Mediterranean Cruising: Exploring Three Continents with Celestyal Cruises

Join hosts Heide and Nicky as they dive into the unique experience of cruising three continents aboard Celestyal Cruises.  on the Celestyal Journey, Nicky shares insider tips and highlights from this extraordinary Mediterranean adventure aboard the Celestyal Journey. 

From standing before the Great Pyramids of Giza to exploring the mythological Palace of Knossos and walking the marble-paved streets of ancient Ephesus, discover how this mid-sized cruise line delivers an intimate and authentic Mediterranean experience. 

Learn about value-maximizing strategies, including suite upgrade opportunities and pre-cruise planning essentials. Whether you're a history enthusiast, food lover, or bucket-list adventurer, this episode offers practical insights for experiencing Europe, Asia, and Africa in one unforgettable journey.

Transcript

Mediterranean Magic: Exploring Three Continents with Celestyal Cruises

[00:00:00] Hello, Wanderers! Welcome to Untethered and Wanderwise. I'm Heidi Brandes and with me, as always, is my co host and fellow travel enthusiast, Nicky Omohundro. Today we're diving into something really exciting, Celestyal Cruises and their unique three continents cruise around the Mediterranean Sea. 

Thanks, Heidi. I'm particularly excited about today's episode because I have experienced this exact cruise just a year ago. What really drew me to Celestyal was their three continents itinerary. How often do you visit Europe, Asia, and Africa all in one trip? 

That's incredible. Although I understand there were some changes to the original itinerary.

Yes, the original route included Israel, but due to the conflict that began late 2024 Celestyal quickly adapted. It added Heraklion Crete instead. 

That's good to know. One thing our listeners always ask about is the onboard experience. How does Celestyal compare with other cruise lines you've been on?

Besides Celestyal, I've been on Princess and Disney Cruises, and I think that Celestyal is completely different than those mega ships. I was on the Celestyal Journey, and it's a mid sized ship accommodating Only 1, 260 passengers, which creates a little bit more of an intimate atmosphere. The crew represents many countries, but it is largely Greek.

And you really feel that authentic Mediterranean hospitality. Now I also opted for an all inclusive package, of course. Yeah. And I will say that it was definitely worth it. Unlimited drinks, including alcoholic beverages. Gratuities are all included in that price. Wi Fi is included in the price and a few extra perks.

The entertainment on board was also top notch, I do love a good entertainment, don't we all a good show. So on the Journey, we had live performances every night, and there was plenty of activities during the day too. So cooking classes. Bingo, which why not? Why not? Why not? And then wine tastings, dance lessons, you name it.

Overall, I would highly recommend Celestyal for anyone looking for a more personal and immersive cruise experience, especially if culture in your port cities is important to you. 

The staff is incredibly friendly and accommodating, making you feel like family on board and the destinations they visit are absolutely stunning and rich, full of history and culture to explore. Oh, and Heidi, did I tell you about the food?

I was just about to ask. I've heard amazing things about Celestyal Cruises and I know food is really important to you, Nicky. Yes, it is. If you like Greek and Mediterranean food. You are not going to be disappointed. The regular dining includes many of those options. So it's absolutely fantastic.

I will say the highlight of that cruise was an evening at the Thalassa and that's their specialty restaurant, which is an a la carte restaurant. One of the things not included in the all inclusive.

There we had an incredible six course meal with our own private Butler. It was regional Greek specialties. We started with traditional dips, moved on to an amazing octopus, carpaccio, and an Aegean lobster on saffron pilaf, before finally ending with the most divine rose geranium infused soup with this really delicate sugar cage. Oh, even a year ago, I actually remember every detail of that trip. It was so amazing.

Plus we had a sommelier that paired every course with wines. So with Mediterranean cuisine, I can eat pretty healthy. And so I really appreciate it that the food options on board the journey. And there was also plenty of Turkish coffee. 

Oh, I love Turkish coffee and girl, you're making me hungry.

So let's talk about the excursions. Visiting the pyramids was on your bucket list. Oh my gosh. Yes. So that was absolutely the highlight of my trip. The pyramids had been something that I'd always wanted to do. And that was one of the reasons why I booked this trip. So because of what was happening in the region, we ended up docking in Alexandria instead of Al Asad.

