Celestyal cancels April sailings

Celestyal Cruises has cancelled all April 2026 departures as its fleet of two ships remains docked in the Gulf due to the ongoing Israel-US-Iran war, which began 28 February 2026. 

The ships were due to reposition to Athens, Greece, but more than a month later, the cruise operator’s fleet remains in the Gulf, with Celestyal Discovery docked in Dubai, UAE, and Celestyal Journey in Doha, Qatar. Guests and non-operational crew have been disembarked, while both vessels remain fully operational. 

Although the departure date for the ships is yet to be confirmed, the line’s next voyage is now scheduled for May. Celestyal Discovery is set to depart on 1 May 2026 on a three-night journey across the Greek Islands. Meanwhile, Celestyal Journey plans to set sail on 2 May 2026, for a seven-night Mediterranean sailing in Greece, Italy and Croatia. 

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Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, said: “Our priority remains the safety and confidence of our guests, crew and partners. While we know this will be disappointing, taking this decision now provides greater clarity and flexibility for those affected.”

Guests impacted by the cancellations have been offered a full refund or a future cruise credit. The cruise line continues to monitor regional developments and plans to resume operations in the Mediterranean as soon as conditions allow.

Celestyal is the latest cruise operator affected, following cancellations in the Gulf by Aroya, MSC, TUI and AIDA, as many international vessels remain stuck in regional hubs.

For more information, visit celestyal.com; for all the latest cruise news, bookmark connectingtravel.com/cruise