Celestyal Cruises to Start Sailings for 2021 on May 29

Celestyal Cruises on Wednesday announced that it will start its 2021 sailings on May 29 to align its operations with the plan of Greek authorities for the gradual ease of Covid-19 restrictions and the restart of tourism.

The company had initially planned to start operations on April 24 but set a new date after Greek Tourism Ministry Harry Theoharis announced Greece’s plan to reopen to tourism by May 14.

“We are extremely encouraged by the increased global distribution and effectiveness of the vaccine and by the positive response we are receiving from our partners and guests around the world,” said Celestyal Cruises CEO Chris Theophilides.

“We will continue to monitor the positive progress of the healthy reopening of both Greece and cruise travel while continuing to liaise with the European and Greek health authorities to ensure that we continue to provide a safe and responsible operation for our guests, crew and the communities we serve,” he added.

Celestyal Cruises will begin operations with the seven-night Idyllic Aegean itinerary that will depart from Piraeus and call on Kusadasi, Rhodes, Santorini, Lavrion (Temple of Poseidon), Mykonos, Milos and Crete. The route will be conducted by the company’s Celestyal Crystal ship.

Crystal will utilize two embarkation ports, Piraeus and Lavrion in Athens, providing the ability for shorter three- and four-night Idyllic itineraries in addition to the seven-night sailing.

The shorter three-and four-night sailings will operate on a Wednesday from Lavrion and on a Saturday from Piraeus respectively.

Celestyal will announce the deployment of its remaining fleet in due course, as more countries reopen and demand increases.

Guests currently booked on the canceled late April through May voyages will have the option to receive a refundable Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100 percent of the amount paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 20 percent of the actual cruise fare paid.

As an added element of flexibility and recognizing the prolonged effects of the pandemic, Celestyal has announced that it will allow guests currently holding FCCs as well as guests about to receive FCCs, as a result of the new recommencement date, the opportunity to apply the FCC towards Celestyal’s soon-to-be-announced 2023 itineraries in addition to 2021 and 2022 itineraries.

Press here to see Celestyal Cruises’ Covid-19 health protocols.