Celestyal Cruises

Celestyal Cruises (celestyal.com/en-cy) is a subsidiary of Louis PLC and a member of the Louis Group — a leading tourism and passenger shipping company operating primarily in the Eastern Mediterranean. "Celestyal" (meaning "heavenly," "divine," and "of the stars") was chosen to reflect the customer experience when sailing with the company. The brand promotes an authentic Greek "Kalimera" experience, named after the traditional Greek word for welcome. Celestyal's current CEO is Chris Theophilides.

On November 29, 2021, it was announced that Searchlight Capital Partners (a USA-based private equity firm founded in 2010) had acquired a majority stake in Celestyal Cruises. The investment was made through a new holding company, Celestyal Holdings, though the exact ownership percentages between Searchlight and Louis Group were not disclosed. Celestyal's global management team remained in place and continued to lead the company.

The company's current top executives are Chris Theophilides (CEO) and Lee Haslett (CCO/Chief Commercial Officer).

Company changes 2022

In March 2022, Celestyal appointed David Noyes as Non-Executive Chairman. Noyes previously served as CEO and Executive VP at Carnival UK, overseeing Carnival Corporation's subsidiaries P&O Cruises and Cunard Line.

In September 2022, Celestyal appointed Inter-Connect GmbH (a Munich-based company) as its General Sales Agent for the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).

In late September 2022, Celestyal expanded its Canada-USA sales team by appointing Jon Grutzner as VP of Business Development for North America (based in the Madison, Wisconsin office) and Michelle Suker as Business Development Manager for the Southeastern USA (based in the Florida office).

Company changes 2023

In February, Celestyal acquired the Celestyal Journey (1994-built as MS Ryndam).

In April, Celestyal hired Morgan Hatfield (North America Marketing Director), Richard Sandoval (West Coast USA Business Development Manager), and Stephanie McDonald (Canada Business Development Manager).

In May, Celestyal appointed Tobias Klitsch as VP of Global Market Development (previously with PA Consulting, Virgin Atlantic, and British Airways) and Beth Hulett as Global Market Development Manager (previously with Virgin Voyages as Sales Manager).

In May, Celestyal also appointed Janet Parton as VP of Business Development (UK, Europe, and Australia). She previously worked as Sales and Marketing Director for Cosmos Travel and Avalon Waterways at Globus Family of Brands (subsidiary of Group Voyagers Inc).

In October, Celestyal named Brandon Townsley as VP and Managing Director for North America. Since 2001, he has held roles at Royal Caribbean (Revenue Management Analyst), NCL-Norwegian (Director of Sales), MSC (Director of Strategic & Online Accounts), Crystal, Atlas Ocean Voyages (VP of Sales & Trade Partnerships), and Virgin Voyages (Director of Business Development & Strategy).

In November, Celestyal acquired the Celestyal Discovery (2003-built as AIDAaura).

In December, Celestyal sold the Celestyal Olympia (1982-built/2025-scrapped).

Celestyal Cruise Line

What makes every Celestyal cruise such a unique and memorable sea travel experience?

Celestyal-Louis ships are modest, refurbished older vessels offering standard staterooms, updated menus, and distinctive enrichment programs and itineraries. Themes often focus on Greek food, wine, music, and history/archaeology.

Celestyal is the only cruise line in the industry to homeport in Greece year-round. It is also a leading travel brand for voyages to Turkey and the Greek Islands. Celestyal ships depart from the two main ports serving Piraeus/Athens-Lavrion and to Crete, Chios, Ios, Milos, Mykonos, Rhodes, Kos, Patmos, Samos, Symi, Syros, and Santorini, as well as to Turkish ports including Istanbul, Kusadasi, and Cesme.

"Kali Orexi" is Celestyal's culinary program, celebrating Greek cuisine known for its simplicity and health benefits. It features fresh local ingredients, including olives and Cretan olive oil. Menus offer freshly baked bread, Greek yogurt, authentic Greek coffee, wines from Santorini and the Peloponnese, and dry, aromatic ouzo.

Celestyal’s entertainment is less extravagant than on larger ships but includes plenty of live music in bars and lounges, with performers from Greece. Guests can enjoy taverna-style evenings and learn the traditional "sirtaki" dance from "Zorba the Greek." Members of the Lyceum Club of Greek Women perform traditional folk dances on select sailings.

Celestyal ships also feature casinos, shops (offering travel essentials and souvenirs), Lido decks with pools, and small wellness areas with a spa, gym, and beauty salon.

New ships

In September 2015, Celestyal announced the addition of the refurbished Celestyal Nefeli (formerly Superstar Gemini, now MV Gemini) to its fleet. Delivered in February 2016, the 1992-built ship accommodates 1,074 passengers in 400 cabins (123 inside and 277 outside), including 31 junior suites and 12 executive suites (most with private balconies). Nefeli replaced Celestyal Odyssey (now Blue Dream Star), whose charter ended in October 2015. Nefeli was homeported in Turkey, offering Eastern Mediterranean roundtrips from Istanbul, Kusadasi, and Izmir.

Both vessels were relatively small (GT ~60,000 tons, maximum passenger capacity 1,800) and designed for short-break cruises (3- or 4-day roundtrip itineraries).

