After repositioning their cruise ships from the Persian Gulf, two cruise lines opted to navigate through the Suez Canal to expedite their return to service. Due to ongoing threats from the Houthis, many vessels have been steering clear of the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, citing safety concerns. The Suez Canal Authority confirmed that MSC Cruises’ MSC Euribia, a 184,000 gross ton LNG-fueled ship flying under the Maltese flag, successfully made its northbound transit on April 26, albeit with a significantly reduced crew of only 192, compared to the usual 1,700.
This marked the MSC Euribia‘s inaugural passage through the Suez Canal, after which it set sail towards Malta, scheduled to arrive on April 28. The ship is slated to resume cruises from Kiel, Germany, on May 16 and from Copenhagen on May 17. The transit underscored a notable decline in overall traffic through the canal; only 45 vessels transited that day, a stark contrast to pre-Houthi attack figures, which often exceeded 60 ships daily.
Following MSC, Celestyal Cruises also sent its vessels, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, through the Suez Canal. The Celestyal Discovery has completed a stop in Turkey and is en route to Greece, while the Celestyal Journey is headed to Turkey, with both ships set to resume cruises in early May. Additionally, the Saudi-owned Aroya is expected to transit the Suez Canal in June, following its recent journey to Jeddah.
In contrast, the German cruise line Mein Schiff has chosen a different route, sending its vessels around South Africa instead of through the Suez Canal. The Mein Schiff 5 is expected in Cape Town on April 28, resuming cruises on May 15, while the Mein Schiff 4 follows closely behind, set to arrive on April 29. The Suez Canal Authority aims to attract more cruise ships back to the canal, having reported that 69 ships with around 38,000 passengers transited between 2021 and 2024, generating approximately $15.8 million in revenue.
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