Experience The Best of the Arabian Gulf with Celestyal’s New Winter Sailings to Abu Dhabi and Jeddah

Published on October 22, 2025

Celestyal Cruises cannot keep the excitement contained, about the telltale crossing of the Suez Canal! One of their most sophisticated cruise liners, the Celestyal Discovery, is anticipated to travel to the Alexandria in the 5-star route of the Mediterranean! Also, while crossing the Suez Canal the Celestyal Journey will be continuing into the luxury Red sea crossing into Jeddah! Celestyal takes pride in their Mediterranean Cruises- including the lengthy cruise from Jeddah into the Mediterranean Sea crossing into the illustrious Greece to Africa with privileged the ports of calls of Turkey, Egypt, and Jordon! Middle Eastern cruise enthusiasts will surely be satisfied with the luxury and expertise of the cruise line Celestyal.

Sky is the limit! Their passion and love of their Mediterranean cruise will take to the unprecedented offering of open-jaw cruises. This is Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cruise! Mediterranean ports of call Kusadasi, Sharm El Sheikh, and Aqaba are simply unprecedented! Crusies in Middle eastern ports are overshadowed by their Mediterranean ports.

Repositioning Voyages to the Arabian Gulf

Starting November 22 and 28, 2025, the Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery will begin their cruises from Athens, Greece. As part of their repositioning voyage, both vessels will cross the Suez Canal. Subsequently, the ships will continue their journeys through the Red Sea sans guests, making their way to Abu Dhabi, UAE to begin their winter seasons.

Guests traveling on these repositioning sections of the cruise enjoy 7-night traverses offering an itinerary that covers multiple areas. These cruises will include Turkey’s Kusadasi, Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh, and Jordan’s Aqaba, and give guests the opportunity to appreciate the region’s incredible history, culture, and beauty. Finally, these voyages immerse travelers in parts of the world that some travelers find difficult to reach through overland routes.

A Warm Welcome to Jeddah and Abu Dhabi

The Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery will proudly position themselves to be the first vessels to arrive as part of the Celestyal repositioning initiative at the Jeddah port in Saudi Arabia. From Jeddah, the ships will continue to Abu Dhabi to begin the winter season.

The company is anticipating a busy season, with the Celestyal Journey releasing a new cruise experience as part of its “Desert Days & Abu Dhabi Grand Prix” sailing, starting December 6, 2025. This cruise is an exclusive, five-night adventure, and will be the first time the company is offering guests the chance to attend the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Special activities around the Grand Prix will be hosted onboard as well as race-themed entertainment to enhance the experience of the guests during the race weekend.

Besides the Grand Prix, the Celestyal Journey will stop in Dubai and Sir Bani Yas, where customers can visit two wonderful destinations in the UAE. The “Desert Days & Abu Dhabi Grand Prix” cruise will probably be one of the most wanted in the season, with its cultural experiences, exciting activities, and luxury cruise offerings.

A New Era for Celestyal Discovery in the Middle East

Starting its first season on the Arabian Gulf, the Celestyal Discovery will make its Middle East debut on December 12, 2025. This cruise will offer a series of three to seven-night sailings which will offer three to seven-night cruise packages Abu Dhabi will be the core point, and Khasab, Doha, and Ras Al-Khaimah will be the first stops. All of the stops offer beautiful views and a rich cultural history which will make for a great cruise experience in the Gulf.

For the cruise line, the Arabian Gulf debut of the Celestyal Discovery marks growth into a new region for the cruise line, one which is increasing in popularity for international tourists. With a variety of itineraries and the Discovery’s luxurious features, the cruise is bound to become a favorite choice for tourists searching for a different kind of cruise in the Middle East.

The Changing Landscape of Middle Eastern Cruises

While most cruise lines have opted not to continue with their scheduled Middle Eastern seasons due to safety and geopolitical issues, the announcement of new Celestyal voyages to the region is, perhaps, the most vocable statement to date regarding Celestyal’s confidence in the stability and attractiveness of the Middle Eastern cruise industry. It is undeniable that Middle Eastern countries have been drawing increasing international interest in the region.

Looking Ahead: Celestyal’s Future in the Arabian Gulf

Celestyal expands into the Arabian Gulf because the cruise line head to new geographic markets. Celestyal is sending its two vessels, the Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery, to the Gulf this winter. Celestyal is positioned to become a major cruise line in this new geographic market.

This winter Celestyal will also diversify its customer base. Passengers will include sports fans traveling to the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi and those interested in the culture and history of the Middle East. Celestyal is invested in geopolitical positioning and centered immersive travel. All this suggests a growing presence in Arabian Gulf cruise industry.