Celestyal Extends 2026 Wave Offer Into Early February

Celestyal Cruises has extended a wave season promotion for 2026 bookings through early February after delivering what the line described as its strongest-ever Black Friday and Cyber Monday performance, said John Diorio, vice president of business development, North America at Celestyal Cruises.

The two-ship cruise line launched the 2026 wave season offer on Dec. 10, 2025, and is keeping it open into early February as it tracks booking trends. Diorio said the longer window is intended to drive demand while leaving room to modify the deal later in the season if needed. “We want to create the urgency to book,” he said.

What Celestyal is offering for wave season 2026

The promotion combines multiple incentives aimed at moving bookings during the peak selling period, including fare discounts, cabin upgrades and onboard spending credits.

• Discounts off the ticket price: The offer includes reduced fares as part of Celestyal’s wave season push for 2026.
• Cabin upgrades: Eligible bookings include an upgrade component as an added incentive to commit during the promotion window.
• Onboard spending credits: The deal also includes onboard credit, adding value beyond the base fare.

For the summer Mediterranean season, Celestyal is advertising fares starting at $939 per person for seven-night sailings, with four-night itineraries starting at $499 per person.

North America’s role in Celestyal’s growth strategy

Diorio said North America remains a core source market, accounting for roughly 60 to 65 percent of Celestyal’s business. “Our focus as a company is all about the North American trade market,” he said, pointing to the company’s emphasis on working closely with travel advisors both in North America and in other regions as it builds brand recognition.

As part of that trade outreach, Celestyal has updated and rebranded its travel advisor training under the name Celestyal Stars. Diorio said the program is structured across four levels (bronze, silver, gold and platinum), with each tier containing four modules. He said the full program takes about four hours to complete and described the modules as interactive and designed to keep advisors engaged.

Arabian Gulf season showcases onboard product and destination experiences

While promoting 2026 bookings and Mediterranean pricing, Celestyal is also operating its winter season in the Middle East, with both Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery deployed in the Arabian Gulf. The line marked the start of its second season in the region by hosting trade partners onboard Celestyal Journey during a Desert Days & Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sailing from Dec. 5 to Dec. 9, 2025.

Celestyal hosted 13 partners on the voyage, including six from North America, with participating advisors representing eight markets. The cruise line said the trip was supported by the Department of Abu Dhabi Culture and Tourism and combined three nights onboard with multiple shore experiences, including premium access tied to the Grand Prix and cultural shore excursions.

Programming during the sailing included an onboard discussion featuring Formula 1 driver, entrepreneur, author and broadcaster David Coulthard, joined by UK sports broadcaster and commentator Laura Winter. The session covered Coulthard’s racing career, his perspective on the current Formula 1 season and commentary connected to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said the sailing was designed to spotlight both the destination program and the onboard experience. “Having David Coulthard and Laura Winter join us created a standout backstage pass moment for agents and guests alike,” Haslett said.

Winter itineraries, starting fares, and the next fleet move

Celestyal’s winter deployment in the region includes two separate Arabian Gulf programs, anchored by different homeports and trip lengths.

• Celestyal Journey (Desert Days): The ship is scheduled to operate seven-night Desert Days cruises sailing roundtrip from Doha, including an overnight stay in Dubai and calls in Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. Celestyal has priced the Desert Days cruises from $739 per person.
• Celestyal Discovery (Iconic Arabia): The ship joined the Arabian Gulf program on Dec. 12, 2025, launching three-, four- and seven-night Iconic Arabia cruises sailing roundtrip from Abu Dhabi. The itineraries include calls at Doha, Khasab, Dubai and Sir Bani Yas Island, along with maiden visits to Ras Al Khaimah, with the three-night sailing priced from $359 per person.

With both ships in the region for the winter, Diorio said the deployment is creating additional capacity and engagement opportunities for travel sellers in Celestyal’s key markets. “We’re significantly expanding capacity and opportunity for our North American trade partners,” he said, adding that feedback from advisors onboard has been “incredibly positive.”

Looking ahead, both Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery are scheduled to reposition from the Middle East to Europe in time for the summer Mediterranean season, as Celestyal continues promoting its 2026 wave season offer through early February.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When does Celestyal’s 2026 wave season offer run?

The promotion went live on Dec. 10, 2025, and is scheduled to run through early February. Diorio said extending the window gives Celestyal flexibility to keep the offer in place longer or adjust it later in the season.

What is included in Celestyal’s wave season promotion?

Celestyal’s wave season offer includes discounts off the ticket price, cabin upgrades and onboard spending credits.

How does the Celestyal Stars travel advisor program work?

Celestyal Stars is a tier-based training program with four levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Diorio said each tier contains four modules, the content is interactive, and the full program takes about four hours to complete.

Which ships are sailing Celestyal’s Arabian Gulf itineraries this winter, and where do they go?

Celestyal Journey is operating seven-night Desert Days cruises roundtrip from Doha, including an overnight in Dubai and calls in Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. Celestyal Discovery is sailing three-, four- and seven-night Iconic Arabia itineraries roundtrip from Abu Dhabi, calling at Doha, Khasab, Dubai and Sir Bani Yas Island, and adding maiden visits to Ras Al Khaimah.

What was the significance of the Desert Days & Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sailing?

The Dec. 5–9, 2025 sailing marked the start of Celestyal Journey’s second Arabian Gulf season and was used to host trade partners onboard. The trip featured an onboard discussion with David Coulthard, joined by Laura Winter, and Celestyal said it combined onboard programming with shore experiences that included premium access tied to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.