Celestyal has confirmed the cancellation of all April 2026 departures as its ships wait to reposition to Athens, Greece.
The line’s fleet is currently positioned in the Arabian Gulf, with Celestyal Discovery still stuck in Dubai, UAE, and Celestyal Journey in Doha, Qatar after crisis unfolded and exiting the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz became unsafe.
“All guests and non-operational crew have been disembarked, while both vessels remain fully operational,” the company said in a statement.
Six cruise ships remain in ports across the Gulf following the suspension of regional cruise operations in February.
“Their departure from the region will take place in accordance with safety guidance from the relevant authorities,” the line said.
Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, all sailings scheduled for April 2026 have been cancelled and the next planned departures are:
- Celestyal Discovery – May 1, 2026 (three-night Iconic Greek Islands)
- Celestyal Journey – May 2, 2026 (seven-night Heavenly Greece, Italy and Croatia)
“Our priority remains the safety and confidence of our guests, crew and partners,” Celestyal chief commercial officer Lee Haslett said. “While we know this will be disappointing, taking this decision now provides greater clarity and flexibility for those affected.
“Our teams are working closely with guests and travel partners to support rebooking options and ensure a smooth transition, and we remain focused on returning to service in the Mediterranean as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Full refund or cruise credit
All impacted guests have been offered a full refund or a future cruise credit, and will be supported by Celestyal’s teams, who will provide rebooking options and assistance.
The cruise line continues to monitor the situation closely and will resume movement of its vessels when conditions allow. Preparations are already under way for the return to service, with sailings set to resume from May this year.