
Celestyal Unveils Winter Sun Arabian Gulf Cruises
Celestyal, a global cruise operator, announced the launch of four new 14-night repositioning cruises as part of its winter Sun season in the Arabian Gulf.
The sailings feature two new countries for the brand – Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and five maiden calls – Aqaba in Jordan, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Muscat in Oman, Sharm El Sheikh and Ain Sukhna in Egypt.
The itineraries also mark the cruise line's return to Egypt after a two-year break.
'A new 14-night 'Ancient Athens to Amazing Abu Dhabi' itinerary will be available across the two-ship fleet,' the company said.
The other returning 14-night cruise will be 'Dazzling Doha to Ancient Athens.'
The Celestyal Journey will depart Athens on November 22, 2025, calling at Port Said, with maiden calls to Sharm El Shiekh, Aqaba, Jeddah and Muscat, followed by Dubai, arriving back into Abu Dhabi on December 6, 2025, in time for the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.
Celestyal Discovery will depart Athens on November 28, 2025, charting the same course with an additional call at Kusadasi, Turkey, arriving for her maiden call into Abu Dhabi on December 13, 2025, ahead of its inaugural winter season.
The outbound two-positioning cruises will feature several bookable segments ranging between four and 13 nights, the company said.
The announcement comes following Celestyal Journey's return to Athens this week, following a successful and extended maiden season in the Arabian Gulf.
Bookings were 27 per cent above target for the first season, which saw the ship homeport in Doha, Qatar, as part of a three-year partnership with the state.
Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, said the company's 10th anniversary year will be bigger than ever, beginning with extensive renovations across its fleet and an expanded programme featuring two new countries, five new ports of call, and a long-awaited return to Egypt.
'2024 was a record-breaking year for Celestyal, with our highest-ever bookings, 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,' he said.
Prices start from $339 per person for a four-night voyage to $1029 per person for a 14-night cruise.
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Gulf Insider
04-04-2025
- Gulf Insider
Celestyal Unveils Winter Sun Arabian Gulf Cruises
Celestyal, a global cruise operator, announced the launch of four new 14-night repositioning cruises as part of its winter Sun season in the Arabian Gulf. The sailings feature two new countries for the brand – Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and five maiden calls – Aqaba in Jordan, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Muscat in Oman, Sharm El Sheikh and Ain Sukhna in Egypt. The itineraries also mark the cruise line's return to Egypt after a two-year break. 'A new 14-night 'Ancient Athens to Amazing Abu Dhabi' itinerary will be available across the two-ship fleet,' the company said. The other returning 14-night cruise will be 'Dazzling Doha to Ancient Athens.' The Celestyal Journey will depart Athens on November 22, 2025, calling at Port Said, with maiden calls to Sharm El Shiekh, Aqaba, Jeddah and Muscat, followed by Dubai, arriving back into Abu Dhabi on December 6, 2025, in time for the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. Celestyal Discovery will depart Athens on November 28, 2025, charting the same course with an additional call at Kusadasi, Turkey, arriving for her maiden call into Abu Dhabi on December 13, 2025, ahead of its inaugural winter season. The outbound two-positioning cruises will feature several bookable segments ranging between four and 13 nights, the company said. The announcement comes following Celestyal Journey's return to Athens this week, following a successful and extended maiden season in the Arabian Gulf. Bookings were 27 per cent above target for the first season, which saw the ship homeport in Doha, Qatar, as part of a three-year partnership with the state. Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, said the company's 10th anniversary year will be bigger than ever, beginning with extensive renovations across its fleet and an expanded programme featuring two new countries, five new ports of call, and a long-awaited return to Egypt. '2024 was a record-breaking year for Celestyal, with our highest-ever bookings, 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,' he said. Prices start from $339 per person for a four-night voyage to $1029 per person for a 14-night cruise.


