celestyal cruises fleet

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8 Things to Know About Celestyal Cruises

Travel Market Report recently spent a week onboard Celestyal Cruises' Celestyal Crystal on a one-week "Idyllic Aegean" cruise around Greece. The port intensive sailing visited seven stops, including one stop in Turkey, and one surprise bonus stop when high winds delayed our arrival into Mykonos.

For advisors who have never sailed with Celestyal, here are a few things to know before recommending the line to clients.

1. Destination Focus/Port Intensive Probably the most important thing to know about Celestyal is that the focus is always on the destination, not its ships.

Few itineraries include a sea day. On week-long sailings, port calls are typically long, with most starting at 7:30 or 8 in the morning and ending at 7 or 8 in the evening. At marquis ports, like Santorini and Mykonos, port calls often last until late into the night. On sailings that visit Egypt and Israel, itineraries might include full overnights, as well.

On seven-day sailings you'll likely visit six ports; on shorter sailings, you might still visit five or six ports, hitting more than one port a day.

To keep the focus tight, the line only sails to a limited number of countries, visiting ports primarily in the Eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Turkey, Cyprus), with select itineraries also stopping in Egypt, Israel, and Montenegro. In Greece, Celestyal itineraries visit 15 cities or islands. In Turkey, the line visits up to five cities depending on the itinerary.

Because the focus is on the destination, there isn't much to do on the ships during the day. Only days with late arrivals (or the rare sea day) feature morning activities. Most onboard events start in the mid to late afternoon and include such options as trivia, arts and crafts, language lessons, and dance classes.

The line's ships are small – less than 2,000 people each – and have no bells or whistles to keep people onboard. But again, that's the point, and why cruisers choose the line, because they're in Greece or the Holy Lands, to see the destinations, not to hang out on the ship.

"I like that Celestyal's ships are a little bit smaller, with longer times in ports" said Suzanne Upton, owner of Travel with Suzanne, who led a group of 40 clients on the seven-day cruise.

You don't choose Celestyal for its ships, you choose it for the itineraries, she added.

"We're going to see the archeology, we're going to see the beaches, we're going to see the landscape, we're going for the food, we're going for the culture and Celestyal 100% delivers on all of that."

 (A note on the fleet: As of the writing of this article, the line's two-ship fleet comprises Celestyal Olympia and Celestyal Crystal, built in 1981 and 1980, respectively. In September, Celestyal Journey, built in 1994, will replace Celestyal Crystal.)

2. Mediterranean Flavor As part of the line's destination focus, the onboard experience emphasizes a Mediterranean vibe, from the colors in the public spaces and staterooms to live Greek music every day to a Mediterranean-inspired dining room menu.

On the aforementioned Idyllic Aegean sailing, the house band, El Greco, headlined every sailaway party and played twice every evening. Dining room menus always featured a "Greek favorite" as an entrée, and baklava for dessert. The always-include house beer is Greek (Mythos) and Greek wines are plentiful. A Mediterranean-style Blue Zone dish, curated by celebrity chef Diane Kochilas, is also always on the menu.

In the only specialty restaurant onboard Celestyal Crystal (which is leaving the fleet in September), the six-course menu is Mediterranean through and through from the first course's Cretan octopus to the sixth course's selection of Greek cheeses.

3. International Crowd English is the official language onboard Celestyal ships, but it might not be the predominant language. Cruisers come from all over the globe and your clients will hear lots of Spanish, French, Turkish, and Greek, among many other languages.

(We love the fact that Celestyal has dinner menus available in almost every language spoken. If you've got Spanish- or French-speaking clients, you can arrange for them to receive menus – and daily programs – in their own language.)

English speakers come from North America, as well as the U.K. and Australia.

TV channels are also in a variety of languages, with only two English-language channels on offer.

For cruisers who enjoy meeting people from other places, a Celestyal cruise is a great opportunity to mix and mingle.

On the flip side, cruisers who prefer being among people who are like themselves, a Celestyal cruise can feel overwhelming, especially on sailings where English speakers might be in the minority. Not everyone around the world follows the same rules of etiquette, and patience is often required. This is especially true during the safety drill when instructions are recited in several languages, leaving everyone standing around for longer. Introductions to shows also take longer, with information repeated in four or five languages before the show gets started.

