Cruise News

Celestyal Discovery Sets Sail on First Cruise Following Extensive Renovation

The newly acquired and refurbished Celestyal Discovery left for its inaugural voyage last week. Its multi-million dollar overhaul led to a new livery, revitalized common areas, and renovated staterooms.

Celestyal Discoverty top view — Celestyal Discovery (Photo courtesy of Celestyal Cruises)

The ship’s exteriors were upgraded with the Celestyal logo, including the brand’s signature stars, a unique funnel design, and an eye-catching blue wave on its hull.

Inside, the staterooms and social spaces have been refreshed. It now has a new coffee shop, a pizzeria, and the Discovery Lounge.

During its maiden voyage as part of Celestyal cruise line, it welcomed 1,100 passengers onboard. A 3-night itinerary took guests to Mykonos, Santorini, and Patmos Island in Greece, as well as Kusadasi, Turkey.

Together with a 4-night cruise that adds a port call in Rhodes, the 3-night journey is available for March to November 2024 sailings.

Captain Panagiotis Giakoumatos led the ship as it departed from Lavrion, Athens. Celestyal’s leadership team, including CEO Chris Theophilides, was also there to celebrate the Discovery’s first voyage.

Looking back on the milestone, he said, “We were delighted to welcome 1,100 guests onboard our newest ship, Celestyal Discovery, this weekend. We have successfully refreshed our fleet in under a year, staying true to our commitment to invest in our customer experience… It’s an extremely exciting time for us as we continue to expand as a global brand, and we look forward to more developments over the coming year.”

A Brief History of Celestyal Discovery

Celestyal Discovery side view — Celestyal Discovery (Photo courtesy of Celestyal Cruises)

Built in 2003, Celestyal Discovery was acquired by Celestyal from Carnival Corporation’s AIDA Cruises in November 2023. A few months ago, it joined Celestyal Journey in Athens for a major refurbishment that cost the cruise company millions of dollars.

As a midsized vessel, it can offer more unique and secluded destinations that are inaccessible to larger ships. The Discovery can accommodate 1,266 guests and has 633 staterooms, a swimming pool, 7 bars, 4 restaurants, and a spa.