7 Reasons to Take a Cruise on Celestyal Cruises

Celestyal Cruises is a small cruise line with two ships of their fleet. I just lately took my first cruise with them, a seven-night cruise within the Arabian Gulf. You possibly can learn my first impressions of that cruise here.

Celestyal Cruises invited me with a small group of journalists so we are able to expertise first hand what they’ve to supply. By the top of the week I walked away impressed, wanting to come back again.

After spending seven nights on Celestyal Journey, listed below are my private seven causes to take a cruise with Celestyal Cruises.

Itineraries

For the reason that cruise line solely has two ships of their fleet, they don’t provide a variety of itineraries. Nonetheless, they make up for it with the standard of their itineraries.

The at present provide cruises round Greece/Italy and within the Arabian Gulf (Persian Gulf). One of many issues that I like essentially the most is that you’re in port each single day of the cruise. Whereas they do have a sea day right here and there, it isn’t the norm.

For his or her cruises in Greece, some days you get to go to two ports. You’ll go to one within the morning, get again on the ship for lunch, after which arrive in a second port within the afternoon.

On their four-night Iconic Greek Islands crusing, you spend one morning visiting Kusadasi, Turkey (Ephesus) and the island of Patmos within the afternoon/night. Right here’s the itinerary:

• Day 1: Depart from Athens at 1pm, arrive in Mykonos within the night
• Day 2: Go to Kusadasi and Patmos
• Day 3: Go to Rhodes
• Day 4: Go to Heraklion and Santorini
• Day 5: Arrive again in Athens

Sure, you go to six ports on a 4 night time cruise.

On my seven-night Desert Days crusing, we have been in port each single day together with two days in Dubai. Cities like Dubai really want greater than sooner or later once you’re visiting them on a cruise. I liked each single port on our cruise.

If you happen to’re going midway world wide to expertise and see totally different cultures, you don’t wish to spend a majority of the time on a cruise ship. With Celestyal, you’re all the time in port each single day so you’ll be able to benefit from your time in international international locations.

We visited Bahrain, Dubai, Oman, Sir Bani Yas and Abu Dhabi. It was one of many high 10 itineraries that I’ve sailed on. They’re modifying this itinerary for subsequent season to spend extra time in ports that company love.

Celestyal affords some implausible excursions on this itinerary.

In Dubai, we rode in a 4×4 over the sand dunes earlier than having an unbelievable dinner underneath the celebs. The following day, we went to the highest of the world’s tallest constructing, Burj Khalifa.

On Sir Bani Yas, we took a safari by means of the Arabian Wildlife Park earlier than spending the remainder of the day having fun with the seashore on this “non-public island type” port.  It’s one of the crucial distinctive cruise ports I’ve ever been to and one I actually wish to return and go to once more.

I had a number of individuals ask me about security and the way I felt cruising within the Center East. All through the whole journey, I by no means as soon as felt unsafe. If anybody is on the fence about taking a cruise on this area, go for it. You gained’t remorse it.

And slightly bonus for many who like to get their passports stamped, I racked up eight stamps and a visa sticker within the week I used to be there.

Crew

On the almost 100 cruises I’ve taken in my life, the crew on Celestyal Journey was among the many finest I’ve ever had.

They actually made you’re feeling at dwelling and and have been really easy to attach with. Many instances whilst I used to be simply strolling by, I might hear a “Hey Ben” as they noticed me passing. It occurred throughout the ship, from room stewards within the hallway to bartenders in several lounges.

The largest shock of the journey was when one of many women who labored at Cafe Nation (espresso store) acquired up and began to sing opera within the lounge one night time. It was unbelievable and he or she had essentially the most lovely voice. It blew us all away.

For the reason that cruise line and ships are small, they are surely like household.

Smaller Ships

One of many largest advantages of smaller cruise ships is that they’ll go to many ports that bigger vessels are unable to dock at.  You are inclined to additionally get higher berthing areas in comparison with mega ships.

Celestyal Discovery is 42,000 gross tons and Celestyal Journey is 55,000 gross tons in measurement.

Although Celestyal Journey is 31 years outdated, you’d by no means realize it from strolling across the ship.  You possibly can inform Celestyal put some huge cash into reworking the inside of the ship.

One of many issues that I actually liked that I talked about in my first impressions article was the quantity of public areas the ship had.

Although the ship was crusing at or close to capability, you couldn’t inform once you have been in any of the bars or lounges.  The one place that ever felt crowded was the buffet at peak instances nevertheless it’s that means on just about each ship.

Suites

The primary few days I stayed in an ocean view cabin on deck 5. I used to be on the very entrance of the ship (why I had portholes as a substitute of a giant window) and thought it was fairly spacious for normal cabin.  

Nonetheless, Celestyal moved me to a set for the final 4 days of the cruise and it was wonderful. Not solely was the room giant, however the balcony (photograph posted earlier on this article) was big. The balcony was greater than some cabins I’ve had prior to now.

The suite had a walk-in closet, respectable measurement rest room, and loads of room to stretch out.

The mattress was extraordinarily comfy and suites are undoubtedly the way in which to go when cruising with Celestyal, though you actually can’t go mistaken with any cabin.

Passengers

On our cruise, there was a variety of nationalities on board. I’m a agency believer that this helps improve the expertise once you’re cruising in different components of the world.

Anybody who has been a reader of Cruise Fever for awhile is aware of that I’m an enormous advocate to cruise on a European cruise line when taking a cruise in Europe. This manner you get the European expertise and tradition not solely once you’re in port, however whereas on the ship.

This was additionally true on Celestyal though English is the primary language spoken on board.

Leisure

There was a unique present each single night time of the cruise within the theater (Amphitheatro Present Lounge).  They have been much like the ten track and dance exhibits that you just discover on cruise ships, however that they had a greater diversity than I’ve ever seen.

As soon as night time they included acrobats into the manufacturing with a number of songs from The Best Showman. You might inform the company on board actually liked the exhibits.

There was additionally a pleasant number of reside music across the ship at night time within the totally different lounges.

One of many largest surprises for me is that that they had a magic present one night time within the lounges/bars. It was a enjoyable time as a number of of the bartenders did shut up magic in a non-formal setting.

It was good to see such a variety of leisure for a small ship and a port depth itinerary.

Finances Pleasant Costs

Costs for cruises on Celestyal begin at round $110-120 per particular person, per night time. This contains all port charges and gratuities, drinks throughout meals, and important WiFi.

If you mix all of this with the wonderful itineraries that they provide, it’s onerous to beat.

Celestyal Journey had a premium really feel (for a 31 yr outdated ship) however with out the premium costs.

Drink costs have been additionally extraordinarily cheap with cocktails beginning at simply seven euros.

Earlier than the cruise, I actually wasn’t positive what to anticipate on my upcoming voyage from Celestyal. I went in with an open thoughts and walked away impressed.

It was one of many high 10 itineraries I’ve taken and an total nice cruise expertise.