Despite having done more cruises than I can count, I still get excited every time I board a ship. That’s especially true when everything about the experience is new to me, as it has been this week.
When the folks at Celestyal Cruises invited me to join them for a week-long sailing aboard the Celestyal Journey for their Desert Days Cruises, I did what you would have no doubt done: I started researching.
Everything about this trip would be new to me, from traveling through a region I know nothing about to sailing with a cruise line that is new to me.
So, in the days leading up to our embarkation, I hit the internet and read everything I could find. I watched videos, spoke to people familiar with the line, and checked out Facebook groups and Cruise Critic message boards.
There was a lot of information out there… more than I could absorb. But everything I read got me increasingly excited about what promised to be a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Destination: Middle East
If I’m being honest, I was hesitant to fly 7,000 miles from home to board a ship in the Middle East, a region that has been in the news most of my life. Turns out I worried myself over nothing, more on that in later reports.
The ship was set to depart from Doha, Qatar, and then head to Bahrain, three ports in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, before returning to Doha. But I knew I’d regret it if I passed on this incredible opportunity.
My journey to Doha, Qatar, was a long one. I flew from Jacksonville, Florida, to JFK and then to Doha. I was fortunate enough to be booked in one of the Qsuites on Qatar Airways. This business-class seat came with on-demand meal service and a lay-flat bed.
The pod was rear-facing, which felt funny when I took off facing the other direction. But what’s not to love? I slept for eight hours straight, which I’ve only done once on all my many flights. After a few hours sleep, it was time to hit the pier.
Embarkation in Doha
One of the things I was both curious and a little apprehensive about was the embarkation process. What would it be like at the Doha Cruise Terminal?
Walking in and seeing what looked like a massive line, my brain did what most people do under those circumstances: “Ugh,” I thought. “This is going to suck.” But as usually turns out to be the case, things weren’t nearly as bad as they seemed at first.
The line went fast as they checked our passports and cruise documents, collected our luggage, and then took us to the terminal to deal with security and check-in. All told it was 40 minutes from the parking lot to the ship.
Picking up our keys at the check-in desk and going through immigration was efficient, and our first interaction with the Celestyal Journey crew was friendly.
One thing we had to do, which was, I have to admit, a little nerve-racking, was surrender our passports before boarding the ship. We will get them back before arriving in Dubai.
Checking out the Celestyal Journey
Boarding was like going back a decade to when this ship was sailing for Holland America Line as the MS Ryndam. I had a chance to sail her out of Tampa, Florida, back then.
Since then, it has changed hands a few times, first to P&O Cruises Australia, then to Seajets, and eventually to Celestyal, where it was renamed Celestyal Journey.
The ship actually just returned to service a couple weeks ago after a $6.8 million refurbishment and new paint job.
The layout feels like any other cruise ship I’ve been on, with clustered areas, such as the lounges, dining, and stateroom hallways, making it very easy to navigate. This is not a mega-ship, but rather one designed for destination-focused itineraries.
One thing that sticks out is the amount of lounges and bars on this ship. You can always find a quiet spot, even when it’s sailing at capacity.
The Celestyal Journey has a classic feel and eclectic décor. It isn’t a mega-ship with go-karts and roller coasters, but rather a return to a simpler, more elevated style of cruising. You will find a couple of pools, places to chill, a few dining venues (both complimentary and speciality) and some show lounges.
Cabin First Impressions
Staterooms can set the tone for a cruise. After all, this is your home away from home while on board. It’s where you go when you need an escape… your refuge, if you will.
I was assigned an ocean-view cabin for this sailing. It felt spacious and was configured with a bed underneath the bay window.
Storage space was ample for one person, and with two people, it would be plenty, with six large drawers and two closets.
The bathroom size and layout are comparable to most ship bathrooms. While it may not be a luxury stateroom, it is more than functional and pretty much what you might expect on ships with a few years on them.
The Daily Program gave a rundown of the events onboard, the time the venues were open, and some important safety details, including info on the lifeboat drill, on the bed.
First taste of Celestyal Journey
As cruisers, we tend to put a big emphasis on food. That means that your first meal on a new ship (to me) lets you know what to expect during the sailing. This is true whether you’re having a sit-down meal or hitting the buffet, which is where I headed.
While the buffet didn’t have a huge selection, it was nice because it wasn’t packed and had plenty of seating along the windows and counter areas with stools.
There were limited options, but standouts included lamb and a variety of pasta dishes. Overall, the food here was what I’d call middle-of-the-road, with the pasta dishes being my favorite for lunch.
I started losing steam by dinner, so I returned to the buffet, again, which is called Taverna.
The dinner selection was much more varied, with a huge salad bar, different cuts of meat, and types of fish, veggies, and desserts. Like lunchtime, the food was good—about what you’d expect.
Who’s onboard?
The vibe onboard fascinates me because it’s so chill. Everyone just does their own thing, and it’s a come-as-you-are feeling.
Celestyal Journey attracts a diverse crowd, with a mix of Europeans, Americans, and Middle Eastern passengers.
There are solo cruisers (myself included) and families, all of whom come together to create a laid-back vibe. In a world where everything is divided, it’s nice to be around so many people brought together by their love of travel and cruising. Plus, the bartenders are very personable and fun.
This first day made me appreciate the modern approach to safety drills. Here, we did it the old-fashioned way. Yes, we had to grab our life jackets, head to our assigned station, and participate in the muster drill.
There was something oddly charming about the whole process… maybe because I haven’t had to do it in nearly five years.
A Busy Week Ahead
Sail away from Doha was beautiful, albeit a bit cool. I wasn’t expecting weather in the 60s in the Middle East. The backdrop of the sun setting against the Doha skyline was so breathtaking that no picture could ever do justice.
We are now sailing toward Khalifa Bin Salman, Bahrain, a major seaport 20 miles from Saudi Arabia. With embarkation day in the books and as I get settled, the Celestyal Journey has already made a strong first impression, and I’m excited to see how this adventure will unfold.
There’s still a lot of ship to explore, not to mention the ports on our itinerary. So, while I’m not entirely sure what to expect, but I’m excited to be along for the ride (or cruise).
Want to read about day two? You can read our mid-cruise check-in for Celeystal Journey here.
