Celestyal Cruises has cancelled a series of late March sailings as ongoing instability in the Middle East continues to disrupt the line’s transition to its Mediterranean summer season.
The cruise line confirmed on 17th March 2026 that two voyages aboard Celestyal Discovery will no longer go ahead. The affected departures include a three-night cruise scheduled for 27th March and a four-night sailing due to leave on 30th March from Athens, both of which were set to visit ports in the Greek Islands and Turkey.
The cancellations follow similar action taken for Celestyal Journey, which recently saw its 20th March and 23rd March sailings withdrawn as well.
Both ships have been operating winter itineraries in the Arabian Gulf, but delays in leaving the region have forced a knock-on impact to the start of their European deployment.
In a statement shared via social media, the cruise line said: “As the conflict in the Middle East continues, and in close coordination with the relevant authorities, we have had to delay the repositioning of Celestyal Discovery ahead of the start of her Mediterranean program.”
Winter Season Disrupted In The Arabian Gulf
During the 2025 to 2026 winter season, Celestyal Discovery had been based in Abu Dhabi, operating a mix of three, four and seven-night cruises around the Arabian Gulf. These itineraries included calls to destinations such as Doha in Qatar, Khasab in Oman and several ports across the United Arab Emirates.
However, escalating tensions across the region have led to widespread disruption. The ship remains in Dubai, with safety concerns affecting cruise operations across multiple lines.
Celestyal Cruises confirmed that all passengers currently travelling in the region have now disembarked safely. This includes guests from Celestyal Journey, which is currently remaining in Doha until it is deemed safe to resume its planned schedule.
The company is now working to finalise arrangements to reposition both vessels back to the Mediterranean in time for the core summer cruise season.
What This Means For Affected Guests
Passengers booked on the cancelled sailings are being offered either a full refund or a future cruise credit. The cruise line has advised customers to contact their original booking provider to discuss the next steps and available options.
The timing of the cancellations presents challenges for travellers, particularly as the Mediterranean season is just beginning and alternative sailings may be limited at short notice.
Looking ahead, Celestyal Discovery is scheduled to operate a series of short Greek Islands cruises throughout April and into mid-May. These itineraries will depart from Piraeus, calling at destinations including Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes and Santorini, along with Kusadasi in Turkey.
Meanwhile, Celestyal Journey is expected to offer longer voyages ranging from seven to 14 nights, with itineraries extending into the Adriatic and including ports in Croatia, Montenegro and Italy.
Wider Impact Of Middle East Conflict On Cruise Industry
The disruption stems from rapidly escalating tensions in the Middle East following airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iran in late February and early March 2026. Iran’s response included threats to maritime activity, raising safety concerns across key shipping routes.
In addition, missile and drone attacks have affected multiple countries in the Gulf region, including major cruise hubs such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
These developments have forced several cruise lines to cancel sailings, alter itineraries or withdraw ships from the region altogether, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of cruise operations to geopolitical events.
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