Travelers on Mein Schiff 4 are stuck in Abu Dhabi as Middle East fighting disrupts cruises and flights.
Thousands of Americans flee the Middle East amid war, Rubio says
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that 9,000 Americans have evacuated the Middle East since the beginning of the US-Iran war.
- Cruise passengers in the Middle East have been stranded due to regional conflict.
- Several cruise lines, including TUI, MSC, and Viking, have canceled or altered voyages.
- Airlines are working to repatriate stranded travelers, but significant backlogs exist.
Nicole Gurske was exploring Abu Dhabi over the weekend with her boyfriend as part of a Middle East cruise, when the ship called them back on board.
The crew aboard TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 4 told the 34-year-old and other passengers they had to stay inside after U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 prompted retaliation from Iran at American military bases and in other nearby nations.
“They said, we have to stay inside, not go (to) the pool outside or on the balcony,” the Wuppertal, Germany, resident told USA TODAY.
Gurske, who was originally supposed to fly home on March 1, has been stuck in Abu Dhabi with her fellow guests since then. Limited flights have resumed in the United Arab Emirates, but hers was canceled and she rebooked for March 6.
While much of the onboard experience feels surprisingly normal – Gurske went to the gym and breakfast on March 4 – she could also hear a “very big explosion” outside the day before. Guests can come and go from the ship as long as they notify the crew, but she has remained there.
She is among a number of people who have been stranded during cruises, as travelers throughout the region scramble to get home amid the Trump administration’s war with Iran.
Which cruise ships have been impacted?
In addition to Mein Schiff 4, TUI Cruises has been caring for guests on another nearby ship, Mein Schiff 5 (the latter is currently in Doha, Qatar, according to CruiseMapper).
TUI said in a March 4 update that cruises on Mein Schiff 4 “up to and including the start” of its March 9 departure and Mein Schiff 5 up to and including the start of its March 12 cruise “can no longer take place.”
“All affected guests have already been informed directly by us via text message,” the cruise company’s website reads. “Should further adjustments be necessary, we will contact the booked guests immediately and proactively.”
Gurske said the crew on Mein Schiff 4 has been “very professional and supportive.” She is grateful to TUI for their care, but there have been hiccups. She needs more contact lenses, for example, but is hesitant to go to the medical center since there are other passengers who are older or have serious health conditions.
However, she said, “It’s not so bad if I can’t see everything clearly.” TUI noted on its website that “guests on board receive support with the provision of necessary medication, toiletries, nappies, baby food and other everyday necessities.””Individual errands are organized by the crew via the port agency as far as possible,” the company continued.
The State Department urged Americans to depart a number of countries earlier this week, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, and others, due to “serious safety risks.”
Emirates accommodated 218 passengers from Mein Schiff 4 on a flight from Dubai to Munich, TUI said in a separate March 3 update on its website.
“We know that many guests and relatives are waiting for further return travel options,” the company said. “Together with the relevant authorities and our airline partners, we are continuing to work intensively to organize additional reliable flight options. Further possibilities are being examined on an ongoing basis.”
Other cruise lines have been impacted, too.
The rest of MSC Euribia’s most recent Middle East voyage was scrapped along with others, according to MSC Cruises. “The remaining three cruises scheduled for this winter season have now been cancelled and all impacted guests have been contacted and full refunds have been offered,” an emailed statement read.
The cruise line said it was following guidance from regional military authorities to keep the ship in Dubai.
“Following the limited resumption of flights from the region, we are working closely with the airlines to facilitate onward travel for our guests,” the company continued. “Given the significant backlog and the scale of disruption, airlines are currently progressing with new flights in a methodical manner, and this process will take time. We are fully engaged with our airline partners and are focused on securing a safe and orderly return home for our guests.”
MSC is also in contact with embassies and foreign offices, and all onboard services and facilities are available. In a subsequent statement, the cruise line said airlines had indicated they would prioritize departures by the original flight date.
“In order to speed up the repatriation, we are working on other options such as chartering flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Muscat,” the cruise line added.
Viking, meanwhile, has canceled its Egypt departures through and including March 31 in “an abundance of caution and in consideration of new guidance from the U.S. State Department,” the cruise line told USA TODAY. Guests whose bookings were affected – and their travel advisors – were notified.
“At this time, there is no significant impact to Viking’s operations or other itineraries and guest travel plans,” the company said in an emailed statement. “Our global operations team remains in close contact with relevant authorities and security advisors, and we will continue to assess developments as they unfold.”
What happens if your cruise is canceled or changed?
The contracts passengers agree to when they buy their tickets are “very cruise line friendly,” Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafeldma Travel, previously told USA TODAY. However, the operators generally always provide refunds in the event of a canceled cruise and work to accommodate guests on another voyage.
The line will usually cover costs that were part of the cruise purchase – such as flights booked through the line – but passengers are generally responsible for other expenses incurred (except in extreme circumstances such as last-minute cancellations).
That said, cruise lines may offer additional compensation like a future cruise credit. “It can really vary and it depends on each individual circumstance,” Feldman said at the time. “I will say that the closer (the cancellation) is to the sail date, the better the compensation will be.”
Those contracts also give cruise companies significant flexibility to make smaller itinerary changes – though passengers can usually expect to get money back for port fees at destinations the ship doesn’t end up visiting. Guests might also get other compensation such as onboard credit for the inconvenience, at the cruise line’s discretion.
Travelers who opt to cancel their sailing can typically get a percentage of their cruise cost back, though the amount varies depending how far in advance they make that change. Passengers should refer to their cruise line’s policies, and can contact the company or their travel advisor with questions.
Gurske said she got money back for her original canceled flight, but has not heard any updates about potential refunds from TUI – though she and her boyfriend are able to remain on the ship at no additional charge until March 8. She is ready to leave but also nervous to disembark what has been her temporary refuge.
“I want to go home, but I’m a little bit scared that something will happen outside,” Gurske said.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