In November 2017, the Celestyal fleet was expanded with two Louis Group-owned ships previously chartered to Thomson Cruises UK: Thomson Spirit and Thomson Majesty (Celestyal Majesty). In 2018, Celestyal Majesty was sold to Mano Maritime (Israel-based, part of Mano Holdings Group) and now operates as Crown Iris. Thomson Spirit was scrapped in 2018.

In September 2016, Celestyal announced plans to order two newbuilds with deliveries scheduled by 2021.

The above ship designs were created by Knud E Hansen AS (a naval architecture and marine engineering firm based in Odense, Denmark) for mid-size cruise ships powered by either LNG (liquefied natural gas) or HFO (heavy fuel oil).

The designs differ between LNG and HFO versions. HFO models require scrubbers and catalytic reduction to reduce SOx and NOx emissions. LNG is a cleaner and more cost-efficient option, prompting innovative solutions in engine room layout and funnel placement. The illustrations above may represent prototypes for Celestyal’s newbuilds.

In July 2020, Carnival Corporation (via its subsidiary Costa Cruises) sold the Costa neoRomantica (built in 1993) to Louis Group. The ship joined the Celestyal fleet in August under the name "Celestyal Experience." All planned 2021-2022 itineraries remained unchanged. However, in September 2021, the ship was sold (without sailing for Celestyal) and left the fleet.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2022

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Celestyal suspended all fleet operations, canceling voyages for two years — from March 14, 2020, through April 18, 2022. Operations resumed with Celestyal Crystal (April 18), followed by Celestyal Olympia (April 29).

The restart had originally been planned for March 6, 2021 (Celestyal Crystal), but was postponed to May 29 (Celestyal Crystal), June 28 (Celestyal Olympia), and September 3 (Celestyal Experience). Eventually, these plans were canceled, and Celestyal Experience was sold.

All affected bookings received full 100% cash refunds, including for prepurchased Celestyal packages and services. Rebookings were offered with a 120% refund in FCC (Future Cruise Credit), redeemable until December 31, 2021. Customers could apply the FCC to any Celestyal itinerary scheduled through December 31, 2023. If the FCC was not used by the expiration date, a full 100% cash refund was automatically issued.

The company also extended its cancellation policy. Any cruise booked between March 9 and June 30, 2020 (for 2020-2021 itineraries), could be canceled up to 7 days before departure without penalty. As a promotional offer, bookings made between October 19 and November 30, 2020, received complimentary travel insurance (Allianz Global Assistance), covering all medical expenses (including COVID-19-related), transportation to the nearest hospital, travel to the next port of call, return home travel, and reimbursement for any unused portion of the voyage. Cancellation coverage was optional (available at an additional cost).

Celestyal Cruises is a new travel brand launched in 2014 by the Cyprus-based Louis Cruises. In 2015, two Louis liners began regularly scheduled voyages from homeports Lavrion and Piraeus-Athens under the new "Celestyal" name.

Celestyal Cruises (formerly Louis Cruises) owns and operates the following ships:

• Celestyal Journey (1994-built as MS Ryndam) joined the fleet in 2023. She was previously operated as Aegean Goddess (SeaJets Greece) and Pacific Aria (P&O Australia).
• Celestyal Discovery (2003-built as AIDAaura) joined the fleet in November 2023 and is scheduled to begin revenue service in March 2024, replacing Celestyal Olympia.

The company's all-inclusive cruise packages include onboard meals and entertainment, drink packages, selected shore excursions, port fees, service charges, and gratuities.

In January 2024, Celestyal Olympia (1982-built as Song of America, formerly Thomson Destiny and Louis Olympia, now Bella Fortuna) was sold.

(NEW) Adriatic Itinerary 2025–2026 (Celestyal Journey)

In November 2023, Celestyal announced a destination expansion with three new countries in Southern Europe/Adriatic Sea: Croatia, Montenegro, and Italy.

The new 7-night "Heavenly Adriatic" itinerary features six new ports for Celestyal: three in Greece (Kefalonia, Kerkyra/Corfu, and Katakolon/Olympia), as well as Dubrovnik or Split (Croatia), Kotor (Montenegro), and Bari or Marghera/Venice (Italy).

The itinerary was incorporated into the 2024–2025 schedule of Celestyal Journey, starting March 2, 2024. The Adriatic schedule for March, April, and October 2025 includes destinations in Greece, Montenegro, Croatia, and Italy. Additionally, a maiden call to Venice is included in the July-August 2025 schedule.

(NEW) Arabian Gulf Itineraries 2025–2026

In March 2025, based on passenger feedback, Celestyal revised its 2025–2026 Arabian Gulf itineraries, adding new ports to the 3- and 4-night "Iconic Arabia" voyages operated by Celestyal Discovery.

The updated 3-night "Iconic Arabia" itinerary (departing Fridays from Abu Dhabi) visits Dubai and Sir Bani Yas Island.

The updated 4-night itinerary (departing Mondays from Abu Dhabi) visits Doha (Qatar), Ras Al-Khaimah (UAE), and Khasab (Oman).

Celestyal Discovery begins her inaugural Arabian Gulf season on December 12, 2025, alongside Celestyal Journey, which starts on December 6, operating the "Desert Days" itinerary.

Both ships will also offer 7-night back-to-back voyages (a combination of 3- and 4-night itineraries) from December 2025 through March 2026.