Celestyal has welcomed the Celestyal Discovery to the Arabian Gulf for the first time with a series of plaque exchanges and special events.

The 1,360-guest ship, which has joined Celestyal Journey in the region, set sail on December 12, operating the cruise line’s new three-, four- and seven-night “Iconic Arabia” cruises, sailing roundtrip from her homeport in Abu Dhabi.

To start the celebrations, Celestyal participated in a mangrove planting at Jubail Island Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi, an initiative supporting the UAE’s wider conservation efforts and ambitious goal of planting 100 million mangroves by 2030.

Celestyal CEO, Chris Theophilides; COO, Captain George Koumpenas; VP Hotel Operations & Passenger Services, Alexis Economou; and ship Captain Nikolaos Vasiliou joined the Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism to plant their own mangrove saplings.

Plaque exchange ceremonies to mark the start of the ship’s season and maiden calls took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE; Dubai, UAE; Doha, Qatar; Ras Al Khaimah, UAE; and Khasab, Oman.

Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer, at Celestyal, said: “Celestyal Discovery’s debut in the Arabian Gulf marks an exciting new chapter for our brand. The warm welcome we’ve received reflects the region’s growing enthusiasm for cruise, and this is replicated by the demand we’re seeing from guests for immersive experiences and authentic encounters, all at unbeatable value. Having both Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey operating in the Arabian Gulf for the next three years underscores our commitment to offering guests deeper, more meaningful ways to explore this remarkable part of the world.”