Greek Island Hopping On The Iconic Aegean Cruise: Detailed Celestyal Cruise Review

Dreaming of doing one of the cruises around Greek islands?

That’s exactly what I did when I went cruising the Aegean with Celestyal Cruises.

I took the Iconic Aegean Cruise, a 5-day trip that hops between some of Greece’s most beautiful destinations. From the white-washed villages of Mykonos and Santorini, quaint hilltop villages of Patmos, and awe-inspiring ruins of Knossos and Ephesus and more.

Add in crystal clear waters, delicious local cuisine, and top-class hospitality, and you’ve got the makings of the perfect vacation. Find out everything in my full Celestyal Cruise review.

Vibrant blue and red crafts, bags, and pillows are displayed in shops in Mykonos — _{^{Shops in Mykonos}}

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The Celestyal Experience: My Detailed Celestyal Cruise Review

My 4 night cruise from Athens was on board Celestyal Olympia. Celestyal Cruises offer a whole range of options to cruise Greek Isles. I was on the one called Iconic Aegean Cruise.

The route formed a loop, departing from Athens to the Greek islands, and then back again. This was my first cruise experience and to say I was excited would be an understatement with wide-eyed wonder, to visit places that had been on my travel bucket list for eons.

Aegean Islands Cruise Stops

Mykonos
Kusadasi (Turkey)
Patmos
Rhodes
Crete
Laviron (Athens)

The Olympia, Celestyal Cruise ship at the middle of the sea — _{^{The Olympia, Celestyal Cruise Ship}}

I’ve partnered with Celestyal Cruises to bring you this travel guide. This article is based on the destinations and experiences I took part in. All views and opinions are my own.

Facilities Onboard the Celestyal Cruise Ship

Celestyal cruise ships aren’t the biggest vessels you’ll find, which means if you’re a regular to cruises, don’t compare them to the super-size ships you’ll get in places like the Caribbean.

That said, there was no lack of facilities on board! And it was still big enough for me to lose my bearing on more than one occasion. Thankfully, there’s a Celestyal Crystal deck plan in the foyer on every level which I had to look pretty much every time I wanted to go anywhere – as my first cruise, it felt like a big ship!

Dining Facilities

There were two main dining areas on board. The main one is on Deck 4, and a smaller less-formal one is on Deck 9. These both offered buffet-style menus. You could also have the a la carte menu on Deck 9.

I tried a variety of meals from the buffet selection as well as the menu. Both were excellent in terms of variety and quality – even for a vegetarian!

As part of the dining experience, you could also have house wine included with your meal as well as soft drinks and water. I had the premium-level drinks package which also included things like prosecco, premium wines, spirits, and cocktails – and yes, I took full advantage of this!

If you’re celebrating a special occasion or want something a little bit different, then I would recommend opting for the 6-course Greek Table Experience at least once during your time on the cruise.

The boat runs a cashless system. Every time you order something your keycard gets swiped. At dinner, this is used to authorise any drinks you want. If you have a drinks package, they only get registered, but without charge.

If you don’t have a drink package, then any drinks you order during your stay get billed to this card and you pay the balance on the final day.

Food served at Dining on the Celestyal Cruise with a cashless payment system — _{^{Dining on Celestyal Cruises, and the Cashless Payment System}}

📖 Read More: Things To Know Before Your First Cruise

Bars

Wanting to make the most of my premium drink package, I made a point of trying out all the bars on board – at least a few times each! There are seven to choose from.

Opening times for each of them vary, although my two favourite ones were either Horizon Bar on Deck 12 during the daytime, which was unarguably the best viewing spot on the ship.

I also spent a decent amount of time in Eclipse Bar on Deck 7. This is where I ended up most evenings as it had musicians and singers, lots of seating, and was next to the Theatre, which I would have been in before.

Swimming Pool and Helios Bar above the cruise ship — ^{_{Swimming Pool, Helios Bar and Horizons Bar Above}}

Excursions

At each stop, there were options for three different excursions. They each had a different focus. I opted for ones that either did a walking tour or a ruin site.

You’re not obliged to go with a tour, and if you prefer, you can get off at the port and do your own thing or opt to stay on the ship and use the facilities there.

