I think the curtain for the mirror is to keep from freaking yourself out in the middle of the night when waking up and seeing your own movement but not immediately realizing it's you.
My mother and myself went on our first cruise 2 years ago. She passed away shortly after. I thought I would never go on another cruise. I wanted to preserve that memory but you guys have convinced me to book another one. As soon as there is a local departure Im on it! Thank you!
I was on the "farewell cruise" for Celestyal Crystal. It was a shortened itinerary (5 nights instead of 7). Food onboard was good throughout the trip but they ran out of so many drink ingredients by the 2nd half of the cruise that you didn't really have much selection anymore for the premium drinks package. The crew also had really high pressure tactics when it came to trying to get you to upgrade your drinks package or attend the onboard wine tasting. Service was generally okay, if a little slow in the dining rooms and bars, and there were a couple standouts that we got to know really well (shout-out to Aziza!). Several pre-booked excursions for members of our party ended up being cancelled due to lack of participants (but only the English speaking tours???) and the cruise line was really bad at communicating that ahead of time. All we got was a paper notice in our cabin the day before we were supposed to go saying the excursion was cancelled. The excursions we did go on were fantastic but I credit most of that to the local tour guides, not the cruise line. The onboard shop closed halfway through our sailing and the crew were boxing things up a couple days before the end of the cruise. I think Celestyal could have done a lot better making the farewell cruise for the Crystal feel like a celebration but instead it just felt like more of a sad moving party we just happened to be there to witness.
Ben saying the ship looks good for being 40 years old, me thinking 'ah, from the 60s then', then remembering I am 40 years old and crumbling into dust.
sometimes less is more.... the advantages of small ship cruising getting into more discrete locations & avoiding the loading & unloading bun-fights makes the omission of water-slides & race cart tracks worthwhile. They look great. Thanks for the heads up.
What a lovely cruise with so many places to see. Being old school, I'd enjoy an older ship/room without slides and all that falderal in exchange for all those ports and good food. Sounds like this line is a true gem for those of us more into laid back travel.
Amazing cruise and prices! The food included looked incredible, much less the specialty dining. I love that they can get into ports others can't, stay in port for a long time, port days at a new destination every day and they give you listening devices to hear the tour guide instead of everyone having to pile in close to hear. What a deal! ☺️
I did 18 nights with Celestyal last Christmas and New Yeaer. I told the guys in the restaurant how much I missed Filipino food....next meal, and every second day after that, I had Filipino food delivered to my table. This is a fabulous cruise line that surprised the heck out of me!.
You are both so amazing! I have a confession to make. When I became part of your patreon, I saw that you were having a group cruise on The Valiant Lady. I spoke to Walter (Where's Walter Travel) and he told me it's all sold out. I called Virgin, I found a room on your sailing! I adore Walter but I snatched up that room!I know that I won't be able to be part of many of your group cruise activities but I am so hoping to say Hello, to the most amazing travel duo in cruising!
Where's Walter should be able to take over your reservation and have you added to the group rate and charge you any difference unless it's a close in sailing.
Such a fun cruise! I wonder if the curtain that slides over the mirror is to limit the reflection of the sun from heating up your bed or the rest of the room. It could also limit reflections at night, potentially allowing for better sleep. I could be way off, but worth a thought!
Awesome video Ben and David. When I visited Kusadasi, the guide explained that in the cold mornings, the ‘masters’ would send their ‘servants’ to go sit on the cold stone to warm the seat for them. The Greek Isles is amazing!
The ship itself has an amazing story! Built in 1978 as the car ferry Viking Saga for the Baltic sea (google the ship, you won't believe it's the same ship!) she caught fire in 1990 while in dock! Afterwards she was cut apart and the engines and parts of the hull was used to rebuild it to the shape she has today, christened the Sally Albatross in 1991!
It continues to be a ship with a story. There have been rumours that Celestyal had sold this ship to a Japanese company, but they recently made an announcement to the contrary. Strangely though, it no longer appears on their website and it seems the Japanese company, Shimizu, doesn't actually exist. Incidentally, doesn't Albatross seem a rather strange name for a ship? Especially one with such a turbulent history!
Thats so crazy I went on this ship when I was 15 with my parents back in 2011 when it was called Louis Crystal! I recognized the carpet in the hallway immediatly and just went to double check in my old pictures😂 Hello from Qc, Canada!🤩
I was on the Celestyal Olympia last year out of Athens (stopped at 5 ports). We did an ocean view room. The food was good. Very good cruise for the price. I bought 2 Turkish rugs, which were delivered to the US about 8 weeks later. It was a great cruise. Hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did.
