Cruise Ships Navigate Strait of Hormuz Amidst Regional Tensions, Set to Resume Operations
Six cruise ships that were stranded in Dubai due to the Iran war have successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz and are preparing to resume passenger operations. The ships, including MSC Euribia, Celestyal Discovery, and Tui's Mein Schiff 4, were in UAE ports when hostilities began following a US-Israeli attack on Iran. The conflict led to missile and drone strikes on Gulf state infrastructure. Passengers and most crew members were evacuated, leaving only essential navigation crew on board. Celestyal Discovery, under Captain Nikolaos Vasileiou, was the first to depart, establishing a safe route through the Strait. This allowed other vessels to follow, with the final ship, Aroya Manara, leaving the Gulf and heading to Jeddah. The ships are now sailing towards Europe, with some avoiding the Suez Canal for safety reasons. 
