Celestyal Journey has returned to service in the Arabian Gulf following a planned refit in Dubai.
The €6.5 million refit saw the ship given a new livery, featuring the signature hull wave and stars of the new brand identity, to match its fleet mate Celestyal Discovery. The ship’s underwater areas were also treated and painted with silicon paint while the power management system was updated to improve operational efficiency and performance. The 1,260-guest Celestyal Journey will reposition to Athens for the start of its Greece and Mediterranean season and will undergo further maintenance procedures before her start to the season on April 12, sailing roundtrip from Athens on the new Heavenly Greece, Italy and Croatia itinerary, calling at Kefalonia, Kotor, Bari, Corfu, and Katakolo with an overnight in Dubrovnik. Celestyal Journey will return to the Arabian Gulf on December 6 this year, and start the season with an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix celebratory cruise, before Celestyal Discovery joins its fleet mate and commences her inaugural season in the region on December 12 homeporting from Abu Dhabi. Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, said: “We’re thrilled our beloved ship Celestyal Journey has returned to service, looking and performing better than ever. The new livery makes it instantly recognisable as a Celestyal ship, while the technical upgrades will ensure it provides a smooth sailing experience for all who sail on her. “We’ve seen phenomenal demand for our Arabian Gulf itineraries, with our last three Doha-Doha sailings operating at full capacity. Overall, since launching the programme, we’re 35 per cent above target for sailed guests, which demonstrates a real desire to explore this beautiful part of the world on our intimate, mid-sized ships.”