Celestyal Cruises has announced an impressive wave of bookings that have exceeded expectations for its inaugural winter program in the Western Mediterranean, which officially went on sale on July 1. This winter, the Celestyal Discovery will serve as the flagship vessel, homeporting in Tarragona and offering seven-night voyages that will start from Barcelona and lead travelers to Lisbon. The cruise itinerary includes enticing stops at notable destinations such as Málaga, Gibraltar, Casablanca, Cádiz, Tangier, Valencia, Palma, and Sète. While the 2026-27 winter season will feature a limited number of sailings, a more extensive lineup is set to be launched in the 2027-28 season. Moreover, the Celestyal Journey is set to make its debut in winter operations during the 2027-28 season with routes connecting Athens to Istanbul.
During a recent media briefing, John Diorio, vice president and managing director for North America, expressed the company's satisfaction with the promising bookings for its winter program, highlighting that the itineraries went on sale approximately five months ahead of the first departures scheduled for December. This shift in focus comes after the cruise line adjusted its plans from what was initially intended to be a two-ship operation in the Middle East. Diorio proudly stated that the booking numbers are "way ahead of our expectations" following the first two months of sales, with particularly strong demand for the repositioning sailings.
The Celestyal Discovery will embark on voyages that begin in Barcelona, with one itinerary calling at popular ports such as Malaga, Gibraltar, Casablanca, and Cadiz, while another route will visit Tangier, Valencia, Palma, and Sète. Notably, both sailings will include an overnight stay on the first night at their turnaround port, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in the local culture. These sailings can also be combined into a 14-night itinerary without any duplicate port calls, offering a seamless travel experience. Additionally, the season will be framed by repositioning voyages between Athens and Barcelona.
According to Diorio, while the winter 2026-27 season will feature a limited number of sailings, the full Western Mediterranean season is poised for an exciting opening in the winter of 2027-28. A significant addition to the lineup is the Celestyal Journey, which will operate its winter itineraries for the first time in 2027-28. This vessel will offer seven-night cruises from Athens to Istanbul, including an overnight stop in Alexandria and visits to Cyprus and Rhodes. The return voyage from Istanbul will cover Thessaloniki, Volos, Kusadasi, and Crete, creating a diverse and engaging travel experience. The two segments can be combined into a remarkable 14-night Three Continents Explorer, featuring round-trip journeys from Athens with overnight stays in Alexandria, Istanbul, and Athens itself.
As reported by dataportuaria.com.