Tours need to be booked in advance. You’ll be able to pick up a brochure which gives details of everything on offer and there are bundle discounts for multiple bookings.

Every excursion uses knowledgeable local guides and makes use of Whispers – a device you wear around your neck, with a headphone attached.

Because I wanted to see so much, I did one excursion at every stop, I really enjoyed every one of the excursions.

However, doing all of them can feel quite rushed. I was often getting back from one excursion, eating, and trying to cram in an afternoon activity on board before heading off on to another excursion.

If I was doing this exact trip again, I’d probably limit myself to just one excursion a day to allow for a little more downtime. However, the FOMO kept getting the better of me!

The cruise ship, Celestyal Olympia, is parked at the shore — ^{_{Early Morning Excursion at Kusadasi, Turkey}}

Entertainment

Each day has a fully packed schedule of things to do, which is great if you don’t feel like getting off the ship.

There’s a pool on the top deck, as well as a gym if you want to work off all the delicious food you’ve been eating.

You’ll also be given a daily paper that lists everything happening.

Activities range from kids’ games clubs, minigolf, dance lessons, cooking demonstrations, bingo, fitness, karaoke, and even language lessons! I joined the Greek dance class which proved to be a lot of fun!

In the evening, the highlight is the Theatre. Every night is a different show based on a different theme. Expect acrobatics, singers, dancers, and glorious costumes.

Lots of the bars also have live music throughout the day and night, don’t miss the disco pumping out a range of dance floor classics late night.

People on the cruise take part in daytime dance classes — ^{_{Take part in daytime dance classes…}}

I am taking a selfie with a glass of champagne, with the sea and mountains as the background — ^{_{…or use your downtime to relax}}

Pampering

If you’re after relaxation, then there’s an onsite spa. This offers various beauty treatments as well as massage.

You’ll also find a range of shops selling everything from souvenirs, bags, watches, clothing, and snacks (just in case you’re hungry!)

Cabins Onboard Celestyal Cruises Ships

During my 5 day Greek Island cruise, I stayed in a twin cabin with a sea view.

The rooms were clean and homely. Twice a day the housekeeping team brought fresh towels and toiletries. I often came back to my room to find an elephant, flower, or rabbit folded towel sitting on my bed which added a fun touch.

The rooms were well equipped and had plenty of storage space, as well as a hairdryer, safe, and TV which all made for a very comfortable cruise for 4 nights.

Two beds in one room on the Olympia — _{^{Twin Cabin on the Olympia}}

Clean and white bathroom at my cabin on Olympia — ^{_{Bathroom in my cabin}}

Staff

Every one of the Celestyal staff I met was outstanding in every way possible.

During my time on the cruise, I was really looked after. Even if I try to find a little fault, I just can’t – this was some of the best customer service I’ve ever had and it really gave a VIP feel to my first cruise experience.

The restaurant staff were always ready to greet our group and the bar staff even remembered what my favourite cocktail was – an Old Fashioned if anyone’s asking – although maybe their remembering my drink was more of a reflection on me, spending far too many late evenings there!

Overall, I was incredibly impressed with all of the crew from the moment we boarded the ship until we disembarked on our final day.

What to Expect on the Iconic Aegean Cruise

One of the best things about doing the Celestyal Cruises Iconic Aegean Sea cruise is that you get a little taste of a lot of different destinations.

I’ve travelled a lot, however, Greece was somewhere that had eluded me for years. Previously, I had only visited Crete on a family holiday as a young child – so young, that I don’t really count it as places I’ve visited purely because I don’t remember much.

Island hopping was a great way to see a lot in a short space of time. Every island I visited was more like a tease. It had an almost ‘try before you buy’ effect, and is a great way to sample the diversity of the islands.

Day 1 – Mykonos

After nearly an all day cruise to get here, this was our first stop. We arrived on the gorgeous island of Mykonos in the late afternoon for our first excursion.

This is probably the most picturesque Greek island on the Aegean Sea – well, either here, or Santorini!

The island of Mykonos has a reputation as the ‘party island’ of Greece, especially during the peak summer months.

One of the benefits of visiting during shoulder season is that I was able to appreciate the pretty cobblestoned streets flanked by white sugar-cube-like buildings. Bright blue doors and colourful pink flowers set the scene beautifully.

