Small ship line Celestyal has scrapped two European cruises scheduled for later this month due to the ‘complex situation’ in repositioning its vessels from the Arabian Gulf. The scheduled March 20 three-night Iconic Aegean cruise and the following four-night sailing aboard Celestyal Discovery have been cancelled. The company is finalising its planned departure from the region back to the Mediterranean. It confirmed all guests on Celestyal Discovery have disembarked in Dubai, while the remaining guests on Celestyal Journey, in Doha are expected to be disembarked by today. The ships are preparing to depart the Gulf on approval from the relevant authorities. Guests booked on the cancelled sailings are being offered a choice of a full refund or a future cruise credit. “Since military activity began in the Gulf, our teams have been working around the clock to support guests and manage a highly complex situation,” said Celestyal CEO Chris Theophilides. Theophilides said most guests disembarked in Dubai have secured flights home although some remain in the UAE due to flight availability. “As guest repatriation nears completion, our focus turns to the safe return of our vessels to the Mediterranean,” Theophilides added.

  Celestyal has unveiled a new trade booking incentive, giving travel agents the opportunity to earn up to £150 shopping vouchers per booking on selected sailings.   The incentive applies to all new bookings made from today (February 20) to March 31, 2026, and runs alongside the recently launched ‘Big Savings for a Big Summer’ campaign.   Agents will receive £50 worth of vouchers on any booking made in the period, increasing to £100 per booking for sailings departing in June, July and August 2026, as well as the Qatar F1 sailing departing November 27, 2026 and the Abu Dhabi F1 cruise sailing December 4, 2026. The incentive rises further to £150 per booking on the Athens to Jeddah repositioning sailings in November 2026 and the return Jeddah to Athens cruises, departing March 2027.   To claim, agents must email their booking references to [email protected] by April 6, 2026.   The incentive runs alongside Celestyal’s recently launched ‘Big Savings for a Big Summer’ campaign, which offers savings of up to 50%, up to €200 CelestyalPay for speciality dining and bar beverages, and free places for third and fourth guests. It applies to 100 sailings across the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf in 2026 and 2027.   Dan Buckingham, director retail & UK partnerships at Celestyal, said: “Our trade partners play a pivotal role in driving awareness of Celestyal, and this enhanced incentive is designed to reward that support at a key booking period. Running alongside our ‘Big Savings for a Big Summer’ campaign, it gives agents a compelling story to tell - exceptional value for their clients, combined with simple, generous rewards for themselves. From peak summer sailings to our Grand Prix departures and repositioning voyages, we’re creating strong commercial opportunities across the full breadth of our programme.”

  Celestyal has unveiled its new ‘Big Savings for a Big Summer’ campaign, valid across 100 Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf sailings in 2026 and 2027.   Running from February 20 to March 31, 2026, the promotion combines savings of up to 50% with up to €200 CelestyalPay, which can be used onboard for speciality restaurant dining and bar beverages and cocktails. Third and fourth guests will also sail free* when sharing a cabin with two full-fare paying guests on select sailings.   The campaign applies to 63 Mediterranean and Greek Isles voyages and 37 Arabian Gulf sailings, departing from February 2026 to November 2027.   Mediterranean departures include Celestyal’s three and four-night ‘Iconic Greek Islands’ cruises, the ‘Idyllic Greece’ and ‘Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia’ seven-night sailings and the 14-night ‘Mediterranean Icons’ voyages, all sailing roundtrip from Athens. The newly introduced ‘Athens to Jeddah’ repositioning cruises are also available. Prices start from £379pp for a three-night sailing and £719pp for a seven-night sailing.   Arabian Gulf itineraries include the seven-night ‘Desert Days’, roundtrip from Dubai or Doha with an overnight in Dubai, alongside three, four and seven-night ‘Iconic Arabia’ cruises, roundtrip from Abu Dhabi. Prices start from £279pp for a three-night sailing and £569pp for a seven-night sailing.   Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “Our ‘Big Savings for a Big Summer’ campaign brings together what Celestyal does best - premium casual cruising with destination immersion and standout value. Guests can explore both iconic and rising star destinations across the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf, with immersive itineraries, longer stays and meaningful experiences ashore, wrapped into one simple, value-packed fare.”   Fares are inclusive of all meals, soft drinks, WiFi, port fees and gratuities.