Ben, I just heard your comment about taking cake from someone’s party that you weren’t supposed to. It reminded me of one of my funniest travel memories. I was a teenager, and my grandmother, her best friend from kindergarten (Doris,) and my mom and I went on a trip to Italy. We were staying in this very fancy hotel in Florence. The hotel did not have a cup of coffee in the hotel room, and Doris said she was going downstairs to find a cup of coffee. We went with her. The hotel said their coffee shop was closed due to a massive High-end fashion show in their ballroom, and they had a huge reception. Because of that, they had closed their coffee shop. We saw a door by the ballroom, and there were thousands of people inside, every woman was wearing a formal evening gown and all of the men were wearing tuxedos. There were numerous TV networks they are broadcasting. The fashion show as it happened. Doris looked at us and said, “well, hell. If I can’t get a cup of coffee because they’re having this fashion show, then we’re going to enjoy the fashion show. Come on.” She proceeded to walk right into the fashion show and we followed her. We found some empty chairs when we got inside. Everyone there was laughing at how out of place we looked. Of course I was as well. Here we were, a bunch of American tourists wearing our T-shirts and shorts, in this formal fashion show. But we sat down and enjoyed the entire show, including celebrating the designer’s birthday when they brought out a gigantic cake. We left as the show was over, and they had men at all the doors handing each woman a red rose. Of course, Doris, Grandmomma and Mom took a rose each as well. We just followed the entire crowd to the gigantic reception. I’ve never seen so many ice carvings, and massive cakes as I saw that day. And I’ve been to a lot of events. We ate so much food at that reception. It was just amazing. And yes, at the reception we found coffee for Doris. Once she had her cup of coffee, it was the end of a perfect night. Still one of my by far favorite memories of traveling ever.
the ship was also originally a boxy cruise ferry but because of a fire was scrapped down to the waterline then rebuilt. so she is still modern. amazing history!
Back in the late '80's, I won a cruise, for two, with a cruise line I had never heard of before......Home Lines. They had 2 ships, and were soon retiring them to Disney. We went to Bermuda, and had the time of our lives! The cabins were nothing to write home about, but they were comfortable and clean. We got to know many passengers, on board, because it was small. it was the first time I ever has Beef Wellington, and I fell in love. We sailed on Norwegian and Princess, and I can honestly say, this cruise was right up there!! There's something to be said for older, smaller ships!!
Having a mirror facing the bed can disturb your sleep, especially if you're sensitive to light. Even if the room is dark, any light reflected off the mirror can cause discomfort and prevent you from falling asleep or staying asleep.
My wife and I did the Three Continents cruise on this ship in 2019 - just before the world went crazy. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything is on a smaller scale and in many ways all the better for it. The cabin (inside) was comfortable, the restaurant was excellent and the service felt more personal. Having all the key excursions included in the price was also a welcome feature (though it looks like they've now changed this to a voucher system). We've just returned from an MSC Norwegian Fjords cruise and the two cruises are obviously night and day. We enjoyed both - each for what it was. This is something which a lot of cruise passengers seem to forget when commenting on their experience with different lines.
I love you guys and want to thank you. I got back from an Alaskan cruise last week that didn't go as planned. I spent a year planning everything. Our excursion for the Glacier and sled dog ride was cancelled because of the weather. I was sick in bed for 2 days so I missed Skagway. Turns out I had Covid. I've been watching some of your videos today and you had me laughing as you always do. Thank you! Sillily? Love it! You're the best!😊
The video literally was deciding factor in my parents booking a cruise with this company. Thanks for giving such detailed experience with such charm!!!❤
The ship didn't seem that small to me but I guess compared to the modern mega ships, it is. It looked charming and having less crowd and amenities gave me an idea of what old time cruises used to be. If I'm ever in a position to take a cruise, Celestyal Cruises would be my pick. Thanks for the tour.
You guys do a great job! Really enjoying your vlogs. I am very excited about Celestyal - never heard of it until a client (I am a travel advisor) requested it. Most of my clients are upscale or luxury travelers but this looks like it could please no matter the client, as long as they want a Greek experience. Thank you!
Thank you Ben and David for reviewing a smaller and unique cruise ship. I think it would be a fun way of visiting more of Greece than the large resort ships.
I love the "Alexander The Great" tastyness Ben shares with us. A man with a true love of food and I love hearing him describe the tasty bites!!! Thanks Ben 💛💙
I just booked a Celestyal cruise via a Gate1 itinerary - I'd been questioning the cruise portion of the itinerary before I watched your video. Now I'm taking my mom to Greece, a dream trip for her! Thanks so much for this vid that assured me the cruise line was legit!!