It was so special getting to experience this with next to no one in the town – an impossible feat in peak season!

White street and white staircase at Mykonos Streets — ^{_{Mykonos Streets}}

White houses with blossoming flower at Mykonos Streets — _{^{Mykonos Streets}}

We started with a tour of the old town, stopping off at various landmarks.

Two of the most photographed places are the Mykonos Windmills and Little Venice. These are popular spots for sunset, and even in the shoulder season, they do get crowded as the sun goes down.

As the sun set, we took the shuttle bus to a local tavern outside the main town to enjoy a traditional Mykonian Dinner.

As a vegetarian, I was spoilt for choice. Greece is one of the best countries I’ve visited where I didn’t feel like I was missing out as a lot of their traditional food is naturally meat free.

We had Greek dips to start with, then followed by a Greek salad, stuffed peppers, and fresh bread with olive oil all washed down with local wine!

I am standing with the Mykonos Windmills at sunset — _{^{Mykonos Windmills}}

Day 2 – Kusadasi (Turkey)

Although this is mostly a Greek Isles cruise, one of the stops was to the coastal town of Kusadasi.

As a huge fan of temples and ruins, I took the excursion out to the ruins of Ephesus. The gates open at 8 am, our bus arrived about 20 minutes early. This meant we were first in – which is how I managed to get photos with no one in them!

The ruins of Ephesus are some of the best preserved in all of the Mediterranean. The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, still stands here although you’ll only see fragments of ruins.

The city used to be one of the Mediterranean’s main commercial centres and you’ll see evidence of Greek and Roman architectural styles

The temples at Ephesus feature gray-brown archways with intricate details on the top of the archways — ^{_{Temples at Ephesus}}

Old Ancient Library with columns at Ephesus on a sunny day — ^{_{Ancient Library at Ephesus}}

Some of the main highlights at this UNESCO World Heritage site include the Agora, the Library of Celsus – which shares an uncanny resemblance to The Treasury at Petra, Jordan – as well as an impressive Odeon and a well-preserved collonaded marble-paved street flanked by intricate millennia-old carvings.

After the morning exploring the ruin sites, we had some time to explore the souks around the town of Kusadasi before getting back on the ship.

We had two stops on today’s Iconic Aegean Greek Islands cruise itinerary.

The view of the Amphitheatre at Ephesus showcases a semi-circular shape with stone staircases or seating — ^{_{Amphitheatre at Ephesus}}

Day 2 – Patmos

Our next stop was at another popular Greek island in the Aegean, the island of Patmos.

Lots of the Aegean Sea islands feature the traditional windmills, icing-block houses and winding cobblestone alleys – it was no different here.

We started on the hilltop town of Chora. First at the windmills of Patmos where we were able to take in the views of the island before going on to explore the labyrinth-like town.

The medieval town was made up of a maze of winding alleys, tunnelled pathways, steps and dead ends – all part of the design to help protect it from invasion.

Streets at Chora showcases the white walls and old pathway — ^{_{Streets of Chora}}

We spent a decent amount of time in this timeless town before moving on to our next stop.

Patmos is a well-known pilgrimage site, as it was here that Saint John the Theologian wrote the Book of Revelation. We visited the Cave of the Apocolypse which is where Saint John took refuge and saw the visions on which he based the book.

The streets of Chora are lined with white walls, blue doors, and blue windows — _{^{Chora Streets}}

Taking a selfie with the friendly street cats of Chora — _{^{Friendly Street Cats of Chora}}

Day 3 – Rhodes

Our third day started on the island of Rhodes. As a fanatic of ruin sites, I opted for the excursion to the Acropolis of Lindos.

Lindos is a pretty little town set on a hillside. It features the signature winding streets dotted with souvenir shops, churches, cafes and restaurants. These lead up the hillside to the Acropolis of Lindos.

One thing to note, there are a lot of steps! I know this was given as a warning when people booked this excursion. If you do have mobility issues, it could prove challenging getting up here.

The streets of Lindos feature accessories and jewelry displayed along the street — ^{_{Streets of Lindos}}

Two tall columns at acropolis of Lindos on a sunny day — ^{_{Acropolis of Lindos}}

A reward for the climb is an incredibly picturesque ruin site, perched on a cliff edge overlooking the sea on one side, and the town of Lindos on the other.

