Celestyal marked its first-ever visit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a traditional plaque exchange ceremony in collaboration with Cruise Saudi.

The Celestyal Journey’s maiden call took place on November 29 as the final port on the company’s new seven-night “Athens to Jeddah” voyage, which left Athens on November 22 and called at Marmaris, Turkey and three ports in Egypt (Port Said, Sharm el Sheikh and Safaga) before concluding in Jeddah.

Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “We are honored to celebrate our maiden call in Jeddah alongside our partners at Cruise Saudi, marking the beginning of a long and effective relationship.”

Barbara Buczek, chief destination experiences officer at Cruise Saudi, said:  “This maiden Red Sea sailing highlights the strong appeal of the region and aligns with Cruise Saudi’s commitment to developing seamless, high-quality cruise experiences in Saudi Arabia.”

“Celestyal’s expanded itineraries demonstrate the growing demand for distinctive Red Sea and Arabian Gulf journeys. We continue to work closely with cruise operators to ensure our ports, destinations and onshore excursions showcase the Kingdom’s culture, heritage and renowned hospitality,” added Buczek.

The company said in a press release that the ceremony was attended by representatives of Celestyal, including Captain Angelos Vassilakos, as well as senior team members from Cruise Saudi and port officials.

The Celestyal Discovery will also call in Jeddah on December 5 before her inaugural season in the Arabian Gulf region.

Both ships will continue their journey from Jeddah to Abu Dhabi to begin Celestyal’s second season in the Arabian Gulf and its first with both ships deployed in the region.

According to the press release, the Celestyal Journey will open the season on December 6, 2025, with a special celebratory cruise for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

This will be followed by the seven-night “Desert Days” itinerary for the rest of the season, sailing roundtrip from Doha and calling at Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, as well as two full days and an overnight stay in Dubai.

The Celestyal Discovery’s first departure is December 12, 2025, launching the line’s new three-, four- and seven-night “Iconic Arabia” cruises, sailing roundtrip from her winter homeport in Abu Dhabi and calling at Doha, Qatar; Khasab, Oman; Dubai, UAE; Sir Bani Yas Island, UAE, and maiden visits to Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.