Celestyal Cruises pushes back Greece restart date to May 29

The new date is in accordance with the recently announced Greek Ministry of Tourism roadmap to opening Greece to tourism and cruising for the 2021 season.

Operations will resume with the smaller Celestyal Crystal. The seven-night 'Idyllic Aegean' itinerary starts in Piraeus and calls at Kusadasi, Rhodes, Santorini, Lavrion (for Temple of Poseidon), Mykonos, Milos and Crete. Fares start at $729 per person.

Piraeus and Lavrion gateways for shorter cruises

As more countries open and demand increases, the company will announce the remaining 2021 deployment. Until then, Celestyal Crystal will use two embarkation ports, Piraeus and another Athens gateway, Lavrion, providing the ability to offer shorter three- and four-night itineraries in addition to the seven-night sailing. The short cruises will embark on Wednesdays from Lavrion and Saturdays from Piraeus.

'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,' Celestyal Cruises CEO Chris Theophilides said. 'We will continue to monitor the positive progress of the healthy reopening of both Greece and cruising 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.'

Travelers on the canceled late April through May voyages will have the option to receive a refundable 100% future cruise credit plus an additional non-refundable 20% FCC bonus.

Window to use FCCs extended

Recognizing the prolonged effects of the pandemic, Celestyal is allowing travelers currently holding FCCs and those about to receive them as a result of the new recommencement date the opportunity to apply them to soon-to-be-announced 2023 itineraries in addition to 2021 and 2022 itineraries.