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Well-trained specialists treat you in one of seven treatment rooms, including a couple's room. I personally loved finding a quiet hide away (which was never difficult) and sipping my signature cocktail as I watched the sea go by. 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. 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.
Celestyal Journey Includes Two Pools And a Dedicated Wellness Deck
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. 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. On the Journey's first stop in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, I took an immersive tour that left me yearning to return.
While Far from Radical the Revamp has Given the Ship a Real Polish
When we booked, it was for the Olympia, but were notified in December that it would instead be on the Discovery, a refurbished 20 year-old ship that had until recently been cruising the Baltic. They don't use Piraeus but instead use Lavrion, a smaller ferry port that requires an hour taxi ride from Athens. That was not a big issue- we had a fantastic driver named Spiros and he kept us entertained the entire way. Upon arrival at Lavrion, we encountered the worst embarkation setup we'd ever seen. Mostly outside with 30 mph winds, Celestyal's organization was almost non-existent.
Ports of call for Celestyal Discovery
Typical Greek music also features at the Martini Bar stage, often inspiring Greek elements on board to break out into traditional dancing. Welcome aboard the magnificent Discovery, a vessel that promises to take you on a Celestyal experience like no other. Prepare to immerse yourself in a world of elegance and adventure as we set sail to enchanting destinations. As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world. The highlight of a cruise on the Journey is a visit to the Sozo Health Spa.
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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). 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.
Dining Reflects the Line's Greek Heritage
Greek-owned line Celestyal Cruises purchased the 1,260-passenger vessel Celestyal Journey, to replace the oldest ship in its fleet, Celestyal Crystal, from September 2023. Constructed at Italy's Fincantieri shipyard in 1993, it first sailed for Holland America Line as Ryndam, one of the line's Statendam or S-class ships. From 2015, it operated as Pacific Aria for P&O Cruises Australia, and in 2019, P&O announced the sale of the ship to Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) which renamed it Ida Pfeiffer, however the line collapsed during the pandemic.
Celestyal Crystal Sets Sail on Farewell Cruise - Cruise Industry News
Celestyal Crystal Sets Sail on Farewell Cruise.
Posted: Mon, 28 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Fleet
Kids under the age of three must be accompanied by an adult—currently, no babysitting is offered on board. 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. 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. The cruise line's emphasis on the destination and its budget-friendly price tag make it an excellent value, even more so when you see its nearly all-inclusive.
In the summer months, the ship sees a large number of passengers from North America -- particularly families with teenage kids and groups of young students. Overall, lovingly worn Celestyal Crystal might not be the prettiest or most innovative ship on the high seas, but it offers arguably the best bang for your buck when it comes to cruising in Greece. However, its time sailing for Celestyal ends in September 2023, when it will be replaced by a much bigger ship -- Celestyal Journey -- which is almost double the size and has one of the key things Crystal is missing -- balcony cabins. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Celestyal requires a smart dress code in the dining rooms -- no shorts or flip-flops for men and smart dresses or nice pants and blouses for women.
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. The Coral was scrapped in late 2013, and theLouis Crista was charted to Cuba Cruises, but still operating under the Louis brand. All Louis ships will receive a Louis Cruises logo on their white hall, along with a red and blue stripe next to it.
The passenger mix on each ship varies widely from cruise to cruise, but you can expect an overall international crowd with about a third from North America. Celestyal the award-winning, number one choice for cruise travelers to the Greek islands and beyond, is delighted to confirm the acquisition of a second new vessel this year. The Celestyal Discovery, follows the recent arrival of the Celestyal Journey, signaling a fleet refresh and further commitment to significant investment into the customer proposition. Passengers dress casually during the day, with comfortable excursion clothes being the norm. Evenings are equally low key; most women wear sundresses while men wear collared shirts.
There is no central atrium- everything is scattered on the top 3 decks and minimal, but there are only 1200 passengers so it was mostly manageable. The Celestyal Discovery is a mid-sized vessel, allowing Celestyal to continue offering its signature unique blend of marquee destinations and more secluded gems that characterize the company’s itineraries. Discovery has four dining venues, the main two dining rooms being Thalassa Restaurant and The Taverna which are free of charge. Lunch service is pretty identical between the two, both offering a solid buffet of around a dozen stations most of which varied daily and always included Greek specialities.
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. The ship's 613 crew members took the time to greet every passenger by name and were always on-hand for any query.
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. 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. From the elaborate monument of Athens to the clifftop village of Oia and the charming medieval city of Rhodes, Greece and the Greek Island cruise Vacations of any length leave you dreaming of your next visit.
Onboard, our guests get to enjoy a more cosy, homely atmosphere and a less crowded affair and therefore the highest standards of customer care, comfort and personalized service. Celestyal's mainly short, port-intensive itineraries don't leave much time for onboard activities, but they stick as closely as possible to the traditional cruise format. Cruises attract a wide, multilingual spectrum of passengers to Greek itineraries. Our view is if you want to see a lot of the islands in just a few days and enjoy an authentic Greek experience, Celestyal Olympia is excellent value for both your time and money.
For the first time ever, we’re proud to bring you the Stargazer Suite — a penthouse suite with a private terrace made for special moments. Whatever your choice of drink, our 8 new bars offer a diverse selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Grab a beer and catch one of our dazzling daily shows in the ΘEATRO, soak up the electric atmosphere of the Ble Bar and Lounge, or head down to our Martini Bar and enjoy one of our exclusive Signature Cocktails. Fresh towels and toiletries are delivered twice a day and your personal steward is on hand to deliver room service 24/7. All our cabins have adjustable air-conditioning, a hairdryer, a safe and TV. There’s an impressive seven bars on board, each with unique décor, though still keeping with the 1920s vibe.
Our lavish new spa offers guests the opportunity to spend the day doing what they love most. With bigger and better facilities, exercise lovers have everything they need to start their day right. In 1999 Louis chartered the 1998-acquired SS Ausonia to First Choice Holidays, one of Thomson's competitors in the UK market. Also in 1999, Louis acquired a stake in the Greece-based Royal Olympic Cruises. Royal Olympic was already in difficulties by the time Louis became involved with the company, and the 11 September 2001 attacks dealt a further blow, finally leading to the collapse of Royal Olympic in 2004. No, but the fare does include at least two shore excursions per cruise, gratuities and unlimited but select alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, per the included beverage package guidelines.
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