Trade Arabia
15-12-2024
- Trade Arabia
Celestyal luxury cruise ship marks Dubai debut
Celestyal, an award-winning global cruise line that provides its passengers with all-inclusive onboard experiences, marked its maiden call in Dubai on Monday (December 9). Entering the emirate's waters with a dhow escort, the line's newest ship, Celestyal Journey, hosted a plaque exchange ceremony and a star-studded party to kick off the ship's first week-long 'Desert Days' itinerary, which includes sailing roundtrip from Dubai and calling at Bahrain, Khasab, Sir Bani Yas Island and Abu Dhabi. The result of a collaboration between Greek company Celestyal and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) that aims to share the region's extraordinary offerings with the wider world, Celestyal Journey will homeport from the city for the next three years, with passengers already able to book trips. Celestyal's inaugural Arabian Gulf season sails until March 2025. Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer, Celestyal, said: 'Today marks a significant milestone in our history, as we proudly call in Dubai for our first season. The dhow escort into port was a magical moment and the perfect way to officially start our long-term relationship with this captivating destination. We would like to thank our partners in the region and look forward to a successful first season and beyond. Dubai had to be on our Desert Days itinerary because it is such an iconic city and a place we believe our guests need to experience. As a truly global city, it provides the ideal mix of culture, immersion and bucket-list moments for our passengers.' Saud Hareb Almheiri, Cruise Tourism & Yachting Lead at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: 'We are honoured by Celestyal launching its service in Dubai and making our city the homeport for its cruise ship Celestyal Journey, highlighting the city's status as the premier cruise hub of the region. The confidence shown by a global cruise line like Celestyal in choosing Dubai reflects our city's unique value proposition - from our strategic geographic location and world-class maritime infrastructure, to our superior global connectivity and diverse destination offerings - all of which contribute to an unparalleled visitor experience. This has all been made possible thanks to the city's visionary leadership, as well as unwavering support and dedication of our stakeholders and partners, who continue to play a pivotal role in Dubai's growth as a cruise tourism destination. We look forward to welcoming passengers boarding Celestyal Journey and extending to them the warm hospitality that Dubai is renowned for.' Saleh Mohamad, General Manager of Elevate Cruises, said: "This is a monumental occasion not only for Celestyal, but also for the entire cruise industry in this region, which continues to show incredible promise and growth. The Arabian Gulf has long been a hub of culture, commerce, and luxury, and now, thanks to Celestyal, it is poised to become an even more desirable destination for travelers from around the world. "We are thrilled to be part of this journey, and we look forward to working closely together with Celestyal as we collaborate to provide unparalleled luxury and hospitality. At Elevate Cruises, we share a commitment to offering exceptional experiences, and this partnership is a powerful opportunity to bring our shared values to life and create meaningful, personalised journeys for our guests" Next winter, Celestyal Journey will be joined by Celestyal Discovery when it starts its own three-year stint in Abu Dhabi. Offering three-night 'Iconic Arabia' weekend cruises round-trip from Abu Dhabi and calling at Doha, Bahrain and Dubai, Celestyal Discovery will also run a four-night mid-week cruise sailing round trip from Abu Dhabi and calling at Fujairah, Muscat, and Khasab. The remarkable Celestyal Journey boasts 630 suites and staterooms, seven restaurants, eight bars and lounges, two pools and jacuzzis, and an entire deck dedicated to wellness – complete with a spa, fitness, and wellness areas. After a multi-million Euro refurbishment in September 2023, Celestyal Journey received additional upgrades as it set off on its journey to the Middle East from Athens, including enhancements to the Junior Dream Suites and the addition of Café Nation, a popular coffee bar introduced on its sister ship Celestyal Discovery, in March earlier this year.


Bahrain News Gazette
06-12-2024
- Bahrain News Gazette
Bahrain to Receive 12 Cruise Ships During Festive Season 2024.
Manama: Sara Ahmed Buheji, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), announced that Bahrain will receive 12 cruise ships in December as part of the Bahrain Festive Season 2024 celebrations. This initiative aligns with the ongoing efforts to bolster the maritime tourism sector and achieve the goals of the Tourism Strategy 2022-2026. According to Bahrain News Agency, Buheji highlighted the arrival of luxury cruise ships, including the Greek vessel Celestyal Journey on its inaugural visit to the Gulf, the French ship Le Bougainville, and ships from the German AIDA and Swiss-Italian MSC Cruises fleets. These visits underscore Bahrain's status as a leading regional tourist destination, offering diverse attractions to international visitors. The CEO said that the cruise tourists will be able to enjoy Bahrain Festive Season 2024 activities, winter beach tourism, and organised tours to heritage sites, markets, and shopping centres, showcasing Bahrain's distinctive cultural identity. Buheji empha sised that these visits contribute to economic activity, benefiting key sectors such as retail, transport, and services, thereby enhancing tourism's contribution to Bahrain's GDP. She commended the efforts of the Cruise Arabia Alliance, which includes Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Oman, in promoting the Gulf as a unified destination for international tourists and strengthening inter-Gulf tourism. Buheji noted that the alliance has been instrumental in attracting major global cruise operators to the region. She added that the 2024-2025 cruise season, running from November to April, is expected to witness 40 cruise ship visits and receive approximately 100,000 tourists from across the globe, particularly from European countries. The Bahrain Festive Season 2024 features a variety of entertainment activities throughout December, organised in collaboration with the private sector, reinforcing Bahrain's position as a premier regional and international tourist destination.