The Greek cruise operator Celestyal Cruises, with voyages through the Greek islands and Turkey, has announced the suspension of its operations until 2021. Celestyal Cruises announced they will resume cruises on the cruise ships Celestyal Crystal and Celestyal Olympia starting March 6, 2021.

Company’s Chief Commercial Officer Mr. Leslie Peden, said “By focusing our season between spring and fall, we were optimistic about our intention to resume our cruise operations later this summer. However, given the uncertainty regarding travel restrictions in the pending operating season, in our most important international markets of origin, and the continuous debates in the European Union about the reinforced sanitary protocols to be applied in cruise operations of the EU, we have made the difficult but responsible decision to postpone the resumption of our cruise operations until the usual start date of our spring season, next year.

We feel that, as a company, we have already subjected travel agencies and our clients to sufficient changes to safely return dates to cruises. By pausing operations until our departures next year, Celestyal Cruises will be able to offer more clarity and certainty to our valued partners and clients, as well as peace of mind. From now on, we focus our efforts on the development of our activity for both 2021 and 2022, where we see encouraging signs of demand, being well prepared to implement the strengthened health protocols that will finally be established by the EU and the countries in which we operate. While we appreciate and share the disappointment that this decision poses to our clients, their well-being,”

Holidaymakers who already booked cruises which are affected by this suspension, Celestyal Cruises will offer a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) valued at 120% of the original value of the reservation. Customers will be able to exchange their Future Cruise Credit until the end of December 2021 for any of the Celestyal Cruises itineraries with departures until the end of December 2022.