The Celestyal Journey is the newest addition to the Celestyal fleet, replacing the Crystal on the Idyllic Aegean route. The ship, formerly named Ryndam, was originally built for Holland America Line in 1994. Celestyal acquired the vessel and undertook a $21 million refurbishment to ensure it was ready for its maiden voyage, which took place in early September 2023.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 68 – March 2024
The ship currently has 630 cabins, including 120 Junior Suites and 28 Grand Suites. There are seven specialty dining experiences, including a private chef's table, live cooking demonstrations, Asian cuisine at Pink Moon, juice and ice cream stations at Fig and Honey, Italian food at Smoked Olive, and a Greek food stand by the pool.
There are eight bars and lounges, including an elegant champagne bar and a well-stocked wine cellar. Two swimming pools and an entire wellness deck cater to daytime relaxation. There are also private event rooms, a photo shop, and two shops selling a variety of items such as perfumes, souvenirs, jewelry, and anything else passengers might need.
Vintage 1920s decor is prominent throughout the ship, with prints of movie stars like Sophia Loren, retro light fixtures, and a grand central staircase.
Celestyal welcomes people of all ages and nationalities, traveling from a wide variety of countries, including the USA, Eastern and Central Europe, Australia, Argentina, and of course Spain, the company's most important European market. It remains a pleasure to be around many Spanish-speaking crew members, most of whom are Cuban.
Furthermore, as a Greek company, Celestyal also attracts local families who wish to explore their own country in such a familiar environment.
Spa
is highly recommended on a Journey cruise. Highly trained specialists will treat you in one of seven treatment rooms, including a couples' suite. A wide variety of treatments are available, such as Ayurvedic massage, reflexology, and Shiatsu. Hot stone massages and Dead Sea salt scrubs are among the other unique pampering options, which, of course, must be booked in advance. The jacuzzi and heated loungers complete this highly recommended experience.
Suites
There are many categories of suites on the Journey, spread across decks 9 and 10. The Junior Dream Suites A, B, and C have floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto balconies and can accommodate up to three people.
A more affordable option is to choose an outside or inside cabin, which can accommodate up to four people in a combination of upper and lower beds and sofa beds. Outside cabins have windows, while inside cabins have backlit curtains to mimic natural light.
The Celestyal Journey joins the Celestyal fleet, bringing many new features in gastronomy and accommodation
Above that is the 35-square-meter Grand Dream Suite on the 10th floor with two twin beds, a double sofa bed, a panoramic window, a balcony, a spacious bathroom and a dressing room, and of course, the 88-square-meter Stargazer Exterior Penthouse Suite on the 10th floor with space for up to three guests.
Both the Stargazer Suite and the Grand Dreams have exclusive access to the Rays Beach Club, a secluded area with sun loungers and Balinese beds for sunbathing and relaxing, as well as the Compass Lounge, a private indoor space for enjoying a drink, reading a book, or simply unwinding. Both suites have their own concierge, and butlers are also available for a section of the other suites and Dream staterooms. Overall, the ship's 613 crew members are friendly, efficient, and helpful, and they make an effort to greet each guest by name.
For a mid-sized ship, the Journey boasts an impressive array of dining and bar options, from Mediterranean cuisine at Thalassa to restaurants reserved specifically for suite guests: Smoked Olive and Pink Moon. Both offer the same menu selection as Thalassa, with the addition of Italian cuisine at Smoked Olive and Asian cuisine at Pink Moon.
A casual breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet is served on the upper deck at the Taverna. Guests can purchase regional ice cream at Fig and Honey and Greek fast food such as souvlaki at the Greek Deli.
There are eight stunning bars on board, each with a unique décor while maintaining a 1920s ambiance. You can choose from a quiet bar, the Blue Room Bar & Lounge, the Martini Piano Bar & Lounge, the Ocean Bar & Lounge, or the Fizz Club if you're a cocktail and champagne enthusiast. The Grapevine boasts an impressive wine selection. The Compass is reserved for guests of the Grand Dream and Stargazer suites.
Entertainment
There is a significant number of activities to choose from on board the Journey, ranging from Greek dance classes, talks or presentations on the health benefits of Greek herbs or olive oil, or basic Greek classes, among others.
For sports enthusiasts, there are morning yoga or Pilates classes, and there are also two swimming pools on board, one outdoor and the other indoor or open depending on the weather. Those who enjoy walking or jogging can do so on deck 6, where there is a promenade that runs the length of the deck.
And from 8:00 p.m. onwards, the evening entertainment begins. In addition to the aforementioned bars with live music, there is a nightclub that opens every night with karaoke early on, followed by a DJ who plays music requested by passengers for those who want to dance on the dance floor.
Spain is the most important European market for the company
But it is the performances of the artists from the Canadian show Cirque Fantastic that take the cake, with impressive shows of live music, dances and acrobatics that are held every night in the theater.
The Journey offers activities for children and teenagers of all ages. While there are no water slides or go-kart tracks, Deck 12 features dedicated spaces for children aged 5 to 12. The Turtle Cave Club offers art and educational games, while the Shark Club shows cartoons and TV programs. There is also a basketball court and a paddle tennis/tennis court on this deck.
Ships have never been an obstacle to the company's success in our market, but Celestyal has taken a giant leap forward with the Journey. The Discovery will be launched soon, and the fleet is expected to continue expanding.
The itinerary
then visits Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city and the capital of the Central Macedonia region; Kusadasi in Turkey, a shopper's paradise with its bustling bazaars and a popular summer resort with its azure waters, restaurants, bars, beaches, ice cream parlors, and more, and a gateway to the remarkably well-preserved ruins of ancient Ephesus. The journey continues with visits to some of the Aegean's most famous islands, such as Crete, with the ruins of the Minoan Palace of Knossos and the city of Heraklion, the capital of this largest Greek island; and Santorini, home to the much-photographed villages of Oia and Fira, with their whitewashed houses and blue domes perched on volcanic cliffs. Mykonos, the most glamorous of the Cyclades islands, where you can enjoy an incredible sunset; and Milos, with beaches of green and turquoise blue waters and unique landscapes such as Sarakiniko beach.
The route includes a stop in Kusadasi, allowing visitors to explore the famous ruins of Ephesus
The Celestyal journey follows this itinerary from March to October, but interspersing some departures from the "Legendary Aegean" and the "Legendary Ionian", with visits to Athens, Santorini, Rhodes, Samos, Istanbul, Chios, Kos, Mykonos, Athens, Kotor, Corfu, Chania Souda and Athens.
On October 12, the Celestyal Journey embarks on the 8-day "Following in the Footsteps of St. Paul" itinerary, departing from Piraeus and visiting Thessaloniki, Kavala, Istanbul, Dikili, Kusadasi, Patmos, and returning to Athens. Afterward, it will head to the Arabian Gulf to begin its "Amazing Desert" itinerary in November, departing from Doha or Abu Dhabi and visiting exotic destinations such as Doha (Qatar), Khalifa Bin Salman (Bahrain), Dubai (UAE), Khasab (Oman), and Abu Dhabi (UAE).
The 2025 season will begin with the “Sublime Adriatic” itinerary, visiting Athens, Kefalonia, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Kotor (Montenegro), Bari (Italy), Corfu (Greece), Katakolo (Greece) and return to Athens; combined with “Idyllic Aegean”.
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