Celestyal unveils first winter sun western Mediterranean cruises

Celestyal is to start offering winter sun cruises around the western Mediterranean, boosting choice for passengers in the region.

The cruise line, which mainly focuses on the Greek islands, has unveiled its first dedicated western Mediterranean programme, which will begin in November 2026.

Sailing onboard the 1,360-guest Celestyal Discovery, the season starts with a repositioning cruise from Athens to Barcelona that departs on 28 November 2026.

From there, passengers can book onto a 14-night “Mediterranean Odyssey” voyage that combines Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Departing on either 5 or 19 December, the sailing includes overnight stays in both Barcelona and Lisbon as well as a late stay in Casablanca and a visit to Tangier. The itinerary will also include stops in smaller ports such as Sète in France. Prices start from £949pp.

The itinerary can be split as a seven-night voyage sailing either from Barcelona to Lisbon or vice-versa. Prices for the shorter journeys start at £569 per person.

The same iteniraries will operate in winter 2027/2028.

Celestyal had based its cruise ships in the Middle East for the previous two winters but had to end its most recent season early amid the Iran conflict. It is unclear when the cruise line will return to the region.

Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal, said: “For more than a decade, we’ve become known for delivering authentic and immersive experiences across the Greek islands and eastern Mediterranean. The time is now right for us to expand west and bring that same philosophy to a new collection of destinations.

“Rather than simply visiting the headline ports, we’ve carefully designed these itineraries to showcase the true character of the western Mediterranean. Alongside the overnight stays in Barcelona and Lisbon we’ve included hidden gems such as Sète and extended time ashore, allowing guests to connect even more with the destinations they visit.”

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