And then we took a three hour bus ride to Cairo. It was interesting. I imagine. The port that we docked at was more of a commercial port. And so you got to see that and then. Basically drove on the highway and there were fields everywhere coming into the city. You saw people like families on a little motorbike and cars that had sheep in the back of all things.

It was so surreal. And then you come into the city. Oh, it's chaos. Chaos. But then all of a sudden you come down this hill and the pyramids are just literally [00:05:00] right in the middle of Cairo. So the entire trip, the guide that we had in our bus was fantastic. She shared plenty of Egyptian history and culture along the way.

Cause like I said, it was a three hour bus ride. And then we arrived at Cairo. We were able to get onto a boat that was on the Nile and we had an amazing buffet lunch and then complete with traditional music and dancing. 

Wow. And so tell me about the pyramids themselves. Were you able to get off the boat and go see them?

Yes. The boat was just lunch. So what we did is we've been on the boat for lunch and then got back on the bus. There was a lot of getting back on the bus for this excursion, but that's okay. We got off the bus and we had a choice. We could either go into one of the pyramids and actually see what that was like, or we could go further down and do a camel ride instead.

And my entire bus luckily opted to do the camel ride. But you did have that option.

I remember when I visited the pyramids, we actually went inside and we were I remember there was a lot of crawling and it was Strangely very hot inside the pyramids. Oh, I believe it. I went the end of November and it was still really warm.

Ah, this was in May when I went and I remember crawling and just dripping in sweat. Mm hmm. Oh, yeah. I'm glad we weren't really sweaty, but there were a ton of people, both tourists and locals. So that was actually something that surprised me was all the vendors that were there at the pyramids. 

Yeah. And this is where a really good guide like the one you had with Celestyal comes in very handy because the vendors and the beggars and people, they can get very aggressive sometimes and your guide really is invaluable when it comes to Being a buffer between that. Exactly. She really helped us traverse that site. Before we ever got out of the bus. They were going to give us plenty of time to take pictures around the pyramids and to look around. And I will say that you don't understand exactly how massive those things are until you are coming up on them. And it's just, it's amazing to realize what they've done with no machinery. 

And it's mind boggling. Absolutely mind boggling. But one of the things we did. When we visited the pyramids was take the camera ride too. So tell me what you thought about the camera ride. I absolutely love the camera ride.

That was one of my favorite things, and it was fun. I paid about 20. The tour guide in our bus actually arranged that price for us as a group before we ever got down off the bus. And she did that, and she collected all of her money, and one of the rules that she gave us before we could disembark was that the camel owners were not to be paid until after the ride was complete, and you were off the animals.

One of the things that she had said, that if you didn't feel like paying 20, if you wanted to try and negotiate for a lower price, don't pay them before, because you may have to pay an extra price to get off. 

You're kidding?

No. And we saw it because you saw a couple of people that weren't with our tour group that the camel owners were like, okay, hands out, I'm going to be wanting to jump off that dam.

They are tall. They're very tall. Very tall. I would say they're scary. Yeah. I wouldn't have done it. So I was happy to pay my 20. And it was amazing. There was a caravan of us and I believe there was like nine or 10 of us. We all went into the caravan, went around the pyramid. The owner of the camel took all of our pictures. So that way we got plenty of pictures both on the camel and down. And we took some goofy pictures of me like holding up a stone because it was for pinching the top. Yeah. All those fun things. So it was a highlight for sure. 

So was that the end of your excursion in Egypt? 

No. After we did the pyramids, we actually went to another area to look at the pyramids from a different angle.

And then we went to the Sphinx, which was another incredible experience. Then the day ended with a visit to a papyrus factory where they demonstrated the ancient art of how Egyptians made papyrus paper. Then we headed all the way back to Alexandria. It was a long day, but it was absolutely worth it.

Now, these excursions aren't included in the cruise price, right? 

No, they're not included. But in my opinion, they're reasonably priced and you can book them either in advance like I did or on board. I would definitely recommend booking the more popular Ones like the pyramids ahead of time, just to ensure you get a spot. 

