If you’re new to Celestyal Cruises, you’re in for a different kind of cruise experience.
For one, it prioritizes time in port over time at sea, cultural immersion over big-name stage shows, and personal touches over mass-market scale.
Celestyal Journey, the fleet’s freshly refurbished mid-sized ship, relaunched in 2023 and carries fewer than 1,300 guests.
That smaller size translates to a more relaxed pace, shorter lines, and access to ports the big ships skip. But like any cruise line with its own style and quirks, there’s a learning curve.
From navigating the ship and booking excursions to understanding Wi-Fi and dining options, these tips will help you make the most of your Celestyal Journey sailing, especially if it’s your first.
1. Understand the Ship Layout
Celestyal Journey is easy to navigate, but take time on embarkation day to explore. Make the rounds by checking out the dining venues, lounges, two pools, the thermal suite, and quiet corners around the ship. There is a space for every type of personality.
One of my favorite finds was the Horizons Lounge early in the morning—a peaceful place on the very top of the ship with amazing ocean views.
2. Leverage the Inclusive Value
The good thing about Celestyal is that your fare includes gratuities, complimentary sodas at meals, basic WiFi, and often a shore excursion credit.
Celestyal Cruises has recently launched a new digital wallet system called CelestyalPay. This system replaces the traditional beverage packages and enables guests to pre-load funds into their digital wallet to purchase both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well as specialty dining options.
3. Book Excursions Early
Celestyal often offers discounted excursion bundles, such as buy two and get one free or up to 20% off if you book in advance. Some itineraries even include excursions with the fare.
I noticed that the prices weren’t too steep, even if you are onboard and paying the walk-up rate for the shore excursions.
You are also not limited to ship-sponsored excursions; there are other companies that also sell tours. But if you go off on your own, make sure you get back to the ship on time!
4. The Room is a Place to Rest
Although the ship has been refurbished, the basic cabins do not include some modern amenities you might expect today, like big-screen TVs and USB plugs (except suites).
However, the rooms are functional and adequate for sleeping and showering. Given the port-intensive nature of these itineraries, there isn’t much time to spend in the cabin anyway.
Cabins are equipped with European-style 220V outlets. Make sure to bring a travel adapter (Type F) that includes USB ports for your charging needs.
5. Casual but Smart Dress Code
The vibe onboard is relaxed. You’ll want one nice outfit for the gala night if you like to dress up or on the themed night (Arabic or Greek), but otherwise, casual wear is acceptable.
I wore dark jeans and a blazer on the gala night and didn’t feel underdressed. The beautiful thing about this line is that it embraces that no two people have the same cruise style.
6. Arrive Early for Embarkation
You can often board by mid-morning and head straight to your cabin. After a 15-hour flight from New York, I appreciated getting into my room immediately. It gave me time to unwind and learn the ship before sailaway.
7. Enjoy Flexible Dining
Dining is open seating with no fixed times. We just approached the stand and told them how many were in our party, and we were led to a table.
Try a mix of venues, including the buffet, main dining room, and specialty restaurants like Pink Moon (South Asian), Smoked Olive (Mediterranean), and Grill Seekers (steakhouse).
Our table enjoyed the pho at Pink Moon, which reminded me of my hike in Vietnam when I lived off the dish for a week.
8. Save on Specialty Dining
Two standouts at the buffet were the lamb carving station with the house-made tzatziki and Grill Seekers Steakhouse.
9. Understand Onboard Currency and Spending
Celestyal uses Euros onboard. To avoid added charges, use a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card. My Amex worked well and even gave me real-time alerts in USD.
10. Maximize Wi-Fi Use
Wi-Fi is included for basic internet service, the streaming package costs extra and is sold in 6 gig packages.
I used a T-Mobile travel data plan instead, which worked fine in port. The ship uses Starlink, but I only tapped into it a few times since we docked daily.
11. Use a No-Fee Credit Card (Euros)
No cash is accepted on board, except in the casino. Euros are accepted for gaming, and the casino will allow you to withdraw euros from your onboard account if you wish to play.
Also, using a no-foreign-transaction-fee card will save you money on onboard purchases. I used my American Express card and was not charged any fees.
12. Engage With the Friendly Crew
Celestyal’s crew is one of its best features. Chat with them, ask for recommendations, and make connections.
Our bartenders, JD and Kevin, learned my go-to cappuccino and bottled water after just one day. In the mornings, they’d have my coffee ready in hand, and by night, they’d have a vodka soda waiting.
13. Allow Room for Spontaneity
Some of the best moments are often unplanned. On the final day, I booked a last-minute spa treatment and enjoyed relaxing in the thermal suite while everyone else was on shore.
It’s a good idea to leave some flexibility in your schedule to go with the flow. Remember, this is your vacation, so you can do whatever you like.
Our Take
Celestyal Journey offers an easygoing, destination-focused cruise experience that’s a refreshing break from the hustle of the mega-ships.
This ship is the perfect choice for cruisers who value exploration over onboard entertainment, thanks to its manageable size, friendly crew, and thoughtfully designed public spaces.
Unless you have a personal connection to the ship due to its history, it primarily serves as a means to explore destinations and lacks the flashy amenities found on modern mega ships.
Pack smart, book excursions early, and keep some flexibility in your schedule—you’ll quickly understand why so many guests become loyal fans after just one sailing.
