Celestyal Expands Fleet and Itineraries in the Arabian Gulf and Beyond from 2025
Celestyal Expands Fleet and Itineraries in the Arabian Gulf and Beyond from 2025
Celestyal Cruises has announced a significant expansion of its fleet and itineraries for 2025, 2026, and early 2027, promising a 30% increase in capacity compared to the previous year. This includes the introduction of new ‘Iconic Arabia’ cruises and 21 Adriatic cruises over the next two years.
From 2025, the newest addition to the fleet, Celestyal Discovery, will join Celestyal Journey in offering year-round Arabian Gulf sailings. The Celestyal Discovery will take over the winter sun season, starting from November 2025, offering a variety of short itineraries from Abu Dhabi:
Three-night ‘Iconic Arabia’ cruise: Departing from Abu Dhabi, visiting Doha (Qatar) and Sir Bani Yas Island (UAE), with prices starting at £249 per person.
Four-night ‘Iconic Arabia’ cruise: Departing from Abu Dhabi, visiting Fujairah (UAE), Muscat, and Khasab (Oman), with prices starting at £309 per person.
Seven-night ‘Gulf Icons’ cruise: A combination of the above itineraries, starting at £569 per person.
Meanwhile, the Celestyal Journey will be homeported in Doha for its ‘Desert Days’ itinerary as part of a three-year partnership with the region. This includes maiden calls to destinations like Khasab, Dubai, Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain, with an option for guests to start and end their cruise in Dubai. The itinerary launches on 9th November 2024, featuring special sailings for festive events and the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
In addition to the Arabian Gulf voyages, Celestyal will continue its core summer cruises in Greece and the Mediterranean. Due to high demand, the company is adding eight ‘Heavenly Adriatic’ cruises in 2025 and 13 in 2026. These cruises explore Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, and Italy.
Key itineraries for the Mediterranean and Aegean season include:
‘Heavenly Adriatic’ cruise: A seven-night journey from Athens, with stops in Dubrovnik, Kefalonia, Kotor, Bari, Corfu, and Katakolo, priced from £709 per person.
‘Heavenly Adriatic (with Venice, Marghera)’ cruise: Similar to the above but includes stops in Kotor, Split, Venice (Marghera), and Katakolo, starting at £709 per person.
‘Idyllic Aegean’ cruise: Available in 2025 and 2026, this seven-night cruise departs from Athens and visits Kusadasi (Ephesus), Rhodes, Crete, Santorini, Milos, and Mykonos, with prices from £709 per person.
Combination cruises: The ‘Idyllic Aegean’ can be combined with the ‘Heavenly Adriatic’ for 14-night voyages, starting at £1169 per person.
Celestyal Discovery will also offer shorter itineraries in the summer, such as the three-night ‘Iconic Aegean’ and four-night ‘Iconic Aegean’ cruises, departing from Athens and visiting iconic Greek destinations, with prices starting at £269 and £349 per person, respectively.
Celestyal Discovery was launched in March 2024, following the launch of Celestyal Journey in September 2023. Both ships can accommodate up to 1,260 guests.
Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, stated, “An impressive 86% of our guests tell us they want to come back to Celestyal, so we’re delivering on our commitment to broaden our programmes. We’re renowned as the cruise specialists of the Greek islands and Mediterranean and, thanks to the commitment of the region and this overwhelming support from our customers and trusted partners, we are now confident in becoming the go-to cruise specialists of the Arabian Gulf.”
He added, “We offer two types of cruising: destination-intensive three- and four-night itineraries perfect for combining with a land stay, and classic seven-night cruises ideal for a complete holiday experience. With our award-winning service, newly refurbished ships, immersive shore excursions, diverse food and beverage options, and unparalleled customer satisfaction, we look forward to showcasing everything Celestyal has to offer to a wider audience.”
Celestyal Discovery will no longer operate the ‘Three Continents’ itinerary. Customers affected by this change have been contacted and offered reimbursements or alternative cruises.
For more information, visit Celestyal Cruises or call 0808 258 4170.