Celestyal Cruises

The Greek Gods of Cruising.

Have you ever wanted to cruise the Mediterranean, especially the Greek Islands? Well, there is a good chance you have answered yes to this question. Almost anyone we can think of has dreamed about a vacation in Mykonos or Santorini, after all. Well, we're excited to introduce you to a Greek cruise line focused entirely on Greece with a Greek crew that (yes, you got it right) is an amazing choice for exploring beautiful Greece.

Celestyal Cruises specializes exclusively in cruises around the Greek Islands and the Arabian Gulf and has earned over 50 awards over the years as the best cruise line for Greece and the Aegean. It is not surprising that they get everything about Greek itineraries right. Their ships truly immerse you in Greek culture, and there is a good chance you will start dreaming of Zeus and Athena after sailing with them.

They are a top choice for itineraries in places like Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Venice, Dubrovnik, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai. They are always ready to welcome you with restaurants offering Greek cuisine and a very laidback setting that is perfect for a summer in Crete.

Their fleet consists of just two small ships: Celestyal Journey (2023) and Celestyal Discovery (2024), each good for up to 1,200 passengers compared to mega-ships from mainstream cruise lines that easily carry 4,000+ passengers. This scale definitely creates a more intimate experience for those that want to explore the Greek Isles in detail and don’t care that much for big entertainment options onboard the ship. Not that there isn’t a lot to do onboard. Sure, you won’t find the same things as in a mega-resort at sea, but you get access to live shows, casinos, gyms, a spa and piano bars. There’s even a Kids Club onboard, but it’s only open when enough children are aboard.

The primary home port is Athens, but there are additional ports from Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai. Destinations focus exclusively on the Mediterranean, Greece and the Arabian Gulf. Prices are actually not that bad, by the way, and some itineraries cost $800 for a 7-Night Cruise, which is excellent value considering that you are in a niche, smaller cruise line without tons of families around.

Dining is all about Mediterranean and Greek cuisine, as expected, and you get access to both table service and buffet restaurants. Specialty paid options include the acclaimed Chef's Table on Celestyal Journey, featuring four- to six-course menus with wine pairings. There aren’t lots of dining venues onboard, but maybe that’s for the best, and gives you a chance to have lunch or dinner in Santorini or Mykonos.

Celestyal Cruises is an awesome choice if you want to cruise the Arabian Gulf and especially Greece. They are not that well known, since we are talking about a company with only two ships that focus on a very niche type of guest. If you are planning to explore one of the countries with the richest culture in the world, though, this is an excellent choice and gets our recommendation.