UAE Firm Expands Fleet with Acquisition of Former Celestyal Crystal Cruise Ship
Celestyal Cruises, based in Piraeus, Greece, has sold its smallest and oldest cruise ship, the 25,611-gross-ton Celestyal Crystal, to a buyer in the United Arab Emirates. The vessel, now renamed New Dawn, has a storied history, having been built in 1980 and previously served under various names and owners, including a major reconstruction after a fire in 1992.
Following the ship’s decommissioning and subsequent renaming, Celestyal sought to offload the cruise ship, which had been replaced in its fleet by a former Carnival Corporation vessel in September 2023. While details of the sale have not been disclosed, the new owners are considering either continuing its operation as a cruise ship or repurposing it for use as an accommodation facility.
The New Dawn has experienced a colorful operational history that includes serving various cruise lines and undergoing significant changes, such as a second reconstruction after a grounding incident in the Baltic Sea. Over the years, it served under different names and in numerous regions, showing mixed fortunes including a notable collision with a tanker in Turkey’s Marmara Sea in 2015.
The COVID-19 crisis led to a reduction in cruise fleets, allowing niche-market companies like Celestyal to acquire newer ships. Celestyal had previously retired the Celestyal Crystal and another older vessel, Celestyal Olympia, which was sold to UAE-based interests and transformed into an accommodation vessel before being dismantled in Alang in early 2025.
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At CruiseShip.net, our editorial team is made up of passionate travelers, seasoned cruisers, and maritime industry enthusiasts who live and breathe life at sea. From the latest ship launches and destination spotlights to detailed reviews and onboard tips, we are dedicated to helping readers discover the joy of cruising. Our mission is to make every article both inspiring and useful, whether you are planning your first voyage or your fiftieth. We research, fact-check, and collaborate with cruise insiders around the world to bring you accurate, up-to-date, and exciting coverage of the global cruise industry. Join us as we chart new horizons, exploring one port, one ship, and one unforgettable experience at a time.
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