The Acropolis of Lindos has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. It dates back to around 300 BC and was once a fortress.

Some of the best things to see here are the famous Lion’s Gate entrance as well as the Temple of Athena – if you’ve seen the Acropolis or Ancient Agora in Athens, then it does share a lot of similarities with the temples at both.

Gray-black cat in the old town of Rhodes — ^{_{Old Town of Rhodes}}

Artisan shops in Rhodes feature bicycles adorned with flowers — _{^{Artisan Shops in Rhodes}}

After exploring Lindos, you get to spend the rest of the day around the historic centre of Rhodes.

The old centre oozes with history as well as being the site for one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World – the Colossus of Rhodes. You can visit the site where the gigantic statue apparently once stood in the old harbour.

With your guide, you’re given a whistle-stop tour of the ancient city, and then have a whole afternoon to yourself to explore in more depth. Some unmissable sites are the Palace of the Grand Masters, St Paul’s Gate and Street of the Knights as well as the wall walk.

The view of Rhodes from the City Wall Walk features a manicured garden, plants, and trees surrounded by houses — ^{_{View of Rhodes from the City Wall Walk}}

Day 4 – Crete

Crete is the largest Aegean island, we arrive early in the day at the port of Heraklion.

I had visited Crete once before on a family holiday as a child, but I don’t remember much of it. The one thing I do remember though was the Ruins of Knossos – my obsession with temples and ruins is evidently quite deep-rooted. I was super excited to have the opportunity to go back to this site.

The ancient city of Knossos was inhabited by the Minoans. It is the site of Europe’s oldest city and the mythical Labyrinth.

Knossos differs quite a bit from the other ruins I had seen so far in Greece. The main difference is the colourful frescoes which adorn the buildings – however many of them are recreations. Even so, they are beautiful and I’m glad I got to visit the ruin site all these years on.

Paintings at Knossos displayed in a wall — _{^{Paintings at Knossos}}

Some of the highlights of Knossos are the central court and the royal apartments. The central court is a large open area surrounded by columns, which makes for some amazing photos.

The royal apartments have been meticulously reconstructed to show how they would have looked in their heyday and where you can see the majority of the colourful frescos.

After Knossos, we headed to Heraklion for some free time.

It feels like I have barely scratched the surface in Crete – this is a huge island. I’d certainly like to come back and explore more of the towns of Crete in a lot more depth sometime.

After visiting Heraklion, we headed back to our Aegean cruise ship for the next stop of the day.

Big red columns with orange color walls at Knossos Ruins — ^{_{Knossos Ruins}}

The Knossos Throne stands at the middle with a red-painted wall — ^{_{Knossos Throne Room}}

Day 4 – Santorini

The second stop of the day was to one of the most renowned Greek Islands in the Aegean: Santorini.

With such a short time here it was hardly enough to do it justice – plus we had stormy looking skies above – it just means it’s a great excuse to come back – not that I need much persuasion.

I opted to do the volcano tour. Partly because I’d already seen a lot of white houses, but also because the weather wasn’t ideal for capturing those iconic blue skied photos. Besides – I love volcanoes – or any natural landscape, so it was a no-brainer to go and explore Nea Kameri.

We took a small boat over to the island. Because of the dark rocks, grey skies, and rain earlier in the day, made all the colours of the island so vibrant. Looking for the silver lining, the inclement weather definitely played a part in helping me capture incredibly dramatic images here.

Rugged Landscape at Nea Kameri in a cloudy sky — ^{_{Rugged Landscape of Nea Kameri}}

The volcano in Santorini is still active on this crescent-shaped island. Our guide explained to us the geology of the island, and how the island of Santorini came to be the shape it is today.

Historically, it was once a circular island with a small entry, then in the 1600s, a massive volcanic eruption caused the centre of the island to be destroyed and it became an underwater crater dotted with separate islands.

We made our way up the volcano for more phenomenal views. We could see steam rising out of the ground, which made the experience so atmospheric. It is a bit whiffy in places because of the sulphur.