 

• Two new F1-themed departures will set sail in the Arabian Gulf
• Both Celestyal ships to sail the Arabian Gulf for the line’s third consecutive season

  Celestyal has announced two new F1 sailings for its 2026/27 Arabian Gulf season.   On November 27, 2026, the 1260-guest Celestyal Journey will be in Doha, for an eight-night Doha F1 itinerary. The ship will stay in port for three nights, allowing guests to watch all practice sessions, qualifying and race day events*. They will then sail from Doha, visiting Dubai, UAE (overnight); Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island, UAE; and Khalifa Bin Salman, Bahrain.  Prices start from £659pp.   On December 4, 2026, the 1360-guest Celestyal Discovery will be in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for a seven-night Abu Dhabi F1 itinerary. Similarly, the ship will stay in port for three nights, allowing guests to watch all practice sessions, qualifying and race day events*. They will then depart Abu Dhabi on a four-night ‘Iconic Arabia’ sailing, calling at Doha, Qatar; Ras Al Khaimah, UAE; and Khasab, Oman. Prices start from £689pp.   Fares include all meals, soft drinks, WiFi, port fees and gratuities. Race tickets will be available to purchase via Celestyal, with travel agents able to pre-register for tickets via the line’s agency sales team.   Celestyal Journey will then continue her Arabian Gulf season, operating a new version of the seven-night ‘Desert Days’ itinerary through to March 2027, sailing roundtrip from Doha and calling at Dubai (overnight), Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island and Bahrain.   Celestyal Discovery, also operating through to March 2027, will sail the line’s three-, four- and seven-night ‘Iconic Arabia’ cruises, sailing roundtrip from Abu Dhabi, calling at Doha, Khasab, Dubai, Sir Bani Yas Island and Ras Al Khaimah.   Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “Returning to the Arabian Gulf for a third consecutive season with both of our ships is a significant milestone for Celestyal, and a clear reflection of the demand we continue to see for this region. Our previous Formula 1 sailings have been some of the most successful and talked-about itineraries we have ever operated, combining world-class sporting events with immersive destinations and the ease of a cruise holiday.   “Building on that momentum, our new Doha and Abu Dhabi F1 sailings for 2026 offer guests even more time in port, seamless access to race-weekend action and the opportunity to explore the Gulf in depth, all wrapped into the value-led, destination-rich experience Celestyal is known for.”

  Celestyal has announced two new sailings from Athens to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for their 2026 programme.   Celestyal Journey will depart on November 14, and operate a seven-night voyage with calls at Port Said and Safaga, Egypt; a Suez Canal transit; Aqaba, Jordan; and Jeddah. Prices start from £609pp.   Celestyal Discovery will depart on an eight-night voyage on November 20, calling at the same destinations as well as Kusadasi, Turkey. A seven-night segment will also be available from Kusadasi. Prices start from £709pp.   Following these departures, both ships will continue their passage from Jeddah to the Arabian Gulf, enabling them to commence their winter seasons.   Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “The strong demand for our Athens to Jeddah sailings last year confirmed the growing appeal of longer, destination-led voyages that connect both iconic and lesser-known ports across these popular regions. Building on that success, these new sailings allow us to offer guests a truly unmissable journey while also providing a seamless transition into our third consecutive Arabian Gulf season.”   Celestyal Journey will continue her Arabian Gulf season, operating a new version of the seven-night ‘Desert Days’ itinerary through to March 2027, sailing roundtrip from Doha and calling at Dubai (overnight), Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island and Bahrain.   Celestyal Discovery, also operating through to March 2027, will sail the line’s three-, four- and seven-night ‘Iconic Arabia’ cruises, sailing roundtrip from Abu Dhabi, calling at Doha, Khasab, Dubai, Sir Bani Yas Island and Ras Al Khaimah.   As a result of the new schedule, the three-night ‘Iconic Greek Islands’ sailing departing November 20, will be cancelled.   All travel partners with impacted travellers have been notified, assured protected commission and provided with updated information and guest rebooking options.

