Celestyal Cruises doubles down on...

Cruise line builds on success in Qatar with expanded sailings

Following a successful inaugural season in the Arabian Gulf, where bookings exceeded targets by 35%, Celestyal Cruises has extended its partnership with Qatar Tourism with a dual-ship deployment in Doha, Qatar's capital, for the Winter 2025 season.

Celestyal Journey will operate across the Arabian Gulf from its homeport in Doha, while Celestyal Discovery will call at the city’s port as part of its regional sailings from Abu Dhabi.

Combined, the two ships are expected to bring 40,000 visitors to Qatar over 25 calls, building on the success of Celestyal's previous season which saw 14,000 passengers arrive in the capital.

Doha will also be a port of call for MSC Euribia this winter season, following MSC's recent launch of 3, 4 and 7-night Arabian Gulf itineraries.

Celestyal launched a seven-day Desert Days itinerary aboard 1,260-passenger Celestyal Journey in November 2024, sailing roundtrip from Doha and calling at ports across the Gulf including Bahrain, Khasab in Oman and the UAE's Dubai, Sir Bani Yas Island and Abu Dhabi.

The recently refurbished 1,360-passenger Celestyal Discovery will also sail in the region from December 2025, with three-, four- and seven-night Iconic Arabia cruises, taking in Doha, Dubai and Khasab, a town at the tip of Oman's Musandam Peninsula known as the 'Norway of Arabia'.

Celestyal Discovery on Iconic Arabia cruise

Based on feedback from passengers and travel agents, the Iconic Arabia itinerary will also feature the addition of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE as a new port of call this season, with the opeator recently signing a three-year partnership with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority to promote the emirate as a premier cruise destination. The collaboration will see them co-create a collection of inspiring shore experiences in the northern emirate.

Committed to the region, Celestyal has launched a Middle East website to support travel advisors in the region and inked three-year agreements to maintain Doha and Abu Dhabi as winter home ports as part of sailing schedules in the Gulf.

More than five million visitors arrived in Qatar in 2024, hitting record highs and a 25% hike on last year’s benchmark, according to data from Qatar Tourism.

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