Celestyal Cruises has formalized a strategic partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and AD Ports Group, signaling a significant enhancement of its presence in the Arabian Gulf region.
As part of this agreement, Celestyal will deploy two vessels—Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery—to the Arabian Gulf for the winter 2025–2026 season. Celestyal Journey is scheduled to return on December 6, 2025, followed by the inaugural arrival of Celestyal Discovery on December 12, 2025.
Celestyal Journey will continue offering its established 7-night “Desert Days” itinerary, featuring ports of call in Bahrain, Dubai, Khasab, Sir Bani Yas Island, and Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Celestyal Discovery will operate shorter 3- and 4-night “Iconic Arabia” cruises, departing from Abu Dhabi and visiting destinations such as Doha, Fujairah, Muscat, and Khasab. These shorter itineraries can be combined to create a comprehensive seven-night “Gulf Icons” voyage.
This expansion reflects Celestyal's commitment to establishing a stronger foothold in the Middle East cruise market, offering diverse itinerary options to cater to varying passenger preferences.