European cruise ships sail through the Suez Canal again as route reopens after two-year hiatus
After a more than two-year break, cruise ships are back on the route through the Suez Canal. The Greek operator Celestyal Cruises has announced voyages in November 2025 that will carry paying passengers via Port Said and into the Red Sea, reopening a path once blocked by security concerns and operational rerouting.
- Cruise company Celestyal Cruises will become the first with full-fare passengers to sail through the Suez Canal in over two years, with voyages scheduled for November 2025.
- The route was largely suspended following regional security concerns tied to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, causing many cruise lines to avoid transit via the canal.
- The reopening signals a boost in confidence for Mediterranean–Red Sea itineraries and adds variety to winter cruising seasons for European travellers.
In November 2025, Celestyal Cruises will sail two repositioning voyages that will take full-fare passengers through the Suez Canal for the first time in over two years. One departure is slated for 22 November from Piraeus (Athens) and another on 28 November from Lavrio.
The itinerary includes stops at Marmaris (Turkey), Port Said (Egypt), transit through the canal, then Sharm el-Sheikh and Safaga (Egypt) before ending in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer of Celestyal Cruises, described the sailings as “the first ships for over two years to actually carry cruise passengers through the Suez Canal”.
Why the hiatus happened
Cruise lines largely avoided the Suez-Red-Sea corridor following heightened security risks, notably attacks on shipping near the Bab al-Mandab strait and other Red Sea chokepoints.
While cargo traffic has gradually resumed, luxury cruise itineraries remained paused due to the perceived threat to passenger safety. Some vessels transited without passengers or took longer alternate routes.
What the return means
The resumption of full-fare cruises through the Suez Canal marks a notable step in the industry’s recovery.
According to Celestyal, bookings have been strong, “They’ve been on sale for just over seven weeks, and we’re already running pretty much full for that seven-night segment.”
For Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority (SCA), the renewed cruise traffic helps diversify beyond freight transits and supports tourism development efforts along the Mediterranean and Red Sea corridors.
