Celestyal Cruises

The final morning on the Celestyal Crystal came all too soon. The seven-day cruise whizzed by with so many excursions and activities that I barely found enough time to sleep. Reflecting back on the islands toured, the photos taken, and history lessons learned, my head and heart burst with joyful memories. I’d sign on and recommend this cruise for anyone wishing to capture the spirit of the Greek isles. The disembarkation process was a breeze.  Our luggage …

Read moreFinal Review of Celestyal’s 7-Day Idyllic Aegean Cruise

The 7-Day Aegean Islands Cruise on the Celestyal Crystal gives passengers the option of a daylong exploration of Patmos, an island in Greece with early Christian relics, or a half-day in Kudasasi, Turkey with the opportunity to see the archeological wonders at Ephesus. The ancient world made Ephesus a center of travel and commerce. For a little over an hour, the UNESCO World Heritage site became the center of my world. The Greeks originally built Ephesus in …

Read moreA Stop at Ephesus in Turkey

Many first-time visitors to mainland Europe are amazed to see cathedrals still in use after 800-1000 years.  But Greece takes visitors much further back in time. The home of the mythological gods lies scattered with a wealth of ruins and relics dating back 3,000-4,000 years. The Greek island of Crete had one of the earliest civilizations dating back to the Bronze Age. The Minoan settlement employed skilled workers who built complex architectural marvels and created intricate artistic …

Read moreA Brief Visit to the Glories of Crete (Day 5)

You’ve seen the classic images of Santorini: a cluster of whitewashed terraced houses clinging to high crimson cliffs – – highlighted by marine blue church domes. Spectacular sunsets, black sand beaches, and legends of the lost continent of Atlantis add dramatic color and mystery to an already full palate. The volcanic island’s wow factor just has to be seen and experienced in person. Celestyal’s 7-Day Idyllic Aegean cruise offers two full days to explore Santorini – more …

Read moreSpectacular Santorini

Milos, Greece lures travelers in many ways: few crowds, a variety of noteworthy attractions, yummy cuisine, and friendly people. This lesser-known volcanic island in the Aegean lies at the southwestern tip of the Cyclades group. It proved one of my great travel discoveries, with its mysterious landscape, incredible beaches, and very sport where a 19th-century farmer unearthed the famous Venus de Milo (s) statue. Somehow the “s” has been lost beyond the shores of its island namesake. …

Read moreMany Treasures on Magnificent Milos

Before our cruise on the Celestyal Crystal began, we signed on for a tour of Delos. Reaching the tiny, uninhabited island requires a circuitous route, starting with a shuttle to Chora, the main town of Mykonos, followed by a walk around the harbor to the ferryboat dock. Then, you hop on board the ferry and make the half-hour cruise to Delos. (You pass the famous Mykonos windmills in the distance.) Delos, one of Greece’s most important archaeological …

Read moreMythology and Archaeology on Delos

Celestyal Cruise’s 7-Day Idyllic Aegean Island cruise departs and returns from Piraeus (near Athens) on Mondays. This week-long itinerary, new in 2018, differs from Celestyal’s 3 and 4-day cruises. The Celestyal Crystal, a medium size cruise liner with a maximum of 1,200 passengers, spends an overnight in both Mykonos and Santorini. Boarding begins at 2 pm; however, we arrived later, at 4:00 pm. That time slot worked out beautifully. We passed through the pre-boarding rituals in a …

Read moreDiscovering the Celestyal Crystal on Embarkation Day

We flew into Athens the day before our Celestyal cruise embarkation to eliminate last minute flight worries. The added time gave us the chance to explore Greece’s capital. No sooner than we checked into the ideally located Airotel (Hotel) Parthenon, John and I left to explore the Acropolis, looming over the city center. The view reminded me of Edinburgh, Scotland where Castle Rock dominates the skyline. We began the gradual climb up the craggy limestone hill, a …

Read morePre-Cruise: Scaling the Acropolis in Athens