Nicko Cruises Will Fly World Cruise Guests Around the Red Sea in April 2027

October 8, 2026 — German line Nicko Cruises has changed the itinerary of its 2026–27 world cruise so that guests skip the waters off Yemen and part of the Red Sea, flying to Egypt for a five-day land stay while the ship makes the passage without them.

The 193-night voyage on Vasco da Gama leaves Hamburg on November 3, 2026 and returns to Germany. Cruise Industry News reported on October 8 that the line made the change because of the security situation in the Middle East.

How the detour works

Date	What happens
April 16, 2027	Guests leave the ship in Salalah, Oman, and take a charter flight to Hurghada, Egypt
April 16–21, 2027	Five-day stay in Egypt with a complimentary overland program
April 21, 2027	Guests rejoin Vasco da Gama in Safaga, Egypt

The ship itself sails around Yemen and through part of the Red Sea with no passengers on board. Nicko ran a similar multi-day land program in Oman in 2025, which managing director Guido Laukamp described as “a very positive experience.” The report does not mention refund or cancellation options for guests who would prefer not to take the detour.

What it means for travelers

The charter flight is part of the cruise. Guests do not need to arrange their own air between Oman and Egypt.
Segment bookers should recheck their ports. If you booked a partial segment that begins or ends near mid-April 2027, confirm with Nicko where you now join or leave the ship. Salalah (SLL) and Hurghada (HRG) have limited long-haul service, and connections are thin.
Check Egypt’s entry rules. A five-day land stay means entering the country, so ask the line how visas are being handled.
A sign of things to come. Other lines routing ships between Asia and Europe in spring 2027 face the same choice. If you hold a repositioning or world-cruise segment through the Red Sea, expect possible changes and avoid non-refundable flights for now.
Hamburg embarkation: Hamburg (HAM) has limited transatlantic service. Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC) with a rail or air connection is the usual route. Arrive a day early.