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Celestyal Experience will debut on March 2021

28/09/2020 16:13

Celestyal Cruises, the award-winning, number one choice for cruise travellers to the Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean, announces its new flagship, the Celestyal Experience. The ship’s first sailing of the 2021 season will be on 6th March with the seven-night “Three Continents” itinerary calling on Greece (Athens and Rhodes), Turkey (Kusadasi),  Israel (Ashdod), Egypt (Port Said) and Cyprus (Limassol). 

More specifically, the ship will call at Limassol Port on 10 th, 17 th and 24 th March, 24 th November and 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd December 2021.

Beginning on 3rd April 2021 the Celestyal Experience will set sail on the seven-night “Idyllic Aegean” itinerary visiting Athens, Rhodes, Crete (Agios Nikolaos), Santorini, Milos, Mykonos and Kusadasi (Ephesus). For a limited period, all-inclusive launch pricing starts at just £519 per person.

Later in the season, the Celestyal Experience will operate the Eclectic Aegean” itinerary, a seven-night voyage which introduces the historical city of Thessaloniki, the gateway to the land of Alexander the Great, as a new embarkation port. In addition to the highlights of an overnight stay in Istanbul and the breathtaking ‘hanging monasteries’ of Meteora, this exclusive itinerary also includes a visit to the site of Ancient Troy.

The Celestyal Experience has a capacity of 1,800-guests in 789 staterooms, 166 of which feature balconies, sea terraces or bridge-view verandas. The Celestyal Experience, which has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment, will offer an intimate onboard guest experience with all the warmth of traditional Greek hospitality. The ship is also well-suited for visiting smaller ports, a key differentiator for Celestyal, with destinations that remain off-limits to larger vessels.

This has been a challenging year for everyone. However, we are extremely optimistic about the future of travel and, especially, of cruising. We are delighted with the addition of the Celestyal Experience to our fleet.  This ship will be a game-changer for us, and we cant wait to introduce her to our guests.  The Celestyal Experience embodies Celestyal Cruises’ commitment to an intimate, authentically Greek experience  onboard a contemporary, well-appointed, mid-sized cruise vessel. She will undoubtedly be instrumental in driving our continued growth,” said Celestyal Cruises’ CEO, Chris Theophilides.

The Celestyal Experience features a range of facilities for guests of all ages including four restaurants, seven bars and lounges, two pools, two Jacuzzis, a beach club, sundeck and jogging track. Rounding out the

Celestyal Experience will be nightly entertainment, a casino, library, meeting rooms and onboard boutiques, all topped off with a unique, specialty wine and cheese bar that will serve as a tribute to Mediterranean wines and cheeses.  

Outstanding Panoramic Thalassotherapy Spa

One of the outstanding features of the Celestyal Experience is its expansive 47,300-square-foot panoramic spa spread across two decks, complete with a fully-equipped gym offering ocean views, thalassotherapy baths, massage rooms, saunas and a range of thermal suites.  The impressive spa also includes a Japanese style tea parlour, which will feature a wide variety of rare teas including local remedial herb and mountain teas.

A Suite Experience

With more suites onboard than the lines other ships, the Celestyal Experience provides even the most discerning guests with a range of premium accommodation options.  The ship features 166 suite category staterooms, 132 of which are Junior Suites with balconies, and 34 Suites, including 22 with balconies; six with bridge-view verandas and six Grand Suites boasting large sea terraces. Guests booking suites higher than Junior Suite categories on the Celestyal Experience will have access to the Celestyal Cruises Suite Concierge service, which features a dedicated priority check-in counter, expedited embarkation, an exclusive dining area onboard, and express luggage delivery service including assistance with unpacking. A dedicated Celestyal Cruises Suite Concierge is also available to assist guests with specific tailored service requests.

