Celestyal Cruises

Last updated

Celestyal Cruises
Company type Privately held company
Industry Hospitality Travel Tourism
FounderLouis Group [1]
HeadquartersPiraeus, Athens, Greece
Area served
Greece Greek Islands Turkey Eastern Mediterranean
Key people
David Noyes - Chairman [2]

Chris Theophilides - CEO [3] George Koumpenas - COO [4] Lee Haslett - CCO [5] Marios Theodosiou - CFO [6]

Eduardo Aranda - CSTO

Contents

[7]
Products Cruise ships
Parent Searchlight Capital [8]
Website https://celestyal.com

Celestyal Cruises (formed in 2014 [9] ) is a succession to Louis Cruises and Louis Cruise Lines. The Cruise line was a subsidiary of Louis plc (founded in 1935 as the first travel agency in Cyprus) until November 2021 when Searchlight Capital Partners took a majority share within the Cruise Line. [10]

Celestyal Cruises has two cruise ships: [11] the MS Celestyal Discovery and the MS Celestyal Journey. The cruise line operates out of Athens, Greece [12] offering itineraries on a 3,4- and 7-night basis [13] around the Greek islands, Turkey, and the Eastern Mediterranean. It is reported that it carried 115,000 guests in 2019. [14] Celestyal Cruises operated for six years in Cuba until 2018 [15] [16] and historically chartered ships to Marella Cruises, previously Thomson Cruises. [17] [18] [19]

History

Celestyal Cruises

In September 2014, Louis Cruises rebranded itself as Celestyal Cruises. [20] [21] It is a subsidiary of Louis plc, founded in 1935 as the first travel agency in Cyprus.

2015

Celestyal renovated some of its fleet in 2015. 43 new balconies were added to Celestyal Crystal, and 227 outside cabins, 21 junior suites, and nine suites were refurbished on Celestyal Olympia. [22] [23] [24] The former is used for cruises in Cuba and Greece, [25] [26] [27] and the latter travels in Greece. [28] [29]

2016

Celestyal imposed a short-term pause in July in calls at Turkish ports in the wake of the failed coup there. [30]

In October, it was announced that Celestyal Cruises CEO, Kyriakos Anastassiadis, would become Chairman of Cruise Lines International Association Europe with effect from January 2017. [31]

2017

In May, Celestyal launched its redesigned website which was designed to include cruise information as well as company news and details for its value program, Celestyal Inclusive Experience. [32] [33] [34]

Celestyal began a partnership with Hays Travel in September to expand its customer base across the UK, making its cruises available through Hays Tour Operating Limited. [35] Celestyal has also partnered with Air Canada Vacations, Transat, Hola Sun Holidays, Apple Vacations, [36] Iglu and Planet Cruise. [37]

In late 2017, Celestyal announced that it would be extending its cruise season in Greece to 10 months, including seven-night Aegean cruises with overnight destinations in Mykonos and Santorini, [38] [39] and that its 2019 Greek islands itineraries leaving from Piraeus, would have longer stays with more destinations, included Mykonos, Samos or Kusadasi, Patmos, Heraklion (Crete), Rhodes and Santorini. [40] [39] [41] [42] Louis Cruises would add their Majesty to the Celestyal fleet in Greece for Aegean cruises in 2018, [43] [44] [45] [46] when its charter to Marella Cruises, previously Thomson Cruises, had ended [47] though in July 2018, the ship was sold to the Israeli company Mano Maritime. [48]

2018

In January, Celestyal decided to pull out of Cuba after five seasons, citing the company's need to focus on the growing demand coming from its Greek operation. [15]

In June, Chris Theophilides succeeded Kyriakos Anastasiadis as the Celestyal's CEO, [49] and in August Capt. George Koumpenas was promoted to Chief Operating Officer and Leslie Peden to Chief Commercial Officer. [50] The company announced in December 2018 that it was targeting a 21 percent growth in guest numbers from 108,000 in 2018 to a targeted number of 130,000 guests in 2019. [51]

2019

Celestyal announced April that it would be extending its 2020 season with a new winter itinerary for Celestyal Olympia, with a six-week season in the Adriatic homeporting at Venice from December 2020. [52]

2020

In January 2020, Celestyal Cruises president Kostakis Loizou was honoured for his significant contribution to the Greek cruise industry during the annual general assembly of the Association of Cruise Ship Owners and Maritime Agencies (EEKFN). [53] In February Theophilides revealed that the cruise line's estimated contribution to the Greek economy for 2014-2018 had reached €102.5 million annually. He noted that €28m was in direct operating expenditure and €4.1m to Greek food and beverage suppliers. [54]