Hi Ben and David. Like you, I've not heard about this cruise line. For the age of the ship it really looked very comfortable. The food both on and off the ship, oh my!! Yummy. Can't wait to see the rest. Certainly a good value compared to other lines. Love the fact you can spend so much time in port. As always, thank you for bringing us along. You are both awesome ❤❤
Guys, your bringing back great memories. We took the Celestyal Crystal about 4 yrs ago and it was the most amazing cruise I've ever taken! Usually loyal to Royal but the size of the Crystal is perfect for visiting the Greek Isles. Hope you both enjoyed it as much as we did!
The leaves are called Dolmas their stuffed grape leaves with rice and herbs inside I like the ones with mint to the flavor and they're usually packed in olive oil when you get Them in a can
Greece is one of our favorite countries, with Oia on Santorini, one of our all time favorite places to visit. We have been lucky enough to visit 2x, and spend a total of 8 nights. In the evening, it is quieter and the lights make it magical. We also loved visiting Kusadasi, & Ephesus. Have never even thought of Celestial, so finding this very interesting so far. Thanks Ben & David. ❤❤
I really appreciate how your videos don't just highlight the cruise ship its self, but you also highlight the stops and the food. So well done!! I don't even cruise but LOVE your videos!! p.s. I LOVE greek pastichio, I even make it myself at home. It's the nutmeg béchamel that does it for me.
Thanks for sharing! I hadn't heard about this cruise line ever! Glad to know that it exists. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoy your videos. I wish I could go on your cruise group.
That's perfect! Thanks so much! We were looking for a Greek Island cruise that offered docking hours outside of the big cruise ship "Rush Hours" --when everything onshore is overcrowded with tourists.
@ 15:32 - Those are stuffed grape leaves and either dolmas or dolmades in Greek. It's not easy to get a good one when dining out. Haven't had them in years because no one in my house likes them except for me. Too much work for just me, but I do like them.
Thank you so much for reviewing these type of cruises-I’m very much interested in a Med cruise where I have very little “sea days” and far more port time
What a fabulous cruise! It`s lovely to do something different, and to explore new places; especially those with such a rich history! The food all looks so good too! Can`t wait to see the rest of the cruise. Love from Vancouver Island Canada
I worked on Celebrity cruises which was originally a greek cruise line. Most of our officers and captains were greek. Whenever we would be in the med they would all have their families on board. Santorini is my favorite port of all the ones I went to over the years. When i went to Ephesus our guide smartly got us ahead of the crowd and we got some great pics of the library and the arena with nearly no people
This was such a great video, really enjoyed every bit of it . Going on a Greek cruise is definitely on my bucket list . This looks more Authentic than so many others and good prices . Thanks guys , looking forward to next lot of content 😊❤
Just recently discovered you after my first cruise with TUI. I think both of you are amazing. Love the content. Enjoying catching up on what I have missed! Thanks for doing what you do. Love to you both. ❤️
We are so excited that you got to visit Greece. I Am greek American and my husband is greek a native. We will definitely look into this ship it looked awesome. You made us laugh when. You were trying our greek quinine.
Loved this video. I have been looking for a Greek cruise that focuses on Greece and Turkey rather than the typical ones that include Spain and Italy. I hope there is a part 2 to this one.
Another top-notch vid. Y'all need to put out a book with all of the little sayings. "Well, plop me in a chair and call me seated!" I mean, I'd buy the first copy.
I went to Efeze 20 years ago. There were only 4 people there, which was great! It still looks great, though! The last letter of Kusadasi is actually an i without the dot which is pronounced like the first 'e' in were. Love that you are exploring a new cruise ship.
I remember during the time when Yugoslavia was still intact, Greece and Turkey were the preferred vacation spots for Serbs, a preference that continues today. It was a common sight to see almost every family returning home with freshly acquired curtains and carpets!
Thanks guys for another delightful review! I would take this cruise in a heartbeat. My late husband and I went on 12 cruises, the first around 35 years ago, and I have always been more attracted to smaller vintage/retro ships rather than the mega-monstrosities that are the current rage. I was only recently introduced to you guys by an old friend and I am hooked!!
Incredible! We sailed on this very ship for our first and second cruise ever when it was the Norwegian Leeward in 1998 to Cozumel and Key West. I thought that the ship looked familiar. We looked it up and sure enough, it was the NCL Leeward. Great little ship. When we arrived on the ship, we were greeted by the crew lined on both sides of the entranceway with white gloves and we were escorted to our room. I shot skeet off the back of the ship. The captain at the time said that they called it the yacht of the fleet. Would be nice to cruise on it again.
Thank you for introducing me to this cruise line. We are planning a European cruise, and we don't need a big fancy ship, because it's really just our floating hotel. We want to see as much of Europe as we can. This is a nice affordable option for us.
