Greece Based Celestyal Cruises Scraps UAE and Saudi Arabia Arabian Gulf Winter Sailings as Iran and United States Tensions Keep Strait of Hormuz Unstable

Written By: Rituparna Dutta Choudhury

Rituparna Dutta Choudhury

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May 30, 2026 14:01 GMT+5:30

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A major winter cruise reshuffle has been confirmed after the Celestyal Cruises Arabian programme was withdrawn for the 2026/2027 winter season. The move has been shaped by rising instability linked to the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Gulf deployments, and the wider tensions involving Iran and the United States. As a result, planned sailings connected with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Jeddah have been removed from the schedule.

The decision has placed passenger safety, ship movement, and route certainty at the centre of the cruise line planning process. For many travellers, the Arabian Gulf had been viewed as a growing winter cruise region. However, the current situation has made long-term deployment risky for a small fleet. In response, Mediterranean sailings have been expanded, with Greece, Italy, Croatia, and nearby ports being positioned as stronger alternatives. The change is expected to affect guests, travel providers, port planning, and winter cruise demand across the region.

Arabian Gulf Programme Removed From the 2026 and 2027 Winter Calendar

The cancellation of all Arabian Gulf deployments for the 2026/2027 winter season has been announced by Celestyal Cruises. The decision covers a wide range of planned sailings that had been scheduled around Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Jeddah. These ports had been included as important bases for the cruise line winter programme in the Arabian Gulf.

A total of 51 sailings aboard Celestyal Discovery had been planned between November 20, 2026, and March 11, 2027. In addition, 34 sailings aboard Celestyal Journey had been scheduled between November 14, 2026, and March 26, 2027. Both deployments have now been removed from the winter plan.

The cancellations have been linked to recent developments in the US and Iran conflict and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. As the waterway remains unstable for commercial movement, the cruise line has chosen not to place its ships and passengers in a situation where sailings may be disrupted again.

The decision reflects a cautious operational approach. Cruise schedules are built months in advance, and any uncertainty around a key maritime passage can affect ports, fuel planning, crew movement, guest flights, and wider logistics. For a cruise line with only two ships, the risk has been considered even greater.

Guests To Be Offered Refunds or Future Cruise Credit

Guests affected by the cancelled Arabian Gulf programme are expected to be contacted by Celestyal Cruises or by the original travel provider used for the booking. A full refund or future cruise credit for another sailing will be offered.

This step is important for travellers who had planned winter holidays in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and wider Arabian Gulf region. Many passengers may have arranged flights, hotels, transfers, or additional land stays around Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or Jeddah. The cruise line response is expected to help guests move their plans towards alternative sailings.

Future cruise credit may also support demand for the expanded Mediterranean programme. With Greece, Italy and Croatia being added more strongly into the replacement schedule, affected travellers will have a chance to shift towards ports that are already familiar within the Celestyal Cruises product range.

The cancellation will also be felt by travel agents and tour operators. Winter cruise bookings often form part of larger holiday packages. When an entire seasonal deployment is removed, travel providers must rework guest choices, adjust itineraries, and explain the shift in clear terms.

Mediterranean Sailings Expanded as a Safer Replacement Plan

As the Arabian Gulf programme has been removed, the Mediterranean offer has been expanded. Ten new sailings have been added to the current programme. These cruises are designed to provide alternative travel options during the same broad winter period.

Celestyal Discovery will add six extra Iconic Greek Islands sailings. Two of these sailings will take place in November 2026, while four will be operated in March 2027. These itineraries will run for three to four nights and will focus on compact Greek island travel.

The ports included in these sailings are Athens, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Rhodes, and Santorini. These destinations are known for short-distance cruising, cultural visits, island scenery, and strong appeal among travellers seeking a quick Mediterranean escape.

Celestyal Journey will add four Mediterranean sailings in March 2027. Two of these will be Heavenly Greece, Italy, and Croatia sailings. Two others will be Idyllic Greece sailings. These seven-night cruises will allow the ship to remain within a more stable operating region while still offering a varied destination mix.

The Heavenly Greece, Italy, and Croatia itineraries will include Athens, Kefalonia, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Bari, Corfu, and Katakolon. The Idyllic Greece itinerary will include Athens, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, and Milos.

