Cruise ships cancel itineraries due to Red Sea tensions

Many cruise ships traveling through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea have had to change course or turn back due to increased attacks by Houthi forces on cargo ships passing through the area.

Silversea's superyacht Silver Moon, which can accommodate nearly 600 passengers, is on a cruise. The ship was scheduled to sail from Aqaba, Jordan to Muscat, Oman. However, the ship had to change course away from Muscat and return to Aqaba. The trip will still last 10 nights, arriving on January 16. The next trip from Muscat to Dubai, UAE was canceled because the ship avoided traveling through the Red Sea.

Some shipping lines had to change routes through the Red Sea or turn back. Photo: Alamy

Peter Shanks, CEO of Silversea in the UK and Ireland, said he was arranging flights for guests to return home due to the change in itinerary. Each guest received $500 and a 50% discount on future bookings. Shanks said he appreciated the understanding of the cruise line during this unfortunate situation.

The Iran-backed Houthis control large swaths of Yemen, including the western coast overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which leads to the Red Sea. The group began firing missiles at Israel and using drones to attack shipping in the Red Sea shortly after the Gaza war erupted last October.

MSC Cruises and Oceania Cruises, two global cruise lines, have canceled all trips to Israel, which is located in the Red Sea. MSC also canceled a stop in Suez, Egypt, home to the Suez Canal, at the start of its 121-day round-the-world cruise in January. Instead, its ships will sail around Africa. The company said that despite the schedule changes, it will still visit all 50 destinations.

Meanwhile, attention is turning to cruise lines such as P&O Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line and Azamara, all of which have ships currently sailing around the world and are scheduled to stop in Suez in March or April after returning from the Mediterranean.

A P&O Cruises representative said they are updating the situation daily and "will notify guests if it is necessary to change their itinerary".

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, a luxury cruise line based in the UK, said it has not changed any of its cruise itineraries around the world, including its Suez Canal sailings in early April. However, the company is in constant contact with stakeholders to assess any risks. In the event that the situation in the Red Sea becomes more dangerous due to attacks, the company will take a back-up route.

UK-based Cunard and US-based Holland America said they were also monitoring the situation and would inform guests of "any updates as soon as possible".

Travelers who have booked upcoming cruise vacations that include a Red Sea route may be subject to cancellation fees, but experts say the current situation suggests that cruise lines are more likely to cancel before their customers do. Some cruise lines are offering refunds or rescheduling.

Experts say no one is sure how long the conflict in the Red Sea will last or whether it will escalate further. As a result, no one can say for sure whether it will be safe for tourists to book a Red Sea cruise later this year.

Anh Minh (According to Telegraph )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/nhieu-du-thuyen-huy-lich-trinh-vi-cang-thang-bien-do-4702281.html