Everything you need to know about Celestyal’s Celestyal Journey | Cruise | Travel

Celestyal Journey joined Greece-based Celestyal after a $20million upgrade in 2023 and is what’s increasingly referred to as a “heritage” ship. Built in 1993 as Ryndam for Holland America Line, Journey has also been a P&O Cruises Australia ship and briefly belonged to Seajets before Celestyal bought it in December 2023.

The cruise line is best known for its Greek and Turkish itineraries and this summer its other ship, Celestyal Discovery, is offering three and four-nights from Athens while Journey has seven-night sailings that can be joined in Athens, Thessaloniki or Kusadasi and 14-nights from Athens or Kusadasi.

For winter 2025/2026 Celestyal will have both ships in the Arabian Gulf, with Discovery sailing three, four or seven-night cruises to ports including Doha in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Khasab in Oman and Sir Bani Yas island, while Journey will sail seven-night Desert Days return-trip itineraries from Doha to Dubai, Oman, Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

Journey may be an older ship but its refurbished public spaces are as smart and plush as a new-build, with two stylish pools – a smaller one at the back of deck 10 with great views, and larger one at Halara Cove on deck 11 with a retractable roof.

When I was on board for a Desert Days cruise there was a very international atmosphere, with a lot of East Europeans and quite a few Chinese and Japanese guests as well as Western Europeans among the 1,360 guests.

Evening entertainment is mostly the traditional song and dance in the theatre and discos in the top deck lounge – although the most fun nights involved magic tricks by the bar staff after dinner.

It’s the exceptional value for money that marks Celestyal out from its competitors, at least as far as Adriatic and Arabian Gulf cruises are concerned.

Seven-night Desert Day cruises will cost from £569 for winter 2025 and take in three countries – Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates – including an overnight stop in Dubai, a day in Oman, another in Abu Dhabi, and a day at Sir Bani Yas Island – with no sea days.

There’s a good range of cabins but as this is an older ship the inside cabins and outside cabins with a window are fairly compact, with just a sleeping area, wardrobe and small bathroom.

Balcony cabin include a sofa and coffee table plus desk with clothes drawers and wardobes, as well as a bathroom, while Junior Dream Suites are a similar size and include complimentary use of the Smoked Olive restaurant, reserved for suite guests.

Grand Dream Suites are nearly twice the size, with a walk-in wardrobe, large bathroom and double-sized balcony. These, and Stargazer Penthouse Suites, have a dedicated concierge, access to the private Ray’s Sundeck and complimentary use of the Thermal Spa Suite’s hot tub, steam room, sauna and private relaxation area.

The penthouse suites are massive, with a four poster-style bed, walk-in wardrobe, large sofa that can be made into a bed, a separate dining area for complimentary in-room dining, kitchen and two bathrooms – one with a whirl pool bath and separate walk-in shower. They also have unlimited mini bars and complimentary laundry service.

Waiter-served Thalassa Restaurant and self-serve buffet The Taverna are complimentary and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while The Greek Deli Counter near the main Halara Cove pool does complimentary chicken giros at lunchtime.

The menu at Thalassa Restaurant is not massive but it changes daily and includes dishes like pan-seared Aegean fish mixed grill and traditional moussaka.

Vegetarians and vegans are catered for with dishes including Vegan Stuffed Summer Vegetables and there’s a Chef’s Gourmet Selection of speciality restaurant dishes every day, although you have to pay for them.

Speciality restaurants are Grill Seekers, for meaty meals and lobster, and Asian fusion Pink Moon. This has a wide-ranging menu, from ramen and noodle bowls to different stir fry noodles or rice dishes. The steamed sticky rice in lotus leaf was particularly popular. Neither of these restaurants is cheap but they’re well worth it if you’re celebrating a birthday or anniversary.

Smoked Olive is a complimentary restaurant for suite guests but if there’s enough room other guests can pay to use it for speciality dining and there’s also a Chef’s Table private dining room that can be booked.

Coffee Nation, near the bars and onboard shops, is where you can pay for exceptionally good barista coffee while Fig & Honey does delicious paid-for smoothies and ice cream, near the main pool.

Destination-heavy cruises are one of Celestyal’s unique selling points. Its itineraries don’t usually include sea days so there’s something new to see and do every day – or you can stay on board and enjoy the ship with just a few other passengers.

This is one of the best times to treat yourself to a day at Sozo Spa, where you can pay for a facial, body wrap and a variety of massages. The Drift Den, with its thermal relaxation beds plus sauna and steam room, is also much quieter, and you can pay for a manicure or hair treatment at Glow Bar. There’s also a free and well-equipped gym.

Most people join excursions for Arabian Gulf cruises, as there are rarely any shuttle buses or obvious public transport – although Hop On Hop Off buses should be available and there are always taxis. It’s easier to just do your own thing in Greek destinations but worth joining excursions for distant attractions so you don’t risk missing the ship if you’re late back.

Dress codes on Journey are very relaxed during the day but most people change for dinner and shorts are not allowed in any restaurants except the buffet. There’s a formal night, but you’d hardly know it – tuxedos and cocktail dresses not required – and a White Night that, on my cruise, was mostly ignored – although the Horizons Lounge at the top of the ship was pretty full of white-clad disco dancers for the late-night party.

There are shows in the Amphitheatro Show Lounge every night, ranging from hilariously deranged ABBA night, I Have A Dream, to impressive circus acrobatic shows, plus the usual song and dance performances. I rarely enjoy anything without a story but the shows were mostly well done and the songs were in English.

However, the most fun nights were in the Mix Bar when a few particularly talented bar staff entertained us. Cuban waitress Suylen’s opera singing was amazing and I’ll never forget kilt-wearing Chinese barman JD swallowing balloons.

There is also live music in Blue, an atmospheric bar and lounge with luxurious blue velvet sofas and several different spaces to hide away in, and Mix Bar had wonderful young violinist Monica playing most nights. I particularly loved the interior design of adjoining Martini Bar but, inexplicably, this was usually empty.

For those with the energy, the top-deck Horizons Lounge has disco dancing every night.

Celestyal has introduced a new Celestyal One fare from March 2025 that includes meals in the complimentary restaurants, basic WiFi and plus tea, coffee and water from the buffet throughout the day (6.30am to 10pm). It also includes sodas at mealtimes, all entertainment, port fees and staff gratuities.

It has also introduced CelestyalPay, an account that you load with money before departure and receive a bonus sum from the cruise line, to pay for bar drinks, speciality coffee and speciality restaurants, although you can still pay as you go for these if you don’t want to use CelestyalPay.

* 7-night Desert Days round-trip cruise from Doha departing December 13, 2025, from £569 cruise only (celestial.com; 0808 280 3553)