Tag Archives: tui

Arabian Gulf Update: Cruise Lines Cancel Remaining Sailings in the Region

Posted on by
Reply

Arabian Gulf Update: Cruise Lines Cancel Remaining Sailings in the Region

Amid ongoing security concerns and regional operational challenges, multiple cruise lines have now cancelled the remainder of their 2025-26 winter deployments in the Arabian Gulf.

MSC

With sailings in the region through early April, MSC Cruises cancelled the remainder of its 2025-26 season in the Middle East.

In its cancellation statement, the company said that the decision was made to prioritize the safety and well-being of its guests and crew while following the guidance of the regional military authorities.

The MSC Euribia was scheduled to offer five additional departures in the Arabian Gulf, with itineraries visiting the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.

Celestyal

Operating its two ships in the region for the winter, Celestyal Cruises cancelled the remainder of its season in the Arabian Gulf earlier this month.

With the Celestyal Journey and the Celestyal Discovery stuck in the region, the company also had to cancel the first cruises of the season in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In a statement shared earlier this week, Celestyal said that it is “still in the process of finalizing operational arrangements” for the vessel’s repositioning voyages to Europe.

TUI

TUI Cruises is another cruise line with two ships currently in the Arabian Gulf, the Mein Schiff 4 and the Mein Schiff 5.

In an update published on its website, the company said that it decided to cancel sailings in the region due to travel and safety advice issued by the German Foreign Office.

As a result, sailings scheduled to take place onboard the Mein Schiff 4 through March 23, 2026, will no longer take place. Similarly, all cruises onboard the Mein Schiff 5 through March 12, 2026, have also been cancelled.

Aroya

Aroya Cruises cancelled all of its upcoming cruises planned for the 2025-26 season in the Arabian Gulf.

In a statement shared with Cruise Industry News, the company said that the decision was related to “ongoing regional operational considerations” and was made in coordination with the relevant maritime and national authorities.

After arriving in the United Arab Emirates in late February, the Aroya was scheduled to sail in the region through early May.

Costa and AIDA

Two traditional players in the region, Costa and AIDA Cruises cancelled their seasons in the Arabian Gulf in mid-2025.

The brands planned to operate itineraries in the Arabian Gulf between November 2025 and March 2026 onboard the Costa Toscana and the AIDAprima, respectively.

In similar statements, the Carnival-owned brands said that the decision was related to a fluid situation in the region and aimed to give guests certainty.

TUI Cruises Launches Special Monopoly Edition

Posted on by
Reply

TUI Cruises Launches Special Monopoly Edition

TUI Cruises has launched an exclusive Mein Schiff Monopoly edition, the company said in a statement.

The game allows players to discover bars and restaurants, experience a range of leisure activities and immerse themselves in the world of Mein Schiff cruises in a playful way.

Players can look forward to buying their favorite spots aboard the TUI ships, such as the TUI Bar or the pool deck.

Furthermore, the cards players draw feature onboard activities and daily programs, guaranteeing exciting rounds lots of fun, and what the company said was areal vacation atmosphere with family or friends.

The special edition is available for  €49.90 in TUI’s online store.

Tui transfers shipbuilding slots from Marella Cruises to sister line in push for more UK passengers

Posted on by
Reply

Tui transfers shipbuilding slots from Marella Cruises to sister line in push for more UK passengers

Tui Cruises is a joint venture between Tui AG and Royal Caribbean Group (Credit: Tui Cruises)

The new-build slots were previously secured earlier this year for Marella Cruises for delivery in 2031 and 2033.

However, Tui AG said this “strategic decision” to move the slots across to Tui Cruises allows the brand to “build on the success of its Tui Cruises joint venture, which has a proven track record across various European markets and possesses the financial capacity for further expansion investments”.

It also stated that the decision was made to strengthen Tui Cruises’ long-term growth platform in Europe and the UK.

Tui Cruises is a joint venture between Tui AG and Royal Caribbean Group.

Marella Cruises’ down payment to Fincantieri will be reimbursed, and it will continue operations with its existing five-ship fleet.

A Tui spokesperson said: “We are pleased to order two further new-build vessels at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. This move strengthens Tui Cruises’ platform for long-term growth and enables us to gradually expand further into other markets, particularly in Northern Europe.

“We look forward to leveraging our solid financial position and proven market expertise to deliver outstanding experiences for our guests.”

The spokesperson added, “As the delivery of the new ships is scheduled for 2031 and 2033, there are currently no further details to share. Over the coming months, we will work on the next steps for this exciting project and will share updates as soon as they are available.”