Red Sea Cruises 2026: Which Sailings Are Actually Running Now
Red Sea cruises in 2026 have been reshaped by the still-ongoing Iran-Israel war, which escalated on February 28, 2026, and by continuing Houthi attacks on commercial shipping — most major cruise lines have pulled their itineraries out of the Suez Canal and Red Sea region.
BIOHACTOUR (Saodat Turizm travel agency, TÜRSAB license No. 14433) tracks cruise line schedules daily; below are the sailings actually operating in 2026, their real embarkation ports, and cabin prices current as of September 18, 2026.
Which Cruise Lines Cancelled Red Sea Sailings in 2026
MSC Cruises — cancelled several Grand Voyage sailings through the Suez Canal and Red Sea (including the MSC Euribia voyage in April 2026), citing security concerns
TUI Cruises / Mein Schiff — Mein Schiff 4 and 5 were caught up in Arabian Gulf disruptions in 2026
Celestyal, Explora Journeys — Explora Journeys cancelled its entire 2026/27 Middle East winter season, redeploying the ship to Europe instead
Norwegian Cruise Line — cancelled the farewell Norwegian Sky voyage through the Suez Canal and Red Sea
AIDA, Costa — dropped Middle East destinations from their seasonal programs entirely
Princess Cruises — excluded the Middle East from its 2026 World Cruise for the first time ever
Which Cruise Line Is Still Sailing the Red Sea in 2026
Almost the only major line to keep a presence in the region is Aroya Cruises (Saudi Arabia, a Cruise Saudi subsidiary under the Vision 2030 program). After suspending operations following the February 28, 2026 escalation, the line resumed sailings on May 14, 2026 — from its homeport of Jeddah, not from any Egyptian resort.
Aroya runs a seasonal split: in winter, short 3–9 night sailings from Jeddah call at Yanbu (Saudi Arabia), Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), and Aqaba (Jordan); from June to September, the ship repositions to Istanbul (Galataport) for a Mediterranean season. One-off repositioning voyages through the Suez Canal bridge the two seasons.
Can You Board a Cruise Ship Directly in Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada?
For regular round-trip sailings — no: Aroya's homeport is Jeddah, which requires flying into Saudi Arabia. The exception is seasonal repositioning voyages: the October 3, 2026 sailing, for example, runs Sharm El Sheikh → Istanbul, and boarding in Sharm El Sheikh is possible on that specific leg (an "interporting" arrangement). A separate option, unrelated to Aroya, is the 14-night Astoria Grande cruise (operated by Miray Cruises), which embarks in Antalya, Turkey, and calls at Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh as ports of call rather than the starting point.
Current Red Sea Cruise Prices (checked September 18, 2026)
Per-person prices, cruise fare including port fees (₽ / approx. $ at the September 18, 2026 rate):
Date | Line | Route (nights) | Interior | Ocean View | Balcony | Suite |
Sept 27 | Aroya | Jeddah → Jeddah (4 nights) | 54,136₽ / ~$610 | 58,839₽ / ~$663 | 72,326₽ / ~$815 | 104,626₽ / ~$1,179 |
Oct 1 | Aroya | Jeddah → Alexandria (5 nights) | 35,945₽ / ~$405 | — | 60,791₽ / ~$685 | 93,978₽ / ~$1,059 |
Oct 1 | Aroya | Jeddah → Istanbul (9 nights) | 63,542₽ / ~$716 | 70,197₽ / ~$791 | 107,377₽ / ~$1,210 | 164,610₽ / ~$1,855 |
Oct 3 | Aroya | Sharm El Sheikh → Istanbul (7 nights) | 49,788₽ / ~$561 | — | 84,305₽ / ~$950 | 122,639₽ / ~$1,382 |
Nov 7 | Astoria Grande (Miray Cruises) | Antalya → Antalya via Suez Canal (14 nights) | 144,000₽ / ~$1,623 | 151,000₽ / ~$1,702 | 331,600₽ / ~$3,737 | 460,400₽ / ~$5,190 |
Some cabin categories are already sold out: on the September 22 sailing (Jeddah → Jeddah, 5 nights), Interior and Ocean View cabins are gone — only Balcony and Suite remain. Prices and availability change weekly.
BIOHACTOUR is an official La Voyage partner (contract No. LV-TR-2025/178) and can help you pick a date and cabin.📱 WhatsApp: +90 532 679 90 57
FAQ
Are Red Sea cruises still running in 2026, or did the war cancel everything?
Major international lines pulled their Red Sea itineraries after the conflict escalated on February 28, 2026, and the war is still ongoing. Aroya Cruises resumed operations on May 14, 2026, and remains the main line still active in the region — but schedules can change again if the situation shifts.
Do I need a visa to embark in Jeddah?
Yes — boarding in Jeddah requires a Saudi tourist e-visa, applied for online in advance. Requirements for shore calls in Jordan and Egypt depend on the specific itinerary — check at the time of booking.
Can you swim in the Red Sea in winter?
Water temperature stays around 73–79°F (23–26°C) even in January.
How do I check what's still available on the next sailing?
Cabin categories change weekly. Confirm current availability with us on WhatsApp before paying.
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