Key Aspects:
- MSC Cruises has confirmed that MSC Euribia will set sail for her May 16 and 17 departures in northern Europe.
- The two sailing dates were previously cancelled while the ship remained in Dubai with the Strait of Hormuz closed.
- MSC Euribia was able to safely transit the strait and guests will be contacted about reinstating their vacation plans.
Just days after cancelling MSC Euribia‘s May 16 and 17 departures in Europe, MSC Cruises has now reinstated those sailings as the ship has successfully passed out of the Arabian Gulf and is en route to northern Europe to begin her season in the Baltic Sea and North Sea.
In a surprise move, the cruise line has opted to move ahead with the sailings that were already cancelled. At the time of the cancellation, just two days before MSC Euribia had the opportunity to depart the Arabian Gulf, there was no indication about when passage might be possible.
As it turns out, the Meraviglia-Plus class ship was able to set sail from Dubai and move through the Strait safely. She will now be able to reach Europe in time for those cruises to move forward.
“MSC Euribia has departed Dubai, has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz, and is now en route to Northern Europe. The passage was completed in close coordination with the relevant authorities,” the cruise line confirmed to Cruise Hive.
“MSC Euribia is on course to resume her Northern Europe season, and as the ship will now be able to return sooner than previously anticipated, MSC Cruises confirms that the cruise departing on May 16 from Kiel (and May 17 from Copenhagen) will now operate as originally scheduled, with all subsequent sailings operating as planned.”
The May 16 departure from Kiel, Germany is a 7-night sailing with visits to Copenhagen, Denmark (another departure point) as well as Hellesylt, Alesund, and Flam in Norway. The May 17 departure is the same cruise, but with embarkation and debarkation in Copenhagen.
Satellite tracking shows that MSC Euribia cleared the northern tip of Oman on Saturday, April 18, and is continuing on her way to reach Kiel.
While no exact day or time is yet announced for her arrival in Europe, the fact that the ship has finally departed the Arabian Gulf is great news indeed for guests booked on upcoming voyages.
First, however, MSC Euribia must travel roughly 8,300 miles to reach Germany. Along the way, refueling and resupply stops will be necessary.
Guests Can Shift Their Bookings Back to the Original Cruises
Of course, guests were naturally disappointed about the initial cancellation of the May 16 and 17 departures, but MSC Cruises is permitting them to shift back to those sailings.
“Guests whose cruises were cancelled will have the option to transfer their booking to this sailing should they wish, and will be contacted directly with further details,” the cruise line confirmed.
When the sailings were cancelled, guests were offered three options. They could shift to another sailing, accept a future cruise credit, or choose a full refund.
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MSC Cruises has not yet clarified which guests will receive priority to return to their original sailing date, or in what order travelers may be contacted. Given that the departure dates are a month away, there is some time for those arrangements to be made.
Undoubtedly, not all travelers will be prepared to shift back to the previously cancelled sailings due to the logistics of pre- and post-cruise travel plans that may already have been adjusted.
Future departures for the 184,000-gross-ton ship should move forward as planned and there are no updates to any other itineraries at this time.
MSC Euribia will remain sailing in northern Europe through mid-October, at which time she will move to the Mediterranean with departures from Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, and Palermo for the winter season. The ship will return to Kiel and Copenhagen in April 2027.
