The Mein Schiff 4 and the Mein Schiff 5 resumed service for TUI Cruises after spending nearly three months out of service due to conflicts in the Middle East.
Offering itineraries in the Arabian Gulf during the 2026-27 winter season, the vessels were forced to pause their operations in late February following military strikes in the region.
With the Strait of Hormuz virtually closed for maritime traffic, the ships remained stuck in the Gulf for approximately two months.
In mid-April, the Mein Schiff 4 and the Mein Schiff 5 were able to start repositioning voyages back to Europe.
The vessels then sailed around Africa, picking up crew members in South Africa ahead of welcoming guests back in the Mediterranean.
The Mein Schiff 5 was the first to resume service, kicking off a summer deployment in the Aegean Sea on May 15, 2026.
The 2016-built ship welcomed guests in Heraklion for a seven-night itinerary that features visits to destinations in Greece, Malta, and Italy, including Chania, Valletta and Catania.
Continuing its summer schedule in the region, the vessel is set to offer additional cruises through mid-October.
The itineraries feature visits to a range of destinations, such as Santorini, Rhodes, Marmaris, Limassol and Istanbul.
Sailing from Trieste, the Mein Schiff 4 resumed revenue service on May 17, 2026, offering a seven-night cruise to the Adriatic Sea.
The itinerary features visits to destinations in Italy, Montenegro, Greece, Croatia and Slovenia.
The ship’s season in the region runs through mid-October, when it is scheduled to offer a repositioning voyage to the Western Mediterranean.
With the return of the Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5, all ships stranded in the Middle East have now resumed revenue service.
In addition to the TUI Cruises vessels, the Aroya, MSC Euribia, Celestyal Discovery, and Celestyal Journey were also stuck in the Arabian Gulf.