In November, Celestyal Cruises announced it had completed a brand refresh with a new logo and strapline - Experience Life, Experience the Journey. The new look brand would debut on its new flagship Celestyal Experience. Peter Economides, owner and founder of brand creator Felix BNI said, "We wanted to capture the Greek DNA through the Greek love of life and to express it in a modernized interpretation of the brand design." [55]

The cruise programme was severely disrupted in 2020 and 2021 by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021

In January 2021 Celestyal Cruises entered a new partnership with Versonix Systems to provide its Seaware booking platform to the cruise line. It was said that Versonix was chosen due to Seaware's enhanced revenue management and customer relationship management capabilities. [56]

Celestyal announced in October that it would return to cruising on March 14, 2022 with its offering of 3 and 4-night cruises followed by 7-night cruises on April 30, [57] and the following month said that Thessaloniki would be added as a homeport for its Idyllic Aegean itinerary. [58]

In November, Searchlight Capital Partners bought a majority stake in Celestyal Cruises. Louis plc, Celestyal's Cypriot parent, said that Searchlight, which had an asset portfolio valued at $6bn, would immediately provide an initial tranche of €30m ($33.8) in senior debt financing to the Piraeus-based cruise company, together with a €10m revolving credit facility. The agreement also provided for additional funding of up to €30m to support development plans. Louis would spin off Celestyal into a separate limited partnership company, Celestyal Holdings, in which Searchlight will hold a 60% stake. [59]

Louis Cruises (1982 - 2014)

COVID-19 Pandemic

As a consequence of the pandemic, Celestyal Cruises suspended all cruises from 13 March 2020, [71] and it was later decided to extend the suspension until 6 March 2021, due to the ongoing uncertainty about travelling to Europe that summer. [72]

Celestyal resumed cruises in June 2021 with its Idyllic Aegean itinerary. [12] Celestyal Cruises put Celestyal Olympia into operation as a second ship in June 2021 with a new itinerary - Legendary Archipelago, visiting Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, Agios Nikolaos and Rhodes as well as Limassol in Cyprus. [73] In August Celestyal announced that it would stop cruises at the end of August 2021 and suspend its autumn and winter seasons due to the increasing number of travel restrictions. [74]

In October 2021, Celestyal Cruises announced that it would restart cruiss on March 14 of 2022 with their offering of 3 and 4-night cruises followed by 7-night cruises on April 30, 2022. [75]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Celestyal Cruises acquired the former Costa neoRomantica from Costa Cruises, and the vessel was renamed Celestyal Experience in August of that year. A year later, the company said, "due to the prolonged effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided not to increase the size of Celestyal Cruises’ fleet at this time and will instead continue to operate the cruise ships Celestyal Olympia and Celestyal Crystal which served the company’s needs well prior to the pandemic. In addition, the sale [of Celestyal Experience] is expected to further support the liquidity of Celestyal Cruises." [76] The ship was renamed Antares Experience by new owners, but sent for scrapping in November 2021. [77]

Awards

At the 2015 Greek Tourism Awards, Celestyal received four awards, one of which was the Gold Award for Themed Events. It also received two Silver Awards and one Bronze Award. The following year, it won the Cruise Line Revelation Award at the Excellence Awards in Cartagena, Spain. [78] Celestyal received the Best Value Cruise Line of 2016 at Cruise Critic UK Editors' Picks Awards, [79] as well as four Greek Tourism Awards in 2016. [80]

Also in 2017, Celestyal received five top Critic Cruiser's Choice Awards, [81] as well as five awards at the Greek Tourism Awards. [82]

Cruise Critic Awards

In December 2017, Cruise Critic UK Editors' Picks Awards recognized Celestyal with Best for Service. [83] [84] Marella Spirit also received three Cruise Critic UK Editors' Picks Awards. [85]

Cruise Critic UK Editors’ Picks Award in December 2018 awarded Celestyal Cruises for Best for Service and received four Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards: two first-place awards (for Shore Excursions and Value) and two second-place awards (for Service and Entertainment). [86]

In December 2019 Cruise Critic’s 11th UK Editors’ Picks Awarded Celestyal Cruises Best for Service 2019. [87]

