Two cruise lines, MSC and Celestyal, opted for Suez Canal transits to reposition their ships after avoiding the Red Sea due to safety concerns. MSC Euribia and Celestyal Discovery completed their transits on April 26 and April 27, respectively.
Key facts:
- MSC Euribia made its first transit of the Suez Canal on April 26, 2023.
- Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey completed their Suez Canal transit on April 27, 2023.
- The Suez Canal Authority reported that 45 vessels transited the canal on April 26, 2023.
- Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 69 cruise ships will have transited the canal.
- This has generated approximately $15.8 million in revenues for the Suez Canal Authority.
MSC Euribia currently operates with a skeleton crew of just 192 members instead of its normal complement of 1,700. The Aroya was the first cruise ship to transit the canal after disruptions caused by Houthi attacks. The Suez Canal typically hosted over 60 vessels daily before these incidents.
Mein Schiff 5 is scheduled to resume cruising from Turkey on May 15, while Mein Schiff 4 will begin service from Italy on May 17. Observers note that wellness has become an important part of luxury travel, with cruise lines responding accordingly. Modern cruise ship design reflects these changes.
In a separate incident, a crew member fell overboard from the Norwegian Breakaway while traveling from Bermuda to Boston. The U.S. Coast Guard has paused its search for this individual after two days. Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed the fall and stated, “The safety, security, and well-being of our crew is our highest priority.” The circumstances surrounding this incident remain unclear.
