Celestyal Cruises Makes New Record With First Stops In Jordan And Saudi Arabia

Celestyal is expanding its horizons for the 2025-26 winter season by launching new itineraries in the Persian Gulf, marking its debut in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Known for its boutique cruises around the Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean, the line is now venturing further afield with an ambitious schedule that includes multiple first-time destinations.

Following a record-setting year in 2024, Celestyal is also making a long-awaited return to Egypt after a two-year hiatus. The newly announced voyages will feature 14-night repositioning cruises with stops in Aqaba (Jordan), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Muscat (Oman), and Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), among others.

Both ships in the fleet will transition from Athens to Abu Dhabi this fall. The Celestyal Journey will depart on November 22 and arrive in Abu Dhabi by December 6, perfectly timed for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. From there, it will begin a series of seven-night “Desert Days” cruises in the Persian Gulf, with featured calls including Sir Bani Yas Island in the UAE and Mina Salman-Manama in Bahrain.

The Celestyal Discovery will embark on a similar repositioning cruise from Athens on November 28, offering all the same stops as the Journey but adding a visit to Kusadasi, Turkey. Once in the Gulf, the Discovery will kick off its first-ever winter season in the region, offering three-, four-, and seven-night “Iconic Arabia” cruises. The ship is scheduled to homeport in the Persian Gulf for the next three consecutive winter seasons.

Celestyal has mapped out a spring 2026 return to Greece for both of its ships, wrapping up their winter deployments in the Persian Gulf. The Celestyal Discovery is scheduled to depart Abu Dhabi on March 6, followed by the Celestyal Journey on March 21. Each ship will make the journey back to the Mediterranean on a 14-night itinerary.

Travelers won’t need to commit to the full voyage, as all four repositioning cruises will be divided into shorter bookable segments ranging from four to 13 nights, offering more flexibility for guests.

This expansion into the Persian Gulf comes after a successful inaugural season in the region, where the Celestyal Journey operated an extended schedule. The cruise line reported demand exceeded expectations, with bookings coming in 27% higher than projected for the season.

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