5+ Irresistible Reasons to Choose Celestyal Cruises for Your Idyllic Aegean Adventure (2024)

Are you seeking the perfect escape to the enchanting Aegean region? Look no further! With its unforgettable experiences and expertise in destinations and history, Celestyal Cruises offers a variety of cruise vacations in the Aegean, promising you the adventure of a lifetime. In this post, you will find reviews of the Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean journey and Celestyal Cruises as a whole.

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Cruise Resources

Use Celestyal Cruise for booking the cruise.
Use GetYourGuide or Viator to book Shore Excursions or to purchase Skip the Line tickets.
Rental Cars is great for hiring self-driven cars in port cities/towns.
100+ Cruise Tips for Beginners
Idyllic Aegean – Explore Port Cities and Towns:
5+ Reasons to Choose Celestyal Cruises
One Day in Athens
One Day in Thessaloniki
Is Kusadasi worth visiting?
Heraklion Hop On Hop Off Bus
Nea Kameni Boat Tour: Hike on an Active Volcano
Mykonos Solo Travel Guide: Island of Aegean Adventures

About Celestyal Cruises

Founded by Louis Group, Celestyal Cruises operate out of Athens, Greece. They offer cruise itineraries with various nights around the Greek Islands, Turkey and Eastern Mediterranean. Currently, there are two ships; Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Olympia. I went on the Celestyal Journey.

Renowned for its warm and welcoming Greek hospitality, you can experience the legendary friendliness and warmth of the Greek people throughout the Celestyal Cruises journey.

About Idyllic Aegean by Celestyal Cruises

Stopping at some of the most famous port cities/islands in the Aegean Sea, such as Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete, as well as lesser-known gems like Milos and Kusadasi, the Idyllic Aegean by Celestyal Cruises is a remarkable cruise vacation. This cruise journey provides an all-inclusive and high-quality cruise experience.

Emphasising on the local experiences, including the authentic Greek culture and cuisine, the Idyllic Aegean is one of the best and unforgettable experiences in the world. During this cruise vacation, you have the opportunity to explore the ancient ruins, charming villages, and pristine beaches at the port cities / towns.

Are you embarking on a cruise for the first time? Then here are the 100+ cruise tips for beginners to have a smooth voyage and vacation.

5+ Irresistible Reasons to Choose Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean Adventure

Expertise in the Aegean Region

Celestyal Cruises is the gateway to the Aegean region. They are known for providing the stunning experiences of the most picturesque and culturally rich destinations in the Aegean.

Specialising in providing immersive and authentic experiences around the Aegean region, and focusing more on the destinations, Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean offer itineraries that have both well-known and off-the-beaten-path ports of call.

Sailing through the crystal-clear blue waters and exploring mesmerizing destinations like Santorini, Crete, Milos, and Mykonos, the Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean offers one of the best experiences in Greece.

Authentic Greek Experience

Celestyal Cruises is a fantastic choice for those seeking an authentic and enriching cruise experience that celebrates Greek culture and explores the breathtaking destinations in the area.

With shore excursions concentrating on the Greek history, culture, and nature, dining and cuisines celebrating the Greek food, and entertainments telling the stories about Greece, you will get a complete Greek experience on the Idyllic Aegean cruise journey.

Food is one of the central elements of the Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean experience. Serving authentic Greek and International cuisine on board, you can savour the true taste of the region’s flavors and culinary traditions.

All-Inclusive Cruising

Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean cruise is an all-inclusive cruise, which means that most of the expenses are already paid upfront and are included in the cruise cost. This makes your cruise vacation less expensive and hassle-free.

Your accommodation, meals providing a variety of dining options, some complementary beverages such as tea, coffee, juices, onboard entertainment, port charges and taxes, and certain gratuities are already included in the cruise fare.

Unique Cultural and Historical Excursions

The cruise line places a strong emphasis on cultural immersion and historical excursions. You will have the opportunity to witness and cherish the traditional Greek music and dance performances, as well as programs that deepen your understanding of the local culture and history.

Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean offer a variety of onboard entertainment options, including live music, shows, and themed parties. You can participate in these programs and shows during the holiday.

Sustainability and Responsibility

Celestyal Cruises is committed to sustainable and responsible tourism. The company focuses on minimising its environmental impact and supporting the local communities visited during the cruise vacation. They continually monitor and adhere to ethical business practices.

Island Hopping

One of the best ways to see many destinations and an exciting way to venture and explore Greek Islands is by island hopping. On Idyllic Aegean, you have an opportunity to hop between various Greek Islands such as Mykonos, Milos and others. At these islands, you can either take various shore excursions or explore them individually.

Small Ship

One of the main reasons why I loved cruising with Celestyal Cruises was that the ship was smaller than most vessels or cruises. This ensures that you can have a personalised and tranquil atmosphere. During the 7-night Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean cruise, I had the opportunity to interact with most of the front-end staff members. We had started to recognise each other and had some cordial conversations, which was amazing considering I was travelling alone.

Detailed Itinerary of 7-Night Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean Cruise

The cruise that I went on was the 7-night Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean cruise, starting and ending at Piraeus in Athens.

Day 1 – Piraeus, Athens, Greece

Serving as the main maritime connection between Greece and other international destinations, Piraeus dates back to 5th century BC. The city is a bustling port city located in Athens. You can spend the day here exploring and seeing some of the historical places such as The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, and the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus.

Day 2 – Thessaloniki, Greece

Thessaloniki is Greece’s second-largest city. The city has so many heritage and historical buildings that it has more than 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Some of the sites that you can see are the White Tower, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Ladadika District, Rotunda and Galerius Arch, among others.

