Celestyal Announces Updates to 2024/2025 Season

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Celestyal has announced the cancellation of its upcoming 14-night repositioning cruises, “Ancient Athens to Dazzling Doha” and its counterpart sailing “Dazzling Doha to Ancient Athens.” The sailings were scheduled to depart on October 26, 2024, and March 8, 2025, respectively, onboard Celestyal Journey. 

The decision has been made following the recent escalation of political unrest in the original path of passage via the Red Sea. To uphold its commitment to the year-round program and ensure the success of Celestyal’s first Arabian Gulf season, Celestyal Journey will instead embark on a 34-night non-commercial repositioning cruise to and from Doha, Qatar.

To accommodate the longer repositioning cruises, the first three scheduled “Desert Days” itineraries, set to depart from Doha on November 9, 16 and 23 will be cancelled.             

On Celestyal Journey’s return to Europe, the first three 2025 “Heavenly Adriatic” itineraries, set to depart on March 22, 29 and April 5, 2025, have also been cancelled.

Celestyal Journey's maiden voyage in the Arabian Gulf will now be a slightly amended seven-night “Desert Days & 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, travelling onto an overnight in Dubai Marina and also calling at Khasab, Sir Bani Yas Island and Abu Dhabi. This voyage will be followed by a slightly amended seven-night “Desert Days & Abu Dhabi Grand Prix” cruise, now sailing round trip from Dubai, departing December 2, 2024, with a full day and late-night stay in Abu Dhabi on December 8, to accommodate guests attending the Grand Prix race. 

Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, said, “We recently announced our full cruise program through March 2027 to build simplicity and assurance into our offering. In light of the current geopolitical climate in our original path of passage to this year’s winter season, we have decided to operate longer non-commercial repositioning sailings to and from Qatar. Celestyal Journey will continue to proudly homeport from Doha, Qatar from November 2024, for the next three winter seasons.

“We apologize for the inconvenience that today’s cancellation of a small number of our itineraries may have caused. Our impacted guests have all been offered alternative cruise options and/or reimbursement. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our global year-round operation in the Greek islands, Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf, and would like to thank our valued guests and trade partners for their understanding and support. We look forward to welcoming our customers onboard Celestyal Journey for her inaugural Arabian Gulf season in late November this year.”

Celestyal Journey’s inaugural Arabian Gulf season now comprises nine seven-night “Desert Days” sailings departing between November 2024 and March 2025, with the option to embark in either Doha, Qatar, Abu Dhabi or Dubai, UAE. Plus, two special Grand Prix voyages, departing November 30, 2024, sailing round trip from Doha, and December 2, 2024, sailing round trip from Dubai.

All affected guests have been notified and provided with alternative cruises and reimbursement.

All travel partners have been notified, assured protected commission and provided with updated information and guest rebooking options. All booking system changes will be updated over the next two weeks.

For more information visit www.celestyal.com.  

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Celestyal Offers Free Cruises to Team USA Olympic Medalists

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Celestyal, the boutique cruise line offering a more intimate experience and immersive journeys, is giving away a free cruise to all athletes from Team USA who won a medal at the recent Paris 2024 Olympics.

The cruise line – which is headquartered in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games – has launched the exclusive offer to celebrate Team USA’s success across multiple sports and its record as earning the most medals and having the most medalists at the Paris Olympics.

The U.S. led all nations with 257 medalists and 126 medals, which is the most ever for a U.S. team in a non-boycotted Games outside the U.S., topping the previous high of 121 from Rio in 2016. Team USA participated in 47 of the 48 Olympic competitions and collected 40 golds, 44 silvers and 42 bronzes.  As impressive, 65% of athletes were first time medalists and Team USA achieved gender parity among Olympians.

All medal winners can choose from a selection of complimentary cruises including:

* A seven-night ‘Steps of Paul’ voyage, departing Athens on October 12, 2024, onboard Celestyal Journey, calling at Thessaloniki, Kavala, Istanbul, Dikili, Kusadasi and Patmos.

* A selection of seven-night ‘Desert Days’ voyages departing Doha on Celestyal Journey. Eight options are available sailing between December 2024 and March 2025, calling at Khalifa Bin Salman, Dubai, Khasab, Sir Bani Yas Island and Abu Dhabi.

* A selection of seven–night ‘Idyllic Aegean’ voyages departing Athens on Celestyal Journey. With 14 options available sailing between May and October 2025, calling at Thessaloniki, Kusadasi, Heraklion (Crete), Santorini, Mykonos, and Milos.

* A selection of seven-night ‘Heavenly Adriatic’ departing Athens in 2025 on Celestyal Journey. With four options available sailing between April and August 2025, calling at Kotor, Split, Venice or Bari and Katakolo for visits to nearby Ancient Olympia.

Celestyal’s Greece itineraries also offer the ‘National Geographic Day Tour – The history of the Olympic games in Athens’ shore excursion, led by National Geographic-trained guides.

During this excursion guests can trace the evolution of the Olympic Games on an in-depth tour of Olympic sites and discover how ancient Greek athletes continue to inspire the country today. The tour includes an opportunity to meet a former Olympic athlete for an exclusive viewing of the Olympic Sports Complex.

All voyages are onboard Celestyal’s 1,260-passenger Celestyal Journey, which joined the fleet in September 2023. Onboard the ship athletes will be able to benefit from the Sozo Spa experience, which features a series of Ayurvedic treatments, a fully equipped gym, thermal beds, and steam rooms. Dining options include the Taverna and Thalassa restaurants, Grill Seekers, modern Asian fusion at Pink Moon, and poolside Mediterranean street food at the Greek Deli.

Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal said: “Following years of exceptionally hard training and the pressures of competing at an Olympic Games, both mentally and physically, there’s no better way for heroes from Team USA to unwind and relax than on a Celestyal cruise. Onboard, they can enjoy our extensive wellness program, indulge in authentic and fresh cuisine, and explore wonderful ports of call. We look forward to welcoming team USA medallists and their guests onboard with our renowned warm hospitality – congratulations to all of our cherished Olympians.”

To book their sailing, Olympic medalists need to contact Celestyal via email at medalist@celestyal.com by September 30, 2024.

Link to images here.

For more information visit celestyal.com or call  (877) 337-4665.

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