MedCruise Awards

In August 2020, Celestyal Cruises was awarded first prize at the MedCruise Awards 2020 for its solidarity initiatives amid the pandemic and its commitment to develop the cruise sector in the Eastern Mediterranean. [88]

TV Coverage

Cruising with Jane McDonald

Celestyal was featured in the final episode of the second season of Jane McDonald's Channel 5 show, Cruising with Jane McDonald in 2017. [89] McDonald went on a Cuban cruise that stopped in Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba and Montego Bay, Jamaica with an overnight in Havana. [90] [91]

In January 2019 it was announced that Cruising with Jane new series would feature Celestyal's Idyllic Aegean Cruise featuring the Greek Islands. [92]

Music Videos

In June 2017, Greek urban pop band "REC" were onboard Celestyal Olympiato shoot the summer scenes of its new video clip entitled "A heart on the sand". [93]

Fleet

Current Ships

ShipFlagBuiltEntered Service Gross tonnage NotesImage
Celestyal Journey Civil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta 1994202355,819  GT Ex-Ryndam with Holland America Line Celestyal Journey.png
Celestyal Discovery Civil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta 2003202442,289  GT Ex-AIDAaura with AIDA Cruises Celestyal Discovery.jpg

Former Fleet

ShipBuiltBuilderIn service
with Celestyal Cruises
Gross tonnage FlagNotesImage
Celestyal Olympia 1982 Wärtsilä Hietalahti Helsinki, Finland 2005, 2012 - 202337,584  GT Civil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta Kusadasi (3) (cropped).JPG
Celestyal Crystal 1992 Wärtsilä Marine/Kvaerner Masa-Yards 2007–202325,611 tonsCivil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta Celestyal Crystal en La Habana.jpg
Celestyal Experience [94] [95] [96] 1993 Fincantieri 2020-2021 (Never entered service)56,769 tonsCivil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta Ex-Costa neoRomantica. The ship was bought from Costa Cruises, joined in August 2020, but was sold one year later. [97] It was sold for scrap in 2021 by the next owner. [98] [99] Costa neoRomantica (14334658799).jpg
Majesty 1992 Wärtsilä Marine/Kvaerner Masa-Yards 2008–201840,876 tonsCivil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta Now named MS Crown Iris for Mano Maritime. Louis Majesty Rhodes.jpg
Celestyal Odyssey 2000 Blohm + Voss 2015–201624,318 tonsCivil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta Now named MV Glory Sea for Diamond Cruises. Explorer IMG 9891 (14351764521).jpg
Celestyal Nefeli 1992 Unión Naval de Levante  [ es ]2016–201719,093 tonsCivil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta Now named Gemini for Blue World Voyages. Gemini 2011 (cropped).jpg
Marella Spirit 1983 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 2002–200333,930 tonsCivil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta It was chartered to Marella Cruises until 2018; previously Thomson Spirit, Patriot, Spirit, and Nieuw Amsterdam. Sold for scrap at Alang under the name Mare S in 2018 ThomsonSpirit.jpg
Princesa Marissa 1966 Hietalahti shipyard 1987–200810,487 tonsFlag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Previously named Prisessan and Finnhansa. Scrapped at Alang under the name Prince in 2008. MS Princesa Marissa on 2004-05-27.jpg
Princesa Amorosa 1956 Harland & Wolff 1994–2002 ? tonsFlag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Previously named Scottish Coast, Galaxias and pink. Scrapped at Alang under the name Rosa in 2002.
Louis Aura 1968 AG Weser 2006–201715,781 tonsCivil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta Previously named Starward, Bolero, Orient Queen and Aegean Queen. Scrapped at Alang under the name Aegean in 2018. Louis Aura in Tallinn Bay 13 June 2015.JPG
Sea Diamond 1986 Vuosaari shipyard 2006–200721,484 tonsFlag of Greece.svg  Greece Previously named Birka Princess. Sank near Santorini on 2007. Sea Diamond and Sky Wonder (Sea Diamond).jpg
Sapphire 1965 Cantieri Navale Felszegi 1996–201212,263 tonsCivil Ensign of Malta.svg  Malta Previously named Italia for Costa Crociere sold for scrap at Alang under the name Aspire in 2012. Sapphire in Malaga, Spain.jpg
Princessa Victoria 1936 Harland & Wolff 1994–200415,007 tonsFlag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Previously named Dunnottar Castle, sold for scrap at Alang under the name Victoria in 2004. Princesa Victoria Cyprus 1994 (51844392636).jpg
Princessa Cypria 1965 Cantieri Navali del Torrino e Riuniti S.P.A. Riva Trigoso Genova 1988–2005 ? tonsFlag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Previously named Princess Marghethe, sold for scrap at Alang under the name Princes in 2005. "Poseidonia" - Eleusis, 2004.jpg
The Emerald 1957 Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock 1996–201226,431 tonsFlag of Greece.svg  Greece Previously named Santa Rosa. Sold for scrap at Alang in 2012. The Emerald in Eleusis, Greece on June 9, 2010.jpg
Ausonia 1956 Cantieri Riuniti dell' Adriatico 1998–200611,879 tonsFlag of Greece.svg  Greece Previously named Ausonia. Sold for scrap at Alang under the name Winner 5 in 2006. "Ivory" - Eleusis, 2008.jpg
Serenade 1956 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 1999–200814,173 tonsCivil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Previously named Jean Mermoz. Sold for scrap at Alang under the name Serena in 2008. Patmos2005 (cropped).jpg
The Calypso 1967 Fincantieri 2000–201311,162 tonsFlag of Greece.svg  Greece Previously named Canguro Verde. Sold for scrap at Alang under the name Caly in 2013. The Calypso cruise ship at Rhodes, Greece 2008.jpeg
Perla/The Aegean Queen 1971 Cantiere navale di Riva Trigoso 2004–200816,710 tonsFlag of Greece.svg  Greece Previously named MS Southward. Sold for scrap at Aliağa, Turkey in 2013. "Southward" - Miami, 1986 (cropped).JPG
Coral 1971De Rotterdamsche Droogdok, Rotterdam, Netherlands 2004–201314,194 tonsFlag of Greece.svg  Greece Previously named Cunard Adventurer. Sold for scrap at Alang under the name Cora in 2014. GOLDEN HORN ISTANBUL TURKEY JULY 2011 (6017563126).jpg
Aquamarine 1970 Hietalahti shipyard 2005–201018,346 tonsFlag of Greece.svg  Greece Previously named Nordic Prince. Sold for scrap at Alang, India in 2014. [100] MV Aquamarine off Patmos (cropped).jpg
Ruby 1974 Navali Mechaniche Affini, La Spezia, Italy 2007–200717,593 tonsFlag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Previously named Cunard Countess, after named Ocean Countess. Sold for scrap at Aliağa, Turkey in 2014. Ocean Countess 2009 Quail Cruises.JPG

