Celestyal Cruises Reviews 16

Cancelled our Greek Isles cruise by bulk email, less than 2 weeks from sailing. We were already on our way, with flights booked into and out of Athens, along with accommodation before boarding. A stark contrast to their own super-strict payment and cancellation terms. I operate a holiday accommodation business myself in a popular ski area and just cannot imagine the carnage I would cause if I cancelled my guests' accommodation day before they arrive. Never got a chance to experience their actual service, but never will after that. Advise people to be careful if you expect this company to actually deliver what they promise.

Very disappointed by Ceslestyal's customer service. Originally, I booked just after Christmas when prices were low, and because there were issues with my booking, by the time I was actually booked, the prices had gone up. Then Celestyal canceled my excursions and took away part of my excursion credit. It took 3 weeks and countless interactions between Celestyal and my travel agent for this to be solved.

Then they dropped the prices of the cruise that I'm going on significantly (around $600 USD) and won't refund me the difference. The only thing they suggested was that I cancel my cruise and re-book at the lower price with no guarantees of getting the same room/class. I would have been fine with that except that if I cancel, I loose 50% of what I paid because my trip is in less than 60 days. That's hardly fair.

You'd think with all the issues Clestyal is having (having to cancel cruises, their boats stuck in the Middle East) that they would try to keep their existing clients happy.

Now considering just canceling despite loosing 50% as I am losing trust in this company completely.

I went on my daughter's 40th birthday for a weeklong cruise with both our husbands and her boys ages 3 and 5. It was fantastic! The staff were kind and helpful, and charming (except one woman who was in a rush one time). I was flabbergasted by the fabulous display of decorative cakes and cookies that our well costumed cafeteria cooks put out for us! The onboard activities were fun, and the entertainment shows were excellent!!! We didn't do tours, and figured things out on our own pretty well, so I can't rate that. My "cabin boy" made different animals out of my swimming towels every day... my grandkids were delighted to see the creations because their "cabin boy" didn't do that. I studied art and am sensitive to decoration, so I was impressed by the lovely diversity of the decoration in the common arias, restaurants, lounges, etc. I had a wonderful time, and if I cruise again I would would like to be on the same ship with the same crew. The only way it could have been better would have been if all the drinks were free!

This cruise was a complete disappointment from start to finish, and honestly, it felt like a scam.

First, our cabin was unbearably cold — stuck at 19°C — and even though we reported it right away, no one came to fix it. When we followed up, we were brushed off. We ended up spending the whole cruise freezing in an uncomfortable, poorly furnished cabin.

When we asked for compensation, the staff didn’t apologize or try to make things right — instead, they accused us of smoking on the balcony, claimed they had “evidence,” and even brought crew members to confront us. It felt like they were looking for excuses not to take responsibility for their own failures.

Even the deck experience was frustrating. On the first day, there were sunbeds with comfortable mattresses, but by the next day, all the mattresses were removed. We were given one ridiculous excuse after another (“wind,” “deck cleaning”) even when it was clearly not true.

The prices on board felt like another scam. Drinks were outrageously expensive, with no option to buy a package, and they add an automatic 18% service fee to every single drink purchase. It felt like being nickel-and-dimed constantly.

Most importantly, we never felt like valued guests. Instead of relaxing on holiday, we felt like we were there for the staff — not the other way around. The attitude and service made us feel unwelcome and unimportant.

Overall, between the freezing cabin, dishonest excuses, rude treatment, overpriced drinks, and the feeling that we were not respected as guests, this entire cruise was a nightmare. I will never sail with this company again and strongly warn others to think twice before booking.

We are currently on the celestyal journey 2025, we have experienced old style tendering where queues are horrendous, and rude staff that have no people skills. If you have not booked on one of their excursions, they treat you like second class citizens and you get different info as to wait for a later tender, then get told off you are in wrong area each time. We have cancelled many tours as it takes hours to get off ship when tendering is needed, as we have missed the times of tours start times.
I have been on many cruise lines over my life time and can confirm this ship is working in the 90s regarding embarking,disembarking , tendering .process.