During the cruise, I had one day to explore the city of Thessaloniki. In the city, you can easily walk around as most of the historical sites are around the city centre.

Day 3 – Kusadasi, Turkey

Boasting many beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife, Kusadasi is a popular coastal town in Turkey. It is a gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus that features the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and the Temple of Artemis.

During the cruise, we had only a few hours to explore the amazing city of Kusadasi. I walked around the city and the marina.

Day 4 – Heraklion, Crete, Greece

With rich history dating back to the ancient times, Heraklion is the largest and capital city of Crete. It is home to many historical sites such as Palace of Knossos. Known for Mediterranean cuisine, the city has lively and vibrant nightlife.

During the cruise journey, we had almost an entire day to explore the city. As it was a bit difficult to walk around and it was very hot, I took Heraklion Hop On Hop Off bus to travel between the places.

Day 5 – Santorini, Greece

Officially known as Thira, Santorini is one of the popular Greek islands. Popular for its unique geological features, resulting from a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, Santorini has charming villages featuring narrow, winding streets and Cycladic architecture.

You have to witness the breathtaking sunsets, especially in the towns of Oia and Fira. Santorini has plenty of things to do and you need to spend at least 4 days in Santorini itself to explore and enjoy the beautiful island. We had an entire day at Santorini and I did one of the off-beat things of taking a Nea Kameni Boat tour with the highlight of hiking an active volcano.

Day 6 – Mykonos, Greece

Known for its beautiful beaches and windmills, Mykonos is an extraordinarily beautiful island in Greece. It has a lively nightlife and club scene. One of the best places to enjoy dining with great views is at a restaurant in Little Venice. We got more than a day at Mykonos to explore the island. I walked around the island and explored the various places.

When you are at Little Venice, do not forget to meet Petra, a pink pelican which is super friendly.

Day 7 – Milos, Greece

If you love nature and culture, then Milos is the island to explore. It has unique landscapes, stunning beaches and rich history. The island is also famous for its dramatic rock formations and mineral deposits. Even at Milos, we had almost a day to explore the island.

Pricing and Extras Charges of Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean

Celestyal Cruises provides cruises that are of various nights depending on your preference and interests. The cruises start from USD 279 per person for 3 nights and go up based on the additional nights. They offer Idyllic Aegean cruises from 3 nights to 19 nights.

Wi-Fi Onboard

The Wi-Fi onboard was not included in the cruise fare. There were various options available for cruisers. The first hour was complementary, and then they had the Wi-Fi packages as shown below:

• You can connect only to one device at a time.

Package	Number of Hours	Cost
Small	1 Hour	7 Euros
Medium	3 Hours	16 Euros
Large	6 Hours	25 Euros

One of the best ways to save money on the cruise is by buying a local international SIM card that will provide you with the data required.

Premium and Premium Plus Drinks Package

Another additional cost that you will incur are the drinks onboard. In order to save expenses for the passengers, Celestyal Cruises offer Premium (costing 30 Euros per person per day) and Premium Plus (costing 47 Euros per person per day) Drinks Package. In the packages, we were allowed to order luxurious drinks from the menu plus any drink from bar list of up to 10 Euros.

Shore Excursions

The shore excursions at each of the port of call was additional. Depending on your interest and preference, you can choose and select the shore excursions that were offered by the cruise. The cost and the duration of each excursion varied and the passengers were required to pre-book these at least a day or two in advance at the Shore excursion desk or online.

Almost all the ports we stopped at, I explored the islands independently but I do feel that it would have been nice if I had selected some of the shore excursions at some places.

Honest Reviews of Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean

As this was my first time on a cruise, I think I became lucky with Celestyal Cruises. The entire experience of Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean was absolutely breathtaking and memorable. The early morning sunrises from my cabin, the talented artists performing the shows, the delicious food and dishes, and the warm hospitality made me fall in love with them. I felt a bit gloomy as the 7-night cruise journey was coming to an end. This is how much I loved them.

What did I love about the cruise?

I would like to mention some of the things (if not all) that I loved about the cruise:

• Small cruise ship – As I mentioned earlier, I really loved the fact that the ship was smaller than the other cruise ships I have seen. This made the entire experience more personal, and as I was travelling alone, I did not feel lonely or stuck at any time during my journey.
• Various destinations – With Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean, the focus is always on the destinations rather than the journey itself. They promote and spread awareness about the Aegean region and culture.
• All-inclusive – This is an important and crucial thing when you are on holiday. Because the cruise fare includes most of your expenses, you can enjoy the vacation hassle-free.
• Staff members – Celestyal Journey, which I was on, had more than 600 crew members with various ethnicities. And every crew member I encountered wore a smile throughout. It was great. My stewards Irene and Leo were the best.

Closing Notes | Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a beach lover, or a foodie, the Idyllic Aegean cruise by Celestyal Cruises offer something for everyone. It is not just a cruise vacation, but an opportunity to connect with culture, history, and beauty of Aegean region. I highly recommend taking and experiencing this 7-night Idyllic Aegean by Celestyal Cruises as it surely was an unforgettable experience.

Note: The 7-night Idyllic Aegean cruise travel was courtesy of Celestyal Cruises.
Thanks to Celestyal Cruises for providing me with this opportunity to work and collaborate with them. And special thanks to Irene from Celestyal Cruises for arranging and coordinating everything on behalf of the cruise company.
Note: I explored each of the cities and towns, and they were not a collaboration with anyone.

PIN for later reference | Celestyal Cruises Idyllic Aegean Adventure