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Caribbean International</span> Norwegian–American cruise line

Royal Caribbean International (RCI), previously known as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), is a cruise line brand founded in 1968 in Norway and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group since 1997. Based in Miami, Florida, it is the largest cruise line by revenue and second largest by passengers counts. In 2018, Royal Caribbean International controlled 19.2% of the worldwide cruise market by passengers and 14.0% by revenue. As of January 2024, the line operates 28 ships and has three additional ships on order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celebrity Cruises</span> Cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida, US

Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida and a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. Celebrity Cruises was founded in 1988 by the Greece-based Chandris Group, and merged with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 1997. Celebrity's signature logo is an "Χ" displayed on the funnel of Celebrity ships, and is the Greek letter chi, for "Chandris".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norwegian Cruise Line</span> American cruise line

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), also known in short as Norwegian, is an American cruise line founded in Norway in 1966, incorporated in Bermuda and headquartered in Miami. It is the fourth-largest cruise line in the world by passengers, controlling about 8.6% of the total worldwide share of the cruise market by passengers as of 2021. It is wholly owned by parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swan Hellenic</span> British cruise line

Swan Hellenic is a British cruise line specialising in expedition tours of historical or cultural interest aimed at the upper end of the cruise market. Swan Hellenic was first established as Swan's Tours in the 1950s as a tour operator carrying guests to historic sites, providing enrichment throughout their trips. In 1983, Swan Hellenic was acquired by P&O and became a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc in 2003, but it ended operations in 2007 after Carnival discontinued the brand. Shortly after, All Leisure Holidays Group purchased and revived Swan Hellenic, but ended its operations in 2017. G Adventures acquired the brand later that year and planned to revive it for a second time in 2018, but sold the brand to a private group in 2020, which plans to resume Swan Hellenic's operations with its first-ever new-build ship in 2021.

