The Maltese Government has been contacted by ten tourists who have found themselves stranded on cruise liners in the Middle East, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg confirmed with WhosWho.mt.
Dr Borg also confirmed that five Maltese-flagged cruise ships are currently stranded in the region.
He said the Government is directly in touch with them to try to find a way forward.
The outbreak of the Iran war last weekend has seriously disrupted the plans of tourists who happened to be on cruise ships in the region.
Airspace is closed off or limited, while Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and threat to bomb any vessel that passes through means ships cannot transport passengers home by sea. Passengers must therefore wait until flights open up for them.
The Malta News, Photos and People published the appeal of a group of a Maltese traveller aboard the MSC Euribia, which is currently stuck in the port of Dubai.
“We are in contact with the UAE ambassador and the Maltese authorities to help bring us back home early, because the situation isn’t pleasant at all and could get even worse,” the traveller said.