I sailed on Celestyal Crystal in 2017 when the experience was a little more inclusive. It was a fantastic itinerary and a great trip, but the ship and experience were very much oversold as luxury. Some of the escorted tour companies package Celestyal with land trios, and i gathered from other passengers they expected a lot more from the cruise portion of their trip. That said, it's quite the multicultural experience and was fun. Instead of a ship full of English speakers, there were many countries and languages represented. The most impressive part, hands down, was how our Cruise Director could seamlessly go between seven spoken languages without taking a breath. Always beware with included excursions because the entire ship will be going for the most part. It takes a lot of time to sort people into their trour groups/buses. If you have the budget, private or small group tours are the way to go. I wouldn't hesitate to travel with Celestyal again, but now I'm more prepared for what to expect.
I believe the curtain in front of the mirror is to prevent afternoon glare from the light outside, it often hits the mirror and reflects into the room.
i would say you were lucky to have rain while visiting ephesus...brings out the colours of all the stone and marble through this ancient city...and its nice a cool
I have been binging on your channel since I found it and I have really enjoyed & appreciated them……BUT…this was my favourite video …You are both brilliant!
Thanks guys! Nice to see the old Sally Albatross/Silja Opera still sailing. But I haven't been onboard since the home port was Helsinki. Thanks for your great videos.
How wonderful to see you enjoying one of the last cruises on Crystal! We sailed on her when Celestyal was doing Cuba cruises back in 2017. Love the smaller ship size and the incredible staff. At the end of October this year, we'll be on board Celestyal's newest ship, Journey, on a 3 Continents cruise.
Head to squarespace.com/benanddavid to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code benanddavid
Hey daisy 😂😂😈💯🔥 love y'all
L⁰
I think the curtain for the mirror is to keep from freaking yourself out in the middle of the night when waking up and seeing your own movement but not immediately realizing it's you.
My mother and myself went on our first cruise 2 years ago. She passed away shortly after. I thought I would never go on another cruise. I wanted to preserve that memory but you guys have convinced me to book another one. As soon as there is a local departure Im on it! Thank you!
Your mom would want you to go and enjoy !!
I was on the "farewell cruise" for Celestyal Crystal. It was a shortened itinerary (5 nights instead of 7). Food onboard was good throughout the trip but they ran out of so many drink ingredients by the 2nd half of the cruise that you didn't really have much selection anymore for the premium drinks package. The crew also had really high pressure tactics when it came to trying to get you to upgrade your drinks package or attend the onboard wine tasting. Service was generally okay, if a little slow in the dining rooms and bars, and there were a couple standouts that we got to know really well (shout-out to Aziza!).
Several pre-booked excursions for members of our party ended up being cancelled due to lack of participants (but only the English speaking tours???) and the cruise line was really bad at communicating that ahead of time. All we got was a paper notice in our cabin the day before we were supposed to go saying the excursion was cancelled. The excursions we did go on were fantastic but I credit most of that to the local tour guides, not the cruise line.
The onboard shop closed halfway through our sailing and the crew were boxing things up a couple days before the end of the cruise.
I think Celestyal could have done a lot better making the farewell cruise for the Crystal feel like a celebration but instead it just felt like more of a sad moving party we just happened to be there to witness.
I’d say the Mirror & Curtain is for so if the sun shines in the cabin it isnt reflected straight to if you lying on the bed
I’m convinced now! A small ship is how I shall go for my first cruise!❤🎉
Ben saying the ship looks good for being 40 years old, me thinking 'ah, from the 60s then', then remembering I am 40 years old and crumbling into dust.
😂😂😂 solidarity ❤️
Well look at the calendar and call me 40-something. I felt the same thing!
😂
OMG same. Yeah I was born in the 80s but shut up, I'm not 40, the year is still 2003 in my mind. 😂
I am 80, still going strong, solo cruiser. We were built to last.
sometimes less is more.... the advantages of small ship cruising getting into more discrete locations & avoiding the loading & unloading bun-fights makes the omission of water-slides & race cart tracks worthwhile. They look great. Thanks for the heads up.
What a lovely cruise with so many places to see. Being old school, I'd enjoy an older ship/room without slides and all that falderal in exchange for all those ports and good food. Sounds like this line is a true gem for those of us more into laid back travel.
So nice to see you on a ship of that size. No huge crowds! The food & the crew seems lovely.
Love a smaller ship that doesn’t cost a fortune. How nice! David was eating stuffed grape leaves. So yummy!