<i>Celestyal Crystal</i> Cruise ship

Celestyal Crystal is a cruise ship, operated between 2007 and 2023 by the Cyprus-based Louis Group's Louis Cruise Lines and Celestyal Cruises. The ship was originally built as the cruiseferry Viking Saga in the 1980 at Wärtsilä Perno Shipyard and Turku Shipyard, Turku, Finland for Rederi Ab Sally. In 1986 she was renamed Sally Albatross, and rebuilt into a cruise ship the following year. The ship was destroyed by a fire in 1990, and completely rebuilt at Finnyards, Rauma, Finland. She was re-delivered in 1992, still named Sally Albatross. After partially sinking 1994 she was rebuilt at Industrie Navali Meccaniche Affini, La Spezia, Italy, re-entering service as Leeward for Norwegian Cruise Line. Subsequently she sailed as SuperStar Taurus for Star Cruises, Silja Opera for Silja Line. After being temporarily renamed Opera she was in service with Louis Group as Louis Cristal and later Celestyal Crystal.

<i>Empress of the Seas</i> Cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International

Empress is a cruise ship owned by Cordelia Cruises, an Indian cruise line. She is the sole ship of her class. She entered service with then-Royal Caribbean International in 1990, transferred to Pullmantur Cruises in 2008, and then returned to Royal Caribbean International in 2016. In December 2020, she was retired from the Royal Caribbean fleet and sold to Cordelia Cruises.

MS <i>Crown Iris</i>

The MS Crown Iris is a cruise ship owned by Mano Maritime. She was originally ordered by Birka Line as MS Birka Queen from the Wärtsilä Marine Turku Shipyard in Finland, but completed by Kvaerner Masa-Yards as MS Royal Majesty for Majesty Cruise Line. In 1997 she was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line as MS Norwegian Majesty and lengthened by 33.76 m at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. She was sold to Louis Cruises as MS Louis Majesty from 2008 to 2012 when she was chartered to Thomson Cruises as MS Thomson Majesty before being returned to Louis Cruises/Celestyal Cruises, as the Majesty. In 2018 the ship was sold to Mano Maritime.

<i>Celestyal Journey</i> Cruise ship launched in 1994

Celestyal Journey is a cruise ship completed in 1994 and initially sailed for Holland America Line as Ryndam. After nine years she was transferred within the Carnival group to P&O Cruises Australia and renamed Pacific Aria. Plans that she would sail for Cruise & Maritime Voyages as Ida Pfeiffer from 2021 were abandoned, and P&O sold her instead in 2020 to Seajets, who laid her up as Aegean Goddess. In 2023 she was resold to Celestyal Cruises and renamed Celestyal Journey. In December 2023, the Celestyal Journey was chartered by German-based cruise line, Phoenix Reisen. The ship was then used for the first section of the company's world voyage, which was originally intended for MS Amera, one of Phoenix Reisen's other ships, who was held up at the shipyard.

MS <i>Veendam</i> Cruise ship

MS Veendam is a cruise ship operated by Holland America Line from 1996 to 2020 and named after the municipality of Veendam in the Netherlands. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the vessel was sold to Seajets, Greece, renamed Aegean Majesty, and has remained laid up.

<i>Costa neoRomantica</i> Cruise ship

The MS Costa neoRomantica was a cruise ship completed for Costa Cruises in 1993 by Fincantieri in Italy as Costa Romantica, and a sister ship to Costa Classica. She was refurbished in 2003, renamed Costa neoRomantica in 2011, and from 2017 assigned to the Asian market. The ship was sold in 2020 to Celestyal Cruises as Celestyal Experience. She never operated for Celestyal and was sold again and renamed Antares Experience in September 2021, then beached for demolition at Gadani, Pakistan in December 2021.

Villa Vie Odyssey Cruise ship

Odyssey is a cruise ship, most recently operating with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. During her Cunard ownership, she was marketed as Cunard Crown Dynasty, but her official name remained Crown Dynasty. The vessel was handed over to Villa Vie Residences in February 2024 with more than 70% of cabins sold.

Pullmantur Cruises was a cruise line headquartered in Madrid, Spain. It began operations in the late 1990s as an offshoot of the Madrid-based travel agency Pullmantur. In 2006, Pullmantur Cruises, through its parent company, was purchased by U.S.-based Royal Caribbean Group, but Royal Caribbean later sold a 51% stake in the cruise line to Spain-based investment firm Springwater Capital, retaining a 49% stake.

