Celestyal Cruises
Celestyal Cruises offers a travel experience rooted in culture, authenticity, and connection. With a boutique fleet, focus on immersive itineraries, and smaller ships that can access ports larger vessels can't, Celestyal caters to travelers who want "more time ashore, less time in transit." From Greek island adventures to the Arabian Gulf, its cruises blend iconic destinations with hidden gems, and provide a more personal cruising pace.
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Celestyal Cruises Ships
| Ship Name | Star Rating | Year Built | Gross Tonnage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celestyal Discovery | 2024 | ||
| Celestyal Journey | 2023 |
2 Celestyal Cruises Ships
Celestyal Cruises Ships
Celestyal has a fleet of two mid-size vessels at sea: the Celestyal Olympia and Crystal. The white-and-blue vessels carry between 1,200 and 1,664 passengers, and sail with 406 to 540 crew members, all of whom are trained to provide excellent service featuring all the comforts of home. Onboard each ship, you'll find lounges, bars, restaurants, a fully-equipped gym, spa, library, and shops, as well as plenty of outdoor decks to enjoy the ocean breeze and passing views.
Celestyal Cruises Overview
Celestyal Cruises is a boutique cruise line best known for its immersive itineraries in the Greek Islands and Eastern Mediterranean. With smaller ships, warm hospitality, and a strong emphasis on cultural exploration, Celestyal offers a more personal and authentic way to cruise compared to the mega-ship experience. Based in Athens, the line has built its reputation around connecting travelers not just to destinations, but to the traditions, cuisine, and spirit of the regions it sails.
The Celestyal fleet is designed with intimacy in mind. With fewer passengers than the industry's larger ships, guests enjoy a relaxed onboard atmosphere where service feels attentive and personalized. The mid-sized scale also means Celestyal ships can dock in smaller harbors and hidden ports that many bigger vessels simply cannot reach. This creates opportunities to explore off-the-beaten-path islands and coastal towns, adding depth and variety to each itinerary.
Onboard, the focus is on comfort and regional authenticity. Dining often highlights Mediterranean flavors and local ingredients, entertainment includes cultural performances and live music, and enrichment programs introduce guests to the history and stories of the places they are about to visit. Instead of thrill rides or sprawling amusement decks, Celestyal emphasizes a sense of connection-between traveler, destination, and community.
Celestyal is especially appealing to those with limited vacation time thanks to its shorter cruise options. Many itineraries are three to seven nights, making it easy to combine a cruise with a land stay in Greece or surrounding countries. At the same time, the line offers longer voyages across the Mediterranean, as well as newer sailings in the Arabian Gulf, allowing guests to expand their horizons.
Destinations are at the heart of Celestyal's identity. From iconic stops like Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes, to lesser-known islands such as Patmos or Milos, each cruise blends marquee ports with authentic gems. Beyond Greece, Celestyal also includes Turkey, Cyprus, and select Mediterranean icons like Italy and Croatia, while its expansion into the Middle East opens up itineraries filled with cultural contrasts and modern skylines.
Celestyal's value proposition is another draw. Fares are often more affordable than many premium lines, while still including thoughtful details that enhance the journey. Packages may bundle in dining, drinks, or shore excursions, making planning easier and keeping the focus on the experience rather than the extras.
For travelers who want a cruise that is less about the ship and more about the destinations, Celestyal Cruises offers a distinctive alternative. Its blend of smaller ships, rich cultural immersion, and flexible itineraries makes it especially well-suited for curious travelers, couples, and those who want to experience the heart of the Mediterranean in a more meaningful way.
Celestyal Cruises Destinations
If you're looking to travel through Greece, Celestyal is one of the best cruise lines to consider. It is the only home-porting cruise operator in Greece, serving the Greek Islands, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Celestyal visits more than a dozen ports in Greece, including Syros, Santorini, and Rhodes, as well as a handful of ports in Turkey. The line also visits Cairo in Egypt, plus Limassol in Cyprus.
Celestyal Cruises Accommodations
Celestyal Cruises offers a range of accommodations, starting with modest Interior Staterooms, which can hold up to four guests, and moving up to Grand Suites, which feature stunning ocean views and fit up to three guests. Every stateroom comes with air conditioning, a television and telephone, a hair dryer, and a safety deposit box. Suites also have refrigerated mini bars. All guests have a personal steward and assistant steward to ensure your room is clean and comfortable throughout your cruise. These stewards are happy to answer any questions you may have and handle any special requests. Additionally, the housekeeping crew cleans cabins twice a day, so you don't have to lift a finger.
Celestyal Cruises Dining
The Celestyal dining experience is casual yet elegant. The dining rooms and lounges serve three wholesome meals a day, plus afternoon tea and snacks. Onboard chefs use fresh, local ingredients to create dishes inspired by the region you visit. Choose from a buffet breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or head to the main dining room for an a la carte lunch or dinner. Snacks, pizza, and sandwiches are available between meals for an extra cost, too.
Complimentary afternoon tea is served daily, while drinks packages can be purchased for alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, and soft drinks. Each voyage includes a Captain's Dinner and Gala Night, and on temperate evenings, casual meals are served al fresco on the deck. Room service is available 24 hours a day at an extra cost, and can be served in your room or in one of the ship's lounges. Kids menus are available for younger travelers, too.
Celestyal Cruises Kids & Teens
Children are welcome onboard Celestyal Cruises. Activities depend on how many children are on each cruise, and will be organized on a daily basis and posted in an onboard program. There are no onboard baby-sitting services offered on either ship.
Celestyal Cruises Onboard Activities & Entertainment
You'll have plenty of opportunities to relax and unwind while on a Celestyal cruise. The wellness and fitness center features a fully-equipped gym, luxurious spa, and full-service salon, where you can enjoy a Swedish massage, facial, hot stone treatment, or mud wrap. Out on deck, you can play basketball, volleyball, or ping pong, or learn some new dance moves in a Zumba class. In the evenings, the casino is a popular place to hang out and play poker, blackjack, roulette, or slots. You can also find duty-free shops to pick up souvenirs, clothes, and local treasures. There are plenty of activities listed in the Daily Program, including arts and crafts like origami lessons, dancing lessons, game nights, and language lessons. Cooking demonstrations are held onboard too, as well as bingo games and bridge nights.
Celestyal Cruises Past Guests
At this time, Celestyal Cruises does not have a past passengers' loyalty program. However, the cruise line does have a partnership with AEGEAN and Olympic Air which lets you earn air miles for money spent onboard and on cruise packages. You can also redeem miles for free cruises at a ratio of 200 miles to 1 euro.
Celestyal Cruises Accessibility Cruising
Guests with disabilities may have some difficulties on board a Celestyal cruise. If you have physical challenges or limited mobility, Celestyal recommends contacting a Cruise Specialist prior to booking to provide information regarding your disability. Based on this information, Celestyal may advise traveling with a companion to assist with your needs, as medical care and supervision cannot be assured. The Celestyal ships have a limited number of accessible cabins, though not all areas of the ships are wheelchair-accessible. Additionally, guests traveling in a wheelchair may not be able to disembark in ports that rely on tender service. Wheelchairs must be provided by the guests themselves, as Celestyal's onboard wheelchairs are only to be used in emergencies.


