MSC Cruises' MSC Euribia is stuck in the Middle East amid the ongoing war in Iran and can't kickstart her European season as scheduled.
The 184,000 gross-ton vessel was supposed to depart Kiel, Germany, on May 2, 2026, on a 7-night voyage to Denmark and Norway. However, MSC canceled the ship's first European cruise of the season since the vessel is stuck in Dubai.
"Due to the current situation in the Middle East, the MSC Euribia was unable to depart the region as scheduled, resulting in a delay in its repositioning to Northern Europe," reads the canceled email shared via Reddit.
"Therefore, the ship will not be able to operate its first cruise of the season, and we regret having to cancel its departure from Kiel on May 2, 2026. We understand how disappointing this news may be, especially considering the time and enthusiasm invested in planning a vacation."
Multiple cruise itineraries have been impacted due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, not just those aboard the MSC Euribia ship, including the Celestyal Journey and Discovery, Mein Schiff 4 and 5, and Aroya.
The war began in late February when the United States and Israel launched air and missile strikes against Iran that targeted the country's missile infrastructure, military sites, and leadership. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and several high-ranking officials were killed during the attacks.
Iran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz, effectively halting shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas through the important waterway.
On a normal day, about 138 vessels travel through the Strait of Hormuz. However, that number has since dropped to "single-digit levels," according to multiple statements issued by the Joint Maritime Information Center.
The most recent notice claims that, since March 1, there have been 29 confirmed "attacks/incidents/suspicious activity" in the area.
"Substantial threats persist to port infrastructure in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. Maritime threat level remains driven by sustained missile/drone activity. There have been five reported attacks and incidents on ports or maritime infrastructure in the last 72 hours," the statement continues.
Another consequence of the closure is that oil prices have begun to skyrocket since the Strait of Hormuz sees around 20% of global oil shipments, oil prices have begun to skyrocket. For example, the cost of Brent oil, the main global oil benchmark, was $99.75 per barrel on April 9. Comparatively, the price one month ago was $71.49 per barrel, Fortune reported.
At the time of publication, MSC Cruises has not announced any changes to future sailings aboard MSC Euribia. However, depending on when the vessel can finally depart the Middle East, it's possible that additional cruises could be adjusted or canceled.
Read more: Multiple Cruise Ships Remain Stuck in the Arabian Gulf
Generous compensation offered for the canceled cruise
Passengers who were looking forward to their Northern European adventure on MSC Euribia have three options:
- Transfer booking to any available cruise departing by November 30, 2026, with no change fees. MSC will also match the original or new booking fare, assuming the sailing is the same length in the same cabin category. Guests selecting this option will also receive a non-refundable onboard credit of €100 per person (maximum €200 per stateroom).
- Those who choose a cruise departing on or after December 1, 2026, won't have to pay any change fees. The fare paid toward the canceled sailing on MSC Euribia will be applied toward the new voyage. MSC will also offer a non-refundable onboard credit of €100 per person (maximum €200 per stateroom).
- Receive a full refund of any paid portion of the cruise fare without penalty.
"In light of this communication, we ask you to inform us of your choice in order to proceed with the modification of your booking by writing to your travel agency or our Reservations Office by April 15, 2026," the email states.
After that deadline, the booking will be automatically canceled and refunded.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line stock falls as Iran war causes oil prices to increase
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