Also known as dolmades 😊
Amazing cruise and prices! The food included looked incredible, much less the specialty dining. I love that they can get into ports others can't, stay in port for a long time, port days at a new destination every day and they give you listening devices to hear the tour guide instead of everyone having to pile in close to hear. What a deal! ☺️
I'm so happy I worked on ships years ago and got to visit some of these places. Sad to hear this beautiful ship will be scrapped. Such a crying shame.
I’m sold guys, this cruise looks great. The joys of sailing with 6000 other people are lost on me and Celestyal looks perfect.
exactly what I'm thinking
'Celestyal looks perfect' - from what you say, it will be perfect for you. As it was for us 😊
1000 is a scary amount of people to me
I did 18 nights with Celestyal last Christmas and New Yeaer. I told the guys in the restaurant how much I missed Filipino food....next meal, and every second day after that, I had Filipino food delivered to my table. This is a fabulous cruise line that surprised the heck out of me!.
That is so lovely! 😊
Crew food includes philipino, indonesean, indian etc.
This was amazing. Btw, I am puertorican, and we are loud as well, so I found your observations on the loudness of the Greek people quite amusing 😂.
You are both so amazing! I have a confession to make. When I became part of your patreon, I saw that you were having a group cruise on The Valiant Lady. I spoke to Walter (Where's Walter Travel) and he told me it's all sold out. I called Virgin, I found a room on your sailing! I adore Walter but I snatched up that room!I know that I won't be able to be part of many of your group cruise activities but I am so hoping to say Hello, to the most amazing travel duo in cruising!
Very smart. I wondered why more people just don't book the cruise even if not in the official group.
What dates, roughly and from where are you sailing?
On the Valient lady.
Stalker
Where's Walter should be able to take over your reservation and have you added to the group rate and charge you any difference unless it's a close in sailing.
Maybe the mirror curtain is there to not reflect any light as you sleep
Such a fun cruise! I wonder if the curtain that slides over the mirror is to limit the reflection of the sun from heating up your bed or the rest of the room. It could also limit reflections at night, potentially allowing for better sleep. I could be way off, but worth a thought!
Awesome video Ben and David. When I visited Kusadasi, the guide explained that in the cold mornings, the ‘masters’ would send their ‘servants’ to go sit on the cold stone to warm the seat for them. The Greek Isles is amazing!
The ship itself has an amazing story! Built in 1978 as the car ferry Viking Saga for the Baltic sea (google the ship, you won't believe it's the same ship!) she caught fire in 1990 while in dock! Afterwards she was cut apart and the engines and parts of the hull was used to rebuild it to the shape she has today, christened the Sally Albatross in 1991!
It continues to be a ship with a story.
There have been rumours that Celestyal had sold this ship to a Japanese company, but they recently made an announcement to the contrary. Strangely though, it no longer appears on their website and it seems the Japanese company, Shimizu, doesn't actually exist.
Incidentally, doesn't Albatross seem a rather strange name for a ship? Especially one with such a turbulent history!
Interesting! I love a good (or any, really) boat story 🛥️
I sailed on her when she was with Norwegian cruise lines!
Leeward.
Thats so crazy I went on this ship when I was 15 with my parents back in 2011 when it was called Louis Crystal! I recognized the carpet in the hallway immediatly and just went to double check in my old pictures😂 Hello from Qc, Canada!🤩
If you ever feel like stopping cruise reviews, I would watch your reviews of restaurants. Love your assessment of food!
Buy please don’t stop cruising!
I was on the Celestyal Olympia last year out of Athens (stopped at 5 ports). We did an ocean view room. The food was good. Very good cruise for the price. I bought 2 Turkish rugs, which were delivered to the US about 8 weeks later. It was a great cruise. Hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did.
We really enjoyed it too!
I’m really not being nosy, but price ways--how is it difference from RC or Princess?
Ben, I just heard your comment about taking cake from someone’s party that you weren’t supposed to.
It reminded me of one of my funniest travel memories. I was a teenager, and my grandmother, her best friend from kindergarten (Doris,) and my mom and I went on a trip to Italy.
We were staying in this very fancy hotel in Florence. The hotel did not have a cup of coffee in the hotel room, and Doris said she was going downstairs to find a cup of coffee. We went with her.
The hotel said their coffee shop was closed due to a massive High-end fashion show in their ballroom, and they had a huge reception. Because of that, they had closed their coffee shop.
We saw a door by the ballroom, and there were thousands of people inside, every woman was wearing a formal evening gown and all of the men were wearing tuxedos. There were numerous TV networks they are broadcasting. The fashion show as it happened.
Doris looked at us and said, “well, hell. If I can’t get a cup of coffee because they’re having this fashion show, then we’re going to enjoy the fashion show. Come on.” She proceeded to walk right into the fashion show and we followed her. We found some empty chairs when we got inside. Everyone there was laughing at how out of place we looked. Of course I was as well.
