TUI has made the decision to cancel Marella Cruises UK's Asia and Middle East program from November 2024 to the end of April 2025.
In a communication to customers, TUI UK & Ireland cited the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea as the reason for the cancellations, stating that the situation posed significant risks for sea travel to and from Asia.
Despite exploring alternative routes, TUI mentioned that viable options were scarce. Consequently, the Asia and Middle East program for the upcoming winter season has been called off. This decision follows Marella's previous cancellation of Discovery 2 ship's relocation voyages (RepositionCruises.com) originally scheduled for April and May, due to the risks associated with transporting passengers from Asia to Europe via the Red Sea.
For now, Marella UK doesn't have any Asia or Middle East cruises available for booking, and there is no indication of the deployment plans for Discovery 2 next winter.
Guests affected by the cancellations have the option to rebook another cruise with a GBP 200 per person discount before April 29, 2024, or to cancel and receive a full refund.
TUI emphasized the priority of customer and crew safety, reiterating the decision to cancel the program due to the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea area. TUI expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to affected customers and assured them that they would be contacted by their booking agents to discuss available options, including rebooking with a discount or receiving a full refund.