Distilled down to a fleet of two new-to-the-brand ships for 2024, Celestyal (which is dropping “cruises” from its name) is poised to visit new destinations and better serve travel advisors with an enhanced sales team.
As previously announced, Celestyal Journey is arriving (following its operations as Holland America Line’s Ryndam and P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Aria), and Celestyal Discovery is joining after its days as Aida Cruises’ AIDAaura. The cruise line will operate year-round in Greece (as it previously has) but is adding seasonal sailings in the Persian Gulf.
Starting at the end of 2024, the 1,260-guest Journey — which launched last September — will embark on the seven-night Desert Days itinerary, sailing first from Nov. 9, 2024, to Jan. 18, 2025, before returning to the route permanently for subsequent years. The port-intensive itinerary will call on Bahrain, Dubai, Khasab (Oman) and both Sir Bani Yas Island and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates without any sea days. Three-, four-, five- and seven-night options will run through April 2025.
Later, the 1,266-passenger Discovery will return to operating the line’s Three Continents voyages to Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt from November 2025 to March 2026.
Meanwhile, from the months of April to October, Journey will handle Celestyal’s staple rotation of three routes: Heavenly Adriatic, which sails from Greece to Montenegro, Croatia and Italy; Summer Heavenly Adriatic, showcasing Montenegro, Croatia, Italy and Greece; and Idyllic Aegean, sailing to the Greek isles and Turkey, starting in 2025. Discovery will cover the three- and four-night Iconic Aegean circuit for the months of March to November.
Celestyal Journey in Piraeus, Greece
Credit: 2024 Celestyal CruisesDuring a press conference, Chris Theophilides, CEO of Celestyal, said that besides acquiring new hardware and developing new destinations, the company is “investing in people.” The line’s goal is to make it easier to do business with the brand and stay true to its core of small to mid-size vessels, which can go to hidden-gem destinations that larger ships can’t reach.
We’re “building the platform for future growth,” he said, “to get from two ships to more ships,” while emphasizing that, “we don’t want to go big.”
Brandon Townsley, vice president and managing director for North America at Celestyal, indicated that roughly 50% of the line’s business comes from the North American market, and the expanded team wishes to grow that number. As such, the line has added to its sales staff, hiring Elena Rodriquez as director of business development; Scott Moore as director of key accounts and partnerships; Taylor Hendwood as business development manger, Southeast; and Lauren Barreras as trade marketing manager. Advisors can expect an increased level of marketing accordingly.
Key to that endeavor is awareness, said Anna Gregori, vice president of brand, marketing, communications and customer journey for Celestyal, about the line “creating unmissable experiences,” particularly via “authenticity and Greek hospitality.”
Listening to feedback from the North American market has also influenced the line to add in the Heavenly Adriatic itinerary for the summer, including a popular stop in Venice, according to Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal. He said it’s part of the brand moving beyond its "Greek core” to the likes of Montenegro, Croatia and Italy.
Addressing any concern about the current turmoil in the Middle East, CEO Theophilides believes it is not affecting cruise ship deployments in the Persian Gulf. Haslett adds that the safety of line’s guests and crew are “foremost,” hence the delayed return to its Three Continents itinerary that visits Israel.
