to join the May 16 departure.

Earlier this month, Celestyal confirmed it was aiming to resume operations in the Mediterranean from May.

The line’s next planned departures are a three-night Iconic Greek Islands sailing on board Celestyal Discovery from May 1, and a seven-night Heavenly Greece, Italy and Croatia sailing on board Celestyal Journey from May 2.

Celestyal was not available to comment on the repositioning operation.