Because this is still an active volcano, the ground is still warm. Our guide dug a little hole and just beneath the surface, the ground was hot! It reminded me of the time I toasted a marshmallow in a volcano during my trip to Guatemala.

After our short time in Santorini, we reboarded the boat for our final night.

Fishing boats at Santorini Volcano Harbour in a cloudy sky — ^{_{Santorini Volcano Harbour}}

Steam rising from the Nea Kameri Volcano with a blue sky — ^{_{Steam Rising from the Nea Kameri Volcano}}

Day 5 – Laviron (Athens)

On the fifth day, we arrived back in Laviron which is where our Iconic Aegean Cruise ended.

There are options for excursions into the ancient capital of Athens. For me, I took the transfer back to the city, exhausted but having enjoyed the most outstanding, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Typically, I travel in a much slower style. However, there is so much to see in Greece that I would highly recommend joining the Iconic Aegean Cruise to see and experience a lot in a short space of time.

Sometimes Athens gets a bad reputation for being dangerous and dirty. I didn’t experience that at all, on the contrary! It’s an amazing city, and I recommend spending at least a few days in Athens before onward travel.

Ancient Agora in Athens features tall columns in a marble stone with intricate carvings — _{^{Ancient Agora in Athens}}

Read Next: 29 Great Reasons To Visit Athens

How to Get to Celestyal Cruises, Greece

Most people arrive in Athens by plane. From there, transfer down to the port.

There are numerous options for a Greek island cruise from Athens, and the capital has three ports. The Iconic Aegean Cruise with Celestyal leaves from Lavrion which is 60km southeast of the capital.

You could make your own way to Laviron by public bus. However, the easiest option is by taxi. From Athens city centre, the journey will take just under an hour. If you’re going directly from Athens airport, then it takes around 30 minutes.

Other Options With Celestyal Cruises, Greece

There are loads of Greece cruise packages with Celestyal.

I did the 5D/4N version of the Iconic Agean Cruise. They also do a 4D/3N version of this cruise from Athens to Santorini.

Another popular option is the Celestyal Cruise Idyllic Aegean, which lasts for 7 nights stopping off at Thessaloniki and Milos.

Iconic Aegean With Celestyal Cruises Review – FAQs

I’ve gone into quite a bit of depth about what to expect on a Celestyal Cruise. This section answers some other questions that I didn’t cover in the main part of my review.

Who Do Celestyal Cruises Cater For?

Celestyal Cruises cater to all ages and budgets. Onboard, you’ll find plenty of activities and entertainment to enjoy, including live shows, discos, fitness classes, and more. The cruise staff are also multilingual so they can assist guests from around the world.

Can I Do the Iconic Aegean Cruise as a Solo Traveler?

Yes, the Iconic Aegean Cruise is a great option for solo travellers. The onboard activities are a great way to meet other guests, they even have dedicated solo traveller get-togethers, and the shore excursions happen in groups.

What Clothes Do I Need to Pack for a Cruise?

For the offshore excursions plan to wear lighter comfortable clothing. Shorts, sundresses, and lightweight trousers are all great options. Prepare for cooler evenings with a cardigan or jacket. If you plan to do any swimming, remember to pack your swimsuit and towel. Also, something a little dressier for the gala dinner and evenings.

When Is the Best Time to Do a Greek Island Cruise?

You can take a cruise around the Greek Islands at any time of year. If you’re after the best weather, then go during the summer months. Temperatures range from around 21-27°C (70-80°F) from May to October, with temperatures often rising above 29°C ( 85°F) in July and August. However, if you’re looking for more affordable prices and fewer crowds, consider cruising in the shoulder season from April to May or September to October.

Thinking of Doing an Aegean Cruise From Athens?

Are you thinking of taking this iconic Aegean Cruise with Celestyal Cruises?

I hope my Celestyal Cruises review based on my personal experience has given you some insight on what to expect, and answered any questions you might have.

As my first cruise, this set the standard pretty high. Although I’m typically more of a slow traveller, the great thing about doing a cruise like this is that it gives you a little taste of lots of different places.

I know I’ll certainly be back in the Aegean Islands to explore them more in-depth. The only problem now is choosing which one to start with

Looking for more reasons to visit Greece? read more inspirational articles here…

29 Great Reasons to Visit Athens