Qatar Airways Holidays, Celestyal launch flight-cruise partnership

Celestyal Cruises has partnered with Qatar Airways Holidays in a new strategic agreement to make booking and selling cruising in the region “easier than ever”.

 

As part of the deal, Qatar Airways Holidays has been appointed Celestyal’s official General Sales Agent (GSA) in Qatar.

 

Celestyal’s Chief Commercial Officer, Lee Haslett, described the “exclusive agreement” as a move that will give both agents and travellers in Qatar smoother access to the line’s Mediterranean and Middle Eastern sailings.

 

Through the partnership, Qatar Airways’ global flight network will be integrated with Celestyal’s Arabian Gulf itineraries, which includes seven-night cruises that depart from Doha and call at ports in the UAE, Oman and Bahrain. 

 

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Travellers can then extend their experience with Fly + Stay packages, combining flights, hotel stays, guided city tours and airport transfers into a single, convenient booking. 

 

These new packages will be available to book both online and offline soon.

 

Celestyal doubles down on Arabian Gulf
The move reinforces Celestyal’s wider commitment to the Gulf cruise market. In April, the line strengthened ties with Qatar Tourism, Visit Qatar and Mwani Qatar, setting out plans to double passenger volumes into Doha over the next three years. 

 

Twice-weekly calls are also planned during the northern winter season, alongside the existing three-year homeporting deal.

 

Celestyal first debuted in Doha last year with the Celestyal Journey, operating the seven-night Desert Days itinerary. The inaugural season attracted more than 14,500 guests, with 10% coming from the GCC and surrounding markets.