Cruise ships avoid the Red Sea due to the conflict in Yemen

Cruise ships are forced to change routes due to the escalating conflict in Yemen. Carnival Corporation, one of the largest cruise operators, has redirected 12 of its ships away from the Red Sea.

Among them are Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and P&O Cruises' Arcadia, which were headed to the port of Southampton via the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. Instead, the ships will spend an additional 7-10 days traveling around the southern tip of Africa and returning home across the Atlantic, the BBC reports.

For passengers, this means significant changes in plans: instead of the planned excursions on the shores of the Red Sea, they will have to spend more days at sea. Some of those who had booked only the final part of the round-the-world trip have already canceled their trips, because their journey was simply meaningless.

"In light of recent developments and in close consultation with security experts and government authorities, we have made the difficult decision to change the route," a Cunard spokesperson said.

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea, claiming revenge for the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

Although cruise ships have not been targeted by the Houthis before, the risk of an attack still exists. That is why companies are choosing a safer, but much longer, route, even though they are losing potential profits.