Celestyal is introducing a new fare type and removing its current packages as it tries to simplify its offering.
Celestyal One will include the cruise fare, WiFi, filter coffee, tea, water and juice between 6am and 10pm, unlimited soft drinks in the main restaurants with meals, as well as port fees, taxes and gratuities.
The Greek Islands specialist is replacing all beverage packages with a prepaid food and beverage “wallet” called CelestyalPay.
Passengers can either add charges to their account during their sailing or preload CelestyalPay wallet prior to departure. Guests who do the latter will receive a top-up bonus credit from the cruise line.
If they put €1,000 on the waller, they will receive a €250 bonus. A €750 tab will get a €175 bonus and a €500 tab will receive a €100 bonus and so on.
The changes will take effect on all bookings from 11 December 2024 for cruises departing from 21 March 2025.
Speaking during a media briefing call on Wednesday (13 November), chief commercial officer Lee Haslett said: “We’ve had a really successful year and guests have loved the changes that we’ve made.
“However, there have been a few things that have been niggling away at us. People loves the simplicity of our product. There have been questions about the drinks packages that we offer, so these changes have been in response to that.”
Meanwhile, the line confirmed 47 cabins will be added to Celestyal Discovery before April 2025. The extra capacity will mean the ship will carry up to 1,300 passengers – a 7.4% uplift.
The new staterooms will include two Grand Horizon suites, 30 Junior Dream suites – a new accommodation category for the ship, and 15 Cosmos cabins.
It comes after Celestyal vowed to avoid discounting "core" products in the Aegean Sea.
Haslett revealed the line had been forced to cut prices on Arabian Gulf sailings, which start on 30 November.
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