Tell us about some of the other excursions, specifically the ones that you went on. I know there were several other bucket list items on this trip for you. 

There were, the biggest one was definitely Egypt, but then there was also Crete and Kusadasi Turkey. 

Ooh. Tell me, what about Crete? I saw your photos from Knossos. 

Oh, yes. So the Palace of Knossos, and I hope I'm saying that correctly, was fascinating. You've [00:10:00] heard the story of the Minotaur.

Yes! That legend of the Minotaur originated in Knossos. Some of the Ruins that you're going to walk through in this palace actually feature the minotaur. And so the tour guide that you take while you're going through these ancient ruins, we'll tell you all about, how that story got started and it's absolutely fascinating. Our guide brought all those ancient stories to life and then afterward, we had some free time in Herkalion. I'm not exactly sure how to pronounce that, where I found this perfect little cafe in the town square, just sat there, enjoyed some Turkish coffee in a cheese hand pie, watched the local life unfold, and it was actually one of the most perfect travel moments of my trip. It was quiet and just, it was peaceful. 

Now, I just got back from a tour of Turkey and one of my absolute favorite places we went to was Ephesus. Now you visited Ephesus on this tour as well. 

Yes, we did. We docked in Kusadasi and then I booked one of the full day excursions where they took a bus, we went to see some old bath ruins from the Romans, and then we made it to Ephesus. So I was amazed at how well preserved it was. And you just walk down these ancient paved streets. I really enjoyed seeing the library of Celsus and the facade. You, I could just imagine what life was like in Roman times.

And then in the amphitheater, the acoustics are still pitch perfect. And what was really fun too, there was, dressed up as a Roman gladiator walking around offering himself as a photo op. Oh, it was so much fun. He was just flirting with all the young ladies. 

Yeah. So I was there with the group tour with Exoticca. Last week, our previous episode we talked about bus trips and specifically this Exotica bus tour.

I loved it. We were unable to go into the Colosseum at Ephesus, but you're right. You walk down and if you squint your eyes just enough, you imagine those crowds of people in Roman, garb and togas walking down the street and it transports you there. It is stunning just how massive and big and well preserved Ephesus is.

Exactly. You look at modern times and how quickly a building will deteriorate. You're talking thousands of years ago, and these buildings in Coliseums, a lot of them are still standing. Guess there's a little pieces here, pieces there, the fallen down, but to imagine that you're walking the same footsteps as someone did all that time ago is just mind boggling.

It is. And one of my favorite things about Ephesus is they had the Communal latrines preserved. And there's 20 of them and it's just a bench with these holes and Roman senators and business people, merchants, all the movers and shakers would all sit there on these latrines and do business. And it had running water underneath. So it was a basic plumbing system. 

Little touches like that. Hadn't this beautiful mosaic. Had they uncovered the mosaic when you were there? Yes, it was. It's but being thrown back in time. So are there any other essential tips for any of our listeners who might be planning this cruise with Celestyal?

I would say book early, with most cruise lines, the earlier you book, the cheaper it becomes. And the prices are a little bit different now than they were a year ago when I booked, but I found that this cruise was fairly reasonable for everything that you had received and you had a lot more perks than some of the others.

And I know a lot of people here in the States are not familiar with Celestyal and they are actually based out of Greece. And you want to see the Mediterranean, or if you want to go through the Middle East, along those waterways, it's actually a great way to do it because it's more local. The journey, it's a little bit smaller than some of the mega ships. And so it's a great way to see things and just enjoy where you are at the time that you're there. 

Let's talk about life on board. So you've booked your cruise with Celestyal. What about the times you're not doing excursions or you're not at dock?

Tell me about life on board. Did you get to go to the spa? Yeah, you bet. So on this cruise, I had a junior suite, which was fantastic because we actually have a little bit more room. It was me and a friend. And so we had two single beds that could be pushed together for a queen if I was going with someone else, there was a couch that would convert to a sofa bed, a desk, a balcony, which I think when you're on a cruise, I will pay extra for the balcony just because it's [00:15:00] nice to have an ocean view and to sit and relax. But with the junior suite complimentary access to the thermal suite and all of the relaxation areas were included.

