Celestyal Cruises working with Gulf authorities to resume sailings as soon as possible

Celestyal Cruises is continuing to coordinate closely with regional authorities in the Arabian Gulf as it prepares to reposition its vessels to Europe, with the company indicating that sailings will resume as soon as conditions allow.

The update follows the cancellation of all April 2026 departures, which affected the start of the line’s Mediterranean summer programme, amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict that has impacted cruise operations in the region.

Both Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey remain in the region, positioned in Dubai and Doha respectively, as they await clearance to begin their repositioning voyages to Greece.

“Over the past few weeks, we have continued to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East, always with one clear priority in mind – the safety and well-being of our guests, crew and partners,” said Chris Theophilides, Chief Executive Officer, Celestyal Cruises.

“Following careful consideration, we have taken the decision to cancel all April 2026 sailings while our ships, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, wait to reposition to the Mediterranean,” he added.

The company described the move as a proactive step aimed at providing certainty for guests and travel partners during a period of operational uncertainty.

“This is a proactive and precautionary step. Acting now allows us to provide clarity and, importantly, gives our guests and travel partners the time and flexibility needed to adjust their plans with confidence,” said Theophilides.

Celestyal confirmed that it remains in close contact with authorities across the region and is preparing to move its vessels as soon as a suitable window becomes available.

“We remain in close contact with the relevant authorities and will resume movement of our vessels as soon as it is safe to do so,” he said.

All passengers and non-operational crew have already been disembarked, with both ships maintained in a ready state while awaiting onward deployment. Preparations for the Mediterranean season are continuing in parallel, with the company maintaining its expectation that sailings will resume in early May.

“Looking ahead, our focus is firmly on returning to service in the Mediterranean. Preparations are already well underway, and we look forward to welcoming guests back on board from May,” said Theophilides.

The next planned departures remain scheduled for May 1st, 2026, for Celestyal Discovery from Lavrion, followed by Celestyal Journey on May 2nd, 2026, from Piraeus, marking the intended start of the line’s Eastern Mediterranean and Adriatic programmes.

The situation reflects a broader pattern across the cruise sector, where vessels positioned in the Arabian Gulf have delayed repositioning voyages to Europe due to ongoing operational considerations.

The emphasis has shifted from maintaining original schedules as much as possible, to ensuring a controlled and coordinated restart. By consolidating cancellations and working directly with authorities, cruise lines appear focused on aligning repositionings with conditions that support both operational continuity and passenger confidence.

As timelines begin to converge around early May, the coming weeks will determine whether vessels currently in the Arabian Gulf can depart in time to meet revised schedules, allowing the Mediterranean season to proceed with limited further disruption.