Celestyal aims to become well known for cruises in the Arabian Gulf, as it expands beyond its core Adriatic and Aegean offerings.
The cruise line has announced its year-round programmes for 2025, 2026 and early 2027, with a 30% increase in the amount of product on sale, compared to 2023. The increase is thanks to the earlier release of the programme years and the extended year-round season.
Its two ships, which both carry up to 1,260 guests, will now offer Arabian Gulf sailings from next year.
The cruise line launched Celestyal Journey (pictured) in September 2023, followed by Celestyal Discovery, which set sail in March 2024.
Celestyal Journey has already announced seven-night Desert Days cruises for later this year in the Arabian Gulf – and now Celestyal Discovery will also sail the winter sun Arabian Gulf season from 2025.
Celestyal Discovery will operate rotating three- and four-night Iconic Arabia itineraries from November to March, departing from Abu Dhabi.
The three-night cruise costs from £249 while the four-night option is from £309.
The itineraries can be combined into a seven-night Gulf Icons sailing, costing from £569.
The prices are cruise-only but include £65 per person shore excursion discount, full board, select drinks with meals and port and service charges.
More: Celestyal signs Memorandum of Understanding with Abu Dhabi tourism department
Celestyal expands 2025 programme due to ‘unprecedented’ demand
Celestyal expands to year-round cruising with launch of winter 2024-25 programme
Celestyal Journey will homeport from Doha for the Desert Days itinerary, in a three-year partnership with the region. The ship will make maiden calls to Khasab, Dubai, Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.
The itinerary launches on November 9, 2024, with special sailings on offer including festive cruises plus Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix departures.
Alongside the winter sun Arabian Gulf voyages, Celestyal’s core summer Greek and Mediterranean cruises are also on sale.
They feature eight additional seven-night Heavenly Adriatic cruises on Celestyal Journey in 2025 and 13 in 2026 because of “overwhelming” demand for the new-to-2024 itinerary.
Celestyal Discovery will continue to offer three and four-night Iconic Aegean cruises during the summer season.
The announcement means that Celestyal Discovery will no longer sail the Three Continents itinerary. Customers on the six affected departures in November and December 2025 have been contacted in advance and either reimbursed or offered alternative cruises.
Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “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.
“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.
“Across our network we offer two types of cruising. Destination-intensive three- and four-night itineraries are perfect to combine with a land stay and as a bolt-on to a beach or touring holiday, while our classic seven-night cruises are ideal as a holiday in themselves.”