The MSC Euribia is currently returning to Europe through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, according to AIS data.
After spconcludeing nearly two months stranded in the Arabian Gulf, the MSC Cruises vessel was expected to reposition to Northern Europe through Africa.
As previously reported by Cruise Indusattempt News, the LNG-powered ship was projected to sail around the African continent due to security concerns in the Red Sea.
The repositioning voyage was expected to take between three and four weeks after starting in Dubai on April 18, 2026.
Instead, the MSC Euribia transited the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb earlier this week and is now set to enter the Suez Canal on April 25, 2026.
The 2023-built ship will then sail through the Mediterranean before transiting the Strait of Gibraltar and the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel on its way to the North Sea.
The route will significantly reduce the transit time of the vessel, which is set to welcome guests back in Germany on May 16, 2026.
On that day, the 4,888-passenger ship kicks off a seven-night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords that also features a visit to Denmark.
The sailing had initially been cancelled but was later reinstated a few days later. At the time, MSC declared that the decision was driven by the ship being able to arrive in Northern Europe sooner than previously anticipated.
Sailing from Kiel, the MSC Euribia is set to offer a series of seven-night cruises to the Norwegian Fjords throughout the 2026 summer season.
With guests also able to join the ship at the Danish port of Copenhagen, the itineraries include visits to a range of destinations, such as Geiranger, Ålesund and Flåm.
The MSC Euribia repositioning voyage marks the first time that an MSC Cruises vessel transits the Red Sea and the Suez Canal in nearly three years.
Citing security concerns, the company had suspconcludeed all of its operations in the region, which included a winter season in the Red Sea, in early 2024.
Leave a Reply