Cruise Talk: Celestyal Odyssey

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.

>>> Reader Reviews
>>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery
>>> Join Our Cruise Club.

Latest News...Fun is on the move and as part of Carnival Cruise Line’s 2027/28 deployment, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Spirit will homeport in Galveston for the first time, joining Carnival Breeze and Carnival Jubilee. The lineup of newly available sailings, ranging from quick four-day getaways to extended Carnival Journeys cruises, continues the cruise line’s commitment to delivering unmatched...

Latest News...This week, Royal Caribbean celebrated an iconic milestone for a new iconic vacation*. The keel-laying ceremony for the fourth addition to the Icon Class lineup took place at the Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku to mark the start of the ship’s physical construction. The new ship is officially underway and will continue to take shape over the next two years for its 2027 debut...

Latest News...Cunard will bring Come from Away — the Tony Award and Oliver Award-winning show — to sea for the first time ever in an exclusive production in collaboration with Music Theatre International. The highly anticipated revival during Queen Elizabeth's maiden Caribbean voyage on October 16, 2025, comes as the heartwarming production celebrates 10 years since its debut....

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Celestyal Odyssey

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Celestyal Odyssey

ahrpd
First Class Passenger
Member # 6229

posted 06-14-2015 06:02 AM

Celestyal Odyssey sailed on her inaugural cruise last Monday on a 4-day cruise after being brought into service by Louis remarkably quickly since the start of her charter from the German bank which owns the former Explorer of Semester at Sea. I was one of only 90 multi-national passengers who first boarded in Lavrion (with which Louis has a preferential berthing arrangement) and another 350 (it would appear mostly Spanish speaking) joined at Kusadasi the following day. The ship was therefore less than half full and it just perhaps has made me see everything through rose-tinted glasses.

Everything vastly surpassed my expectations but I suspect I will have felt differently had the ship been full. Service was outstanding as was the predominantly Greek food. Some refurbishment of the vessel is required most notably of the aft decking and the Night Club.

Louis are going to great lengths to re-position themselves as THE Greek cruise line (albeit with Cypriot roots) and I wish them every success with their Celestyal re-branding! From what I have seen, they are doing the right things!

I have uploaded a large selection of pics of both her interiors and of other ships seen on this cruise on my Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/50194818@N05/

Best

Tony

Posts: 948 | From: gibraltar | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 06-15-2015 03:34 PM

Superb photos

She looks good. Love the photos at Patmos especially. I watched Celestyal Odyssey depart Piraeus on 1 June and wondered why I could only see a handful of people aboard. Didn't realise she wasn't yet sailing.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

ahrpd
First Class Passenger
Member # 6229

posted 06-15-2015 03:53 PM

Thanks Pam!

CO sailed on two shakedown cruises with Louis/Celestyal shore staff and then undertook a charter before starting commercial service on 8 June. When you saw her in Piraeus on 1 June, that was her last call there for the foreseeable future as she is either based out of Lavrion or Izmir for the rest of the summer season.

Best

Tony

Posts: 948 | From: gibraltar | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 06-15-2015 05:40 PM

Thanks.. she looked good anyway, even if she did cross right across the harbour before turning, sending the tug rushing around to her bow

You can't tell on these small pics but there are about 4 people on the stern decks. One looks as if he's wearing a chef's hat and another looks like a waiter.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Aussie1
First Class Passenger
Member # 25

posted 06-15-2015 09:56 PM

What speed does the ship travel at now given she was originally built to bolt around the Med at 26 knots?

Posts: 493 | From: Sydney,NSW, Australia | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

ahrpd
First Class Passenger
Member # 6229

posted 06-16-2015 09:06 AM

16 to 17 knots is the most she does now to meet the demands of her present schedule.

Best

Tony

Posts: 948 | From: gibraltar | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

RANGERVR6178
First Class Passenger
Member # 3946

posted 06-20-2015 05:04 PM

Thank you for sharing! I haven't posted in years, but your review compelled me to chime back in.

I sailed on the MV Explorer during her time with Semester at Sea. I am surprised by seeing your pictures as to how much remains exactly the same as it was before becoming the Odyssey. Especially seeing the world maps on the wall in each room!

Thank you again, glad to see she has a new home in the Med!

Posts: 243 | From: Sarasota, Florida | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

cruisemole
First Class Passenger
Member # 2459

posted 06-26-2015 03:44 AM

Shockingly poor name though.

Posts: 343 | From: dear ol'blighty | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

Neil - Ex P & O & PRINCESS CRUISES
First Class Passenger
Member # 5641

posted 06-26-2015 07:19 AM

Email Neil - Ex P & O & PRINCESS CRUISES

No worse than some other cruise ship names these days.

Posts: 2355 | From: Dunstable, Bedfordshire. 30 miles north of London | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...