The Mein Schiff 4 and 5 from TUI Cruises will sail out of the Persian Gulf when it’s appropriate said CEO Wybcke Meier. The ships have been stranded in the region since early March.

Speaking with Cruise Industry News earlier this week, Meier said Mein Schiff 4 was in Abu Dhabi and Mein Schiff 5 was in Doha.

“We are ready to go anytime; when it’s appropriate,” she said.

“We were able to get our passengers home safely. We had two ships there, but at the same time, there were roughly 60,000 tourists in the area. It was a painful process but we got our guests home quickly, and this is good news.”

Meier said the decision was ultimately up to her when the ships would leave the region.

Once they do depart, she said, it will take approximately three to four weeks to move them where they need to be for their summer seasons, and re-staff the ships’ hotel crew.

Both ships are slated to sail in the Mediterranean this summer.