Celestyal is riding a wave of success, marking a 10-year milestone and the surging popularity of its inaugural Arabian Gulf season. After a well-received first season, the ‘Iconic Arabia’ sailings will feature an updated itinerary later this year.
The cruise line hosted Australian travel partners and agents at a Sydney soirée to mark its 10th anniversary milestone and celebrate its success in the region.
UK-based Celestyal Chief Commercial Officer Lee Haslett and Vice President Business Development Janet Parton visited Sydney to celebrate the occasion with local trade, thanking them for their part in the cruise line’s regional growth.
Haslett said: “We had a record year in 2024 with bookings up 37 per cent in the Australian market.”
“With the vast majority of our business coming via our trade channels, our travel agent partners are critical to our success and we are grateful for their support.”
Iconic Arabia itinerary updates
Haslett also mentioned the popularity of Celestyal’s first Arabian Gulf season, due to wrap up in March 2025, and announced an itinerary refresh for the upcoming season, commencing in December.
The three- and four-night Iconic Arabia sailings will now feature additional stops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha and introduce Ras Al Khaimah as a new port of call.
The updated itinerary will be available for the 1,260-guest Celestyal Journey, returning to the Arabian Gulf on 6 December 2025, and aboard the 1,360-passenger Celestyal Discovery, which will commence her maiden Arabian Gulf season on 12 December 2025.
“Following a hugely successful first season in the Arabian Gulf, we learnt more about what our guests and partners would like to see and are excited to announce these changes based on their feedback,” Haslett said.
“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 synonymous with a Celestyal voyage, such as Sir Bani Yas Island and the coastal resort of Khasab, so we have refined our 2025 itineraries to offer more time in our guests’ favourite ports, while adding an additional port in the stunning Ras Al Khaimah.
“As we wrap up our first inaugural season in the Arabian Gulf, we were thrilled with the response to our first year-round program of cruising and look forward to welcoming more Australian guests on board when we return to the region with both ships from December,” Haslett said in Sydney.
For more info, visit the Celestyal Compass trade portal
