As of: January 20, 2024, 6:30 a.m
By: Victoria Krumbeck, Kilian Bäuml
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The effects of the Israeli war are reaching the cruise industry.
In view of the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, shipping companies are pulling the ripcord.
Munich – The maritime industry is clearly feeling the effects of the war in Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Due to increasing attacks by Houthi rebels on foreign ships in the Red Sea, several shipping companies have canceled their cruises planned for the spring.
They justify this with too high a safety risk for passengers.
The current situation is being closely monitored by many shipping companies to check whether passage through the Red Sea or the Suez Canal is possible.
Israel war affects cruises: shipping companies cancel trips
The Swiss shipping company MSC Cruises announced on January 17 that it had to cancel three Grand Voyages that were scheduled to take place in April.
These include a 24-night MSC Splendida cruise from Durban (South Africa) to Genoa (Italy), a 21-night MSC Opera voyage from Dubai (UAE) to Genoa and a 23-night MSC Virtuosa voyage from Dubai to Southampton.
This early announcement allows passengers to reorient themselves.
In contrast, an MSC cruise was changed the day before departure, causing numerous guests to cancel.
An MSC cruise ship.
The trips through the Red Sea planned for the spring were canceled due to the Houthi attacks.
(Symbolic image) © Cecilia Fabiano/dpa
“The safety of passengers and crew is always our top priority.
Without alternative routes, there was no other option than to cancel these trips,” said the statement.
The ships will sail directly to Europe without passengers and will sail around the west coast of Africa to avoid the Red Sea.
Due to the attacks by the Houthi rebels, numerous shipping companies had to adjust their cruise plans.
An example of this is the cruise ship “Silver Moon” from Silversea Cruises.
Instead of ending the journey in Muscat, Oman, as planned, the ship headed for the Greek port of Piraeus, the daily port report reported.
Houthi attacks force shipping companies to cancel cruises
Other shipping companies are considering canceling their cruises in the Red Sea and through the Suez Canal.
According to the British Telegraph, decisions are pending for P&O Cruises' Arcadia and for the Azamara, Cunard and Hollan America Line ships that want to pass through the Suez Canal in March or April.
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“The safety and well-being of guests and crew is our absolute priority,” said a spokesperson for P&O Cruises, who confirmed that the cruise line is monitoring the situation daily with the relevant authorities.
The Norwegian cruise company Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, on the other hand, plans to stick to the current schedules and implement an emergency plan in the event of an increased risk.
Due to the attacks by the Houthi rebels, many shipping companies have suspended or restricted traffic through the Red Sea and are rerouting their ships.
The situation in the Red Sea has been tense since the war broke out between Israel and the Islamist Hamas.
Since October 2023, the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi militia has repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea that are allegedly connected to Israel.
In response to the Houthi attacks, the US and Britain launched a full-scale military strike on Houthi positions in Yemen.
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