Celestyal Arabian Gulf cruises set for winter 2025

Published on Sep 23, 2025, 7:38 pm CDT

5 min read

Celestyal will return to the Arabian Gulf with two ships after a strong 2024 to 2025 debut, confirming Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery for the 2025 to 2026 season. The line has also replaced its planned 14-night "Ancient Athens to Amazing Abu Dhabi" repositionings with two seven-night one-way sailings from Athens to Jeddah on November 22 and November 28, 2025, creating simpler air planning and more flexible segment options.

Key Points

Why it matters: Two ships, more capacity, and simpler repositionings signal staying power in the Gulf.
Travel impact: One-way Athens-Jeddah sailings add six-night segments from Turkey for easier fits.
What's next: F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix cruise on December 6, then Desert Days and Iconic Arabia.

Snapshot

On November 22, 2025, Celestyal Journey will sail Athens to Jeddah via Marmaris and three Egypt calls, Port Said, Sharm el Sheikh, and Safaga. On November 28, Celestyal Discovery will run a sister route via Kusadasi, then Sharm el Sheikh and Safaga, also ending in Jeddah. Six-night segments can be booked from the Turkish ports. Most existing guests keep similar patterns, though some will see shorter trips or altered calls, with protected commission for advisors. After arrival in Saudi Arabia, both ships continue to Abu Dhabi for the winter program. Journey opens December 6 with a celebratory Abu Dhabi Grand Prix cruise, then switches to seven-night Desert Days. Discovery debuts December 12 with new three-, four-, and seven-night Iconic Arabia options.

Background

Celestyal has been expanding beyond its Aegean base, leaning into winter-sun demand and shorter flight times from key European source markets. Its two-ship model emphasizes port-intensive weeks and modular short breaks, wrapped in near-inclusive pricing that simplifies comparisons. The Arabian Gulf buildout adds marquee event tie-ins and family-friendly pacing, while keeping ships small enough for longer port days. Recent commercial moves support this pivot. The brand rolled out packaging under Celestyal Sail & Stay Simplifies Cruise-Land Packaging, extended promotions like Celestyal Sail & Save: up to 50% off, kids sail free, and previewed longer-range Gulf homeports in Celestyal Cruises Unveils 2027-28 Itineraries Across the Med and Gulf. Together, these moves point to a durable winter footprint.

Latest Developments

Athens to Jeddah replaces long repositionings

Celestyal has swapped its 14-night Athens-Abu Dhabi repositionings for two seven-night one-ways to Jeddah on November 22 and November 28, 2025. Journey adds Marmaris plus three Egypt ports, Port Said, Sharm el Sheikh, and Safaga. Discovery adds Kusadasi plus Sharm el Sheikh and Safaga. Travelers can also book six-night segments beginning in Marmaris or Kusadasi, allowing easier calendar fits and mixed air gateways. The change tightens schedules ahead of winter deployment without sacrificing variety across Turkey and the Red Sea. Advisors report minimal disruption, as most bookings map to similar patterns on the same dates.

Season launch, event tie-ins, and core weeks

After the Red Sea transits, both ships continue to Abu Dhabi to start the season. Celestyal Journey opens on December 6, 2025, with an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix celebratory cruise that bundles race access options, then pivots to a weekly Desert Days loop. Celestyal Discovery begins December 12 with new three-, four-, and seven-night Iconic Arabia patterns centered on Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sir Bani Yas, Ras Al Khaimah, Khasab, and Muscat. The mix supports family short breaks, event weekends, and back-to-back weeks for longer stays. Lead-in pricing and package inclusions vary by date and ticket type for the F1 add-ons.

Guest impact and trade handling

Celestyal says most guests will not be affected by the switch, though some will shift ports or move to shorter itineraries. The line has notified travel partners, honored protected commission, and supplied rebooking options. For planners, six-night segments from Turkey simplify air into Athens and out of Jeddah, while keeping core Egypt calls intact. Trade communication highlights the winter capacity lift, two-ship presence, and a more modular book-by-segment approach that can unlock additional cabin categories close-in.

Analysis

Celestyal's move addresses three pain points at once, air planning, event timing, and short-break demand. Switching from a pair of two-week repositionings to one-week Athens-Jeddah sailings compresses the travel window, reduces vacation burn, and opens the door to six-night segments from Marmaris or Kusadasi. That is friendlier for European flyers and for North Americans using open-jaw tickets through the Gulf. Aligning arrival with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix provides a headline hook and strengthens relationships with regional stakeholders. It also positions the brand against larger players that lean on marquee events to fill shoulder weeks. Once in place, the Discovery's three- and four-night Iconic Arabia rotations serve family calendars, while the Journey's Desert Days offers a classic seven-night anchor with longer port time. Packaging and promos already in market through Celestyal Sail & Save: up to 50% off, kids sail free and Celestyal Sail & Stay Simplifies Cruise-Land Packaging help advisors stitch air, hotel, and event tickets into a single, predictable quote. Net, the company trades a complex reposition for modular weeks that better match how travelers actually book.

Final Thoughts

For winter-sun seekers, the pivot delivers clearer choices and cleaner air itineraries, with Athens-Jeddah one-ways feeding directly into Gulf homeports. The F1 kickoff adds sizzle, the weekly Desert Days sets a steady rhythm, and Iconic Arabia gives families short-break flexibility. If you want longer port days without megaship crowds, watch these dates, hold air early, and consider stacking segments. The setup suggests strong yields and limited last-minute inventory, particularly around event weeks. Expect a brisk season for Celestyal Arabian Gulf cruises.