Cruise passengers in the Middle East have been stranded due to regional conflict.
Several cruise lines, including TUI, MSC, and Viking, have canceled or altered voyages.
Airlines are working to repatriate stranded travelers, but significant backlogs exist.
Nicole Gurske was exploring Abu Dhabi over the weekend with her boyfriend as part of a Middle East cruise, when the ship called them back on board.
The crew aboard TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 4 told the 34-year-old and other passengers they had to stay inside after U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 prompted retaliation from Iran at American military bases and in other nearby nations.
“They said, we have to stay inside, not go (to) the pool outside or on the balcony,” the Wuppertal, Germany, resident told USA TODAY.
Gurske, who was originally supposed to fly home on March 1, has been stuck in Abu Dhabi with her fellow guests since then. Limited flights have resumed in the United Arab Emirates, but hers was canceled and she rebooked for March 6.
While much of the onboard experience feels surprisingly normal – Gurske went to the gym and breakfast on March 4 – she could also hear a “very big explosion” outside the day before. Guests can come and go from the ship as long as they notify the crew, but she has remained there.
She is among a number of people who have been stranded during cruises, as travelers throughout the region scramble to get home amid the Trump administration’s war with Iran.
Which cruise ships have been impacted?
In addition to Mein Schiff 4, TUI Cruises has been caring for guests on another nearby ship, Mein Schiff 5 (the latter is currently in Doha, Qatar, according to CruiseMapper).
TUI said in a March 4 update that cruises on Mein Schiff 4
She was on a cruise vacation. Now the ship is a shelter during war.
