Celestyal Reveals New Arabian Gulf Itineraries and First-Time Port Calls

Celestyal has rolled out plans to bolster its 2025-26 Arabian Gulf winter lineup with four fresh repositioning cruises. These 14-night trips usher in two nations new to the company’s map—Jordan and Saudi Arabia—while spotlighting four ports never before visited by its ships: Aqaba in Jordan, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Muscat in Oman, and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

The cruise line also marks its return to Egypt with these routes, ending a two-year break from the region. This news lands just after the Celestyal Journey steamed back to Greece yesterday, wrapping its stretched-out first maiden season in the Gulf. That debut season began in Doha, Qatar through a three-year deal with the state. It smashed booking goals by 27 percent, the company reported.

“Last year, we committed to offering our guests even more destinations. Whether they are returning travelers or new to cruising, we welcome everyone with the warm hospitality that is at the heart of our heritage,” said Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal. “Our tenth anniversary year will be bigger than ever, beginning with extensive renovations across our fleet and an expanded program featuring two new countries, four new ports of call and a long-awaited return to Egypt,” he added.

Come November 2025, both the Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery will set sail from Athens on 14-night hauls to Abu Dhabi, hitting Port Said, Dubai, and the first-time stops at Sharm El Sheikh, Aqaba, Jeddah, and Muscat. The Journey’s due in Abu Dhabi December 6, syncing with the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, while the Discovery pulls in a day later, December 7, for its own debut.

Fast forward to 2026: both ships turn around with 14-night “Amazing Abu Dhabi to Ancient Athens” voyages. The Discovery leaves on March 6, tracing back to Athens for its Greek summer stretch and Eastern Mediterranean run. The Celestyal Journey follows suit, departing on March 21.

“2024 was a record-breaking year for Celestyal, with our highest-ever bookings. We know this success is thanks to the incredible support of our guests, regional partners, travel agents and staff. As we look ahead, we remain committed to delivering unmissable experiences for our guests,” Haslett noted.

Travelers can book segments of these cruises, ranging four to 13 nights. A four-night journey starts at $339 per person; the full 14-night ride runs $1,029 per person—meals, with all soft drinks, Wi-Fi, port fees, and gratuities included.