I am currently on the Celestyal Journey and I cannot in good faith recommend this cruise to anyone following behind me. I so wanted to give this cruise a 5 star rating but they have been so bad that they barely deserve a 2 star.

I booked this cruise almost a year ago and selected all my excursions almost a year ago, only to get on board to find out due to computer problem they have deleted all my tours. To come all the way from Canada to this is simply unacceptable.

Day one no tour, day 2 tour sold out. As for the rest of the tours the slotted me in where possible. When I complained I was told they are sorry but there is nothing they can do…I can have a 15% discount on my tours…except I already had a 15% when I booked the tours.

Essentially they will do nothing except offer an empty apology. Oh well it starts, I just booked another Greek cruise for December, this time on Viking.

Oh and if you go on Celestyal be prepared to be nickel and dimed, for example a beer in your room fridge 6 euros same beer alongside at store 1 euro. There are lots of cruise lines folks, choose carefully.

Just got back from our 3rd cruise with The Cellestryal Journey cruise ship...this time we cruised the United Emirates. The staff on this ship are like one big happy family and that's just how they treat you too... As soon as we board everyone just remembers you from you last visit and always makes you feel very special.

The cabins are very spacious and has more than adequate drawers cupboards and wardrobes. The beds are very large and really comfortable .

There are various restaurants all serving excellent food with lots of choices, There is a different show on the the theatre every night and are spectacular... and the entertainment in al the different bars includes magic shows, singers and quiz nights.

We just love the staff to name a few, Tessa, Zdenek. Ricardo, Richard, Roy. Rafael, Jany, Irene.Vladimir, far tgo many to mention but all contributed to us having a fabulous time .

We can't wait for our new trip and the fabulous "Journey"

It’s my first cruise 🚢 experience with celestyal & it did not disappoint. It is an amazing 4 days of sailing ⛵️ from Kusadasi to Greece 🇬🇷 and I cannot thank you enough for all the staff & crew who gave us a wonderful above & beyond experience. The food is the main highlight for me & the on-board entertainment was pretty fun & new experience for everyone. Will be back 🔜 💯

I haven't been on any cruise yet, just booked it, but I can see that the support you get after paying is rubbish
.
To start with, they seem to be clueless about the off shore day trips you can book. Calling them takes you nowhere, they provide no useful information. It's almost as if they don't want to sell you anything.

But what's got me worried is that I paid the deposit and they gave me a date to pay the rest. Only a few hours later, they send me an email saying that I have 48h to pay the full amount. This is a really sneaky move and I haven't been able to sort it out yet.

Right now i have no confidence in this company and even if I clarify the above, I don't think I will ever book anything else with them.

Very disappointed with the booking process. Contacted them re a particular cruise & was provided with brochure including it. Contacted agent to book as part of a package but they said they couldn’t book the cruise as it wasn’t available. So went back to Celestyal who tell me just 3 days after the previous contact that they’ve updated their brochure & the cruise is now only going to run for 1 date in the whole year, 8 months before the date we wanted!
Why not say 3 days before that the cruise wasn’t confirmed & that the brochure was being reviewed. Has completely put me off ever booking any cruise with this company. Clearly unreliable

I have a trip booked that basically goes down the Gaza Strip. In light of recent events I enquired about cancellation, as I am very wary of even being close to this area, and my balance is due to be paid soon.
There are only 2 ports I wanted to go on this cruise for and both these have been changed on November cruises - so again, not interested in the other destinations and would prefer to cancel.
The response I received (via my travel agent) was that 2 port changes were a minor change and, therefore, I would lose my deposit.
I'm sorry but despite the fact I don't think 2 port changes are minor anyway, the 2 major ports on this cruise definitely does not signify a minor change.
I was booked to go to St Petersburg with another cruise company when the Russia/Ukraine war started and only 1 port was changed and was immediately able to cancel altogether.
I will deliberately avoid booking with this cruise line in future as life is unexpected and you never know what is going to happen and I feel really, really let down in this instance - I can't afford to lose the deposit so am now being forced to travel close to a war zone instead of being, at least, able to swap to a different cruise with the same line.