Celestyal
Celestyal: the back story
The back story
About Celestyal: the back story
Celestyal began in Athens in 2014 as part of Louis plc, Cyprus’s first travel agency. With two mid-size ships and short itineraries, it sells Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean from the inside.
A Greek line in Greek waters
Celestyal was born in Athens in 2014, a subsidiary of Louis plc, which began as Cyprus’s first travel agency. Its proposition is local knowledge: itineraries through Greece, the Greek Islands, Turkey, Montenegro, Croatia and Italy that mix the famous sights with smaller harbours.
Two ships, mid-size by choice
The fleet is two ships. Celestyal Journey, the larger, joined newly refurbished in 2023 and sails seven-night Idyllic Greece and Heavenly Greece, Italy and Croatia itineraries that can be joined into a 14-night trip. Celestyal Discovery completed the fleet in early 2024 and sails three- and four-night Greek Islands cruises for a long weekend or midweek break. Neither carries more than around 1,260 passengers.
You’re not traveling like a tourist – you’re treading like a local.
Eating Greek
The Thalassa Restaurant is the main dining room, with Mediterranean and international menus, while The Taverna buffet and The Greek Deli, known for its Greek-style bagels, are open through the day. Grill Seekers and Smoked Olive add surf-and-turf and Mediterranean pastas and risottos, and on Celestyal Journey there are Pink Moon for South-Asian dishes and an intimate Chef’s Table with wines.
Sozo
Wellness on board takes its name from the Greek idea of Sozo, wholeness of mind, body and soul. On Celestyal Journey the Sozo Spa has eight treatment rooms, including one for couples, with a sauna, steam room and heated thermal beds in the Drift Den.
One fare
Celestyal sells a single fare, Celestyal One, that includes your meals, daytime coffee, tea, water and juice, soft drinks with meals in the main restaurants, Essential Wi-Fi, the entertainment programme and all port fees and gratuities. Alcohol and speciality dining are paid on board or prepaid at a bonus through CelestyalPay.
Our advice: for a first look at the Greek Islands, a four-night cruise on Celestyal Discovery is a neat introduction; for depth, combine the two seven-night Journey itineraries and see Greece, Italy and Croatia in a fortnight.
Why it's on our list
- Founded in Athens, 2014
- Two mid-size ships
- 3-, 4- and 7-night cruises
- One inclusive fare
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Celestyal: the back story before you go.