Celestyal cancels 2026/27 Arabian Gulf season, expands Mediterranean deployment

Celestyal has cancelled its Arabian Gulf programme for the 2026/27 winter season, opting instead to expand operations in the Mediterranean and launch its first-ever Western Mediterranean itineraries.

The move comes months after two of the company’s ships, Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery, spent nearly two months delayed in the Gulf following regional conflict that disrupted cruise operations and restricted maritime traffic.

Under the revised deployment plan, Celestyal will extend its Eastern Mediterranean season through the winter, adding additional departures on both vessels while introducing a new Western Mediterranean programme aboard Celestyal Discovery.

The decision marks a significant shift for the Greece-based cruise operator, which had expanded into the Arabian Gulf in recent years as part of a strategy to diversify beyond its traditional Mediterranean market.

“Following a review of our winter deployment, we have decided to focus on strengthening our authentically Mediterranean offering,” said Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer, Celestyal.

“As a brand rooted in the region, these updates allow us to add more choice across some of our most popular itineraries and introduce brand new Western Mediterranean sailings for the first time,” he said.

“We know our guests value Celestyal for our warm hospitality, destination immersion and premium casual approach to cruising, and this extended programme will give them even more opportunities to explore the region with us,” Haslett added.

The revised schedule will see Celestyal Discovery operate two additional departures of its “Iconic Greek Islands” itinerary in November 2026, followed by four further sailings in March 2027.

Celestyal Journey will also receive four additional departures in March 2027, including two sailings of the “Heavenly Greece, Italy and Croatia” itinerary and two departures of its “Idyllic Greece” programme.

The company confirmed that Celestyal Discovery will also operate a new Western Mediterranean itinerary during both the 2026/27 and 2027/28 winter seasons, representing the cruise line’s first deployment in the region.

Details of the itinerary, including ports of call and pricing, are expected to be released shortly, with bookings opening on June 15th.

While Celestyal has not ruled out a future return to the Arabian Gulf, the latest deployment changes suggest that, for now, the cruise line sees greater certainty and commercial opportunity in reinforcing its Mediterranean presence.

Prior to the most recent regional disruption, Celestyal Cruises had described the Arabian Gulf as one of its most exciting homeporting regions in terms of demand and return on investment, which is what had prompted the cruise line to base its full fleet in the region during the 2025/26 season.