As one of the major home-porting cruise line in Greece and the preeminent cruise line serving the Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean, part of the company’s mission is to make a significant contribution to the country’s economy.
In 2017, Celestyal Cruises’ passengers made 598,000 visits to Greek ports, where they spent an average of €62 per passenger. The company brings tourists to smaller destinations where their expenditures are powerful fiscal infusions for local economies. Last year Celestyal Cruises contribution to the Greek economy was €103M, including €30M in direct operating expenses.
Celestyal Cruises also supports Greek food & beverage companies with purchases of €5,5M and has invested a total of €3M in the promotion of Greek destinations. All the maintenance and upgrades of its vessels are performed in Piraeus and Perama, with an annual contribution to the economy of Piraeus of more than €30M. It is also important to highlight that Celestyal Cruises employs jobs to 300 Greek marine officers and crew, the same number employed by 60 cargo ships.
In 2017 there were more than 36 million visitors to Greece, a nine percent year-over-year increase, and Celestyal Cruises expects an even larger year-over-year increase in 2018 – the company sees dynamic growth and increase in demand for Greece as a destination. The destination is the foundation of the company’s philosophy. Its itineraries differ from other cruise lines because Celestyal Cruises blends marquee destinations with “off-the-beaten-path” ports of call: the company is dedicated to true cultural immersion, so its passengers can truly discover the Aegean and have authentic, lifetime experiences everywhere they visit, even during off-season months such as March, April, October and November. Celestyal Cruises’ extended seasons are a first step toward the company’s goal of sailing year-round Aegean cruises.
Celestyal Cruises operates four mid-sized vessels, each one cozy enough so its crews can provide genuine and highly-personalized service to each passenger. In 2018, Celestyal Cruises introduces a 7-Day itinerary, the Idyllic Aegean, which offers one of the best value-for-money vacation experiences in the Mediterranean. This cruise spends overnights in Mykonos and Santorini, with calls at Athens (Piraeus), Milos, Crete, and Kusadasi or Samos and disembarkation in Piraeus. The addition of Milos to its itineraries and the inclusion of overnight stays in Mykonos and Santorini are the result of the company’s ongoing interaction with its passengers to find out exactly what they want Celestyal Cruises itineraries to offer – it turns out passengers want more time at the two most popular destinations in the Aegean, Mykonos and Santorini, so they can enjoy the legendary nightlife of Mykonos and the unparalleled beauty of Santorini.
The 2018 7-Day Idyllic Aegean, like every one of the company’s cruises, features the Celestyal Cruises All-Inclusive drink package, all meals onboard, entertainment, selected shore excursions, port and service charges, and gratuities. The Celestyal Cruises All-Inclusive offer is just one of many reasons the company has been repeatedly recognized for offering passengers a true premium experience and outstanding personalized serviced at an excellent value-for-money all inclusive price.
Celestyal Cruises has announced its return to Istanbul in 2019, including overnight calls at this cultural, geographic and religious crossroads. The Celestyal Crystal will also call at Canakkale, at the narrowest point of Dardanelles, so Celestyal Cruises passengers can enjoy excursions to Troy and other important sites in this fascinating area.
In February 2018 Celestyal Cruises received four Cruise Critic Cruisers Choice Awards: two first place awards, for Shore Excursions and Value, and two second place awards, for Service and Entertainment. In 2017 Celestyal Cruises was given the UK Editors’ Picks Award for Best Service by Cruise Critic, as well as four Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards: Best (mid-sized), Embarkation, Entertainment, Shore Excursions and Value. In 2017, Celestyal Cruises was given the Cruise Critic UK Editors’ Picks Award for Best Service by Cruise Critic.