By
Alex Smith |
Celestyal Cruises has welcomed its newest cruise ship, the 1,260-guest Celestyal Journey, to its fleet.
Celestyal Journey will undergo a €20 million ($21.4 million) refurbishment and technical maintenance overhaul, before setting sail on 2 September 2023. The ship will take over the programme of Celestyal Crystal, sailing the seven-night ‘Idyllic Aegean’ itinerary.
“It has always been our mission to renew and rejuvenate our fleet, and we’re thrilled to see this come to fruition with the arrival of the Celestyal Journey,” said Chris Theophilides, CEO of Celestyal Cruises. “The Celestyal Journey will offer our guests more in the way of premium accommodations with balconies, a greater choice of dining and bar venues, public areas and open decks creating a greater sense of space. At the same time, the newest member of the Celestyal family continues our tradition of operating intimate, mid-sized vessels, allowing us to take our guests to destinations that larger ships cannot, reinforcing our in-depth regional destination knowledge and genuine, warm Greek hospitality, both of which have consistently been recognised as second to none.”
Celestyal Journey can accommodate up to 1,260 guests in 630 rooms, 80 per cent of which are outside staterooms. There are 149 rooms with balconies, which include 120 Junior Suites, 28 Grand Suites and one Penthouse Concept Suite. Guests booked in Grand Suites will have access to Celestyal’s Concierge Service, which features a dedicated priority check-in counter, expedited embarkation and express luggage delivery service including assistance with unpacking. A dedicated Celestyal Concierge will be available in the Poseidon Lounge to assist Grand Suite guests with tailored service requests.
The ship will feature seven specialty and themed restaurants offering dishes from Mediterranean, European and Asian cuisines. In addition, the ship features a cooking demonstration area and a Chef’s Table venue for private group functions and special occasions. Eight bars and lounges will also appear onboard, offering Celestyal’s signature cocktails.
Expansive sundecks with two pools and two Jacuzzis offer views of the sea, while the outdoor Beach Club will be available for the exclusive use by all Grand Suite and Junior Suite guests. There is also a spa, fitness and wellness area offering ocean views, two conference rooms and a multi-purpose amphitheatre complete with a cinema.
After its inaugural sailings, Celestyal Journey will offer a ‘Steps of Paul’ itinerary, followed by a seven-night ‘Three Continents’ voyages visiting Greece, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus and Turkey.