Greece, Italy and Croatia Gain More Importance in the Revised Cruise Plan

The revised programme gives greater weight to Greece, Italy, and Croatia. These countries are now being used to absorb demand that was previously expected to move towards the Arabian Gulf. This shift gives the Mediterranean a stronger role in the 2026/2027 winter season for Celestyal Cruises.

Athens will remain a key cruise hub in the replacement programme. The Greek capital is expected to anchor several itineraries, offering access to island routes and wider regional voyages. Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Milos, Patmos, and Kefalonia will also gain additional exposure through the new sailings.

Italy will be represented through Bari, while Croatia will be included through Dubrovnik. Kotor will also be included as part of the wider Adriatic route. These destinations allow the cruise line to build a varied itinerary that combines coastal cities, island landscapes, heritage ports, and cultural visits.

The shift may also help travellers who prefer shorter flight connections within Europe. For many European guests, Mediterranean cruising can be easier to reach than the UAE or Saudi Arabia. This may support rebooking activity and reduce the risk of guests cancelling cruise plans entirely.

Strait of Hormuz Instability Creates Serious Cruise Planning Pressure

The Strait of Hormuz has remained central to the cruise line decision. The passage is a key maritime route for ships entering and leaving the Arabian Gulf. When access is uncertain or effectively closed, cruise operations can be severely affected.

Several cruise lines have been affected by the continuing conflicts in the Arabian Gulf region. However, Celestyal Cruises was affected more heavily because its entire two-ship fleet became trapped in the region for months. Larger operators such as MSC and TUI Cruises had other ships operating elsewhere, but Celestyal Cruises had less flexibility due to its smaller fleet size.

Passengers onboard had to be repatriated quickly, and several later cruises were cancelled. This earlier experience appears to have shaped the decision not to return to the Arabian Gulf during the unstable 2026/2027 winter season.

Celestyal Discovery was the first cruise ship to leave the Gulf on April 17, 2026, after being stuck since February. The 42,289 gross ton ship was originally built in 2003 as AIDAaura. It has been operated by Celestyal Cruises since 2023 and has been used for Greek Island and Arabian Gulf cruises.

Celestyal Journey left the region one day later, on April 18, 2026. The ship had also been trapped for the same period. The 55,819 gross ton vessel was first completed in 1994 for Holland America Line as Ryndam. It changed hands several times before joining Celestyal Cruises in 2023.

UAE and Saudi Arabia Cruise Tourism Faces a Temporary Setback

The cancellation creates a setback for cruise tourism linked to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Jeddah had been positioned as important turnaround or deployment points for the winter programme. These cities have been part of the wider effort to grow cruise travel in the Arabian Gulf.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have strong tourism infrastructure, modern ports, airport links, hotels, and shore excursion options. Jeddah has also been gaining attention as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its tourism and cruise appeal. However, cruise lines depend on safe and predictable sea routes. Without reliable passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the region becomes harder to programme with confidence.

The decision by Celestyal Cruises does not remove the long-term appeal of the Arabian Gulf as a cruise market. However, it shows that geopolitical uncertainty can quickly reshape deployment decisions. For guests, the main concern remains confidence. For cruise lines, the main priority remains the safe operation of ships and the ability to complete itineraries as planned.

More Western Mediterranean Itineraries Expected

Further itinerary changes are expected to be announced by Celestyal Cruises. New western Mediterranean sailings for the 2026/2027 winter season are expected to be revealed later. These additions may give affected guests more options beyond Greece, Italy, Croatia, and the existing Mediterranean routes.

The western Mediterranean could allow the cruise line to widen its winter offer while reducing exposure to the Arabian Gulf. Such itineraries may also help maintain booking momentum, protect fleet utilisation, and support the cruise line commercial plan during a disrupted season.

For passengers, the coming updates will be important. Travellers who had planned Arabian Gulf holidays may wait to see whether the new western Mediterranean programme provides routes, dates, and prices that match their original expectations.

The withdrawal of Celestyal Cruises from the Arabian Gulf for the 2026/2027 winter season has been shaped by instability around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider tensions involving Iran and the United States. The decision affects planned sailings from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Jeddah, creating a major change for cruise tourism in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

At the same time, Greece, Italy, Croatia, and the wider Mediterranean are being placed at the heart of the replacement plan. With new sailings added for Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, travellers are being offered safer and more predictable alternatives. The move shows how quickly cruise routes can be reshaped when regional security, maritime access, and passenger confidence are placed under pressure.