by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:55 AM ET, Wed May 27, 2026
Amid ongoing conflict and instability in the Middle East, Celestyal Cruises is canceling its Arabian Gulf season for the winter of 2026-27.
All travel partners have been notified with updated information to support guest rebooking options.
Instead of returning to the Arabian Gulf, the cruise line plans to extend its current Eastern Mediterranean season into November and resume in March 2027.
Celestyal is introducing additional sailings in the Mediterranean across its two-ship fleet. The 1,360-guest Celestyal Discovery will offer two additional “Iconic Greek Islands” sailings in November 2026, followed by four new “Iconic Greek Islands” sailings in March 2027. The 1,260-guest Celestyal Journey will add four March 2027 departures, featuring two “Heavenly Greece, Italy and Croatia” sailings and two “Idyllic Greece” sailings.
Celestyal will also introduce a new Western Mediterranean itinerary for winter 2026-27 and winter 2027-28 on Celestyal Discovery. Further details, including full itineraries and pricing, will be released soon. Plans for winter 2027-28 on Celestyal Journey will also be announced in the near future.
Celestyal is running an “Iconic Sale” through June 30 and offering a new “Sail with Confidence” flexible booking program.
“Following a review of our winter deployment, we have decided to focus on strengthening our authentically Mediterranean offering,” says Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at 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.”
Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey were sailing in the Middle East when the United States and Israel began their joint military campaign against Iran in late February. Because of the conflict, guests were briefly stuck onboard Celestyal Discovery in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and aboard Celestyal Journey in Doha, Qatar, though the cruise line eventually safely disembarked all passengers.
Celestyal Discovery, under the command of Captain Nikolaos Vasileiou, became the first cruise ship to clear the Strait of Hormuz on April 17. According to Celestyal Cruises, the ship "established a safe and proven route through the Strait, enabling other cruise operators to follow." Helmed by Captain Angelos Vasilakos, Celestyal Journey followed on April 18, leading a broader convoy of cruise ships.
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