Former Celestyal Crystal sails for uncertain new chapter in Middle East

The former Celestyal Crystal is sailing towards Oman following nearly two years laid up in the Eastern Mediterranean, with her future uncertain.

The vessel, recently renamed Sun Bright, was removed from the Celestyal Cruises fleet in September 2023 after being replaced by the larger Celestyal Journey, which just completed a bumper cruise season in the Arabian Gulf.

According to AIS data, the Sun Bright departed Piraeus, Greece, in late April and transited the Suez Canal shortly thereafter. It is currently crossing the Red Sea and is expected to reach the port of Duqm, Oman, in mid-May. The ship is sailing under the Liberian flag.

Greek news outlet Mono News reports that the vessel was sold earlier this year by brokerage firm Master Shipping. In late March, it was delivered to an undisclosed company based in the United Arab Emirates. Although the new owners have not been publicly named and the vessel’s future remains unconfirmed, reports suggest it could be used either for renewed cruise service or as a floating hotel.

The ship’s arrival in the Gulf comes at a time when Dubai is becoming a notable regional hub for cruise ship refurbishment and overhaul. In recent years, several major projects have been completed in the UAE, including extensive refits of Carnival Spirit, AIDAstella, Mein Schiff 2, and Mein Schiff 4.

However, Dubai has also been the final destination for vessels sold under uncertain circumstances. One example is EasyCruise I, which was scrapped in the emirate after attempts to repurpose it fell through.

Originally built in the 1980s as a cruise ferry for service in Northern Europe, the Sun Bright has undergone numerous transformations during its career. The 25,600-gross-ton ship was converted into a full-time cruise vessel in the 1990s and later operated under several international cruise brands, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Star Cruises, and Silja Line.

The ship, which accommodates approximately 950 guests, was acquired by Louis Cruise Lines in 2007 before joining Celestyal Cruises in 2014. It sailed regional itineraries from Piraeus for nearly a decade before being replaced. Its final voyage under the Celestyal banner took place in August 2023, calling at Thessaloniki, Milos, Heraklion, Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, and Kusadasi.

After its withdrawal, the vessel was renamed New Dawn and moved to Cyprus, where it remained anchored off Limassol for several months before returning to Greek waters.

In a related development, Celestyal’s former Olympia was also retired earlier this year. Replaced by Celestyal Discovery, the 1982-built ship was beached for scrapping in January 2024 following decades of service with various operators.

Editor’s note: The former Celestyal Crystal, renamed Sun Bright, was beached for scrapping at the Alang Shipbreaking Yard in India in mid-May.