Celestyal Cruises has officially made waves in the fast-growing Middle East cruise market, celebrating its first-ever call to Saudi Arabia with a classic plaque-exchange ceremony in Jeddah. It’s the maritime version of a warm handshake — and a signal that the Kingdom’s rapidly rising cruise ambitions are attracting serious global attention.
Sailing in with flair, the 1,260-passenger Celestyal Journey arrived at the end of November, completing the cruise line’s new seven-night Athens to Jeddah itinerary, a revised version of its original Athens – Dubai repositioning. Due to ongoing security concerns in the Red Sea, Celestyal re-routed the ship.
Even bigger news, Celestyal Journey will homeport in Doha for the 2025/26 cruise season, strengthening its footprint in the region.
The repositioning voyage set sail from Athens on 22 November, calling at Marmaris in Turkey and three Egyptian ports (Port Said, Sharm El Sheikh and Safaga) before arriving a week later at Jeddah Islamic Port, one of the most strategically important cruise hubs in the Red Sea.
Celestyal representatives, including Captain Angelos Vassilakos, joined senior officials from Cruise Saudi and local port authorities to mark the milestone.
“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.”
Guests stepping ashore can explore Historic Jeddah (Al-Balad), a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its atmospheric souks, ancient coral-stone buildings and rich Hijazi heritage — making it one of the most compelling Red Sea cruise 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 added that Celestyal’s broader deployment reflects rising global demand for Red Sea and Arabian Gulf cruise 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 noted. “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’s presence in the Kingdom is expanding quickly. The 1,360-passenger Celestyal Discovery called in to Jeddah yesterday on 5 December before joining Celestyal Journey in the Arabian Gulf. Both ships will sail from Jeddah to Abu Dhabi without passengers to kick off the line’s second, and significantly expanded, Arabian Gulf cruise season.
Celestyal Journey launches the season today, 6 December, with an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix cruise, followed by the seven-night Desert Days itinerary, sailing roundtrip from Doha with calls at Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and two full days, including an overnight in Dubai.
Meanwhile, Celestyal Discovery begins operations on 12 December with the new Iconic Arabia itineraries, offering three-, four- and seven-night cruises from Abu Dhabi to key destinations including Doha, Dubai, Khasab, Sir Bani Yas Island and Ras Al Khaimah, the latter featured as a maiden call.
Why the Middle East is quickly becoming a cruise hotspot
The surge in Saudi Arabia cruises, Red Sea cruising, and Arabian Gulf cruise itineraries is a full-fledged transformation of global cruising, and here’s why the world’s biggest cruise lines are suddenly obsessed with the Middle East:
- Guaranteed sunshine year-round with no seasonal shutdowns, no weather roulette, just warm skies and smooth seas.
- Calm, warm waters that’s perfect for sailing. The Arabian Gulf and Red Sea are famously placid, which is ideal for new cruisers and luxury cruising alike.
- Futuristic cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha offer skyscrapers, luxury shopping, diverse international cuisine, a fantastic art and cultural experience and blockbuster attractions.
- From desert safaris, traditional souks and heritage villages, shore excursions here actually feel like adventures.
- The region is investing heavily in state-of-the-art cruise infrastructure, making the passenger experience slick and seamless.
- Accessibility is a key driver given mega-hubs like Doha, Dubai and Riyadh. Fly-cruise holidays to the Middle East have never been more convenient.
- The region’s massive tourism transformation is opening up entirely new destinations for cruise travellers to explore.
And what can cruise guests look forward to? Apart from soaking up the warmth, taking in iconic skylines, and exploring some desert landscapes, there’s also the chance to discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites, experience five-star hospitality, and get up close with incredible wildlife. They’ll treat themselves to next-level shopping and dining, and capture countless Instagram-worthy moments that will be the envy of everyone.
