Cruise Passengers Evacuated as Middle East Tensions Rise, Cancellations

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker reports on several significant developments within the cruise industry. TUI Cruises, a company partially owned by Royal Caribbean Group, has canceled multiple sailings in the Middle East because of the war in the Persian Gulf. Two specific vessels, Mein Schiff 4 in Abu Dhabi and Mein Schiff 5 in Qatar, are currently holding their positions while the company coordinates with security experts. TUI Cruises is working to arrange flights to return over 5,000 passengers to their homes, though limited flight availability may extend the process over several days. Additionally, MSC Cruises has announced the cancellation of voyages from Dubai for the remainder of the season. In ship news, the Celebrity Solstice has returned to service following an extensive renovation in Singapore. This upgrade is part of a larger investment in the Solstice class and includes new entertainment and additional staterooms. The vessel is scheduled to cruise in Alaska for the summer 2026 season. Viking is also expanding its fleet by ordering two new expedition vessels for delivery in 2030 and 2031, alongside options for two ocean ships in 2034. Finally, the report notes mixed performance for cruise stocks, with Carnival and Norwegian seeing declines while Royal Caribbean and Viking saw gains.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.