How the Middle East conflict has changed cruising – here’s what you need to know

• Travellers are once again on high alert after conflict has resumed between the USA and Iran.
• Travel warnings have been reissued for Australians, but the good news is the UAE and Qatar remain at Level 3, “Reconsider your need to travel”, rather than returning to the Level 4 “Do not travel” status.
• However, the crisis has meant some cruise lines have changed their itineraries and routes for some time to come.

A few weeks ago the travel industry worldwide breathed a sigh of relief as the USA and Iran revealed they were entering peace talks. This led to Smart Traveller stepping down its warnings from “Do not travel” to “Reconsider” for key flight hubs such as the UAE and Qatar.

However, conflict has resumed between the USA and Iran, including several strikes across the Middle East, including in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman and Kuwait. While for now this is yet to change any of the Smart Traveller warnings, the resumption of conflict has quickly raised questions about what this could mean for travellers who are planning to go through the Middle East over the next couple of months. 

Last night, Smart Traveller re-issued it advice on Saudi Arabia, Oman and Jordan, saying it had done so “due to the security situation in the country and the region.”

British Airways, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, KLM, and Japan Airlines have extended cancellations or paused services to destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha and other cities across the region.

Singapore Airlines has extended the suspension of its Singapore–Dubai service until 24 October, while Scoot has cancelled flights between Singapore and Jeddah until 27 July.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has advised airlines to avoid flying through the airspace of several Gulf states until at least 29 July because of the heightened risk from military activity.

Travellers have been warned to expect longer flight times, schedule changes and occasional cancellations as airlines reroute aircraft and adjust operations.

The crucial thing for cruisers and other travellers is to be prepared for what could happen, particularly as we enter the peak of the European summer season, with thousands of Aussies set to cross into Europe from the Middle East. This preparation includes considering other flight arrangements, staying savvy to travel warnings, making sure you’re insured and more.

The latest analysis from experts suggests the war could persist for some time, meaning cruisers should give serious consideration to how the war could affect their future travel plans. Many lines are already offering flights through SE Asia or China.

Before the conflict, the Middle East was developing a cruise destination of its own, with cruise lines contracted for the season. Today, those plans are in tatters with cruise ships gone and brand new terminals empty.

The primary concern for Aussie cruisers will be arriving to Europe safely, and making sure they don’t have cancelled flights along the way.

Flight cancellations and delays have already begun to pop up again. Etihad Airways has just cancelled two days’ worth of flights between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, and Air Arabia has been reporting increased travel delays.

Furthermore, Emirates has cancelled eight flights between Dubai and Kuwait.

For now, most cancellations and delays remain for internal flights between Middle Eastern countries, but cruisers who are flying over the coming weeks should be on alert for any changes to their schedule.

What this means for cruise

• Altered cruise routes: To avoid future doubt, cruise lines have been cutting Middle Eastern stops from itineraries. This mostly involves re-routing world cruises, and shifting up a few specialty Middle Eastern itineraries. Lines such as MSC Cruises and Explora Journey’s who sail in the Middle East have already cancelled their entire 2026/27 Middle Eastern deployments.
• Changes to river cruise: A popular option for European river cruises is to add on land travel in the Middle East. We’ve seen some lines cancelling these land extensions for the time being, but no line has put out a statement since the re-escalation of the war.
• A busy 2027: Travel agents across Australia have reported that many Aussies, as well as travellers from around the world, have been pushing back their travel plans to avoid all the uncertainty of this season of travel. This means that the 2027 cruise season, particularly in Europe, is booking up further ahead than usual, as people lock in their plans for the year ahead.
• Accelerating the push to the Caribbean? A trend in cruise over recent years has been cruise lines deploying more and more ships to the Caribbean. Not only is this a region where many lines own private real estate, like islands and beach clubs, but it’s also a region that goes relatively unaffected by geopolitical conflicts. As a safe and reliable option for cruise lines, it’s possible that the events in the Middle East could speed up cruise lines shifting more of their tonnage to the Caribbean.

Is it time for a backup flight plan?

Many Aussies have been looking at alternative flight routes to Europe, and with conflict resuming, it might be time to consider this option once again.

The key is to get a flexible backup flight, through a country such as China or Japan, which can serve as your backup flight in case your main flight through the Middle East gets cancelled. Then, if your flight does go ahead as planned, you can simply cancel the flexible ticket.

Expert cruise agent and owner of Deluxe Travel & Cruise Sharon Summerhayes explains why this is a good move: “I would recommend another flexible ticket purchase as insurance, if possible.  One with an airline transiting Asia, like Singapore Airlines, Thai, JAL, etc., that has a low cancellation penalty. 

“Even if it costs you a couple of hundred in cancellation fees, you have the insurance that should you not be able to take your originally booked flight, you’ll still have the option with your ‘insurance’ ticket.”

Summerhayes adds that you should carefully check the conditions of your flexible ticket: “Ensure that you’re aware of the cancellation time-frame as most tickets must be cancelled at least 24-48 hours prior to departure for the most refund.  Middle Eastern airlines are offering refunds for immediately affected passengers, but you won’t know if your booked flights are affected until close to your departure date.”

Travel warnings have been re-issued

Australia has re-issued its warnings for travellers flying through the Middle East as renewed military strikes and reprisal attacks threaten to disrupt key transport hubs in the middle of the peak European cruise season.

