With the summer travel season fast approaching, Celestyal Cruises, the leading Greek-owned cruise operator specializing in cruises to the Greek islands and the Eastern Mediterranean, is encouraged by the continued progress being made in containing the global Covid-19 pandemic, particularly with the increasing and effective rollout of vaccines worldwide. In close contact with European and Greek health authorities, as well as the Greek government, Celestyal announces the resumption of its operations on May 29 from Piraeus, Athens, with its seven-night “Idyllic Aegean” itinerary. The season was previously scheduled to begin at the end of April. The new restart date reflects the roadmap recently announced by the Greek Ministry of Tourism to open Greece to tourism and cruises for the 2021 season. The seven-night Idyllic Aegean itinerary will stop in Kusadasi, Rhodes, Santorini, Lavrion (to visit the Temple of Poseidon), Mykonos, Milos, and Crete.
The company will resume operations with the Celestyal Crystal, taking advantage of its ideal size. As more countries reopen and demand increases, the company will announce the deployment of the remaining fleet in 2021 in due course. Until then, the Celestyal Crystal will operate from two embarkation ports, Piraeus and Lavrion in Athens, enabling the company to offer shorter, three- and four-night "Idyllic Aegean" itineraries, in addition to the seven-night cruise. The shorter three- and four-night itineraries will depart on Wednesdays from Lavrion and Saturdays from Piraeus, respectively.
“We are very encouraged by the increased distribution and effectiveness of the vaccine globally, as well as the positive response we are receiving from our partners and customers worldwide,” said Celestyal Cruises CEO Chris Theophilides. “We will continue to monitor the positive progress in the safe reopening of both Greece and the cruise industry, while remaining in contact with European and Greek health authorities to ensure we provide a safe and responsible operation for our passengers, crew, and the communities we visit. Everyone at Celestyal is very excited to be sailing again very soon and to extend our award-winning, warm, and welcoming Greek hospitality.”
Customers with bookings on the cancelled voyages in late April and May will have the option of receiving a refundable Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the amount paid, plus an additional non-refundable FCC equivalent to 20% of the actual cruise fare paid. As an additional element of flexibility and in recognition of the prolonged effects of the pandemic, Celestyal has announced that, as a result of the new resumption date, it will allow all customers who currently hold an FCC, as well as those who are about to receive one, to apply the FCC to Celestyal's 2023 itineraries, which will be announced soon, in addition to the 2021 and 2022 itineraries.
At Celestyal Cruises, our priority is protecting the environment and ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our passengers, crew, and the communities we visit. As a member of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), we are committed to implementing the key mandatory measures of the enhanced health protocols as part of the phased resumption of cruise operations.
These protocols, developed by leading scientists and medical experts and by both European and Greek health authorities, apply to the entire cruise experience. Our health and safety measures will be continuously evaluated and updated based on the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, as well as the availability of new prevention, treatment, and mitigation measures.