Here we were, a bunch of American tourists wearing our T-shirts and shorts, in this formal fashion show. But we sat down and enjoyed the entire show, including celebrating the designer’s birthday when they brought out a gigantic cake.
We left as the show was over, and they had men at all the doors handing each woman a red rose. Of course, Doris, Grandmomma and Mom took a rose each as well. We just followed the entire crowd to the gigantic reception. I’ve never seen so many ice carvings, and massive cakes as I saw that day. And I’ve been to a lot of events.
We ate so much food at that reception. It was just amazing.
And yes, at the reception we found coffee for Doris. Once she had her cup of coffee, it was the end of a perfect night.
Still one of my by far favorite memories of traveling ever.
Dolmadas. Vine leaves with meat inside.
the ship was also originally a boxy cruise ferry but because of a fire was scrapped down to the waterline then rebuilt. so she is still modern. amazing history!
Back in the late '80's, I won a cruise, for two, with a cruise line I had never heard of before......Home Lines. They had 2 ships, and were soon retiring them to Disney. We went to Bermuda, and had the time of our lives! The cabins were nothing to write home about, but they were comfortable and clean. We got to know many passengers, on board, because it was small. it was the first time I ever has Beef Wellington, and I fell in love. We sailed on Norwegian and Princess, and I can honestly say, this cruise was right up there!! There's something to be said for older, smaller ships!!
Having a mirror facing the bed can disturb your sleep, especially if you're sensitive to light. Even if the room is dark, any light reflected off the mirror can cause discomfort and prevent you from falling asleep or staying asleep.
My wife and I did the Three Continents cruise on this ship in 2019 - just before the world went crazy.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything is on a smaller scale and in many ways all the better for it. The cabin (inside) was comfortable, the restaurant was excellent and the service felt more personal. Having all the key excursions included in the price was also a welcome feature (though it looks like they've now changed this to a voucher system).
We've just returned from an MSC Norwegian Fjords cruise and the two cruises are obviously night and day. We enjoyed both - each for what it was. This is something which a lot of cruise passengers seem to forget when commenting on their experience with different lines.
I think the cover for the mirror is to prevent the reflection of light from hitting your face in the morning...
What a phenomenal video. Thank you Ben and David for taking us along with you. It was simply fabulous!
Our pleasure!
I love you guys and want to thank you. I got back from an Alaskan cruise last week that didn't go as planned. I spent a year planning everything. Our excursion for the Glacier and sled dog ride was cancelled because of the weather. I was sick in bed for 2 days so I missed Skagway. Turns out I had Covid. I've been watching some of your videos today and you had me laughing as you always do. Thank you!
Sillily? Love it! You're the best!😊
The video literally was deciding factor in my parents booking a cruise with this company. Thanks for giving such detailed experience with such charm!!!❤
Well throw me on the floor and call me a rug! I’ve never had a Greekgasm but now I want to 🤣🤣🤣
Celestyal is so underrated ! We are trying the Journey next year to see how it has changed with the new ship 🎉
How enjoyable to go to ports and have it be so reasonable to buy food, drinks and other items for so cheap!! Live that! ❤️❤️
The ship didn't seem that small to me but I guess compared to the modern mega ships, it is. It looked charming and having less crowd and amenities gave me an idea of what old time cruises used to be. If I'm ever in a position to take a cruise, Celestyal Cruises would be my pick. Thanks for the tour.
What a great value and a wonderful way to see Greece!!! Love your enthusiasm- it’s infectious ❤ Santorini and Greece in general is on my bucket list!!
You guys do a great job! Really enjoying your vlogs. I am very excited about Celestyal - never heard of it until a client (I am a travel advisor) requested it. Most of my clients are upscale or luxury travelers but this looks like it could please no matter the client, as long as they want a Greek experience. Thank you!
I believe a mirror facing the bed brings bad luck or negative energy. Some even say it’s easier for spirits to crossover.
Thank you Ben and David for reviewing a smaller and unique cruise ship. I think it would be a fun way of visiting more of Greece than the large resort ships.
I loved this cruise so much! Everything about it was different and more adventurous than the other cruise lines.
I love the "Alexander The Great" tastyness Ben shares with us. A man with a true love of food and I love hearing him describe the tasty bites!!! Thanks Ben 💛💙
I just booked a Celestyal cruise via a Gate1 itinerary - I'd been questioning the cruise portion of the itinerary before I watched your video. Now I'm taking my mom to Greece, a dream trip for her! Thanks so much for this vid that assured me the cruise line was legit!!
