Costa Cruises has declared that it will not operate any Middle Eastern itineraries next season, since there are currently no ships in service. The firm has stated that, due to the region's uncertain outlook for the 2026/27 winter season, the Costa Smeralda's previously scheduled positioning cruises to and from the United Arab Emirates will not be undertaken. The worldwide cruise sector has seen unanticipated upheaval in 2026, with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Cyprus, and Greece, who had made considerable gains in expanding cruise tourism, now confronting the disastrous repercussions of the Middle East crisis. The main factor is the destabilization of important maritime routes: tensions have had a direct impact on vital hubs like the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Suez Canal, all of which serve as key gateways for cruise ships traveling between Europe, the Middle East and Asia. With the Strait of Hormuz closed, ships stuck in Dubai and Doha are in a “wait and see” situation, with direct consequences for the Mediterranean summer seasons, for which those same vessels had already been scheduled. The Red Sea Project and the Neom tourism hubs, which are among Saudi Arabia's investments in Red Sea resorts and luxury cruise terminals, are now at risk, and associated projects have been postponed. The economic impact is in the billions. The Mediterranean may gain indirectly, but relocation of ships to Cyprus and Greece increases the risk of port overpopulation and introduces additional security challenges.