Smartraveller issued new advice for the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday, July 12, warning that airspace could close at short notice and flights could be cancelled with little warning.

The advice follows renewed exchanges of fire involving the United States and Iran and attacks directed towards several Gulf states.

However, there is one important piece of qualified good news for the thousands of Australians booked to fly to Europe through Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. The government has not, at this stage, restored its highest Level 4 “Do not travel” warning for the UAE or Qatar.

Both countries remain at Level 3: “Reconsider your need to travel”.

That distinction matters for Australian cruise passengers, although it should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every traveller remains fully insured.

Level 3 warning includes airport transit

Smartraveller now warns Australians to reconsider their need to travel to the UAE “due to the unpredictable security situation in the UAE and the region”.

It says military strikes and reprisal attacks have occurred in several Middle Eastern locations, including attacks directed towards targets in the UAE.

“UAE airspace may open or close at short notice, impacting flights at Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Airports,” the updated advice says.

The warning for Qatar is similarly direct, noting that attacks have been directed towards targets in the country and that its airspace may open or close at short notice, affecting flights through Doha.

Importantly, the government says its Level 3 advice applies to passengers passing through airports.

“‘Reconsider your need to travel’ also means ‘reconsider your need to transit’,” Smartraveller says.

Travellers who must use a Level 3 transit point are advised to remain there for as short a time as possible and eliminate unnecessary activities.For most Australians connecting between international flights, that means remaining airside, avoiding an extended stopover and closely monitoring airline and airport alerts.

Are passengers still insured?

The current warning does not create the same blanket problem as the previous Level 4 “Do not travel” advice, but travellers should not assume that means every claim will be covered.

When the UAE and Qatar were at Level 4, many conventional policies would not cover passengers who knowingly travelled through a destination against the Australian Government’s highest-level warning.

The downgrade to Level 3 in June removed that immediate barrier for some policies and prompted a rush of renewed bookings, as Cruise Passenger reported at the time.

However, Level 3 is still a serious warning. Some insurers may restrict cover for destinations under a “Reconsider your need to travel” advisory, while most policies contain exclusions relating to war, armed conflict and military action.

The Insurance Council of Australia says most travel insurance policies exclude claims caused by war, armed conflict or military action and that every claim is assessed individually.

That means passengers should contact their insurer and ask for written confirmation that their policy covers:

• Transit through Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha while Level 3 advice applies
• Medical treatment during the transit
• Missed connections and additional accommodation
• Flight cancellation or diversion caused by airspace closures
• The cost of catching up with a cruise if the original flight is disrupted
• Any exclusion relating to war, military action or a known event

Travellers who bought insurance after the latest escalation may also face “known event” exclusions.

Cruise passengers face a painful choice

The renewed warning comes at a bad time for Australians travelling to Europe. The Mediterranean and Northern European cruise seasons are in full swing, and many passengers have already paid tens of thousands of dollars for their flights, cruises, accommodation and tours.

For a conventional European holiday, a traveller might be able to delay arrival by a day or two. Cruise passengers do not have that flexibility. If they miss the ship’s departure, they may have to pay for new flights and hotels to catch it at another port — assuming the itinerary and local regulations make that possible.

Middle Eastern airlines are also too important to Australia’s European air network to replace easily.

Cirium analysis says Emirates alone carries more than 31 per cent of passengers travelling between Europe and Australasia. Qatar Airways and Etihad add substantially to the Gulf carriers’ share of available capacity.

Chinese and Southeast Asian airlines have tried to absorb some passengers seeking routes through Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and mainland China. But they cannot instantly replace the enormous number of seats offered through Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

Alternative flights may also involve longer journeys, extra connections and sharply higher last-minute fares.

Cruise Passenger has spoken to numerous Australians who continued to fly through Middle Eastern hubs during earlier periods of heightened warnings. Many said they felt they had little practical choice: their cruises were sailing, their Gulf airline tickets remained valid and alternative flights would have cost thousands of dollars.

That dilemma has now returned.

What passengers should do now

Passengers should not cancel flights simply because a warning has changed. Voluntarily abandoning a journey while the airline remains operational may leave the traveller unable to obtain either an airline refund or an insurance payout.

Instead, passengers departing in the coming days should:

1. Check the Smartraveller advice for every destination and transit point.
2. Contact their airline to confirm that every flight remains scheduled.
3. Ask their insurer, in writing, whether Level 3 transit remains covered.
4. Allow additional time before the cruise, preferably arriving in Europe at least two days before departure.
5. Monitor Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha airport notices as well as airline apps.
6. Keep receipts and written records of all cancellations, delays and additional expenses.
7. Ask the cruise line or travel agent what assistance is available if delayed passengers must catch up with their ship.

Passengers should also remember that advice levels can be raised with little notice. A policy that responds while a destination is at Level 3 may operate differently if it returns to Level 4 before travel.

A reprieve that cruise companies will be hoping lasts

The new Smartraveller advice stops short of telling Australians not to travel through the principal Gulf hubs.

For cruise passengers, that is an important reprieve. It avoids, for now, the sweeping Level 4 warning that previously placed travellers in an almost impossible position.

The planes can still fly and Europe’s cruise ships are still be sailing. The journey between them, however, is once again a little uncertain.

You can find the official advice here:

• United Arab Emirates travel advice
• Qatar travel advice
• Middle East conflict and transit advice
• Explanation of Smartraveller’s four advice levels