Celestyal rides Gulf cruise wave with...

Operator adds Ras Al Khaimah to GCC sailings

Cruise operator Celestyal has unveiled updated Iconic Arabia itineraries from December 2025 following the success of its extended first Arabian Gulf season.

In January 2025, Celestyal added an extra sailing to meet "unprecedented demand".

"We’re thrilled by the response to our Arabian Gulf itineraries, which offer guests the perfect blend of iconic landmarks and hidden gems,” said Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal.

The refreshed itineraries will include three- and four-day sailings, and based on feedback from passengers and travel agents, the updated journeys will feature additional stops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, plus the addition of Ras Al Khaimah as a new port of call.

The three-night Iconic Arabia itinerary will set sail from Abu Dhabi on a Friday, taking in Dubai and then Sir Bani Yas Island for a combination of beach and nature-based experiences. Among the region's largest wildlife reserves, the island is home to more than 17,000 free-roaming animals, including giraffes, gazelles, Arabian oryx and cheetahs.

Sir Bani Yas Island

The four-night midweek sailing will depart on a Monday from Abu Dhabi, calling at Doha and Dubai, via Ras Al Khaimah, and will include Khasab, a town at the tip of Oman's Musandam Peninsula known as the 'Norway of Arabia' for its blend of fjord-like inlets and mountain landscapes.

“Our guests have told us they love iconic destinations like Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, as well as discovering more off-the-beaten-track ports that are synonymous with a Celestyal voyage, such as Sir Bani Yas Island and the coastal resort of Khasab,” said Haslett.

The 1,360-guest Celestyal Discovery will begin her inaugural Arabian Gulf season on 12 December 2025, joining the 1,260-guest Celestyal Journey, which returns on 6 December 2025. Celestyal Journey will operate the Desert Days itinerary as planned, starting with an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix celebration cruise.

The cruise line will then offer seven-night, three- and four-night Gulf itineraries from December 2025 to March 2026 on both ships for the next three seasons.

Celestyal Journey

The cruise industry is booming in the region, with Dubai becoming a key port, attracting world-class operators, 187 ships and more than 280,000 passengers in 2024, according to Dubai Customs.

In 2024, Celestyal kicked off with its first Arabian Gulf season, also launching a Middle East website to support travel advisors, while Resorts World Cruises launched its inaugural sailing from Dubai with the 1,800-passenger Resorts World One.

Explora Journeys will make its debut in the region in December 2026, with Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula sailings aboard Explora II that will include visits to Dubai, Jeddah in Saudi and Salalah, Khasab and Sur in Oman.

For more information, visit www.celestyal.com

GET YOUR FREE GUIDE TO THE MALDIVES NOW