4. Somewhat Inclusive Celestyal Cruises offers one of the best values in the Mediterranean, with base cruise fares including port fees and gratuities, house alcoholic drinks and soft drinks at meals, and an $80 shore excursion credit.

Alternatively, you clients can choose to "enhance" their fare, which ups the shore excursion credit to $160, and expands the beverage inclusions to premium hot and cold coffees, cocktails and mocktails (up to €7 each), sodas and juices at restaurants and bars, wine (red, white, rose, and sparkling up to €6 each), and spirits (vodka, rum, gin, whiskey up to €6 each).

The enhanced are also includes a 25% discount on the specialty restaurant and one hour of Wi-Fi access.

Regardless of which fare your clients choose, almost all of the dining onboard is included, with four dishes offered each night at dinner for an upcharge. These include beef tenderloin (€29.95), surf and turf (€49.95), ribeye (€95.95), and wagyu steak (€49.95).

There's also one specialty dining option – a six-course Mediterranean tasting menu – which costs around €60 per person.

One surprising extra is ice cream, which is available throughout the day at a small station by the swimming pool and costs €2.30 for the first scoop and €1.95 for each additional scoop.

(Dining options – and what is and is not included – might change when Celestyal Journey joins the fleet in September 2023. The ship has six restaurants and the line might decide to charge extra for some of these.)

5. Not for Luxury Cruisers Celestyal Cruises is a value brand. That's not to say the experience isn't good or that service is lacking. But it's not a white glove, fine wine and dining, luxury brand.

The line's two-ship fleet is old. Celestyal Olympia was built in 1981 and the line's newest ship, Celestyal Journey, which joins the fleet in September 2023, was built in 1994.

Again, that is not to see the ships aren't well taken care of; they are. In some aspects, the age of the ships is beneficial to clients – standard cabins are larger than what you often find on newer ships, and there's more open deck space.

With the addition of Celestyal Journey, the line will finally have a larger number of balcony cabins, as well as more suites for cruisers who prefer larger accommodations. The higher suite categories even come with butler service.

Crew work hard and are friendly, the dining room staff will often pass special requests onto the chef, and bartenders are quick to learn your name and favorite drink. But clients that prefer high-touch service, luxe accoutrements, and Michelin-style cuisine will not find that on Celestyal.

Nor will they find exclusive land-side touring options. Celestyal doesn't offer private concerts at Ephesus or before-the-museum-opens private tours.

For those clients the luxury lines like Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises remain a better choice in the Eastern Mediterranean.

But don't discount Celestyal for all of your higher worth clients. As Upton pointed out to Travel Market Report, she had clients among her group who spent upwards of $30,000 to fly Delta One who were perfectly satisfied with their junior suite Celestyal Cruises experience.

6. Not for Small Children Because Celestyal Cruises is so destination focused, and cruisers choose the line to be able to spend time ashore exploring the destinations, there is not a lot of focus onboard activities, including activities for kids. None of the line's ships have kid's clubs. There is no babysitting, no evening pajama parties, and no kids' only dinners so mom and dad can have a meal alone.

On the Idyllic Aegean sailing, there were kids' activities (sometimes with cookies or ice cream) for 3 to 12 year olds from 4 to 6 most evenings, and there was a teens-only disco most nights at 10:30. And that was it.

Families that want to spend all their time together and have kids that can occupy themselves while onboard are a perfect fit for Celestyal. Those that want someone else to occupy their kids or need attractions like a splash pool or a waterslide are not.

7. Trusted by Tour Groups Celestyal Cruises might not be as well known among travel advisors as other cruise brands, but tour operators that advisors often use are familiar with the line.

On the Idyllic Aegean sailing mentioned above, there were both Gate 1 and Insight Vacations groups onboard. While the presence of such groups won't affect your clients, you can be reassured that these companies trust Celestyal with their clients.

8. Considering Preparing Experienced Cruisers Advisors putting past cruise clients on Celestyal Cruises might want to prepare them ahead of time, particularly if they've been on a cruise in the past two years.