Hi Ben and David. Like you, I've not heard about this cruise line. For the age of the ship it really looked very comfortable. The food both on and off the ship, oh my!! Yummy. Can't wait to see the rest. Certainly a good value compared to other lines. Love the fact you can spend so much time in port. As always, thank you for bringing us along. You are both awesome ❤❤
When I saw that curtain I actually thought that maybe it was covering a connecting door. Connecting doors always freak me out.😁
Guys, your bringing back great memories. We took the Celestyal Crystal about 4 yrs ago and it was the most amazing cruise I've ever taken! Usually loyal to Royal but the size of the Crystal is perfect for visiting the Greek Isles. Hope you both enjoyed it as much as we did!
That's wonderful to hear that you had such an amazing experience on the Celestyal Crystal! Thanks for sharing your positive feedback! 😊🚢🇬🇷🏝️
This video made me want to go Greek, for all the wonderful looking food. I felt full around 23:44
Wow this looked like an amazing cruise to take all that good greek food!!!
Hi guys, that looked so much fun and better on the smaller ship. Food appeared to be really tasty and again something different 👍
The leaves are called Dolmas their stuffed grape leaves with rice and herbs inside I like the ones with mint to the flavor and they're usually packed in olive oil when you get Them in a can
Greece is one of our favorite countries, with Oia on Santorini, one of our all time favorite places to visit. We have been lucky enough to visit 2x, and spend a total of 8 nights. In the evening, it is quieter and the lights make it magical. We also loved visiting Kusadasi, & Ephesus. Have never even thought of Celestial, so finding this very interesting so far. Thanks Ben & David. ❤❤
I really appreciate how your videos don't just highlight the cruise ship its self, but you also highlight the stops and the food. So well done!! I don't even cruise but LOVE your videos!! p.s. I LOVE greek pastichio, I even make it myself at home. It's the nutmeg béchamel that does it for me.
Thanks for sharing! I hadn't heard about this cruise line ever! Glad to know that it exists. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoy your videos. I wish I could go on your cruise group.
It would be awesome to on a cruise with Ben and David!!😊
That's perfect! Thanks so much! We were looking for a Greek Island cruise that offered docking hours outside of the big cruise ship "Rush Hours" --when everything onshore is overcrowded with tourists.
@ 15:32 - Those are stuffed grape leaves and either dolmas or dolmades in Greek. It's not easy to get a good one when dining out. Haven't had them in years because no one in my house likes them except for me. Too much work for just me, but I do like them.
Thank you so much for reviewing these type of cruises-I’m very much interested in a Med cruise where I have very little “sea days” and far more port time
I quite literally snorted out loud when hearing "You FETA be ready for this one."
Me too lol
Thank you for this video! It is so refreshing to look at smaller cruise lines with different itineraries.
What a fabulous cruise! It`s lovely to do something different, and to explore new places; especially those with such a rich history! The food all looks so good too! Can`t wait to see the rest of the cruise. Love from Vancouver Island Canada
Kudasi looks absolutely gorgeous. It's definitely on my bucket list.
That curtain over the mirror maybe a feng Shui thing 😊
For a 40 year old ship it is in marvelous condition. Love the pirate ship
I worked on Celebrity cruises which was originally a greek cruise line. Most of our officers and captains were greek. Whenever we would be in the med they would all have their families on board.
Santorini is my favorite port of all the ones I went to over the years.
When i went to Ephesus our guide smartly got us ahead of the crowd and we got some great pics of the library and the arena with nearly no people
Greece has a strong history of shipping in general.
Definitely going to look into this cruise line when I visit Greece!
Ive bumped into celestyl cruises multiple times in port and their crews. Lovely people and definitely a very underrated small cruise line.
This was such a great video, really enjoyed every bit of it . Going on a Greek cruise is definitely on my bucket list . This looks more Authentic than so many others and good prices . Thanks guys , looking forward to next lot of content 😊❤
Just recently discovered you after my first cruise with TUI. I think both of you are amazing. Love the content. Enjoying catching up on what I have missed! Thanks for doing what you do. Love to you both. ❤️
Thank you so much for your kind words and for joining our community! We're thrilled to have you as a viewer, and we appreciate your support. ❤️🚢😊
Fabulous -- thanks for doing something SO different. The Greek people know how to make coffee, unlike the swill Starbucks sells.
We are so excited that you got to visit Greece. I Am greek American and my husband is greek a native. We will definitely look into this ship it looked awesome. You made us laugh when. You were trying our greek quinine.
Loved this video. I have been looking for a Greek cruise that focuses on Greece and Turkey rather than the typical ones that include Spain and Italy. I hope there is a part 2 to this one.
