Celestyal Cruises Resumes Operations from Piraeus Port

The Celestyal Crystal. Photo Source: Celestyal Cruises

Celestyal Cruises on Wednesday announced that it has resumed cruise operations from the port of Piraeus in Athens.

The announcement was made during a reception held by the Lavrio Port Authority on the occasion of the first call of the Celestyal Crystal at the port as part of the company’s “Idyllic Aegean” itinerary.

The signature seven-night “Idyllic Aegean” itinerary takes place on the Celestyal Crystal and calls upon Patmos, Rhodes, Santorini, Lavrion, Mykonos, Milos and Crete (Agios Nikolaos).

Celestyal Crystal’s Captain Nikolaos Vassilios receiving an honorary plaque from Port of Lavrio Chairman Ioanna Koulouvraki.

Speaking during the event, Celestyal Cruises CEO Chris Theophilides referred to a “difficult and challenging year” and said Celestyal is excited to welcome guests back onboard this summer on its most popular and signature Greek island itinerary: the “Idyllic Aegean”, which is known for offering warm and genuine Greek hospitality.

“This was no small task and it is due to the unwavering dedication and unified teamwork of the Celestyal team, both shoreside and onboard, and the support from our strategic partners, both large and small,” Theophilides said.

Celestyal Cruises CEO Chris Theofilidis, Greek Shipping Minister Yiannis Plakiotakis, Shipping Ministry Secretary General Evangelos Kyriazopoulos and Celestyal Cruises Business Manager George Koubenas.

On his part, Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said the industry feels “great pride” to see the return of Celestyal ships to the Greek seas this summer.

“The resumption of cruising, under our new health and safety guidelines, and the strong commitment to Greece from the cruise industry at large is further proof of how resilient Greece is and how quickly we can bring back a sense of normalcy, just in time for the summer travel season,” Theoharis said.

The start of the summer season with the deployment of the Celestyal Crystal will be followed by the deployment of the Celestyal Olympia, which will set sail on on June 28 through August 30 on Celestyal’s new, seven-night “Legendary Archipelago” from the cruise line’s dedicated terminal at Lavrion Port and Marina (Athens), located just 16 miles from the Athens Airport and similar driving time from the city center as the Piraeus Port.

The Celestyal Olympia. Photo source: Celestyal Cruises

The “Legendary Archipelago” itinerary will introduce Thessaloniki as well as call upon Mykonos, Santorini, Ag. Nikolaos (Crete) and Rhodes in Greece and Limassol in Cyprus. Celestyal is the only cruise line calling on a regular basis to Thessaloniki.

As of August 30, the Celestyal Olympia will operate her scheduled three- and four-night “Iconic Aegean” and “Iconic Discovery” itineraries from Lavrion Port and Marina for the remainder of the season.

In the fall Celestyal Crystal will sail on “Eclectic Aegean”, “Steps of Paul”and “Three Continents” as per her previously announced program.