MS <i>Celestyal Olympia</i> Cruise ship

MS Celestyal Olympia is a cruise ship owned by the Cyprus-based Celestyal Cruises, formerly Louis Cruise Lines. In April 2012 she was named Louis Olympia after operating as the Thomson Destiny for Thomson Cruises. She was built in 1982 at Wärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard in Helsinki, Finland for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as MS Song of America. Between 1999 and 2004 she sailed for Sun Cruises as MS Sunbird. She was previously under charter to the United Kingdom-based Thomson Cruises until April 2012 as the MS Thomson Destiny. She has since sailed for Louis Cruises as MS Louis Olympia, and as MS Celestyal Olympia since 2014.

MV <i>Gemini</i> Cruise ship built in 1992

MV Gemini is a cruise ship operated by Miray Cruises since 2019. She was built in 1992 by Unión Naval de Levante, Valencia, Spain for Crown Cruise Line as Crown Jewel. She has also sailed under the name Cunard Crown Jewel. She also operated as SuperStar Gemini for Star Cruises from 1995 to 2008.

<i>Azamara Pursuit</i> Cruise ship

Azamara Pursuit is a cruise ship operating for Azamara Club Cruises. The ship was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique at their shipyard in St. Nazaire, France in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marella Cruises</span> British cruise line

Marella Cruises is a British cruise line operated by TUI UK, offering cruise holidays around Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia.

MV <i>Aegean Odyssey</i> Cruise ship

MV Aegean Odyssey is a cruise ship owned and operated by Voyages to Antiquity, a one-ship cruise company established in 2009. Built as a ferry in 1973, it was converted to a cruise ship in 1988, and substantially rebuilt in 2010.

MS <i>Marella Spirit</i>

MS Marella Spirit was a cruise ship owned by Holland America Line and operated under charter by the United Kingdom-based Marella Cruises. She was built in 1983 at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in France for Holland America Line as MS Nieuw Amsterdam. Between 2000 and 2001 she sailed for United States Lines, a subsidiary of American Classic Voyages, as MS Patriot. In 2002 she returned under Holland America Line ownership and reverted to the name Nieuw Amsterdam, but was not used in active service. During the same year she was chartered to Louis Cruise Lines, who in turn sub-chartered the ship to Thomson Cruises, with whom she entered service under MS Thomson Spirit in 2003.

<i>Norwegian Getaway</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Getaway is a cruise ship of the Norwegian Cruise Line. It was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and was delivered to its owner on 10 January 2014. At the time of its christening it was the world's ninth-largest cruise ship with a passenger capacity of 3,969 and a crew of 1,640.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miray Cruises</span> Turkish cruise line

Miray International Cruises & Management is a Turkish cruise line operator. After operating ships for other companies, Miray began operating its own cruises in 2021. In 2023 the company offered an unusual three-year, round-the-world cruise called "Life at Sea", but it was cancelled less than two weeks before the scheduled departure.