  Celestyal has reported strong early success from its current Wave campaign, the ‘Unmissable Sale’, driving revenue growth and increased demand across key global markets.   The offer includes savings of up to 50%, up to €500 speciality food and beverage credit and up to £180 shore excursion credit per cabin on select sailings.   The campaign has delivered an increase in global revenues, trading +51% compared with the same time last year and +23% against the cruise line’s initial ambitions.   The UK has been one of Celestyal’s strongest performing markets, with revenue up +82% year-on-year, driven by high demand for peak summer sailings and strong engagement from the trade.   As a result of current demand, Celestyal has added seven additional departures of its ‘Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia’ itinerary, alongside four extra sailings of the ‘Idyllic Aegean’ to the promotion, while extending the offer until February 19.   The number of sailings now included in the Unmissable Sale is almost 200.   Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “Wave is always a critical trading period for us, and this year’s performance clearly shows the appetite for sailings that offer genuine destination immersion and strong value. The response from both our travellers and travel trade partners has been exceptional, and extending the Unmissable Sale allows us to maintain momentum while supporting our agents through the remainder of Wave.”   The campaign runs alongside the agent incentive ‘Sell 3, Sail Free’, also applicable for new bookings until February 19. Agents who sell three of the cruise line’s three or four-night sailings will be eligible to secure a four-night Arabian Gulf cruise. Those who sell two seven-night itineraries as part of the three, can secure a seven-night Arabian Gulf voyage. To claim the free sailing*, agents need to email [email protected].

  Celestyal has completed the rollout of in-cabin guest experience tablets across all 630 cabins on Celestyal Journey, becoming the first cruise line to introduce SuitePad tablets across its stateroom accommodation.   The tablets, provided by SuitePad, are now available to all travellers sailing onboard the 1,260-guest ship. Designed to streamline onboard services and simplify how information is communicated, the technology allows guests to manage key aspects of their cruise directly from their cabin.   Through the tablets, travellers can make service requests and purchases via the onboard shops, order room service, request a cabin upgrade and reserve tables at speciality restaurants. They can also access essential information including deck plans and onboard entertainment schedules, replacing printed schedules and flyers.   Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “Technology should always make the cruising experience feel easier and more intuitive for our travellers, and that’s exactly what these tablets are designed to do. Our guests now have more control at their fingertips, while we also create smarter, more seamless ways to connect them with our onboard offering. It’s a great example of how we continue to invest in guest satisfaction across our fleet.”   Moritz von-Petersdorf-Campen, CEO at SuitePad, said: “Cruise ships combine many of the service elements guests know from hotels, while offering a uniquely rich onboard experience. With Celestyal, we’re extending our hospitality expertise to support clear, timely communication in the cabin, giving passengers an easy way to explore what’s available onboard and helping crew teams stay connected with guests throughout the journey.”   Celestyal Journey operates year-round, offering sailings across the Greek Islands and Mediterranean from April to November, and the Arabian Gulf from November to March.

  Celestyal has been awarded the Gold Feefo Trusted Service Award, recognising the cruise line’s consistently high levels of customer service, based entirely on verified guest feedback.   The Gold award is Feefo’s highest standard of recognition for service excellence and is presented to brands that achieve a service rating between 4.5 and 5, based on reviews from customers. The accolade reflects feedback collected throughout 2025 from guests who sailed with Celestyal across its Greek Islands, Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf programmes.   Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “Winning a Gold Feefo Award is something we are incredibly proud of, because it comes directly from our travellers and travel agent partners. This recognition is a credit to our onboard crew and our teams ashore, who consistently go above and beyond to deliver the kind of genuine, personal service that defines the Celestyal experience. I want to thank every member of the team for the care and passion they bring to their roles every day.”   Celestyal offers year-round cruises through their fleet of two mid-sized ships. The 1260-guest Celestyal Journey and 1360-guest Celestyal Discovery sail across the Greek Islands and Mediterranean between April and November, and offer winter sun in the Arabian Gulf from November to March.   The line’s current campaign, ‘The Unmissable Sale’, runs until February 19. The offer includes savings of up to 50% off, up to €500 speciality food and beverage credit and up to £180 shore excursion credit per cabin on select sailings.

