Celestyal Cruises will return to cruising on March 14 , 2022 with its 3- and 4-night cruises followed by 7-night sailings on April 30. Celestyal will also return to visiting Kusadasi when it sets sail in March and adds Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, to its popular seven night Idyllic Aegean itinerary. All 2022 and 2023 sailings with all-inclusive pricing start at $489 pp and are currently bookable.
On the 7-night Idyllic itinerary, starting in April, Celestyal will sail to Thessaloniki. Celestyal is the only cruise line calling on a regular basis to the historic city of Thessaloniki. The city offers guests Paleo Christian and Byzantine monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, monuments to the famed “Alexander the Great,” and the chance to explore the city’s Roman and Sephardic Jewish heritage. Thessaloniki is also known as a gastronomic paradise, sitting at the crossroads for trade and drawing upon ingredients from all over the Mediterranean and Asia, which are served in the city’s tavernas. Thessaloniki serves as the gateway to Northern Greece and nearby Balkan drive markets. As Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki also offers airlift with competitive airfares to and from Northern and Western Europe.
Celestyal will also return to the less-discovered island of Milos, which is an island traditionally not visited by most other cruise lines sailing larger ships. In the coming year, Celestyal will also extend its time in port in Milos from a half day to an entire day. Additionally, this itinerary calls upon Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes and Kusadasi (Turkey). All-inclusive pricing on the 7-night “Idyllic Itinerary” starts at $1,019 pp.
Celestyal’s Eclectic itinerary includes Kavala, the northern, centuries-old Greek port city on the Thracian Sea, often referred to as the “blue city” due to its crystal-clear coastal waters and legendary scenic sea views from the Bay of Kavala, with a picturesque historic town unfolding high atop the triangular Panagia peninsula. This charming old town is comprised of a mosaic of winding lanes of red-tiled houses and a Byzantine fortress known as the Kastro. Just nine miles from the center of the old town is the ancient city of Philippi, home to the first Christian church in Europe. Philippi became an important early Christian center following a visit to the city by Paul the Apostle in 49 C.E. This itinerary also calls upon Thessaloniki, Santorini, Volos and Istanbul. The Eclectic itinerary also offers the option to embark and disembark in Istanbul, offering additional air connection options. All-inclusive pricing on the 7-night Eclectic itinerary starts at $1,019 pp.
Three Continents Itinerary + Holiday Sailings
The end of 2022 will see the return of Celestyal’s Three Continents 7-night itinerary, which was last operated in late 2019, calling on Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Cyprus. This will be followed by two, exclusive holiday sailings, the 10-night Christmas special sailing calling on Thessaloniki, Izmir (Turkey), Rhodes, Limassol (Cyprus), Alexandria (Egypt) and an overnight visit in Haifa (Israel) to spend both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Holy Land, and the 8-night New Year’s sailing with visits to Heraklion, Santorini, Volos, Kusadasi (Turkey) along with an overnight stay in Istanbul, to take in the New Year’s Eve fireworks. This sailing is priced at $1,299 pp. Both sailings can be combined for an amazing, 18-night holiday event covering the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean starting at $2,399 pp.
“This past summer, thanks to the dedication and hard work of Celestyal’s crew, we were able to demonstrate our ability to safely return to cruising. We are optimistic that our destination-centric itineraries to undiscovered and exciting destinations will continue to be well received by our core audience, which are travelers by nature. Our confidence is supported by strong levels of interest, inquiry and bookings already for these itineraries next year and into 2023, which has been the catalyst to returning to year-round cruising,” said Celestyal’s chief commercial officer, Leslie Peden, in a press statement.
For more information, visit celestyal.com.
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