Another Cruise Line Pulls Out of the Middle East as Situation Deteriorates
Key Aspects:
Celestyal Cruises has cancelled the remainder of the Arabian season for Celestyal Journey.
Four departures are impacted and booked guests can choose full refunds or future cruise credits.
Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery must both make their way to Athens to begin their Mediterranean seasons soon.
Not unexpectedly, another cruise line has now cancelled the remainder of its scheduled season sailing Middle East cruises. The announcement comes from the luxury boutique line Celestyal Cruises concerning Celestyal Journey.
“Considering the current geopolitical situation in the region, we have taken the decision to cancel the following scheduled departures on Celestyal Journey,” the cruise line announced on Facebook.
The cancellation impacts the ship’s March 7 and 14 departures from Doha, Qatar, as well as the March 9 and 16 departures from Dubai, UAE.
The now-cancelled voyages were to have been 7-night “Desert Days” sailings visiting not only Doha and Dubai, but also Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Bahrain.
The four cancelled departures are the only remaining sailings for the ship’s 2025-2026 Arabian season, which began in November. The safety of guests and crew is always the cruise line’s focus and this adjustment is necessary to safeguard everyone’s wellbeing.
Cruise Hive has already reported on similar decisions with other cruise lines sailing in the Middle East, including TUI Cruises cancelling the rest of its Arabian season for both Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5.
Guests booked on the now-cancelled Celestyal Cruises sailings will have the option to receive a full refund or a future cruise credit that could be used on an alternate sailing.
Read Also: The Latest on All Cruise Lines Impacted by the Middle East Conflict
The 55,800-gross-ton Celestyal Journey was formerly Ryndam with Holland America Line. The ship was sold in 2015 and passed through several smaller cruise lines before joining Celestyal Cruises in 2023. After an extensive $21 million (USD) renovation, the ship launched with luxury service in smaller, more exclusive markets.
Celestyal Journey can welcome 1,258 guests aboard and is staffed with roughly 600 international crew members.
Where Will Celestyal Journey Go?
Celestyal Journey currently spends winters in the Middle East offering intimate Arabian voyages, while she spends summers in the Mediterranean with Adriatic and Greek Island itineraries. With the cancellation of her remaining Middle East voyages this year, the ship will move on to the Mediterranean.
“Subject to operational conditions, Celestyal Journey and sister ship Celestyal Discovery will reposition to Athens to begin their scheduled programme in the Mediterranean,” the cruise line confirmed.
Celestyal Journey is scheduled for her first Greek cruise of the year with her April 4 departure from Athens. That 7-night “Heavenly Adriatic” voyage will visit different ports in Greece as well as Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; and Bari, Italy.
Meanwhile, Celestyal Discovery is currently in Abu Dhabi. Her last Middle East voyage of the season was to have departed on March 2, but the ship has remained docked and is currently unable to debark guests, considering the unpredictable situation in the region.
As yet, no announcement has been released about how any guests remaining onboard Celesytal Discovery will travel on to their post-cruise destination. The ship is scheduled to begin her Mediterranean season from Athens on March 20.
Both ships will need to pass through the narrow Strait of Hormuz to exit the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf) in order to make their way to Athens. If the situation proves too dangerous, it is possible the vessels may be delayed.
Hopefully, tensions in the region will subside soon and both Celestyal Cruises ships will be able to begin their Mediterranean seasons on time and resume their seasonal Middle East deployments later this year.
Another Cruise Line Pulls Out of the Middle East as Situation Deteriorates