Celebrity Xcel has unveiled full details if its Mediterranean-inspired festivals at sea. There will be four destination specific festivals at The Bazaar. The themed happenings are designed for guests to continue experiencing the sights, sounds, flavors and traditions of the Mediterranean after leaving the port. “Since the concept launched on Celebrity Xcel in November, The Bazaar has kept guests enveloped in the culture of destinations well beyond their time in port,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. Programming is designed to blend onboard and in-port experiences. Opa Festival immerses guests in the traditions of Greece. By day, it celebrates Greek culture with iconic cuisine and hands-on activities like "Mati" evil eye jewellery crafts. The even brings live musicians and dancing. La Dolce Vita Festival is all about Italy. Guests enjoy hands-on experiences like the art of making pastas and tiramisu before an elegant Venetian night of entertainment. Salud Festival is a celebration of Spain sipping sangria and sampling local dishes. The evening ramps up with flamenco dancers and matadors. Silk & Spice Festival invites guests on a sensory journey through the spices, dances, and music inspired by the cultures of Morocco and Turkey. During the day, guests can sip fragrant teas and enjoy hands-on activities. At night, energetic music and whirling dancers will captivate guests. In a first-of-its-kind concept, no two days are the same, the cruise line says. Each event showcases local food and beverage, crafting experiences, retail activations, cooking and dance classes and local musicians. On sea days, Market at The Bazaar invites guests to take home produce of Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Morocco. It comprises regional artisan produced gifts such as olive oil, Italian scarves, or handmade painted tiles. Starting in May 2026, Celebrity Xcel sails an inaugural European season in the Mediterranean on seven- to 11-night journeys out of Barcelona and Athens.

  Celestyal has held a series of plaque exchange ceremonies to mark Celestyal Discovery’s debut in the Arabian Gulf.   The 1360-guest ship, which has joined Celestyal Journey in the region, set sail on December 12, operating the cruise line’s new three-, four- and seven-night ‘Iconic Arabia’ cruises, sailing roundtrip from her winter homeport in Abu Dhabi.   To start the celebrations, Celestyal also participated in a mangrove planting experience at Jubail Island Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi - an initiative supporting the UAE’s wider conservation efforts and goal of planting 100 million mangroves by 2030. Celestyal CEO - Chris Theophilides, COO - Captain George Koumpenas, VP hotel operations & passenger services - Alexis Economou, and ship Captain Nikolaos Vasiliou joined the Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism to plant their own mangrove saplings.   Plaque exchange ceremonies to mark the start of the ship’s season took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE; Dubai, UAE; Doha, Qatar; Ras Al Khaimah, UAE; and Khasab, Oman.   Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer, at Celestyal, said: “Celestyal Discovery’s debut in the Arabian Gulf marks an exciting new chapter for our brand. The warm welcome we’ve received reflects the region’s growing enthusiasm for cruise, and this is replicated by the demand we’re seeing from guests for immersive experiences and authentic encounters, all at unbeatable value. Having both Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey operating in the Arabian Gulf for the next three years underscores our commitment to offering guests deeper, more meaningful ways to explore this remarkable part of the world.”   Prices for the ‘Iconic Arabia’ itinerary start from £279 per person for a three-night sailing in the current seasonal promotion.   Fares are inclusive of all meals, soft drinks, WiFi, port fees and gratuities. The offers are available to book until February 5, 2026, while availability lasts.   Celestyal’s two-ship 2025/26 Arabian Gulf season represents a 211% year-on-year capacity increase for the cruise line, following on from its maiden 2024/25 programme. The 1260-guest Celestyal Journey operates the seven-night ‘Desert Days’ itinerary.

