The evening light was just right. Sailing through the long, narrow, fjord-like Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, the graceful 1,260-passenger Celestyal Journey slipped through azure waters, splashed with the amber hues of sunset. Rugged mountains ringed the scene. We passed Our Lady of the Rocks, a domed church on a tiny island. This, after a busy day, felt like the perfect time to slip back to my stateroom and glide into an early sleep.
But a dance party was just beginning. As a song struck up, a couple dozen guests gathered on deck around the stern-side pool, linked arms and gave it their best. Balkan beats thrummed in an Adriatic wonderland — as I was quickly realizing, this was just another night onboard Celestyal Journey.
Sailing with Celestyal, a two-ship line born in Athens, is definitely a different experience than cruising onboard bigger ships. Its vessels are smaller, itineraries are port-rich and destination-focused, and everything is geared toward local experiences.
Here’s everything to know about sailing with the boutique Greek line on its brand-new Adriatic itinerary: the seven-night Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia voyage.
Onboard Accommodations
When Celestyal put Journey back into service in 2023 following a $20 million retrofit, the line renovated and refreshed all staterooms and suites. (A further $6.8 million revamp was completed earlier this year.) Weighing in at 55,820 tons, Journey offers five stateroom categories, all decorated in a calming, sea-blue palette.
Staterooms onboard Celestyal Journey reflect a recent $20 million renovation that included enhancements to all staterooms and suites. (Photo Credit: Celestyal Cruises)
Every cabin includes a television, a telephone, ample storage, USB ports and a hair dryer, among other conveniences. The smallest room, an Interior Cosmos Cabin, includes 183 square feet of space, which is relatively large for entry-level accommodations. On the other end of the spectrum, the decadent Stargazer Penthouse Suite offers 1,140 square feet of space, a dressing room, a jetted tub and an ultra-roomy balcony area.
Dining Options
Journey features seven dining venues, which were also overhauled during the ship’s recent renovations. Thalassa Restaurant operates as the main dining room, serving a seated breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its Greek items are always a highlight, and guests will want to grab a table near the big, bright windows at the back of the room. The Taverna, a casual buffet, offers a wide variety of options, including a varying nightly theme during dinnertime.
Pan-Asian venue Pink Moon is one of three onboard specialty restaurants. Here, clients will find everything from Vietnamese pho to Thai tom yum udon noodles. At specialty venue Grill Seekers, meanwhile, steak lovers can dig into rib eye, sirloin, T-bone, picanha and more, along with fresh seafood specialties such as sea bass, lobster tail and jumbo shrimp. The third specialty dining option, Smoked Olive, offers a variety of pizza and pasta favorites.
Public Areas
While I feel that the ship is secondary to the destination during a Celestyal cruise, guest spaces are fresh and comfortable. Amenities include two swimming pools — one of which features a retractable glass roof — a coffee shop, a casino, a fitness center and a spa.
There are several bars and lounges onboard Celestyal Journey. (Photo Credit: Celestyal Cruises)
Bars and restaurants offer a varied experience, from the intimate so-called “Monkey Bar” (hidden between Smoked Olive and Pink Moon) to the bustling late-night Horizons Lounge & Disco. Instead of a traditional drinks package, the line offers CelestyalPay, which is essentially a prepaid tab.
Entertainment
Journey’s singers, dancers and acrobats just might be the hardest-working performers at sea, staging a different show every night in the main Amphitheatro Show Lounge. These include a compilation of ABBA songs, a cabaret show and more. Don’t expect Broadway production values, but the energetic performances are definitely a lot of fun.
Itineraries
The Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia voyage sails roundtrip from the Port of Piraeus near Athens. It’s a destination-intensive itinerary, with no sea days and long stays in port. Calls include Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Bari, Italy; and Corfu and Katakolo in Greece. Since visiting smaller ports is a priority for Celestyal, Journey also stops in Kefalonia, Greece, a less-visited and relatively pristine destination that doesn’t feel overtouristed.
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By Tim Johnson
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