Are Cruises in the Middle East Being Canceled? A Detailed Overview

This fall and winter season was anticipated to be bustling for cruises in the Middle East. The region was expected to welcome numerous small and large ships aiming to draw in both international tourists and locals, offering voyages to iconic sites like Old Jerusalem, the Pyramids of Giza, and Jordan’s ancient city of Petra, as well as showcasing the natural beauty of Oman, the historic mosques and villages of Saudi Arabia, and the modern skyline of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha.

However, cruise lines are now canceling port stops in Israel and other areas, and in some instances, entire cruise seasons in the Middle East, due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas and the resulting security issues.

On November 1, Norwegian Cruise Line became the first significant cruise operator to announce the cancellation of all port calls in Israel through 2024. MSC Cruises also scrapped its planned visits to Israel for 2023 and 2024 and relocated two of its ships away from the Middle East.

Windstar Cruises, which had intended to launch a full season of Middle Eastern voyages on the 312-passenger Star Legend from November 2023 to April 2024, has now redirected the ship to the Mediterranean for the winter season instead.

Other cruise companies have suspended calls to Israel and, in some instances, ports in Egypt and Aqaba, Jordan, during October and into November, while advising passengers to remain alert for potential further changes to their itineraries.

Here are some forthcoming cruise redeployments. If the conflict persists or escalates, travelers can anticipate additional itinerary modifications, including adjustments to the lengthy world cruise schedules setting sail this winter.

Celestyal Cruises

Focused on destination-driven, port-rich experiences, Celestyal Cruises has canceled its planned port stops in Israel through the end of November. A stop in Ashdod, intended for day trips to Jerusalem, was part of the line’s seven-night Three Continents itinerary aboard the 1,260-passenger Celestyal Journey. The ship will now be making a stop in Heraklion, Crete. The itinerary also includes stops in Alexandria, Egypt, as well as visits to Cyprus, Greece, and Türkiye.

MSC Cruises

Geneva-based MSC Cruises has suspended its port visits to Israel until April and is consequently relocating two ships that were set to operate in the Middle East. The 3,223-passenger MSC Orchestra, originally scheduled for Red Sea voyages, will now embark on seven-night Mediterranean cruises from December 16, 2023, to April 19, 2024. These journeys will include stops in Valencia, Spain; Sardinia; Civitavecchia (the port for Rome), Italy; Livorno, Italy; Marseille, France; and Palma de Mallorca, Spain. While the home port is Valencia, passengers can also board at the other ports. Additionally, the winter itinerary focused on Haifa for the 2,646-passenger MSC Sinfonia has been canceled, with a new route yet to be announced. MSC has also adjusted the schedules of other vessels that were slated to stop in the Middle East. For example, the 6,334-passenger MSC Virtuosa will omit port calls in Aqaba, Jordan, and Safaga, Egypt, on an 18-night journey from Barcelona to Dubai in November.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled all its port visits to Israel through 2024. “We are also halting and redirecting several calls to the surrounding area for the rest of 2023,” a spokesperson informed Dinogo. “We are actively reviewing affected itineraries and will keep impacted guests and travel partners updated as changes are confirmed. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust both current and future cruise plans as necessary, and we appreciate our guests’ understanding and flexibility during this evolving situation.”

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises has revised its 2024 Mediterranean cruise schedule to substitute ports in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan with alternative destinations in the Mediterranean. The 42 updated itineraries, which span from 10 to 58 days, include segments of the 180-day world cruise on the 670-passenger Insignia, departing from Los Angeles in January. For example, on a 24-day voyage in May from Dubai to Barcelona, the ship will pass through the Suez Canal without making port stops, instead focusing on Athens, Valletta, Dubrovnik, Rome, and Barcelona, with additional stops in Santorini, Capri, and Monte Carlo. A 15-day journey on the 1,250-passenger Riviera from Dubai to Trieste, Italy, is now marketed with the phrase: “Experience relaxed days as you navigate the Arabian, Red, Mediterranean, and Adriatic seas. Highlights include Argostoli and Corfu in Greece, as well as Montenegro, Dubrovnik, and Split in Croatia,” without any stops in the Middle East.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean’s 1,998-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas was scheduled to operate a series of cruises from Haifa, Israel, until November. However, this plan was swiftly canceled on October 7, following attacks by Hamas militants from Gaza on southern Israel. The Rhapsody of the Seas was subsequently deployed for humanitarian efforts, evacuating international travelers from Israel to Cyprus after international airlines canceled flights from Tel Aviv. After a transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, beginning November 12, the Rhapsody of the Seas will continue with its Caribbean and Central America sailings as planned through 2024. No ships from the line will return to the Middle East until August 2024.

Viking

On the river cruise front, Viking has canceled some pre- and post-cruise extensions to Jerusalem for its 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids cruise-tours along the Nile. The company stated, “We will continue to assess the situation in the coming days and weeks,” emphasizing, “All of our departures in Egypt are proceeding as planned. The safety and well-being of our guests, crew, and local partners is our highest priority; if further cancellations of extensions become necessary, affected guests and their travel advisors will be informed directly by Viking customer relations.” The remaining 2023 sailings include the 52-passenger Viking Ra, the 82-passenger Viking Osiris (launched in 2022), and the 62-passenger MS Antares.

Regarding its ocean cruises, Viking has adjusted its remaining 2023 departures of the Cities of Antiquities & the Holy Land itinerary between Rome and Athens, removing a day in Ashdod and an overnight in Haifa. For the 14-night sailings on the 930-passenger Viking Venus, Viking Neptune, and Viking Saturn, the company is substituting an overnight stay in Valletta, Malta, and extending the visit to Cyprus into an overnight stop. The itinerary also includes stops in Naples, Italy, and Mykonos and Rhodes in Greece.

Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises has canceled its entire five-month Middle East season for the 312-passenger Star Legend. Instead, the ship will head to the western Mediterranean, where it will kick off a unique winter season starting in December, featuring 16 seven-night cruises between Barcelona and Rome (departing from Civitavecchia). These voyages will include stops in Livorno, Italy (for Florence and Pisa), and Marseille, France, with overnight stays in Nice, Barcelona, and Rome (Civitavecchia) through April 2024. The small-ship line has tailored its itineraries to allow guests to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Rome, celebrate New Year’s in Barcelona, and enjoy Valentine’s Day in Nice. Windstar is now planning to commence its Middle East sailing season from Dubai and Muscat in November 2024, with additional cruises from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Aqaba, Jordan; and Haifa, Israel, extending into April 2025.