Celestyal Cruises has confirmed significant amendments to its repositioning cruises to and from Dubai for the Middle East 2025/26 cruise season, but the season itself is scheduled to go ahead as planned. 

Following much speculation, Celestyal has amended its two 14-night repositioning voyages, departing November 22nd, 2025, aboard Celestyal Journey, and November 28th, 2025, aboard Celestyal Discovery.

Both ships had been scheduled to cruise from Athens to Dubai, through the Suez Canal and Red Sea. Instead, the voyages will now conclude in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the ships then sailing the Bab Al Mandeb Strait off Yemen without passengers.

Celestyal Journey is homeporting in Doha for the 2025/26 season

This area of water has seen considerable security uncertainty since late 2023 as a result of Houthi rebel attacks on international shipping, prompting all major cruise lines to either sail the Red Sea without passengers, or reroute ships around South Africa.

On her shorter cruise to Jeddah, Celestyal Journey will call at Marmaris, Turkey, as well as Port Said, Sharm El Sheikh, and Safaga in Egypt, before arriving in Jeddah. 

Celestyal Discovery will now call at Kusadasi, Turkey, and Sharm El Sheikh and Safaga in Egypt, finishing in Jeddah. 

Shorter 6-night segments will also be available from Turkey for both itineraries.

“These refinements give us great confidence as we return stronger to the Arabian Gulf for 2025/26 with two ships and significantly increased capacity to meet soaring demand for winter sun,” said Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal.

“Our multi-year partnerships with Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah remain central to this growth, and together we’re committed to showcasing the very best of the region to both new and returning cruisers,” he added. 

“With demand already running high, we’re incredibly optimistic about the opportunities ahead and are confident this will be one of our strongest seasons yet.”

Celestyal Journey will sail her first cruise in the Arabian Gulf on December 6th, 2025, with a cruise featuring the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix, before operating 7-night round trip cruises from Doha, Qatar and calling at Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain, as well as two full days and an overnight stay in Dubai.

Celestyal Discovery will join her fleet mate for her inaugural season in the region on December 12th, 2025, launching the line’s new 3-, 4- and 7-night roundtrip cruises from Abu Dhabi, calling at Doha, Qatar; Khasab, Oman; and Dubai and Sir Bani Yas Island in the UAE.

Celestyal Discovery’s itineraries will also feature the cruise line’s maiden calls to Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE’s domestic tourism hotspot and up-and-coming cruise destination.

The double deployment in the Arabian Gulf this year follows Celestyal’s maiden 2024/25 season, and represents a 211% year-on-year capacity increase following strong demand last season.