Four cruise operators with ships stranded in the Persian Gulf have brought them down to minimum crew manning and are expected to begin repositioning them to Europe following news that the Strait of Hormuz is open.

Each operator is expected to employ a different strategy to move the ships out of the region with minimal deck and engine crew aboard. Hotel crew were sent home weeks ago with no guests to serve. This means that not only will the ships need to reposition to their European summer deployment regions, but cruise lines will need to move quickly to restaff the hotel crew on each ship.

MSC: The 2023-built Euribia is slated to sail in Northern Europe for the summer. To position the ship to the Middle East for the winter season, the vessel sailed around Africa. Industry sources expect the ship to sail around Africa, avoiding the Suez Canal, which could put her back in service in as little as three to four weeks

TUI: In a recent interview, TUI CEO Wybcke Meier said it would take three to four weeks to move Mein Schiff 4 and 5 to the Mediterranean and restaff the hotel crew aboard each ship. The company is also expected to sail both ships around Africa.

Celestyal: With its fleet stranded in the Gulf, Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery have seen their April cruises cancelled. Once they are able to sail, both ships are expected to return to the Eastern Mediterranean for their regular summer deployments.

Celestyal transited both ships through the Suez Canal to position them in the Middle East for the winter season, and the company could do the same to move them out, meaning the ships could be ready to go in two to three weeks.

Aroya: Cruise Saudi’s Aroya also transited the Suez Canal to reposition for the winter season and could likewise take the shorter route through the canal for her summer program in the Mediterranean.