Celestyal Cruises Reviews

They cancelled our Greek islands cruise via a mass email sent less than two weeks before departure. We'd already made travel plans to Athens with flights booked in and out, plus we had accommodation reserved before we were supposed to board. This is totally hypocritical considering how strict their own payment and cancellation policies are. We never did get to experience what they actually offer onboard, and at this point we never will. My advice to anyone considering them is to be cautious because they don't seem to stand behind what they sell. Their cancellation without proper notice shows a serious lack of consideration for customers who've made travel arrangements based on their itinerary.

I'm really unhappy with how Celestyal handled my booking and everything that followed. I booked right after the holidays when prices dropped, but complications with my reservation meant by the time it was finalized, I paid more than the original quote. Then Celestyal cancelled my excursions and reduced my excursion credits. It took nearly three weeks and tons of back and forth with both Celestyal and my travel agent to get it sorted. Since then they've dropped the price on my actual cruise by about 600 dollars and refuse to honor the difference. Their suggestion was to cancel and rebook at the new rate with no promise I'd get the same cabin type. That would normally be fine, but cancelling this close to departure means I forfeit half my payment. That's really frustrating. With all the problems Celestyal's been having lately, you'd think they'd work harder to keep loyal customers satisfied. I'm seriously considering just cancelling even knowing I'll lose half my money, since I've lost confidence in this company.

What an amazing celebration! My family joined my daughter to mark her 40th, and we spent a full week aboard with our husbands and her young children. The experience was truly special. The crew went out of their way to help and made us feel welcome, though one staff member seemed rushed during one interaction. I was absolutely amazed at the incredible selection of decorated cakes and pastries that the kitchen staff prepared and displayed so beautifully. The activities kept us entertained throughout the week, and the nightly shows were top notch. We skipped the organized excursions and managed fine exploring on our own, so I can't speak to that aspect. Our room attendant created adorable towel animals each morning, which the younger kids absolutely loved since that wasn't happening in their cabin. As someone who studied art, I was really struck by how thoughtfully the ship was decorated throughout, especially the dining areas and lounges. It was a wonderful experience overall, and I'd definitely sail with this same crew again. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been complimentary beverages throughout.

This cruise turned out to be a total disaster and honestly felt like a rip off. The cabin was freezing cold at 19 degrees the entire time. We reported it immediately but nobody fixed it, and when we followed up we got nowhere. We spent the week shivering in a cramped, uncomfortable space. When we asked about getting something done about it, the staff didn't apologize or offer any solutions. Instead they accused us of smoking on the balcony, claimed they had proof, and sent crew members to confront us. It seemed like they were trying to shift blame rather than fix their own problems. Even on deck it was frustrating. The first day there were nice sunbeds with cushioning, but the next day all the mattresses were gone. Every excuse they gave us was clearly nonsense like wind or cleaning when it obviously wasn't true. The pricing on the ship felt like another con. Drinks cost a fortune with no bundling options, and they automatically tack an 18 percent service charge onto every drink. It felt like constant nickel and diming at every turn. The whole thing left us feeling disrespected and unvalued as customers.

We're aboard the Celestyal Journey this year and it's been disappointing. The tendering process is outdated and the lines to get off the ship are massive. The staff shows a real lack of courtesy and people skills. If you didn't book their excursions, they treat you like second rate passengers and give you different instructions like waiting for a later tender time, then get irritated when you're in the wrong area. We've had to cancel several tours because it takes forever to disembark during tendering and we miss the scheduled start times. I've sailed many different cruise lines over the years and this ship is operating like it's still the 1990s when it comes to how they manage boarding, disembarking, and tendering procedures.

I'm on the Celestyal Journey right now and honestly, I can't recommend this ship to anyone else. I wanted to give it five stars, but the service has been so poor that two stars feels generous. A year ago I reserved this cruise and booked all my shore excursions early, but a computer glitch wiped out my entire reservation. Traveling from Canada to find out my tours were deleted is just unacceptable. First day I had nothing scheduled, second day the excursion was already full. For the remaining tours, they squeezed me in where they had space. When I complained, I got an apology but was told there was nothing they could offer except a 15% discount, which is exactly what I already had when I originally booked. Basically, they refuse to actually fix anything. I'm frustrated enough that I've already booked another Greek vacation this December, but I'm going with Viking instead. One more heads up, if you sail on Celestyal, expect high markups on everything. A beer from the cabin minibar costs 6 euros while the same one in the shop goes for 1 euro. There are plenty of other cruise options out there, so choose wisely.

Just returned from my third trip on the Celestyal Journey, and this time we explored the United Arab Emirates. The staff on this ship truly feels like one big family and treats you that way. From the moment you step aboard, the crew remembers you from previous visits and makes you feel genuinely special. The cabins are generous in size with plenty of storage space including good closet capacity. The beds are large and comfortable. You'll find multiple dining venues throughout the ship offering great quality food and tons of selections. Every night there's a different show in the theater and they're always outstanding. The entertainment at the various lounges features magicians, live singers, and trivia contests. We absolutely adore so many staff members including Tessa, Zdenek, Ricardo, Richard, Roy, Rafael, Jany, Irene, and Vladimir among many others who all made our trip fantastic. We're looking forward to our upcoming voyage and another wonderful experience aboard the Journey.

My first time cruising was with Celestyal and it exceeded expectations. The four day journey sailing from Turkey to Greece was fantastic, and I have to give major props to the crew and staff who went above and beyond throughout the trip. The standout for me was definitely the food quality and variety. The shows and onboard entertainment were also fresh and fun, and everyone in our group had a great time experiencing it all. We're definitely coming back to cruise with them again!

I haven't sailed yet, but based on the post-booking experience so far, I'm really concerned. Their customer support after you've paid feels inadequate. First, they seem confused about the shore excursions available for booking. Calling for information gets you nowhere since the staff doesn't have answers or seem interested in helping you purchase anything. That's worrying enough, but here's what really bothered me: I made a deposit and they gave me a deadline for the remaining balance. Hours later I got an email saying I actually have only 48 hours to pay in full. That feels deceptive and I haven't been able to get clarity on it. At this point I'm losing confidence in Celestyal, and even if I can resolve this issue, I won't be booking with them again. Their approach to customer service needs a serious overhaul.

The whole booking experience left me frustrated. I called about a specific cruise and they sent me their brochure featuring it. I contacted an agent to reserve it as part of a package deal, but they said they couldn't book it because it wasn't available. When I followed up directly with Celestyal, they told me three days later that they'd updated their brochure and now that cruise only runs one date per year, eight months before when I wanted to go. Why not mention three days earlier that the cruise wasn't confirmed and the brochure was being updated? This has completely turned me off from ever attempting to book a cruise with this company. They seem unreliable and disorganized.