Celestyal Opens Bookings for 190 Mediterranean Shore Excursions

Celestyal has opened bookings for 190 shore excursions across its new winter Western and Eastern Mediterranean deployments. Announced September 26, 2026, the collection includes half-day, full-day and two-day options.

The program allocates 118 excursions to Celestyal Discovery’s Western Mediterranean sailings in winter 2026-27 and 2027-28. Another 72 cover Celestyal Journey’s Eastern Mediterranean itineraries in winter 2027-28.

Celestyal is offering a 15 percent discount on all excursions for Discovery’s new 2026 Western Mediterranean itineraries when booked before September 30, 2026.

Smaller groups and local producers

The collection includes 27 new “Authentic Encounters,” featuring smaller groups and activities involving local residents and attractions. Celestyal is also introducing “Community Connections,” an excursion offering focused on contact with local people, producers and communities beyond conventional sightseeing.

John Diorio, Celestyal’s managing director and vice president for North America, said the Mediterranean experience is about “meeting the people who live there and understanding the traditions that have shaped it.” He said the company wants the excursions to deliver value to the people and businesses passengers visit.

In Tangier, passengers can take a hands-on tagine cooking class, while Cadiz offers a private flamenco and tapas experience. A gastronomic tour visits Palma’s Mercat de l’Olivar, and workshops in Valencia focus on the city’s Fallas festival.

Among the smaller-group Authentic Encounters is the full-day “Mamas and Tapas” tour. The half-day “Carcaixent Citrus Plantation & Spirit Tasting” falls under Community Connections, while an “Artisan Cheese Tour & Workshop” is another half-day option in the wider collection.

The Eastern Mediterranean choices include “A Taste of Istanbul” and an excursion from Volos on a historic mountain railway.

Winter routes add overnight calls

Journey’s new deployment begins in December 2027. Four seven-night “Mediterranean Mosaics” sailings between Athens and Istanbul can also be booked as three 14-night “Three Continents Explorer” combinations, revising Celestyal’s former Three Continents program.

The Athens-to-Istanbul route visits Alexandria, Limassol and Rhodes. An overnight call in Alexandria gives passengers more time for trips to Cairo and the pyramids, according to Diorio. He said Celestyal consulted guests and larger travel partners before deciding to restore Egypt to the program.

In the other direction, the itinerary calls at Thessaloniki, Volos, Kusadasi and Heraklion, with full-day visits in Volos and Heraklion. Those cruises include nights aboard in both Istanbul and Athens.

The winter expansion follows Celestyal’s May 2026 decision not to operate its planned Arabian Gulf program during winter 2026-27 and to increase Mediterranean capacity. Discovery’s first dedicated Western Mediterranean winter season went on sale July 1, ahead of its first December departures. Diorio said bookings were running ahead of the company’s expectations.

Seven-night winter Mediterranean cruise fares under Celestyal’s current promotion start at $549 per person, including meals, soft drinks, Wi-Fi, port fees and gratuities. The cruise booking campaign runs until November 2, 2026.

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