Stepping onto a Celestyal ship is a little like taking a step backwards in time. Safety drills are still done in person – lifejacket around your neck, standing in rows (men at the back, women up front) while the cruise director reads from a script over the PA system. Onboard Internet is slow, priced per hour and expensive. There's only one main option for entertainment at night (one somewhat hokey show performed twice each night).

Another thing worth mentioning to past cruisers is the prevalence of other languages, which translates into a long safety drill (all instructions are read in three to four languages), longer intros to shows, and longer overhead PA announcements.

As mentioned earlier, different nationalities have different etiquette rules, with some nationalities not as good about waiting on lines or waiting their turn.

Additionally, though Celestyal, as a brand, has been around since 2014, there may be times crew seem to struggle with how to run things efficiently. On the Idyllic Aegean sailing Travel Market Report was on, shore ex staff didn't bother to let people know when excursions were cancelled. The shore ex brochure didn't list departure times or how long tours were (making it hard, for example, to know when a good time to book a spa appointment was). An onboard expense statement that the cruise director said everyone would get half way through the sailing never appeared.

Pack your patience, and be proactive if you're confused are two good bits of advice to give clients.

"We're in Europe. We're on island time. You're not always going to know all the details. You may have to go ask a question at shore ex," Upton told us she mentioned to her clients ahead of time.

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Celestyal is offering seven National Geographic Day Tours available across Greece and Croatia.

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The all-star lineup was led by "Ted Lasso" star and Sun Princess godmother Hannah Waddingham. 

Only guests staying in the new Sanctuary Collection stateroom category will have access to the Sancutary. 

Celestyal Crystal Cruise Ship Profile

TripSavvy / Linda Garrison

The Celestyal Crystal is a 1000-passenger cruise ship and one of the ships in the Celestyal Cruises' fleet. Two of the ships are leased to Thomson Cruises, and Celestyal operates the Celestyal Crystal and Celestyal Olympia. In the past few years, Celestyal Cruises has invested 12 million euros in refurbishing these two ships.

This cruise line is part of the Louis Group, which re-branded its cruise ships in 2015 as Celestyal Cruises. The company continues to use the Louis Cruises name to operate in the chartering and ship management segments of the cruise industry.

Until November 2016, the Celestyal Crystal cruise ship primarily sailed 7-day cruises of the Greek Isles and Turkey . The ship's itineraries and ports of call are the focus of the cruises; not the ship. Rather than sail in the afternoon like many other cruise ships, the Celestyal Crystal often stays into the evening, giving her guests more precious time ashore to enjoy Greece and Turkey .

In November 2016, the Celestyal Crystal began sailing year-round 7-day Cuba cruises . The cruise ship has spent a few winters sailing in Cuba, so it has more experience sailing in Cuba than other ships do. Like its eastern Mediterranean cruises, the Cuba cruises are destination focused, so the onboard entertainment and cuisine includes Cuban touches. Passengers can board either in Montego Bay , Jamaica or Havana. They sail for seven days and disembark in the same port. The Celestyal Crystal has ports of call in Santiago de Cuba , Havana , Maria la Gorda , and Cienfuegos, the gateway to Trinidad . The cruise ship has one day at sea between Santiago de Cuba and Havana. 

The Celestyal Crystal is about 25,000 tons, and she has 480 cabins. She can carry up to 1200 guests since many cabins can accommodate three or four guests. The cruise ship was built in 1982, and once sailed as the Leeward of Norwegian Cruise Line. Louis Cruises bought the ship in 2007, and she sailed as the Louis Cristal until the company renamed her in 2015 as part of the rebranding of its cruise ship operation.

Although the Celestyal Crystal is an older ship, she has all the basic amenities and venues of newer cruise ships including two restaurants, casual buffet dining area, poolside cafe, three lounges, two bars, casino, swimming pool, sauna, gym, medical center, spa and massage room, hot tub, beauty salon, Internet area, video arcade, conference room, and retail shops. The ship does not have an onboard water park or other attractions often seen on newer ships.

