Forty-seven. That's how many days six cruise ships sat in Persian Gulf ports — Dubai, Doha, Dammam — with skeleton crews aboard, waiting for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
They got out. Sort of. On April 17 Iran briefly opened the strait under a ceasefire, the ships ran for it, and by April 19 Iran had closed it again. Tehran says the closure stays until the United States lifts its blockade of Iranian ports. The cruise industry is not treating this as resolved.
Here is what it means if you're deciding this week whether to keep, change, or cancel a Mediterranean booking.
What actually happened in the Gulf
Iran shut Hormuz in late February. Six cruise ships were inside when it closed: Celestyal Discovery in Dubai, Celestyal Journey in Doha, TUI's Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5, MSC Euribia, and Aroya Manara in Dammam.
late February to April 17, 2026, per Iranian state announcements and Marine Traffic
Around 15,000 passengers had voyages canceled at the start of the closure. MSC chartered seven flights out of Dubai to repatriate guests. Crews stayed on board.
aggregated from Celestyal, TUI, MSC, and Aroya statements
When the April 17 window opened, Celestyal Discovery left Port Rashid first. Mein Schiff 4 and 5 transited the next day, hugging the Omani coast. Aroya Manara was last out, clearing late on April 19. By April 20 Iran had reasserted control.
