TUI Cruises has significantly reduced the crew on its two ships in the Middle East, as reported by Crew Center. The Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5, unable to return to Europe for their summer Mediterranean seasons, are currently docked in Abu Dhabi and Doha, respectively. According to Schiff und Kreuzfahrten, only 59 of the usual 900 crew members remain on the Mein Schiff 4, which has been out of service since late February. The remaining crew is focused on essential vessel operations under Captain Jan Fortun’s command.
Despite the reduced staffing, the 97,000-ton Mein Schiff 4 is prepared to depart from Abu Dhabi as soon as conditions allow. The ship is scheduled to resume service on May 1, 2026, with a themed cruise departing from Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Similar circumstances are reported for the Mein Schiff 5, which has also been inactive since late February and is set to restart on May 1, 2026, from Greece.
Additionally, four other vessels are currently laid up in various ports across the Arabian Gulf. Celestyal Cruises’ Discovery and Journey have been docked in Doha and Dubai since late February, while the Aroya and MSC Euribia have also been in Dubai since the onset of regional conflicts. All these ships are expected to resume operations in May, offering itineraries in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, or the Red Sea.