References

  1. "Company Profile: Louis Group".
  2. "Celestyal Cruises appoints former Carnival boss as non-executive chairman". 17 March 2022.
  3. "New CEO at Celestyal Cruises". 8 May 2018.
  4. "Celestyal Cruises Announces Promotions and Appointments in Key Markets". 26 September 2018.
  5. "Lee Haslett joins Celestyal Cruises as global chief commercial officer". 19 January 2023.
  6. "Celestyal Cruises promotes two Senior Executives and announces new appointments in key markets". 26 September 2018.
  7. "Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer". 16 November 2023.
  8. "Searchlight Capital Partners takes majority stake in Celestyal Cruises".
  9. "Louis Cruises to Launch New Brand: Celestyal Cruises". 6 August 2014.
  10. "Celestyal Cruises set for expansion with private equity investment".
  11. "Celestyal Cruises is selling its newest ship, Celestyal Experience (**updated**)". 3 September 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Celestyal Cruises Resumes Operations from Piraeus Port". 16 June 2021.
  13. "Celestyal announces 2022/23 itineraries, includes Celestyal Experience debut". 19 May 2021.
  14. "Interview with Chris Theophilides,CEO of Greece's Celestyal Cruises". 4 March 2020.
  15. 1 2 "Celestyal Cruises Pulls out of Cuba". 30 January 2018.
  16. "Celestyal Cruises Reports Cuba Is Running Smoothly". Caribbean News Digital. 10 July 2017.
  17. Bond, Mary (6 July 2017). "Thomson Spirit to stay for another year 'due to popular demand'". Seatrade .
  18. Shawn Dake (6 March 2012). "Louis And Thomson Swap Majesty For Destiny". Maritime Matters.
  19. Soo Kim (10 October 2017). "Thomson Cruises rebrands as 'Marella' and announces string of new sailings to Asia". Telegraph.
  20. "Louis Cruises launches a new brand: Celestyal Cruises". Travel Daily News. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  21. "Σε Ευρώπη και Κίνα στοχεύει η Celestyal Cruises" (in Greek). Insider.gr. 15 December 2017.
  22. "Greek Island Hopping With Celestyal Cruises – A Great Way To See Ports Large And Small". Trip 101. 12 May 2017.
  23. "Celestyal Cruises Fleet Undergoes Refurbishment". Ships Monthly. 2 December 2015.
  24. "Cruise ship tours: Celestyal Cruises' Celestyal Crystal". USA Today.
  25. Major, Brian (1 October 2017). "A Cuba Cruise Apart". TravelPulse .
  26. Linda Garrison (29 August 2017). "Cuba Cruise on the Celestyal Crystal". Trip Savvy.
  27. "Celestyal Announces 2018 'Idylic Aegean' Cruise Itinerary". GTP. 27 October 2017.
  28. Adam Leposa (24 July 2017). "Aftershocks Hit Kos, Greece; No Cruise Changes Yet". Travel Agent Central.
  29. Tatiana Rokou (9 June 2017). "Celestyal Cruises' Greek Summer Festival begins June 2017". Travel Daily News.
  30. "Turkey's failed coup throws more uncertainty into Eastern Med cruising". 19 July 2016.
  31. "Celestyal Cruises' CEO takes the Helm at CLIA Europe". 20 October 2016.
  32. James Shillinglaw (30 May 2017). "Insider Cruise Report: Silversea Group Sales, Celestyal's New Website, Carnival's Studios, MSC Cirque Shows, Holland America to Mexico". Insider Travel Report. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  33. "New Celestyal website enhances content, eases bookings". Seatrade Cruise News. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  34. Tom Stieghorst (29 May 2017). "Celestyal Cruises upgrades site". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  35. Phil Davies (12 September 2017). "Hays Travel unveils exclusive Celestyal Cruises partnership". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  36. Gay Nagle Myers (23 January 2017). "Apple Vacations to offer Cuba cruises on Celestyal ship". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  37. Harry Kemble (8 November 2017). "Celestyal Cruises aims for 10,000 more UK passengers in next two years". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  38. "Celestyal Cruises to Extend 2018 Season with New Ports of Call, Adding Overnights". Cruise Critic. 25 October 2017.
  39. 1 2 "Celestyal Cruises verlängert Ägäis-Saison" (in German). Touristik Aktuell. 19 December 2017.
  40. "Celestyal Cruises announces 2019 Greek islands itineraries". Seatrade Cruise News. 15 November 2017.
  41. "Celestyal Cruises präsentiert die Ägäis-Saison 2019" (in German). Cruise 4 News.
  42. "Celestyal Focuses on Greek Market, Aims to Offer Year Round Cruises". GTP. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  43. "Le M/V Majesty rejoint la flotte de Celestyal Cruises en Grèce" (in French). Tour Magazine. 20 December 2017.
  44. Vincent Groizeleau (22 December 2017). "Celestyal Cruises va exploiter le Majesty, au moins momentanément" (in French). Mer et Marine.
  45. "Le M/V Majesty rejoint la flotte de Celestyal Cruises sur les croisières en Grèce" (in French). Le Quotidien du Tourisme. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  46. "Celestyal Cruises 'En İyi Hizmet Ödülü'ne layık görüldü" (in German). Deniz Haber Ajansi. 15 December 2017.
  47. "Celestyal Expands Aegean Program, Cuba Goes Seasonal". Cruise Industry News. 24 November 2017.
  48. "Louis: Πώληση πλοίου από θυγατρική" (in Greek). louisgroup.com. 26 July 2018. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  49. "Celestyal Cruises Welcomes Chris Theophilides as New CEO". 7 May 2018.
  50. "Celestyal promotes pair of senior executives". 6 August 2018.
  51. "Celestyal Cruises Targets 21% Guest Growth for Greece in 2019". 4 December 2018.
