After almost a whole cruise-less year, some lucky members of the Supercruises team got to find their sea legs again, onboard an ALL-INCLUSIVE Celestyal Cruise, which they thoroughly enjoyed and highly praised the amazing, friendly staff onboard and the Super Greek hospitality. Here’s what they had to say about their experience.
A PCR Covid19 test was required 72 prior to embarkation, for both vaccinated and non-vaccinated passengers. Also, at the port, just before the check-in at the terminal, a Rapid test was performed. It was so well organized that we were onboard seamlessly within half an hour of arriving at the port. Masks were mandatory at all times inside the ship, except in dining areas while eating or drinking. Whilst out on the open decks you could choose whether or not you wanted to wear one or not. Common areas have been rearranged and entertainment programs redesigned so social distancing was effortless. We also had daily touchless thermal scans onboard as part of the contactless monitoring set onboard as well as a free rapid test one day before disembarkation. All areas were sanitized multiple times a day with cleaning and disinfection protocols developed in coordination with the European and Hellenic CDC. We felt extremely secure and healthy in our safe bubble, and it was a delightful feeling to just relax – especially after the year we’ve had.
We embarked on the 4 day – 3 night Greek Cruise leaving and arriving in Athens and it included visits to some truly memorable destinations including, Patmos, Rhodes and the mesmerizing island of Santorini. A few shore excursions are included in the cruise fare, but Celestyal has a large selection to choose from if you wish to purchase. Otherwise, since the cruise line is taking all proper measures and assuming you will too, you can get off the ship and explore by yourself. We tried both: shore excursions and did our own thing. The shore excursions were super organised and were rich in information and sightings – including Instagrammable spots – definitely worth it!
The beauty of this cruise was that we had the choice to stay on the islands most of the day or just hop on and off and visit by foot throughout the day. So, many guests went on their shore excursion in the morning, returned to the ship for lunch and then went ashore again for a stroll, an ice cream, or a deliciously chilled coffee to cool off on those hot summer days and were back for dinner. When you go on an island-hopping cruise, you simply want to immerse yourself in the destination, and Celestyal offers just that!
The cruise line offers 3, 4, 7 & 14-night itineraries cruising around Greece and the Greek Islands, and this is their specialty. Depending on how many days you want to cruise for, you’ll have plenty to see, and you will most definitely experience the Greek way of life.
Intrigued yet? Check out their itineraries.
We were onboard the Celestyal Crystal which offers a more intimate and boutique feel, given its size. However, if you are not out on a shore excursion, there is plenty to keep you entertained onboard from the morning to the evening.
Looking to cool off with your favourite tipple? Head to the Helios Pool Bar on Deck 9 or the Jacuzzi at the Thalassa Bar on Deck 5 at the back of the ship. For an extra dose of relaxation, you could visit the Spa which we tried and highly recommend! Live music sessions also play out throughout the day, with different daily themes, and is a beautiful way to wind down with your afternoon coffee or a refreshing cocktail.
Are you a more energetic person and need to be active? Join the fun daily activities which include but are not limited to ‘Sirtaki’ and other Greek dance lessons, merengue or salsa lessons, Zumba sessions, or the art of towel folding, just to name a few.
Are you looking for something more intellectual? You can take Greek language lessons or join the cultural lectures provided onboard.
The evening entertainment is spirited and lively! Cirque Fantastic will leave you in awe with their aerial performances and their rendition of Cabaret. Afterwards, you can boogie all night long at the groovy Disco located in the Horizons lounge on Deck 10. Make sure not to miss the famous Celestyal ‘Greek Night’ where everyone wears blue and white and you’ll find yourself singing, dancing and shouting ‘opa’ into the wee hours of the morning.
Have you ever heard about how delicious Greek food is? Get ready to get a taste of that onboard! With a selection of restaurants and a daily changing menu, you’ll have the chance to try a variety of traditional Greek as well as international dishes. Breakfast was offered on Deck 9 buffet-style (not self-served due to Health & Safety Protocols). For lunch you could either go for the buffet at Deck 9, or you could visit the ‘Olympus’ restaurant on Deck 5, or the ‘Amalthia’ restaurant on Deck 8 for an à la carte option. Dinner was served à la carte in the ‘Olympus’ and ‘Amalthia’ restaurants. All in all, there was a wide variety provided to suit all palates and all dietary requests, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free.
Our accommodation was a beautiful Junior Balcony Suite (Cat: SBJ, cabin 6004) which was spacious, super clean and had the most beautiful balcony view! If you tend to go for budget cruise holidays and choose Inside Staterooms, you need to try a Balcony at least once! The feeling of waking up to the ocean’s mesmerizing blue colour is like no other!
Why not try it on a Celestyal Cruise and take in the captivating Aegean Sea?
The most important aspect of the whole experience provided by Celestyal cruises, is the Greek hospitality. All the staff and crew are super professional, super friendly, and super attentive to their guests needs. Nothing was ever a problem, and they truly went above and beyond to make us feel at home.
Who is Celestyal?
Celestyal Cruises is an award-winning cruise line offering 3,4,7 & 14-night all-inclusive cruise holidays around Greece, Greek Islands and the Mediterranean.
They are a fully All-Inclusive cruise, which means that your accommodation, all meals and drinks, your gratuities and select shore excursions are included in your cruise fare. We can honestly say that this level of quality can rarely be met for such value for money!
As mentioned previously, the specialize in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Greek Islands and provide a very local touch and feel, as a Greek-Cypriot line in origin. You might have seen them on the popular TV show on Channel 5 “Cruising with Jane McDonald”.
Celestyal have two mid-sized vessels, Celestyal Crystal and Celestyal Olympia – both of which are small and intimate enough to ensure genuine, personalised service, which will help make your voyage memorable. As these are medium sized ships, they can visit ports that larger ones cannot access, allowing them to offer unique smaller undiscovered destinations in their itineraries. Onboard, these ships allow for a more homely atmosphere and a less crowded affair. Each voyage focuses on cultural immersion, giving you an authentic and enriching experience both on board and ashore.
They have also acquired a third ship, the Celestyal Experience, which will make her maiden voyage in 2022 – and we cannot wait to meet her!
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