Celestyal Journey celebrates its first anniversary

Edited by Travel Weekly

Celestyal Journey has notched up one year with Celestyal, travelling 66,100 nautical miles in its first year, mostly around the Greek Islands.

The 55,877-tonne ship joined the Celestyal fleet following a multi-million-dollar refurbishment made her maiden voyage for the Greek cruise line on 2 September 2023, a seven-night Idyllic Aegean cruise to Thessaloniki, Kusadasi, Heraklion (Crete), Mykonos, and Milos.

Celestyal Journey.

The 219m-long vessel carries 1,260 guests and 600 crew, houses seven restaurants, eight bars, two pools, and three hot tubs. In its first year, some 85,000 coffees, 60,000 pints of beer, 150,000 cocktails, 55,000 spirits, and 20,000 juices and milkshakes were consumed onboard.

Celestyal Journey‘s maiden voyage in the Arabian Gulf will be a seven-night Desert Days and Qatar Grand Prix cruise, sailing roundtrip from Doha departing 30 November 2024. The voyage will be in Doha port for the first three days to cover the Qatar Grand Prix, before an overnight stay in Dubai Marina and calls at Khasab, Sir Bani Yas Islands, and Abu Dhabi.

Blue Bar at Celestyal Journey.

Pricing for the inaugural Arabian Gulf sailings start at $859 per person twin share for a seven-night Desert Days cruise sailing roundtrip from Doha, calling at Dubai, Sir Bani Yas island, Abu Dhabi and Khalifa Bin Salman (Bahrain).

Australian lecturer on Celestyal Journey, Frosa Katsis, said: “I have worked for six other cruise lines who all have large ships with capacities of over 3500. Celestyal Journey is a mid-size ship which makes it less crowded for guests, but with the same high standard in its meals, its accommodation and its entertainment. The other difference is the destinations. The cruises are port intensive with long port stopovers which means guests can appreciate the day and experience the night life.

“I spend a great deal of time on my computer writing, doing research and updating presentations, so I love to sit in the Blue Bar (when guests are ashore) which is on Deck 8. It has great views. Who wouldn’t like an office with a view over the Aegean? If I am in Santorini, I have views of the Caldera and the 300-metre-high cliffs, and in Kusadasi, the views are of Pigeon Island. One of my favourite things to do ashore is to explore on foot, discovering museums, talking to locals and seeing the history first-hand. The archaeological sites are amazing, and I love returning and seeing progress on the digs, particularly in Ephesus.”

Celestyal Journey at Milos.

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