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The cruising companies have declared that they will modify or cancel their trips in order to steer clear of the Red Sea, following the threat of attacks on ships by Houthi rebels.
The trade between Asia and Europe has been hindered by the recent attacks from the militia in Yemen, which is backed by Iran. This has also sparked fears of an increase in hostilities between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.
On Thursday, Royal Caribbean announced the cancellation of two voyages.
A trip from Muscat to Dubai was originally planned for January 16th to 26th, while another trip from Dubai to Mumbai was scheduled for January 26th to February 11th.
Last week, the itinerary of a cruise from Aqaba to Muscat was changed to include a stop at a port city near Athens for guest disembarkation.
Royal Caribbean stated that their global security team is constantly monitoring the situation in the region and will make further adjustments if necessary.
MSC Cruises, a Swiss-Italian company, announced on Wednesday that it has cancelled three upcoming voyages in April. These trips were scheduled to depart from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates and travel to Europe, but have been cancelled due to the current crisis in the Red Sea.
Houthi rebels and members of local tribes hold a protest against the military attacks by the United States and United Kingdom on Houthi-controlled military locations.
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“The top priority is ensuring the safety of both passengers and crew. Due to the lack of feasible alternative routes, MSC Cruises has unfortunately decided to cancel the planned voyages. The three ships will travel directly to Europe without any passengers on board in order to avoid passing through the Red Sea.”
Despite the fact that numerous travelers are being affected, Todd Elliott, the CEO of Cruise Vacation Outlet, a travel agency based in Florida, has stated that there will not be a major impact on cruise operators worldwide.
Elliott stated that this is only a small portion of their entire fleet and long-term plans, therefore they should have no trouble overcoming this obstacle.
According to Costa Cruises, there are no changes to the planned routes. However, two cruises in March and April that were set to pass through the Red Sea may be impacted, including the final portion of a global voyage.
Carnival said its global security team was working with global security experts and governments to prioritise safety, including adjusting its itineraries if needed.
Source: independent.co.uk
