Celestyal Opens Safe Passage in Cruise Industry

Celestyal, the first cruise ship to successfully cross the Strait of Hormuz, announced that thanks to the professionalism of its crew, top-level safety measures, excellent coordination management, and strong partnerships, the passage was completed and a safe route was established for the cruise industry.

The company confirmed that Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey had safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz. This development was highlighted as a significant operational milestone for the cruise sector at a time of heightened regional sensitivity.

On Friday, April 17, under the command of Captain Nikolaos Vasileiou, Celestyal Discovery became the first cruise ship to depart the Arabian Gulf, following a meticulously coordinated navigation plan developed in close cooperation with regional authorities and maritime security teams. This pioneering step established a reliable route through the Strait, enabling other cruise operators to follow.

Subsequently, on Saturday, April 18, Captain Angelos Vasilakos led Celestyal Journey through the same passage, successfully completing the crossing and guiding a larger cruise convoy out of the region via the designated corridor.

Throughout the operation, safety remained the absolute priority. Captains Vasileiou and Vasilakos demonstrated exceptional leadership and calm command, working closely with both onboard and shore-based teams to ensure the safety of the crew and the successful completion of the crossings. Celestyal also expressed gratitude to regional authorities and partners for their strong cooperation.

Celestyal Turkey Director Özgü Alnıtemiz stated that the ships are now repositioning towards the Mediterranean to begin the summer season:

“We overcame this important process with only a limited number of cancellations in our Mediterranean program. Our ships are finally returning, and we are excitedly focusing on the summer season. We confirm to our guests and partners that all upcoming voyages currently on sale will take place as planned. We have all witnessed that travel is an industry built on collaboration. Swift cooperation and uninterrupted support played a critical role in managing the process safely and smoothly. We thank our crew, travel agencies, airlines supporting the evacuation process, local authorities, and tourism organizations for their partnership and contributions.”