Vasco da Gama: nicko cruises Sends “Ghost Ship” Through the Red Sea

Von Bahnfrend - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
The tense security situation in the Middle East is forcing cruise lines to come up with creative solutions. Instead of sending nicko cruises' Vasco da Gama on a long and expensive detour around Africa during its 2026/2027 world cruise, the company has opted for a spectacular plan: In April 2027, the vessel will transit the danger zone as a so-called “ghost ship.” This itinerary change prevents popular Mediterranean destinations like Athens or Alexandria from being canceled altogether later in the voyage.

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To guarantee the absolute safety of everyone involved, the approximately 1,000 passengers and a large part of the service crew will disembark the ship in the Omani port of Salalah. Only an emergency nautical crew of about 40 to 60 sailors will remain on board to navigate the Vasco da Gama swiftly through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Meanwhile, the vacationers will be safely and comfortably flown via charter flights to Hurghada, Egypt.

For the time away from the ship, nicko cruises has organized an exclusive overland program called “time to discover.” Guests can choose between a five-day relaxing vacation at a five-star resort by the Red Sea (“Relax”) and a combination of beach and culture featuring excursions to Luxor (“Relax & Kultur”). This turns a purely safety-driven evacuation into a genuine vacation experience – including trips to the Valley of the Kings or snorkeling tours to the vibrant coral reefs.

Finally, all travelers will re-board the ship in the Egyptian port city of Safaga. From there, the Vasco da Gama will continue its journey through the Suez Canal to conclude the world cruise as scheduled in Hamburg on May 15, 2027. Due to drastically increased insurance and fuel costs across the shipping industry, nicko cruises now charges a moderate fuel surcharge of 10 euros per person, per night for this and other ocean voyages.