Cabins and Suites

The Celestyal Crystal cruise ship has 480 cabins and suites, many of which have Pullman or sofa beds so that three or four guests can be accommodated in the cabin. The cabins and suites are spread over six decks and are in about a dozen different categories. The ship has 317 outside cabins and suites and 163 inside cabins. During a recent refurbishment, balconies were added to 40 cabins, so now 55 cabins have balconies.

The cabins on the Celestyal Crystal are similar in amenities to those on the Celestyal Odyssey. The cabins and suites are comfortable, but only 55 cabins have balconies. Since the ship stays in most ports late and is primarily sailing at night, most guests do not seem to miss this feature as much as on a ship with sea days or more time at sea.

The different categories of cabins and suites on the Celestyal Crystal are:

• Imperial Suite - These 2 suites on Deck 6 are about 44 square meters and can accommodate up to 4 persons, with 2 lower beds and sofa (bed), refrigerator, TV, hairdryer, safety box, bathroom, 2 windows, and a balcony
• Balcony Suite - These 8 suites on deck 7 are about 36 square meters and can accommodate up to 3 persons, with 2 lower beds and sofa (bed), refrigerator, TV, hairdryer, safety box, bathroom, 2 windows, and a balcony.
• Suite - These 2 suites on deck 6 are about 34 square meters can accommodate up to 4 person(s), with 2 lower beds and sofa (bed), refrigerator, TV, hairdryer, safety box, bathroom, 2 windows, and a balcony.
• Junior Suite - These 4 suites on deck 6 are about 30 square meters and can accommodate up to 4 person(s), with 2 lower beds and sofa (bed), refrigerator, TV, hairdryer, safety box, bathroom, and 2 ocean view window(s).
• Deluxe Outside Stateroom - These staterooms on deck 6 and 7 are about 15.8 square meters and can accommodate up to 3 persons, with 2 lower beds and sofa (bed), refrigerator, TV, hairdryer, safety box, bathroom, and 2 ocean view windows.
• Premium Outside Stateroom - These outside cabins on decks 3 and 4 measure from 13 to 15.8 square meters and can accommodate up to 4 person(s), with 2 lower beds, refrigerator, TV, hairdryer, safety box, bathroom, and 2 ocean view windows.
• Superior Outside Stateroom - These outside Cabins on Deck 3, 5, and 6 are about 11.1 square meters and can accommodate up to 4 passengers with 2 lower beds, TV, hairdryer, safety box, bathroom, and 1 window with an obstructed view.
• Standard Outside Stateroom - These outside cabins are on Deck 2 are about 11.4 square meters and can accommodate 2 or 4 persons, with 2 lower beds, TV, hairdryer, safety box, bathroom, and 1 porthole.
• Premium Inside Stateroom - These inside cabins on Deck 5, 6, and 7 are 12.2 square meters and can accommodate 2 or 4 persons, with TV, hairdryer, safety box, and bathroom.
• Deluxe Inside Stateroom - These inside cabins on Deck 6 and 7 are about 11.9 square meters and can accommodate 2 persons, with 2 lower beds, TV, hairdryer, safety box, and bathroom.
• Superior Inside Stateroom - These inside cabins on Deck 4 measure about 12.1 square meters and can accommodate 2 or 4 person(s), with TV, hairdryer, safety box, and bathroom.
• Standard Inside Stateroom - These inside cabins on Deck 3, 4, and 5 measure 11.9 square meters and can accommodate 2 or 4 person(s), with TV, hairdryer, safety box, and bathroom.

Dining and Cuisine

The Celestyal Crystal cruise ship has two casual dining venues: Leda on deck 9 and a poolside cafe. Its main restaurant, Amalthia, is on deck 8 aft, and the Olympus restaurant is on deck 5. All venues feature a breakfast buffet and have open seating at all meals. The casual venues also have buffets at lunch and dinner, with some meals (especially lunch) served poolside. Guests order from a menu at lunch and dinner at Amalthia.

The meals on the ship are varied, and dinners always feature some delicious Greek or Mediterranean dishes like fried cheese with honey, moussaka, fish, and Greek salads. The restaurant also serves delicious pasta like spaghetti with meat sauce. 

