An Introduction to Celestyal Cruises
Celestyal Cruises offers an authentic and immersive Greek island and Eastern Mediterranean cruising experience. Known for its smaller, boutique-style ships and port-intensive itineraries, Celestyal focuses on providing genuine cultural immersion, exceptional hospitality, and access to destinations that larger ships often cannot reach.
A Brief History
Celestyal Cruises was founded in 2014 as a subsidiary of Louis plc, Cyprus's first travel agency and a long-standing player in the cruise industry since 1986. The creation of Celestyal Cruises marked a strategic move to establish a distinct brand focused on delivering unique and authentic Greek and Eastern Mediterranean experiences.
From its inception, Celestyal quickly built a reputation for its regional expertise and warm, personal service. In November 2021, Searchlight Capital Partners took a majority share in the cruise line, signaling a new chapter for the company. This investment has allowed Celestyal to modernize its fleet and further enhance its product. The introduction of Celestyal Journey in 2023 and Celestyal Discovery in early 2024 represents a significant upgrade to its fleet, replacing older vessels and affirming Celestyal's commitment to offering comfortable and contemporary voyages.
The Fleet: Mid-Size Ships for Intimate Exploration
Celestyal Cruises operates a modern fleet of mid-size ships, designed to offer a comfortable and personal experience while being small enough to access less-visited ports and more intimate anchorages in the Greek Isles and beyond.
Celestyal Journey (approximately 1,260 guests): This ship joined the fleet in 2023 and represents a major enhancement, offering refurbished cabins, new dining venues, and expanded public spaces.
Celestyal Discovery (approximately 1,226 guests): Completing the revitalized fleet in early 2024, Celestyal Discovery also underwent significant refurbishment to align with the brand's contemporary vision and guest experience.
Both ships are designed to provide a "Greek philosophy of Sozo – wholeness of mind, body and soul" with onboard wellness facilities, multiple restaurants, and lively bars, all while maintaining a strong connection to Greek heritage.
Current Starting Ports and Itineraries (2025-2026)
Celestyal Cruises specializes in port-intensive itineraries that focus on the Greek Islands and the wider Eastern Mediterranean, along with new ventures into the Arabian Gulf. Their cruises often feature full-day port visits and late-night stays, allowing for deeper exploration.
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Key Starting Ports for 2025-2026 include:
Piraeus (Athens), Greece: The primary hub for Greek Islands and Eastern Mediterranean cruises.
Lavrion (near Athens), Greece: Another significant departure port for Greek itineraries.
Thessaloniki, Greece: An alternative embarkation point for some Greek Island cruises.
Kusadasi, Turkey: A convenient starting point for itineraries combining Greek Isles with Turkish highlights.
Heraklion (Crete), Greece: Offers embarkation for select Greek Island voyages.
Abu Dhabi, UAE: A key starting port for new Arabian Gulf itineraries.
Dubai, UAE: Another embarkation point for Arabian Gulf voyages.
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt: Features in some extended Middle East and Red Sea itineraries.
Itineraries for 2025-2026 include:
Greek Islands & Eastern Mediterranean: A variety of 3-night, 4-night, and 7-night cruises.
"Idyllic Greece": Typically 7-night voyages visiting iconic islands like Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, Rhodes, and Crete, often including Kusadasi (Ephesus). These often feature overnight stays in Mykonos and Santorini.
"Heavenly Adriatic": New 7-night itineraries exploring destinations in Greece (Kefalonia, Corfu, Katakolon/Olympia), Montenegro (Kotor), Croatia (Dubrovnik or Split), and Italy (Bari or Venice/Marghera).
"Mediterranean Icons": Longer voyages combining popular Greek Isles with Adriatic gems, including Venice.
Arabian Gulf: New for 2025 and extending into 2026, these itineraries explore the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain.
"Desert Days" / "Iconic Arabia": Typically 7-night or shorter 3- and 4-night voyages, visiting cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Sir Bani Yas Island, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Khasab.
Special Sailings: Occasionally, longer or unique itineraries may emerge, such as those connecting the Mediterranean to the Arabian Gulf via the Suez Canal, visiting Egypt, Jordan (for Petra), and Saudi Arabia.
Official Websites
Celestyal Cruises maintains a strong online presence, particularly for its key markets.
Global/UK Official Website: https://celestyal.com/gb/
Trade Portal (for travel advisors): https://www.celestyalcompass.com/gb
A Word of Caution: Cruise Scams
When planning your authentic Greek and Eastern Mediterranean voyage with Celestyal Cruises, it is essential to remain highly vigilant against potential scam attempts that, unfortunately, target travelers. Be aware of these common red flags:
"Free Cruise" or "Exclusive Offer" Traps: Be highly suspicious of any unsolicited calls, emails, texts, or social media messages claiming you've won a "free Celestyal cruise" or are eligible for an impossibly low-priced "exclusive" deal. These invariably come with hidden fees, demands for immediate payment for "port taxes" or "service charges," or are simply phishing attempts to collect your personal data or pressure you into buying something else entirely. Celestyal, like other cruise lines, can be the subject of such fraudulent schemes.
Fake Websites and Phishing Attempts: Scammers create highly convincing fake websites that mimic Celestyal Cruises' official site or reputable travel agencies. They also send deceptive phishing emails that appear legitimate. Their goal is to trick you into entering your login credentials, credit card details, or other sensitive personal information. Always manually type the official website address (e.g., celestyal.com) into your browser's address bar or use trusted bookmarks. Double-check the URL very carefully before entering any data, looking for subtle misspellings or unusual domain extensions.
High-Pressure Sales Tactics: Be wary of any offer that demands an immediate decision due to a "limited-time offer" that will expire in minutes or hours. This tactic is used by fraudsters to prevent you from doing proper research or verifying the offer's legitimacy.
Unusual Payment Requests: Never agree to pay for a cruise via untraceable methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency if requested by an individual or an unverified entity. Legitimate cruise lines and their authorized partners use secure, traceable payment methods (e.g., credit cards).
To ensure your enriching Celestyal journey begins safely and securely, always book directly through the official Celestyal Cruises website for your region or through a well-established, reputable travel advisor who is familiar with Celestyal's offerings. If an offer feels suspicious, or if you receive any communication that raises red flags, contact Celestyal Cruises directly using the official contact information found on their verified website, not from the suspicious offer itself. Embrace your genuine Greek adventure with complete peace of mind.
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