Introducing A New Class of ‘Wellness’ Staterooms

A first for Celestyal is the introduction of  four new ’Wellness Spa’ stateroom categories with a variety of spacious balcony, sea terrace and veranda suite accommodation. Exclusive use of Deck 14 ensures the most serene and tranquil area of the ship. Complimentary and unlimited access to the wellness and spa area is included featuring relaxation options, most notably the thalassotherapy baths and thermal suites. The Wellness staterooms also include priority access to specialty dining experiences and a new, exclusive Beach Club concept. 

New Island-Inspired Beach Club

This adults-only outdoor area, dedicated to ’Suite’ and ‘Wellness’ class guests offers a tranquil atmosphere which can only be found at the best Greek island chill-out beach clubs. The Beach Club boasts attentive guest service all in the comfort of premium sunbeds and cabanas. It features a Jacuzzi perched on the stern with endless views across the ocean.

The Mediterranean Diet

Celestyal is known for its locally-inspired and sourced cuisine created according to the Mediterranean Diet, acclaimed by global chefs, leading nutritionists and scientists alike. This will be a special highlight onboard the Celestyal Experience.  Among the new dining venues will be a Greek grill & deli, featuring local favourites.  Casual food featuring traditional recipes and locally-inspired pizzas prepared in an authentic wood-burning oven will also be on the ships menu. Premium tasting experiences featuring acclaimed Mediterranean wines, olive oils, cheeses and other featured specialties will be just one of the new concepts.

Further innovative experiential concepts’  on board, as well as special Launch Offers will be announced shortly, along with more insight behind the branding evolution and how the Celestyal Experience” comes alive for guests both onboard and onshore.

About Celestyal Cruises

Celestyal Cruises has fast built an award-winning reputation and recognition as the number one choice for cruise travellers to the Greek Islands and East Mediterranean thanks to its regional expertise and exceptional hospitality. The company operates three vessels, each one intimate enough to provide genuine and highly personalised services. The foundation of the company’s philosophy is built on a unique Greek heritage which combines outstanding hospitality with genuine cultural destination immersion and provides authentic, lifetime experiences both onboard and onshore.

Awards      

In September 2020, Celestyal Cruises was honoured for the second consecutive year at the renowned MedCruises Awards. The company was awarded first place in the category "Cruise Line with the Greatest Solidarity and Commitment during the Pandemic,” for its overall contribution to the local community, as well as to the industry as a whole, in light of the addition of a new vessel to its fleet during this critical period.  In June 2020, Celestyal Cruises received three Tourism Awards in the largest and most prestigious competition for the Greek tourism industry. For the seventh consecutive year, Celestyal Cruises took top honours with three Tourism Awards: Platinum Award for Guest Experience Excellence, Gold Award for Familiarisation Initiatives for Special International Target Groups and Silver Award for Solo Travel.

In February 2020, Celestyal Cruises was honoured at the Cruise Excellence Awards for its "Three Continents" cruise, as the best cruise itinerary for 2019.  In June 2019, Celestyal Cruises was recognised for its overall contribution and commitment to the development of the cruise industry in the Eastern Mediterranean region at the MedCruise Awards in Genoa. In December 2019 and 2018 respectively Celestyal Cruises received the U.K. Editors’ Picks Award for Best Service by Cruise Critic, the world's largest cruise review site and online cruise community. In February 2018 Celestyal Cruises received four Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards: two first place awards, for Shore Excursions and Value, and two second place awards, for Service and Entertainment.

Corporate Responsibility

Celestyal Cruises is deeply committed to sustainability and ethical business practices. The company actively supports the local communities in the destinations it visits, particularly in the field of education. Since 2015, more than 2000 students on the Greek islands of Milos, Patmos, Samos and Ios have enjoyed a ‘journey to knowledge’, by attending specialized educational programs, initiated by Celestyal Cruises. Additionally, Celestyal Cruises supports cultural NGOs to promote youth entrepreneurship, marine student development and child welfare.

ISO Certification

The entire spectrum of Celestyal Cruises’ ship management, including technical, hotel and crew management, and offices, are certified in accordance with ISO 9001/14001 standards. The certifying authority is DNV-GL, which is by widely recognized as the biggest and most respected rating agency in the marine industry.