  Celestyal has announced a strategic leadership update, with the appointment of Janet Parton as vice president - marketing, PR and customer experience.   Janet moves into the role with immediate effect from her previous position as VP - business development & MD of Celestyal Travel, and brings extensive experience from both her two years at Celestyal and earlier roles as sales & marketing director at Globus Family of Brands. She will lead Celestyal’s newly formed marketing, PR and customer experience function, supporting the next phase of growth for the brand, as it accelerates plans ahead of 2026 and the launch of its new Wave campaign.   Janet will continue to report into Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer.   As part of this transition, Dan Buckingham, director retail & UK partnerships, will assume leadership of the UK, Celestyal Travel and Europe teams for an interim period.   Lee Haslett said: “Janet is a respected and proven leader who has played a pivotal role in strengthening Celestyal’s trade partnerships and presence across core markets. As we double down on marketing, brand-building and demand generation ahead of our Wave campaign and 2026 strategy, Janet’s commercial expertise and understanding of the Celestyal brand make her ideally placed to lead this function. I’m delighted to see her step into this role and drive forward the next chapter of our growth.”   Janet Parton said: “It’s been an honour to be part of Celestyal’s journey over the last two years, and I’m excited to step into this role at such a pivotal moment for the brand. We have an unprecedented opportunity to further build connections with both consumers and the travel trade through a stronger, unified approach to marketing, PR and customer experience.”

  Celestyal has marked its first ever visit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a traditional plaque exchange ceremony in collaboration with Cruise Saudi.   The 1260-guest Celestyal Journey’s maiden call took place on November 29 as the final port on the cruise line’s new special seven-night ‘Athens to Jeddah’ voyage. The ship left Athens on November 22 and called at Marmaris, Turkey, and three ports in Egypt - Port Said, Sharm el Sheikh and Safaga - before concluding in Jeddah.   The ceremony was attended by representatives of Celestyal including Captain Angelos Vassilakos, as well as senior team members from Cruise Saudi and port officials.   The 1360-guest Celestyal Discovery will also call into Jeddah on December 5, before joining her fleet mate for her inaugural season in the Arabian Gulf region.   Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “We are honoured to celebrate our maiden call in Jeddah alongside our partners at Cruise Saudi, marking the beginning of a long and effective relationship. As the cultural heart of Saudi Arabia and the gateway to its incredible destinations, Jeddah offers huge potential for cruise tourism, and today’s plaque exchange is an exciting step in our collaboration.”   Barbara Buczek, chief destination experiences officer at Cruise Saudi, said:  “This maiden Red Sea sailing highlights the strong appeal of the region and aligns with Cruise Saudi’s commitment to developing seamless, high-quality cruise experiences in Saudi Arabia. Celestyal’s expanded itineraries demonstrate the growing demand for distinctive Red Sea and Arabian Gulf journeys. We continue to work closely with cruise operators to ensure our ports, destinations and onshore excursions showcase the Kingdom’s culture, heritage and renowned hospitality. We look forward to welcoming guests from around the world to experience the beauty of the Red Sea and the richness of Saudi Arabia’s destinations.”   Upon disembarkation, guests will be welcomed by Jeddah’s renowned warmth and hospitality, home to the UNESCO-listed Historic Jeddah, with its distinctive Hijazi architecture and vibrant souks.   Both ships will continue their passage from Jeddah to Abu Dhabi, to commence Celestyal’s second season in the Arabian Gulf.   Celestyal Journey will open the season on December 6, 2025, with a special Abu Dhabi Grand Prix celebratory cruise, before operating the seven-night ‘Desert Days’ itinerary for the rest of the season, sailing roundtrip from Doha and calling at Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, as well as two full days and an overnight stay in Dubai. Prices start from £309 per person for a seven-night cruise.*   Celestyal Discovery’s first departure is December 12, 2025, launching the line’s new three-, four- and seven-night ‘Iconic Arabia’ cruises, sailing roundtrip from her winter homeport in Abu Dhabi and calling at Doha, Qatar; Khasab, Oman; Dubai, UAE; Sir Bani Yas Island, UAE, and maiden visits to Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. . Prices start from £159 per person for a three-night cruise.*