Celestyal has solidified its Arabian Gulf program, deploying the Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery starting in December 2025, building on the success of their inaugural 2024-25 season. The company announced a 211 percent capacity increase year-over-year, introducing new itineraries to enhance its presence in the region.

John Diorio, managing director and vice president of business development North America at Celestyal, said: “Our maiden Arabian Gulf season firmly established Celestyal as a standout in the region, with exceptional feedback from both guests and our trade partners.”

“Listening to that feedback, we’re enhancing our deployment with two new seven-night Athens-to-Jeddah sailings that highlight even more of Egypt’s diverse beauty, calling at Port Said, Sharm el Sheikh, Safaga, plus Marmaris or Kusadasi in Turkey, and Aqaba before concluding in Jeddah,” added Diorio.

Celestyal has updated its “Ancient Athens to Amazing Abu Dhabi” sailings, originally set for November 22, 2025, on the Celestyal Journey and November 28, 2025, on the Celestyal Discovery. These have been replaced with two new seven-night Athens-to-Jeddah itineraries departing on the same dates. The Celestyal Journey will visit Marmaris, Turkey, three Egyptian ports (Port Said, Sharm el Sheikh, and Safaga), and conclude in Jeddah. The Celestyal Discovery will call at Kusadasi, Turkey, two Egyptian ports (Sharm el Sheikh and Safaga), and end in Jeddah. Six-night segments from the Turkish ports are also available.

Most guests booked on the original Athens-to-Jeddah segments will be unaffected, though some may experience port changes or shorter sailings. After these cruises, both ships will continue from Jeddah to Abu Dhabi to begin the Arabian Gulf season as planned.

The Celestyal Journey kicks off the season on December 6, 2025, with a celebratory Abu Dhabi Grand Prix cruise, followed by the seven-night “Desert Days” itinerary for the remainder of the season. The Celestyal Discovery will launch its inaugural Arabian Gulf season on December 12, 2025, offering new three-, four-, and seven-night “Iconic Arabia” cruises.