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Celestyal flagship Celestyal Journey launches maiden Arabian Gulf season in Doha

Celestyal cruise line is celebrating its inaugural Arabian Gulf season launching in Qatar as flagship Celestyal Journey sailed from Doha.

Celestyal has officially launched its inaugural Arabian Gulf season, with its flagship vessel, Celestyal Journey, arriving in Doha, Qatar.

The season commenced with two Formula 1-themed cruises, coinciding with the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix events.

To mark the occasion, a special onboard event took place on November 30, in collaboration with Visit Qatar, Qatar Tourism, Qatar Airways and Mwani Port Authority. The event featured presentations, a ship tour, a traditional plaque exchange ceremony, and a celebratory lunch.

Attendees included local dignitaries and notable speakers such as Formula 1 driver and presenter David Coulthard and Formula 1 presenter Laura Winter.

 

– READ MORE: Celestyal’s major change to drink packages explained

Celestyal Journey itineraries in the Middle East

Following the F1-themed voyages, Celestyal Journey will offer seven-night “Desert Days” itineraries, sailing roundtrip from Doha until March 2025. These cruises include visits to iconic destinations such as Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai Marina, alongside lesser-known gems like Khasab and Sir Bani Yas Island.

The ship will continue to operate from Doha during the winter seasons for the next three years, following a collaboration between Celestyal and Visit Qatar.

The success of the new itineraries has prompted the upcoming deployment of Celestyal Discovery to the region in late 2025. The ship will offer three-night “Iconic Arabia” cruises from Abu Dhabi, calling at Doha, Khalifa Bin Salman (Bahrain) and Dubai Marina, as well as four-night itineraries visiting Fujairah, Muscat and Khasab.

 

– READ MORE: Where in the world to cruise when

What’s onboard Celestyal Journey?

Celestyal Journey boasts 630 suites and staterooms, seven restaurants, eight bars and lounges, two pools, Jacuzzis, and a wellness-focused deck featuring a spa and fitness area.

The vessel underwent a multi-million Euro refurbishment in September 2023 and additional upgrades en route to Doha, including the addition of Café Nation, a coffee bar introduced earlier on its sister ship, Celestyal Discovery.

 

– READ MORE: Full list of new cruise ships launching in 2025

Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, expressed enthusiasm about the line’s first Arabian Gulf season: “We’re incredibly excited to see our first ever Arabian Gulf season get underway. I would like to thank our partners at Visit Qatar, Mwani Port Authority and Qatar Airways for their continued support and warm welcome to the region.

“We are confident that our special FI-themed cruises will ensure we have a roaring start to the season, while the Desert Days itinerary offers the very best of the local region. Whether guests are familiar with the destinations we visit or are sampling them for the first time, there will be a wealth of authentic experiences available to everyone.”

Chris Theophilides, CEO of Celestyal, highlighted the significance of this milestone:
“We’re delighted to be commencing our season in the Arabian Gulf, with this momentous arrival into Doha. I want to thank our teams and partners who have made this a reality. It marks the significant start of Celestyal’s next chapter, operating a fully refreshed fleet across year-round operations and two regions.

“We listened to our guests; 86 percent tell us they want to return after they have spent time with us, and with our new Desert Days itinerary, as well as our additional Iconic Arabia itineraries on Celestyal Discovery from next year, we are expanding the many reasons to try or come back to Celestyal.”

 

– READ MORE: Full list of Black Friday cruise deals 2025

 

CELESTYAL BLACK FRIDAY SALE

As part of its Black Friday sale, Celestyal is offering significant discounts:

– Desert Days itineraries start at £319 per person, a 67 percent savings.
– Iconic Arabia cruises start at £219 per person, a 57 percent savings.

These offers are available until December 3, 2025.

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Author

Harriet Mallinson

Sailawaze Editor Harriet has been a travel writer for nine years and specialised in cruising for nearly four. She recently won Specialist Travel Writer of the Year at the Travel Media Awards 2024 for her coverage of the cruise industry. Globetrotting highlights include flyboarding in Malaga, exploring waterfalls in Belize, ziplining in Costa Rica, truffle-hunting in Tuscany and whale-watching in Iceland. Next on her cruise bucket list is Antarctica – or any opportunity to see the Northern Lights!

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Published 02.12.24