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Celestyal Journey has notched up one year with Celestyal, travelling 66,100 nautical miles in its first year, mostly around the Greek Islands and Mediterranean, with 30 calls to Mykonos and Santorini, 35 to Heraklion (Crete), 29 to Milos island, 31 to Thessaloniki and 37 to Kusadasi (Ephesus).
The 55,877-tonne ship joined Celestyal’s fleet last year and after a multi-million dollar refurbishment made her maiden voyage for the cruise line on September 2, 2023 - a seven-night Idyllic Aegean cruise from Athens, to Thessaloniki, Kusadasi, Heraklion (Crete), Santorini, Mykonos and Milos.
The 219-metre long Celestyal Journey has a whole deck dedicated to wellness- the Sozo Experience with a fully equipped sea-view gym, massage, treatment and beauty rooms, and the Drift Den- an area available to the Penthouse and Grand Suites guests with private thermal suites, a relaxation room and private hot tub. The ship also boasts two pools and two further hot tubs. In the first year, some 85,000 coffees were consumed in the onboard coffee shop – Café Nation, and 60,000 pints of beer, 150,000 cocktails, 55,000 spirits, and 20,000 juices, smoothies and milkshakes were consumed onboard in its seven restaurants and eight bars.
Celestyal Journey carries 1260 guests and 600 crew, including eight married couples and 32 relatives who pride themselves on offering the personal and warm hospitality of their Greek origin.
Celestyal Journey has been operating seven-night Idyllic Aegean and Heavenly Adriatic itineraries this year and will commence a new seven-night itinerary from Doha in November this year as they chase the sun, returning to Greece in March next year.
Celestyal Journey’s maiden voyage in the Arabian Gulf will be a seven-night Desert Days and Qatar Grand Prix cruise, sailing round trip from Doha departing November 30, 2024. This 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 Island and Abu Dhabi.
Celestyal Journey’s inaugural Arabian Gulf sailings are priced from €529* 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). There are also special festive sailings available that depart from Doha on December 21 and 28, this year.
Irene Zavoudaki, a Greek Receptionist and Trainee second officer on Celestyal Journey said:
“I'm from Piraeus, Greece, and growing up near the harbor, I always dreamed of working on a cruise ship. Now, I’m proud to work with Celestyal Cruises. I spend about four hours a day at the reception desk, helping guests, and the rest of my time training on the Bridge to become a second officer. This first year has been amazing—I’ve traveled to beautiful destinations and watched both guests and crew enjoy everything the Celestyal Journey offers, Irene said.
My favorite port is Piraeus, not only because it's a great city, but it’s also my hometown. Working onboard allows me to visit my family every week. My favorite place on the ship is the crew recreational room—it’s a fun space where we relax, play music, and sometimes dance.
The most rewarding part of my job is waking up to a new port and a beautiful view every day. A memorable moment for me was meeting a Greek guest who turned out to be a relative from my home island! We've stayed in touch. What truly sets Celestyal Journey apart is the crew—we’re like a family, and we treat our guests the same way. At reception, I make sure every guest’s request is handled with care to ensure their experience is unforgettable."