Celestyal Cruises has marked its first call to Saudi Arabia with a traditional plaque exchange ceremony in Jeddah, signalling the line’s formal entry into the Kingdom’s developing cruise market.

The 1,260-passenger Celestyal Journey arrived on November, 29th completing the company’s new seven-night Athens to Jeddah itinerary, a curtailed version of its original Athens to Dubai repositioning.

The cruise line was forced to amend the itinerary due to ongoing security concerns in the Red Sea, with the vessel now sailing without passengers for Dubai, where it will spend the winter season cruising in the Arabian Gulf.

The repositioning voyage began in Athens on November 22nd and included calls in Marmaris, Turkey, and three Egyptian ports – Port Said, Sharm El Sheikh and Safaga – before concluding in Jeddah.

The arrival was attended by Celestyal representatives, including captain Angelos Vassilakos, as well as senior officials from Cruise Saudi and local port authorities.

“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,” said Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal.

“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,” he added.

Passengers disembarking in the port have access to Historic Jeddah (Al-Balad), a UNESCO-listed district distinguished by its Hijazi architecture and active souks. The area is among the city’s principal cultural sites and a focal point for shore excursions.

“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,” said Barbara Buczek, Chief Destination Experiences Officer at Cruise Saudi.

She noted that Celestyal’s broader deployment plans reflect growing interest in Red Sea and Arabian Gulf itineraries. 

“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,” she added. “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.”

Celestyal will expand its Saudi Arabia presence further in the coming days, with the 1,360-passenger Celestyal Discovery scheduled to call in Jeddah on December 5th, before joining Celestyal Journey in the Arabian Gulf.

Both vessels will sail from Jeddah to Abu Dhabi without passengers to begin the line’s second, expanded, Arabian Gulf season.

Celestyal Journey will open the season on December 6th with an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix cruise, followed by the seven-night Desert Days itinerary operating roundtrip from Doha. Ports of call include Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and two full days in Dubai with an overnight stay.

Celestyal Discovery will begin operations on December 12th with the introduction of the line’s new Iconic Arabia itineraries. These three-, four- and seven-night cruises will sail roundtrip from Abu Dhabi and visit destinations such as Doha, Khasab, Dubai, Sir Bani Yas Island, and Ras Al Khaimah, the latter featured as a maiden call.