Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey are among six ships that have found themselves trapped in the Gulf region following the US and Israel's war on Iran, along with MSC Euribia.

Celestyal Discovery has been holed up in Dubai since the conflict got under way in late February, while Celestyal Journey has been confined to port in Doha.
On Thursday (9 April), Celestyal confirmed it would aim to resume its Mediterranean programme – as scheduled – from the start of May, subject to being able to reposition its ships.

"We continue to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East," it said in a statement. "Following recent developments, we are working in coordination with the relevant authorities to prepare for the safe repositioning of our vessels to Athens.

"Our ships remain fully operational and we will depart the region as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew remains our highest priority.

"At this stage, we are planning to resume our Mediterranean programme as scheduled, with Celestyal Discovery’s first departure on 1 May and Celestyal Journey’s on 2 May. We will continue to keep our guests and travel partners updated."

MSC Cruises latest

MSC Cruises, meanwhile, has cancelled MSC Euribia's first sailing of its planned summer season. Like Celestyal, MSC has been unable to reposition Euribia owing to the war, with the ship – which is also in Dubai – due to sail Northern Europe.

The first sailing of its Northern European season departing Kiel on 2 May has been cancelled along with a call in Copenhagen on 3 May.

MSC has also shaken up its deployment plans for later in the year; MSC World Europa had been scheduled to operate in the Middle East starting in November, but will now redeploy to the Caribbean to sail in the French Antilles.