On the Cuba cruises, the Celestyal Crystal features a Cuban dish at each meal, but still retains some of her delicious ones. 

Since the Celestyal Crystal stays in some ports until 10 pm or so, guests who love to try different venues can experience some of the excellent Greek restaurants ashore and then return to their cabin on the ship. 

Interior Common Areas

The interiors of the Celestyal Crystal cruise ship are contemporary and comfortable. Muses is the large show lounge, with nightly live music and entertainment. One evening featured an excellent program from the Lyceum Club of Greek Women from Athens. This group's mission is to preserve and promote the traditions and cultural heritage of Greece . Although the "Greek Traditional Wedding" had participants playing the different roles in a wedding, the emphasis was on the marvelous historical costumes, music, singing, and folk dancing. The group had 24 performers of all ages (12 couples).

The Eros Lounge is on deck 8 near the Amalthia Restaurant and the Casino. This smaller venue is used for small live musical groups, parlor games, and socializing before or after dinner. The casino has slot machines, blackjack, and roulette. 

Those who enjoy watching the sea will love the Horizons Lounge, which is aft on deck 10. This bar has marvelous panoramic views by day and is transformed into a disco in the evening.

The Celestyal Crystal cruise ship has a very nice spa and fitness center with massages, spa treatments, and a sauna.

The Celestyal Crystal does offer WiFi in the indoor common areas like the lounges, but not in the cabins. The ship also has some computers for guest use near the reception desk.

Outdoor Decks

The swimming pool on the Celestyal Crystal cruise ship has a retractable roof, so it can be used in all sorts of weather. This pool and the pool bar are very popular all day long, as is the hot tub, which is next to the Thalassa Bar aft on deck 5 behind the Olympus restaurant.

One feature that some guests might miss is the outdoor deck aft of several of the cabin decks. This outdoor area has lounge chairs and is sometimes quieter than the outdoor deck near the pool or hot tub.

As noted earlier in this article, the Celestyal Crystal does not offer all the up to date amenities seen on newer ships. However, the ship does sail to some of the world's most beautiful ports of call, so guests are off the ship exploring during much of their cruise vacation . And, they only have to unpack their suitcase once, which is much better than spending a lot of precious vacation time dragging a bag on and off the ferry or airplane.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, TripSavvy believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our  Ethics Policy .

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Review: Celestyal Journey

Reviewed by Rebecca Hall

What is the line? Celestyal Cruises

Name of ship? Journey

Passenger Occupancy? 1,260

Itinerary? Starting and finishing in Athens, the seven-night “Idyllic Aegean” sailing stops at Thessaloniki, Kusadasi (Turkey), Heraklion (Crete), and the Greek islands of Santorini, Mykonos, and Milos.

Start out with the big picture–what is this cruise line known for?

If you’re looking for a company that knows its Greek islands and their accompanying cultural heritage inside and out, Celestyal is the cruise line for you. With immersive shore excursions and engaging onboard entertainment, the Greek cruise operator's mid-size ships are an intimate way to explore the Mediterranean.

Tell us about the ship in general:

The Journey is the third vessel in Celestyal's fleet, replacing the Crystal on the Idyllic Aegean route. The ship, previously named the Ryndam, was originally built for Holland America Line in 1994. Celestyal then purchased the vessel, which underwent a $21 million refurbishment in time for its maiden voyage in early September 2023.

Today, the ship boasts 630 staterooms, including 120 Junior Suites and 28 Grand Suites. There are seven specialty dining experiences including the private chef’s table, live cooking demonstrations, Asian cuisine at Pink Moon, juice and ice cream stations at Fig and Honey, fresh Mediterranean bites from Smoked Olive, and a Greek Deli. Eight bars and lounges, including a decadent champagne bar and indulgent wine cellar, round off the evening relaxation, while two pools (plus an entire deck dedicated to wellness) caters to daytime relaxation. Vintage 1920s decor is featured throughout the ship, with film star prints of Sophia Loren and the like, retro light fittings, and a grand central staircase.

Who is on board?

Celestyal caters to people of all ages traveling from a wide variety of countries, including the US, Eastern and Central Europe, Australia, and Argentina.

