Celestyal Cruises Ships Compared – The Best Ships For Greek Isles Cruises?

Without a doubt, one of the most unique cruise experiences I’ve ever had was when I sailed with Celestyal Cruises.

Smaller ships, unique ports, and a totally relaxed vibe. I loved it!

But what are their ships really like — and is smaller always better when it comes to cruising?

There are just two ships in the fleet

Celestyal Cruises currently has two ships. The ships have all been purchased from other cruise lines and refitted to meet the needs of the Celestyal passenger – none have been custom-built for the cruise line.

Here’s a quick look at the two ships that make up the entire fleet:

Ship	Built	Joined the Celestyal Cruises fleet	Gross Tonnage	Passenger Capacity	Length	Number of decks
Celestyal Journey	1994	2023	55,819 GT	1,260	719 feet	12
Celestyal Discovery	2003	2024	42,289 GT	1,266	665 feet	12

1. Celestyal Journey

Joining the fleet in September 2023, Celestyal Journey offers an exciting range of experiences without losing that intimate, relaxing feel that Celestyal is known for.

History

Celestyal Journey is another ship with a long history. She began life as the MS Ryndam for Holland America Line, launching in 1994 and remaining with the cruise line for 21 years of excellent service.

She then joined the P&O Cruises Australia brand as Pacific Aria, before being sold to Cruise & Maritime Voyages.

Before she could debut as the Ida Pfeiffer for the cruise line, it went into administration, and so she instead was sold to Seajets, sailing as Aegean Goddess for three years before joining Celestyal Cruises.

Accommodation

Celestyal Journey offers a range of accommodation options, including Interior and Exterior rooms that sleep between 2 and 4 guests.

There are three categories of Suite on the ship – the Junior Suite, Grand Suite, and a Stargazer Suite which is the largest accommodation option in the fleet.

Dining

One of the biggest advantages to choosing Celestyal Journey is the wide choice of dining options on the ship. Main restaurant choices include the Thalassa Restaurant, the Grill Seekers surf and turf restaurant, and the Greek Deli snack bar. There’s also The Taverna buffet to enjoy.

Guests can also indulge at Pink Moon which offers South Asian cuisine, and Smoked Olive for more flavours of the Mediterranean. The Chef’s Table is the ultimate venue for special occasions. These restaurants do have an additional charge.

Bars & Lounges

Celestyal Journey hosts an increased number of bars and lounges compared to the older ships in the fleet that have since departed. The centrepiece is the Amphiteatro Show Lounge where live performances bring every night of the cruise to life.

There are three symposiums on the ship too, if you want to enjoy fantastic musical performances, along with the returning favourite Horizons lounge and disco. Other venues include The Grill lounge (just outside the speciality restaurant), the Ocean bar, Helios bar and the Martini Piano bar.

Things to do

In terms of daytime activities, Celestyal Cruises sticks to what it knows with Celestyal Journey – guests can look forward to relaxing spa treatments (the spa is much bigger than on the older ships), outdoor sports, shopping and photography. The outdoor pool has a retractable roof too, so can be used in all weather.

There is a casino, and there’s also an expanded kid’s area with an arcade to help keep younger guests entertained.

Destinations

Celestyal Journey offers a range of itineraries, primarily from 7 nights and up. Some longer celebration cruises will be available around major holidays.

You’ll be able to enjoy Greek Island cruises, but also sailings to the Middle East, with the ship sailing from Doha and Dubai.

2. Celestyal Discovery

Celestyal Discovery is a more recent addition to the fleet, having joined in 2024. She’s also a newer ship than Celestyal Journey too, having been built in 2003.

History

The history of Celestyal Discovery is a little more straight forward than some other ships that have graced the fleet in the past.

She began life as the AIDAaura sailing for German cruise line AIDA Cruises, and she completed 20 years of service for that cruise line following her launch in 2003.

AIDA Cruises then announced that the ship was decommissioned, and Miray Cruises reportedly tried to buy the ship for their Life At Sea Cruises round-the-world sailing, with the ship due to be renamed Lara.

That fell through, and so in 2023 the ship was acquired by Celestyal ahead of a 2024 launch as Celestyal Discovery.

Accommodation

There are four different cabin options on Celestyal Discovery, starting with the Interior Cosmos Cabins and Exterior Cosmos Cabins with an ocean view.

Balcony Cosmos Cabins are a little larger with their private balcony space, while there are Grand Dream Suites if you want something more lavish, with a jet tub and access to VIP spaces onboard.

If you’re travelling as a family, you’ll want to avoid the Balcony options as they sleep a maximum of 2 guests only. Interior and Suite options sleep up to 3, while the Exterior cabins sleep up to 4.

Dining

You’ve got some great dining options available on Celestyal Discovery – you certainly won’t get bored.

The main restaurant is Thalassa, a grill that serves a mix of chargrilled dishes and freshly caught seafood. There’s also The Taverna, which is the ship’s buffet – stocked with a wide range of cuisine options.

The Greek Deli is the ship’s main snack option, with the Greek-style bagels being a particular highlight. And there’s Grill Seekers, a surf-and-turf restaurant that you’ll also find on Celestyal Journey.

Bars & Lounges

There is a fantastic selection of bars and lounges on Celestyal Discovery, with a venue to suit every mood.

Feeling classy? Head to Grapevine for a wine recommendation, or sip on signature cocktails at the Martini Bar & Lounge.

Prefer something a little more casual and sweet? Fig & Honey offers juices and gelatos along with indulgent milkshakes and other treats.

And if you want to party the night away, check out the AFTer Disco Bar & Lounge, or take in a performance at the Amphitheatro Show Lounge.

Things to do

In terms of activities, Celestyal Discovery offers the same experience as Celestyal Journey. Expect to be able to relax by the pool or burn off some calories playing outdoor sports or in the onboard gym. You can then soothe the aches of activity away with a relaxing treatment in the spa.

There’s a casino, along with duty-free shops and a photography studio to help you capture the memories of your cruise.

Destinations

Celestyal Discovery tends to focus more on shorter cruises – still visiting the Greek Islands around the Aegean Sea and the Middle East, but with cruises typically lasting 3 or 4 nights.

Final word

The ships in the Celestyal Cruises fleet are all fantastically maintained despite their age, and offer a wonderful cruise experience.

Both Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery offer a range of well-appointed accommodations, some great dining venues, and plenty of bars and activities to keep you busy – as if the itineraries won’t be enough!

Journey has a couple more dining options, but you won’t feel like you’re missing out if you choose Discovery. Your choice between the ships will likely just come down to whether you prefer the longer sailings that Journey offers, or the short trips available on Discovery.

Related Posts:

• 14 Things To Love About Celestyal Cruises
• Celestyal Cruises to Greece: What To Expect
• Celestyal Cruises Review