Celestyal Cruises announces the resumption of its operations on March 14, 2022, with a unique offering of three- and four-night cruises, followed by seven-night itineraries beginning April 30. Celestyal, one of the few cruise lines that regularly calls at ports in Turkey, will also return to Kusadasi upon resuming operations in March and is adding a new destination to its popular seven-night "Idyllic Aegean" itinerary: Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city. Bookings are now open for all 2022 and 2023 sailings.
Destination immersion remains a priority in 2022-23, with Thessaloniki, Milos, and Kavala being particularly noteworthy destinations
While Celestyal has always offered its guests top destinations like Mykonos and Santorini, the cruise line has also earned a reputation for pioneering the exploration of Greece's more undiscovered corners and for spending more time in port, allowing for a deeper immersion in the destination compared to what other cruise lines typically offer. These conditions continue to be offered again in 2022. On Celestyal's popular seven-night "Idyllic Aegean" cruise, departing from April, the company includes a visit to Thessaloniki, making it the only cruise line to include a regular stop in this historic city. Thessaloniki offers guests stunning early Christian and Byzantine monuments in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, monuments honoring the famous Alexander the Great, and the opportunity to explore the city's rich Roman and Sephardic Jewish heritage. Thessaloniki is also known as a "gastronomic paradise," situated at a crossroads on trade routes and utilizing ingredients from both the Mediterranean and Asia, which are served in the city's famous tavernas. Thessaloniki is also the gateway to northern Greece and the Balkan markets. As Greece's second-largest city, it also offers competitive air travel options to and from northern and western Europe, making Celestyal cruises more accessible and affordable for these markets.
Celestyal will also return to the lesser-known island of Milos, recently named the “World’s Best Island” by Travel + Leisure magazine, an island not included in the itineraries of most cruise lines that sail on larger ships. Next year, Celestyal will also extend its time in port in Milos from half a day to a full day. This itinerary also includes stops in Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, and Kusadasi (Turkey).
Celestyal's "Eclectic Aegean" tour includes a visit to Kavala, a centuries-old port city in northern Greece on the Thracian Sea, often known as the "Blue City" due to its crystal-clear waters and legendary sea views from Kavala Bay, including the picturesque historic town perched atop the triangular Panagia Peninsula. This charming old town is a mosaic of winding alleyways lined with red-roofed houses and a Byzantine fortress known as the Kastro. Less than fifteen kilometers from the heart of the old town lies the ancient city of Philippi, home to the first Christian church in Europe. Philippi became an important Christian center after the Apostle Paul visited the city in 49 AD. This itinerary also includes Thessaloniki, Santorini, Volos, and Istanbul. The "Eclectic Aegean" tour also offers the option of embarking and disembarking in Istanbul, with connecting flights available.
Celestyal returns with its “Three Continents” itinerary and presents new Christmas and New Year cruises in the “Holy Land”
At the end of 2022, Celestyal's seven-night "Three Continents" itinerary, last operated at the end of 2019, will return, with stops in Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, and Cyprus. This itinerary will be followed by two exclusive voyages: the special ten-night Christmas cruise, with stops in Thessaloniki, Izmir (Turkey), Rhodes, Limassol (Cyprus), Alexandria (Egypt), and an overnight stay in Haifa (Israel) to enjoy both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Holy Land; and the eight-night New Year's cruise, with visits to Heraklion, Santorini, Kusadasi (Turkey), including an overnight stay in Istanbul to enjoy the New Year's Eve fireworks, and Volos. Both cruises can be combined into an incredible 18-night holiday event covering the entire Eastern Mediterranean.
“This summer, thanks to the dedication and hard work of the Celestyal crew, we were able to demonstrate our ability to safely resume sailing. We are optimistic that our itineraries, focused on exciting destinations yet to be discovered, will continue to be well-received by our core audience: natural travelers. Our confidence is supported by the public interest shown, as well as the inquiries and confirmed bookings for these itineraries for the coming year and through 2023, which has been instrumental in planning our return to a full season,” commented Celestyal's Chief Commercial Officer, Leslie Peden.