  52. "Celestyal Announces 2020 Adriatic Program". 10 April 2019.
  53. "Celestyal Head Honored for Supporting Greece's Cruise Tourism". 14 January 2020.
  54. "Interview with Chris Theophilides,CEO of Greece's Celestyal Cruises". 4 March 2020.
  55. "Celestyal Experience first in fleet to carry new Celestyal Cruises logo". 16 November 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  56. "Celestyal Cruise Partners with Versonix Seaware". 26 January 2021.
  57. "Celestyal Returns to Year-Round Cruising in 2022". 11 October 2021.
  58. "Greece says cruise and winter city breaks key to recovery".
  59. "Searchlight Capital takes majority stake in Celestyal Cruises | TradeWinds". 29 November 2021.
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Douglas Newman (7 October 2007). "Cruise Ship Reviews > Louis Cruise Lines". Cruise Critic. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  61. Micke Asklander. "M/S Finnhansa (1966)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  62. 1 2 Newman, Doug (7 May 2008). "Louis Sells Princesa Marissa and Serenade; Buys Thomson Destiny and Thomson Spirit". At Sea with Doug Newman. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  63. Micke Asklander. "M/S Sally Albatross (1992)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  64. "Cruise Ship News: Aegean Shuffle". Maritime Matters. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 25 December 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
  65. "Cruises from Greece". Louis Cruise Lines. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2008.
  66. "Louis acquires Norwegian Dream and Majesty". Cruise Business Review. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. 23 April 2008. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  67. "No Dream for Louis Cruises". Cruise Business Review. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.[ dead link ]
  68. "Majesty to replace Destiny in Thomson Cruises' fleet". 6 March 2012. Archived from the original on 16 April 2012.
  69. "Louis And Thomson Swap Majesty For Destiny | MaritimeMatters | Cruise ship news and ocean liner history". maritimematters.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012.
  70. "Louis Cruises to rename Thomson Destiny as Louis Olympia". cruisebusiness.com.
  71. "COVID19: Celestyal extend cruise suspension to June 29". FinancialMirror. 16 April 2020.
  72. "Celestyal Cruises voluntarily extends suspension of cruise operations until 2021". Celestyal Cruises. 30 June 2020..
  73. "Celestyal Adds Second Ship to Deployment This Summer". 8 April 2021.
  74. "Celestyal will Complete Summer Cruises as Planned, Resume Operation in March 2022". 2 August 2021.
  75. "Celestyal Returns to Year-Round Cruising in 2022". 11 October 2021.
  76. "Celestyal Sells Celestyal Experience". 3 September 2021.
  77. "Former Costa Cruise Ship is Beached for Scrapping in Pakistan". 4 December 2021. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  78. Deborah Stone (4 March 2016). "Celestyal Cruises offers 800 activities and events in its real Greece itineraries". Express. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  79. "Celestyal Named 'Best Value Cruise Line of 2016' by Cruise Critic". GTP. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  80. "Celestyal Cruises Announces New Season in the Aegean and New Destinations". The Cruise Editor. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  81. "Celestyal Cruises receives top 2017 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards". Ships Ahoy. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  82. "Celestyal Cruises Wins Big at the Tourism Awards 2017". GTP. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  83. "Top Cruise Ships of 2017 Named by Cruise Critic". Markets Insider. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  84. "Celestyal Cruises" (in Greek). In.gr. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  85. "2017 Cruisers' Choice Awards". Cruse Critic. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  86. "Celestyal Cruises". 12 December 2019.
  87. "Celestyal Honored for its Prime Services at 11th UK Editors' Picks Awards 2019". 18 December 2019.
  88. "Celestyal Cruises Honored at MedCruise Awards 2020". 2 September 2020.
  89. "Celestyal Cruises to Feature Again in "Cruising with Jane McDonald"". Cruise Critic. 25 October 2017.
  90. "Jane McDonald Cruises Cuba with Celestyal Cruises". World of Cruising Magazine. 22 September 2017.
  91. "Channel 5 Confirms Third Series of 'Cruising with Jane McDonald'". Cruise Critic. 4 October 2017.
  92. "Next Series of "Cruising with Jane McDonald" to Feature Celestyal Cruises in Greece".
  93. "Celestyal Olympia 'Stars' in Music Video". 12 June 2017.
  94. "Our Ships: Delestyal Experience". celestyal.com. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  95. "Our Ships: Delestyal Experience". celestyal.com. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  96. "Cruise Results".
  97. "Celestyal Purchases Costa neoRomantica". Cruise Industry News. 16 July 2020.
  98. "Weekly Vessel Scrapping Report: 2021 Week 42". Ship & Bunker. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  99. "Antares Experience beached At Gadani". YouTube.com. Gadani Ship Breaking. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  100. "Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Nordic Prince" . Retrieved 4 July 2021.