I found the cruise to be popular among groups of friends in their sixties and upwards, as well as mothers and daughters looking to spend quality time together. As a Greek company, Celestyal also attracts local families who are keen to explore their own backyard in an environment where they’re well catered.

Describe the cabins.

There are dozens of various suite categories on the Journey, spread across Decks 9 and 10. The Junior Dream Suites A, B, and C categories all have floor to ceiling sliding doors to their balconies and can sleep up to three people across twin beds and a sofa bed. At 226 square feet, my category B Junior Dream suite on Deck 9 was more than comfortable.

A more affordable option is to opt for the ship's exterior or interior staterooms, both at 204 square feet, which sleep up to 4 people in a mixture of upper, lower, and sofa beds. Exterior staterooms have portholes while the interior rooms have backlit curtains to mimic natural light. Both are perfect for solo travelers.

A step above these is the 377-square-foot Grand Dream Suite on Deck 10 with 2 lower beds, a double sofa bed, a panoramic window, balcony, a spacious bathroom, and a dressing room.

The pièce de résistance is the 947-square-foot Stargazer Exterior Penthouse Suite on Deck 10 with space for up to three guests. Both the Stargazer Suite and Grand Dreams’ have exclusive access to Rays, a secluded sunbathing and relaxation area—plus the Compass Lounge for private drinks.

Tell us about the crew.

The ship's 613 crew members took the time to greet every passenger by name and were always on-hand for any query. The Shore Excursion staff was particularly knowledgeable and helpful, making time to enquire about your interests and passions in order to recommend the best tour at each destination.

The Stargazer Suite and Grand Dreams have their own concierge on board, plus dedicated room stewards for a section of all other Dream Suites and Staterooms.

What food and drink options are available onboard?

For a mid-size ship, Journey has an impressive choice of dining and bar options, albeit no 24-hour room service. Its restaurants range from Mediterranean dining in the Thalassa restaurant to restaurants specifically reserved for those occupying suites; the Smoked Olive and Pink Moon. Both these restaurants offer the same menu choice as Thalassa, with additional options of Mediterranean bites at Smoked Olive and Asian cuisine at the Pink Moon.

A casual breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet is served on the upper deck at the Taverna. Guests can purchase regional ice creams at the Fig and Honey and Greek fast food such as souvlaki from the Greek Deli.

There’s an impressive seven bars on board, each with unique décor, though still keeping with the 1920s vibe. Choose from a quiet coffee bar, the Blue piano Bar and Lounge, or head to the Fizz Club if you’re a lover of cocktails and champagne. The Grapevine has an impressive selection of wine choices for the connoisseurs among you. The Compass is reserved for occupants of the Grand Dream and Stargazer Suites.

I personally loved finding a quiet hide away (which was never difficult) and sipping my signature cocktail as I watched the sea go by.

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting?

The highlight of a cruise on the Journey is a visit to the Sozo Health Spa. Well-trained specialists treat you in one of seven treatment rooms, including a couple's room.

Choose from an impressive range of treatments such as an Ayurveda massage, regular full body massage, reflexology, or Shiatsu. Hot stone massages and Dead Sea exfoliation round up some of the other unique pampering options—just be sure to book in advance.

What about activities and entertainment?

There’s an impressive number of activities to choose from on board the Journey, ranging from Greek dance classes, mini lectures about a variety of regional specialties (for example, the health benefits of Greek herbs), an olive oil presentation, and basic Greek language classes.

Sports enthusiasts will love the morning yoga or Pilates classes (extra charge), and from 8 p.m. the evening entertainment starts to heat up. As well as the aforementioned bars featuring piano or live music, there’s mini-discos for young kids up to 12 years old, seventies-themed parties, and various adult discos.

Yet it’s the twice-nightly performance by resident Canadian artists Cirque Fantastic that takes the cake. Their impressive acrobatic show is typically scheduled for 9 p.m. then repeated at 10:30 p.m. in the ship's awe-inspiring auditorium.

How was the experience for families?

