Celestyal cancels additional Aegean cruise as redeployment from Gulf remains paused

Celestyal Cruises has cancelled a further sailing in the Aegean Sea as adjustments to its fleet deployment continue following disruption in the Arabian Gulf amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

The affected voyage, scheduled to depart on April 3rd, 2026 aboard Celestyal Discovery, will no longer proceed due to delays in the ship’s repositioning back to the Eastern Mediterranean.

The vessel remains in Dubai while arrangements are finalised for its onward transit.

Celestyal indicated that the revised schedule will support the ship’s planned summer programme in Greece and Turkey, once repositioning is completed.

The April 3rd sailing had been due to operate as a three-night roundtrip cruise from Lavrion, near Athens, with a port-intensive itinerary including Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Heraklion, and Santorini.

The latest cancellation brings the total number of affected Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean sailings aboard Celestyal Discovery to five.

The ship had originally been scheduled to commence its European deployment on March 20th, 2026, following a winter season in the Middle East.

Celestyal confirmed that all guests who had been travelling on its ships in the region have now safely disembarked. The company’s second vessel in the area, Celestyal Journey, remains alongside in Doha.

“Both vessels remain fully operational, and their departure from the region will take place in accordance with guidance from the relevant authorities,” Celestyal said.

“We continue to monitor developments closely and remain focused on resuming our planned programme as soon as possible,” the company added.

The disruption is linked to ongoing operational constraints affecting maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route connecting the Arabian Gulf with international shipping lanes.

While some commercial shipping continues under adjusted conditions, cruise lines have opted to delay repositioning voyages as part of broader safety and operational planning.

Passengers booked on the cancelled April 3rd sailing will be offered either a full refund or a future cruise credit. Celestyal has advised affected guests to contact their original travel provider to discuss available options and next steps.

The situation reflects a wider pattern of schedule revisions across multiple operators in the region, with cruise lines maintaining flexibility in deployment while working with authorities and partners to determine suitable windows for onward voyages.