Really? Yes. And the hammam was worth it. So what was really nice is they have the lounging. mosaic tables. You just sat back and relaxed and did absolutely nothing. So their spa was almost like a Turkish or Greek Hammam. Yes. Okay. Yes. I've never seen that on a cruise ship. Really? Really? Okay. When I did princess over spring break this year, they had something very similar.

But I really liked the hammam there on the Celestyal because after long days of exploring because I literally did an excursion in every port we were in, it was heaven to unwind in the thermal pools in that relaxation room. And then I found that I could recharge before dinner. 

The restaurants, you had a great option between Table service and buffet style. There was also poolside dining. So if you want to just grab something really quickly, you have that option. 

Plenty of options for nightlife too. So there were many bars. So everything from a martini bar to a jazz lounge, you name it. There was just so much to do. It was so much fun. 

We already talked about how the earlier you book a cruise like this, the easier and cheaper it is. Do you have any other essential tips for our listeners who might be considering this cruise? 

Definitely. I actually have a few big ones. First, I would highly recommend whether it's this cruise or any other to arrive at least a day before your departure date. So I flew in from the States and landed in Athens early the day before my cruise.

And so I prearranged a very early check in at my hotel, which was the Polis Grand Hotel and luckily they could accommodate. I usually like to hit the ground running, but after that flight, a nap was very much in order. So after about an hour nap, I had some extra time. So you definitely need to make time to explore Athens. And so having that early check in was a lifesaver. Plus if you have any flight delays, you have a little bit of buffer right there. So in, with these days, you can never be too sure. So always come a day ahead of time. 

So what's your second tip? Prearrange your transfer to the port.

 I found that hiring and prearranging a transfer to the port is actually a much better option. It's also much faster. I learned there can sometimes be taxi strikes in Athens. Yes. I actually experienced it on my way home. The taxi service that we had prearranged with ended up getting us a private car. And so we were able to avoid that taxi strike, which I was very thankful for. Cause I can't even imagine what it would have been like, had we been stuck and tried to find something at the last minute.

 Let's talk about some of your other tips. And then last consider sailing in shoulder season. And that's what I did in the month of November. I actually left the States on Thanksgiving, which is an absolutely fabulous day to fly because there's nobody flying cause everyone's at home eating Turkey. But the weather was still lovely. Ports were definitely less crowded and the prices were better. 

Absolutely spend extra time in Athens. And I can't stress that enough. The city deserves it. Okay. Right now. In my head thinking, okay, how do I put my own Celestyal Cruise? Cause you sold me on this and it sounds amazing.

I can't wait to try everything you've recommended. So thank you so much for sharing this experience with me and with our listeners. Definitely. And bring your stretchy pants, because I definitely recommend trying some of the local cuisine and drinks. They're absolutely delicious. Have you tried Ouzo? I have had Ouzo. I actually like it. I do too. But I remember I had a small bottle of Ouzo at home and it sat for a while and I unscrewed the cap and there were sugar crystals along the rim of the bottle. Because, it evaporates and leaves these. Ouzo crystals on the, yeah, I like Ouzo. I like, it's not everybody's cup of tea, but I think it tastes great. Before I went on this trip, a lot of people were like, Oh, don't try the Ouzo. That's you're not going to like it, but I tried it on the licorice.

Yes. And I absolutely love licorice. It's rocky is the same way in Turkey. It's very licorice y. Ooh, this is the Dutch in me. I like licorice. Yeah. Everything sounds just picture perfect. And I'm going to look into a Celestyal Cruise right away and hopefully we can meet some of the folks with the cruise line at IMM this month.

That would be fantastic. So there you have it Wanderers, whether you're a history buff. [00:20:00] a foodie, or just someone looking to check off multiple bucket list items in one incredible journey, Celestyal's Three Continents Cruise offers something truly unique. From watching the sunset over the pyramids, to exploring ancient Greek ruins, to indulging in authentic Mediterranean cuisine, this journey packs Unforgettable experiences into every day.

Until next time, I'm Nicky Omohundro from Untethered and Wanderwise. And I'm Heidi Brandes. And we're reminding you that sometimes the best adventures come in unexpected places. Thanks for joining us on Untethered and Wanderwise. Safe travels, everyone.