The Journey offers onboard activities for children and teens of all ages. While there's no water slides or go-karting track, Deck 12 is reserved for kids 5 to 12 years old. The Turtle Cave club offers artistic and educational games while the Shark club shows English cartoons and television shows. Kids under the age of three must be accompanied by an adult—currently, no babysitting is offered on board.

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did any stand out?

On the Journey's first stop in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, I took an immersive tour that left me yearning to return. An excursion to the Ancient city of Ephesus from the Turkish port of Kusadasi and the Palace of Knossos in Crete are two sites worth reserving a tours of. I opted to explore Santorini and Mykonos on my own, taking in the beautiful views (of the former) and lively shops and nightlife (of the latter).

I'd also recommend booking the group tour of the smaller island of Milos, as it's less suited for solo exploration. Visit Sarakiniko beach, a famed moonscape of pure white stone, the ancient village of Plaka, and the Christian catacombs.

Are there any stand out sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?

Celestyal as a company works closely with the local Greek community as part of their ethical business practices. For example, the company helps bring interactive exhibits from the Heraklion Museum in Athens to more remote areas of the Greek islands.

Anything we missed?

When eating in the Taverna buffet, you can't help but notice the impressive melon carvings—some of faces, others of various nature or sea scenes. There’s also the occasional ice sculpture in the dessert section. These are created by the onboard sculptor whose creates beautiful sculptures from various materials, a skill passed down through family generations. Check the daily itinerary, left in your room nightly, to watch the art come to life.

Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking.

Families and groups of friends will love this culturally immersive cruise with world-class wellness offerings.

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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Celestyal Cruises Fleet

The list of celestyal cruise line’s ships.

Currently, the Celestyal cruise line’s fleet consists of 2 ships . The newest cruise ship is Celestyal Olympia , whereas the oldest one is represented by Celestyal Crystal . She was built in 1980

Class: Unknown

Celestyal Olympia

Gross Tonnage 37,773 gt

Class: Viking Saga

Celestyal Crystal

Gross Tonnage 25,611 gt

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Celestyal Cruises Quickly Moves To Expand Deployment Of Fleet The Summer With New “Legendary Archipelago” Itinerary From dedicated Cruise Terminal.

