Celestyal celebrates its first visit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a traditional plaque exchange ceremony in collaboration with Cruise Saudi.
The Celestyal Journey 's inaugural stop in Jeddah , with a capacity for 1,260 passengers, took place on November 29 as the final port of call for the new seven-night special itinerary "Athens to Jeddah", which departed from Athens on November 22 and visited Marmaris (Turkey) and three Egyptian ports —Port Said, Sharm el Sheikh and Safaga— before concluding in Jeddah.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of Celestyal, including Captain Angelos Vassilakos, as well as members of the Cruise Saudi management team and port authorities.
The Celestyal Discovery, with a capacity for 1,360 passengers, will also call in Jeddah on December 5, before joining its sister ship for its inaugural season in the Arabian Gulf region.
Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer of Celestyal, said: “It is an honor to celebrate our inaugural call in Jeddah alongside our partners at Cruise Saudi, marking the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship. As the cultural heart of Saudi Arabia and gateway to its incredible destinations, Jeddah offers enormous potential for cruise tourism, and the plaque exchange represents an exciting step in our collaboration.”
Barbara Buczek, Director of Destination Experiences at Cruise Saudi, added: “This inaugural Red Sea voyage highlights the region’s immense appeal and aligns with Cruise Saudi’s commitment to developing seamless, high-quality cruise experiences in Saudi Arabia. Celestyal’s expanded itineraries reflect the growing demand for unique Red Sea and Arabian Gulf voyages. We continue to work closely with cruise lines to ensure our ports, destinations, and shore excursions showcase the culture, heritage, and hospitality for which the Kingdom is renowned. We look forward to welcoming travelers from around the world to discover the beauty of the Red Sea and the richness of Saudi Arabia’s destinations.”
Upon disembarking, passengers will be greeted with the renowned local warmth and hospitality and can enjoy the historic enclave of Jeddah —a UNESCO World Heritage Site—, famous for its Hijazi architecture and vibrant souks.
Both ships will continue their journey from Jeddah to Abu Dhabi, where Celestyal's second season in the Arabian Gulf will begin.
The Celestyal Journey will open the season on December 6, 2025, with a special Abu Dhabi Grand Prix celebration cruise, before operating the seven-night “Awesome Desert” itinerary for the remainder of the season. This cruise will depart from Doha and call at Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain, as well as offering two full days and one night in Dubai.
The Celestyal Discovery will be on December 12, 2025, inaugurating the new three-, four-, and seven-night "Iconic Arabia" cruises. These round-trip voyages will be homeported in Abu Dhabi for the winter and will feature calls at Doha (Qatar), Khasab (Oman), Dubai (UAE), Sir Bani Yas Island (UAE), and inaugural visits to Ras Al Khaimah (UAE).
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