MSC Cruises has arranged a series of charter and commercial flights to evacuate more than 1,500 guests stranded aboard MSC Euribia in Dubai, as the cruise line accelerates efforts to repatriate passengers caught up in the escalating Middle East conflict.
In statements issued on 5th and 6th March 2026, the line confirmed that seven flights had already departed the region.
Charter And Commercial Flights Deployed
MSC Cruises said on Thursday 5th March that it had launched a dedicated flight programme designed to provide the “safest and quickest” route home for guests who had been unable to disembark or travel independently due to airport attacks and regional instability.
The cruise line confirmed it had initiated five charter flights, with the first scheduled to depart that same day.
“MSC Cruises has been working on the safest and quickest way to repatriate our guests and has taken decisive action to accelerate this by launching a dedicated flight operation that currently includes five charter flights with the first flight planned to depart today, Thursday 5th March. These flights would see close to 1,000 guests leave the region by Saturday.
“In parallel, MSC Cruises is pursuing every available pathway for the remaining guests – including commercial flights, further charter options and coordinated government-assisted solutions.”
By Friday morning, 6th March, the operation had expanded significantly. The line confirmed that more than 1,500 guests who had been onboard MSC Euribia in Dubai had now been allocated flights out of the region.
“As of this morning, a total of seven flights carrying MSC Cruises’ guests have departed the region,” the cruise line said.
According to the update, the departures have included dedicated charter services funded by MSC Cruises, seats secured in partnership with Emirates and Flydubai on scheduled commercial services, as well as some government organised flights.
Passengers have been repatriated to multiple countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, the United States and Brazil.
“I am immensely proud of how the whole company is coming together with this highly complex repatriation operation… Our Ship Command and crew have worked tirelessly to ensure our guests are well cared for and our teams across the globe have worked round the clock to get our guests home safely and in a timely manner.
“We have received unparalleled support from our airline partner, Emirates as well as the regional and national governments who are supporting us to facilitate the necessary operational logistics and authorisation for the flights. We still have some guests on the ship, but we are working hard to secure their safe passage from the region.”
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises.
Conflict Left Ships Unable To Sail
The repatriation effort follows the decision to keep MSC Euribia docked in Dubai after the joint US and Israeli strike on Iran on 28th February 2026 triggered a rapid escalation across the region.
With the Strait of Hormuz closed to shipping and missile activity reported in parts of the United Arab Emirates, cruise vessels were unable to reposition to safer waters. At the same time, attacks on regional airports disrupted commercial aviation, leaving thousands of cruise passengers effectively stranded.
MSC Euribia had cancelled its 1st March departure from Doha and remained alongside at Port Rashid in Dubai while the security situation was assessed in coordination with national authorities.
Other lines, including TUI Cruises and Celestyal Cruises, also cancelled sailings and instructed guests to shelter onboard as tensions intensified.
MSC’s expanding flight programme marks one of the most significant cruise-led repatriation efforts since the conflict began, though the line has confirmed that some guests remain onboard as arrangements continue.
The situation in the Middle East remains volatile, and further operational changes across the cruise sector cannot be ruled out as governments and operators respond to the evolving crisis.
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