ATHENS, GREECE (April 8, 2021) – On the heels of announcing the resumption of operations beginning on May 29 th with the Celestyal Crystal, Celestyal Cruises ,   the award-winning, number one choice for cruise travelers to the Greek Islands and the Mediterranean, announces that it will deploy a second ship, the Celestyal Olympia . The expanded deployment coincides with the recent positive announcement from the U.S. CDC regarding international travel for Americans. With more than seven new or reinstated direct flights between the U.S. and Athens from early June, getting to Greece is more accessible than ever . Setting sail from Celestyal’s dedicated terminal at Lavrion Port and Marina (Athens) , located just 16 miles from the Athens Airport, thenew, seven-night “ Legendary Archipelago ” itinerary will operate from June 28 th through August 30 th .  As of August 30 th , the Celestyal Olympia will operate her scheduled  three- and four-night “Iconic Aegean” and “Iconic Discovery”  itineraries from Lavrion Port and  Marina for the remainder of the season.   The new “ Legendary Archipelago ” itinerary will call upon Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, Ag. Nikolaos (Crete) and Rhodes in Greece and Limassol in Cyprus with all-inclusive pricing starting as low as $1019, per person.  All departures will be available for booking as of April 9 th . Celestyal is the only cruise line calling on a regular basis to Thessaloniki . It is the second largest city in Greece and offers guests stunning Paleo Christian and Byzantine monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, monuments to the famed Alexander the Great, and the chance to explore the city’s rich Roman and Sephardic Jewish heritage. Thessaloniki is also known as a “gastronomic paradise,” serving as a crossroads for trade and drawing upon ingredients from all over the Mediterranean and Asia served in the city’s renowned tavernas.  Guests can also take advantage of late-night departures in Mykonos and Santorini, providing the opportunity to enjoy extended days on these iconic and popular Greek isles.  Celestyal is also offering unique and fully immersive, organized excursions to nearby islands such as Delos and Tinos. Delos is the mythological birthplace of Apollo and a major religious and archaeological site and port dating back to the First Millennium. Tinos is well-known to Greeks for its religious significance.  On Tinos both  Greek Orthodox  and  Roman Catholic  populations co-exist, and the island is also well known for its sculptors and painters and its 80 windmills that dot the island’s villages.   The Lavrion Port & Marina is a similar driving time from the city center as the Piraeus Port.  Celestyal will occupy a dedicated terminal facility at Lavrion, which will provide an enhanced and expedited embarkation and disembarkation experience for guests. The dedicated terminal will allow for the thorough implementation of Celestyal’s comprehensive and enhanced health protocols.   Greece has announced that as of mid-May it will welcome U.S. travelers back as long as visitors provide proof of being vaccinated, or certified to have COVID-19 immunity or a negative PCR test 72-hours prior to departure from the U.S. Celestyal Cruises will also require a negative PCR test within 72-hours prior to embarkation of the cruise.  The company is currently awaiting further guidance from the relevant health authorities as to the waiving of this requirement for those that have been vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition, Celestyal is working closely with the Greek health authorities in order to implement a crew vaccination program that will see the crew on both of Celestyal’s vessels fully vaccinated prior to sailing. The U.S. CDC has just released new guidance related to international travel stating that fully-vaccinated people can travel internationally without getting a COVID-19 test before travel unless it is required by the international destination. Fully-vaccinated travelers must still have a negative COVID-19 test result before they board a return flight to the United States and receive a COVID-19 test 3 to 5 days after returning from international travel. Celestyal Cruises will have PCR testing available on board for all guests requiring such, at their cost prior to disembarkation. “We are greatly encouraged by the success of the vaccine roll-out in the U.S., one of Celestyal’s largest and important source markets.  We are also thrilled with the positive progress of the safe and healthy reopening of Greece and cruising in May building on last year’s successful partial deployment of cruises in Greece. It is not surprising that we are witnessing a strong increase in U.S. demand as a result,” said Leslie Peden, chief commercial officer. “We pride ourselves on being the award-winning regional expert in destination and experience-led cruising that can be nimble in times like this.  Being the only cruise line that can truly deliver Greek cruising the Greek way, we are extremely excited to continue to innovate with new, curated and immersive itineraries such as “ Legendary Archipelago ” and look forward to welcoming our American guests back to Greece this summer.” At Celestyal Cruises, our highest priorities are compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, crew and the communities we visit. As a member of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), we have pledged our commitment to adopt mandatory core elements of enhanced health protocols as part of a phased-in resumption of cruise operations . Informed by leading scientists, medical experts, European and Hellenic health authorities, these protocols apply to the entire cruise experience.  Our health and safety measures will be continuously evaluated and adjusted based on the current evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe as well as the availability of new prevention, therapeutics, and mitigation measures. For more information or to book visit: https://wave.celestyal.com/us/ .

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• Celestyal Journey ship collides with Kusadasi Port's pier during...

Celestyal Journey ship collides with Kusadasi Port's pier during docking attempt

Celestyal Cruises ' ship Celestyal Journey collided with the pier at Port Kusadasi Turkey during an unsuccessful docking maneuver.

The incident occurred on Monday, April 15, around noon, as the 12-deck ship approached the dock at an excessive speed. The ship is currently operating a 7-day "Idyllic Aegean Cruise" (itinerary April 13-20) roundtrip from Piraeus-Athens .

Despite attempts by the crew to deploy the anchor, the vessel could not decelerate adequately, resulting in an impact with the concrete structure using its bow bulb. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries among passengers or individuals onshore, and the collision caused minor damage to both the ship and the dock structure.

The vessel (Fincantieri Monfalcone yard/hull number 5883) has volume 55877 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 7447 tons, max draught 7,5 m. The powerplant is based on Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (models 12ZAV40S, ZA40S) with combined output 34,56 MW (46345 hp). The registered shipowner is OASIS SHIPPING SERVICES SA (previously AEGEAN GODDESS INC), while the registered manager is OPTIMUM SHIPMANAGEMENT SERVICE.

For more Celestyal Journey incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page .

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