CELESTYAL MAJESTY TO STAY IN EUROPE FOR 2018

Following her return from several years under charter to Thomson Cruises, it had been intended that the Celestyal Majesty- currently sailing her final season as the Thomson Majesty- would be set for a substantial change of scene. After a refit and rebranding in late November, the 40,000 ton, 1400 passenger Celestyal Majesty was supposed to set sail for a new programme of year round sailings around Cuba. That plan, however, has now been scrapped.

Instead, the veteran ship- built in 1992 and now the largest in the Celestyal fleet- will re-emerge with an initial series of three and four night sailings from Piraeus to the Greek Islands and Turkey, effective as of March 25th, Three night Friday sailings will call at Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Heraklion and Santorini. The four night Monday departures will also add a full day call at Rhodes to the same ports of call.

But it's the following, seven night series of summer cruises that are really worth the extra look here. Sailing from Piraeus, the ship will spend two full days and nights in Mykonos on each cruise. There are additonal calls into Ios, Milos, and then an additional overnight stay in Santorini, before final calls at Heraklion and Kusadasi and a return to Piraeus.

The first of these cruises departs on April 30th, and sails weekly right through to a final listed round trip on October 8th, 2018. They are the only such itineraries available anywhere in the Aegean that offers overnight stays in both Mykonos and Santorini and, as such, they should be hugely popular.

Celestyal offers all shore excursions and a complimentary drinks package in with the price of these three, four and seven night itineraries. Dinner is served open seating on board, although the ship lacks the large number of alternative eateries offered on larger ships. Celestyal brands itself as an authentically local Greek cruise experience, with entertainment that complements the local and international fayre served on board.

While a very pretty ship inside and out, the Celestyal Majesty has only a handful of upper deck balcony cabins and suites. Standard inside and outside cabins are almost all on the smaller side, but all are still quite comfortable. And, with a smart casual dress code on board, the emphasis is more about the amazing local destinations being visited, rather than glamming it up on a resort style, top end luxury ship.