Yes, there is a part 2, and it will be coming next Sunday! 😊🚢📅
Ben and David ...thank you for showing us the Celestial cruise liner. I've never heard of this line but from the looks of it I may have to try it...
I am also baffled by that curtain. Never seen that before. 🤔
I’ve never heard of them either! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Another top-notch vid. Y'all need to put out a book with all of the little sayings. "Well, plop me in a chair and call me seated!" I mean, I'd buy the first copy.
And I would buy the 2nd and the 3rd.
Can’t wait for part two of your cruise! There will be a part two, won’t there?
Yes, there is a part 2, and it will be coming next Sunday! 😊🚢📅
I went to Efeze 20 years ago. There were only 4 people there, which was great! It still looks great, though! The last letter of Kusadasi is actually an i without the dot which is pronounced like the first 'e' in were. Love that you are exploring a new cruise ship.
I know I'll never be able to go on a cruise much less there. So I love watching you take these trips and living it through you . Cheers
I remember during the time when Yugoslavia was still intact, Greece and Turkey were the preferred vacation spots for Serbs, a preference that continues today. It was a common sight to see almost every family returning home with freshly acquired curtains and carpets!
Thanks guys for another delightful review! I would take this cruise in a heartbeat. My late husband and I went on 12 cruises, the first around 35 years ago, and I have always been more attracted to smaller vintage/retro ships rather than the mega-monstrosities that are the current rage. I was only recently introduced to you guys by an old friend and I am hooked!!
So funny when you said your spirit would leave the other mirror 😂🤣
Great choice for someone that loves photography, and wants to photograph that part of the world. Camera 📸 ❤
Thanks for introducing us to this cruise line! Something to think about
Incredible! We sailed on this very ship for our first and second cruise ever when it was the Norwegian Leeward in 1998 to Cozumel and Key West. I thought that the ship looked familiar. We looked it up and sure enough, it was the NCL Leeward. Great little ship. When we arrived on the ship, we were greeted by the crew lined on both sides of the entranceway with white gloves and we were escorted to our room. I shot skeet off the back of the ship. The captain at the time said that they called it the yacht of the fleet. Would be nice to cruise on it again.
I’ve been wondering if you guys have visited Kusadasi, so glad to see this. It’s mind boggling!
Thank you for introducing me to this cruise line. We are planning a European cruise, and we don't need a big fancy ship, because it's really just our floating hotel. We want to see as much of Europe as we can. This is a nice affordable option for us.
I honestly thought he bought all those carpets after having that beverage haha! ...and the face thing at the end of the video is just hilarious
Thank you for a great video! I just might have to think about this cruise line for Greece... looked amazing! Can't wait for the rest of this series...
You're welcome! 😊🚢🇬🇷
I sailed on Celestyal Crystal in 2017 when the experience was a little more inclusive. It was a fantastic itinerary and a great trip, but the ship and experience were very much oversold as luxury.
Some of the escorted tour companies package Celestyal with land trios, and i gathered from other passengers they expected a lot more from the cruise portion of their trip.
That said, it's quite the multicultural experience and was fun. Instead of a ship full of English speakers, there were many countries and languages represented. The most impressive part, hands down, was how our Cruise Director could seamlessly go between seven spoken languages without taking a breath.
Always beware with included excursions because the entire ship will be going for the most part. It takes a lot of time to sort people into their trour groups/buses. If you have the budget, private or small group tours are the way to go.
I wouldn't hesitate to travel with Celestyal again, but now I'm more prepared for what to expect.
I love all the tagging in Thessaloniki. It’s real and shows the character of a place
I believe the curtain in front of the mirror is to prevent afternoon glare from the light outside, it often hits the mirror and reflects into the room.
i would say you were lucky to have rain while visiting ephesus...brings out the colours of all the stone and marble through this ancient city...and its nice a cool
Thank you for mentioning the size/capasity of the ship. Very Important. And, again, Awesome job!
"I've got goose pimples!" hahaha, you two are so delightful. Love your work 💜
Looks amazing! Praying for all the people in Greece due to the fires.
I have been binging on your channel since I found it and I have really enjoyed & appreciated them……BUT…this was my favourite video …You are both brilliant!
Thanks guys! Nice to see the old Sally Albatross/Silja Opera still sailing. But I haven't been onboard since the home port was Helsinki.
Thanks for your great videos.
How wonderful to see you enjoying one of the last cruises on Crystal! We sailed on her when Celestyal was doing Cuba cruises back in 2017. Love the smaller ship size and the incredible staff. At the end of October this year, we'll be on board Celestyal's newest ship, Journey, on a 3 Continents cruise.
Excellent video. We’ve been waiting for this one. We did this cruise in June 2022. We bought one of those rugs!!