Celestyal’s Heavenly Greece, Italy, & Croatia: What To Expect

Athens-based cruise line Celestyal knows the Adriatic. Celestyal offers Greek island and Eastern Mediterranean itineraries, like the Iconic Greece sailings, available in four- and five-day lengths, and the eight-day Idyllic Greece. This year, the cruise line introduced a new itinerary for the region: Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia.

Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia (originally called Heavenly Adriatic & Italy) is an eight-day journey departing from Athens with stops in Kefalonia, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Bari, Corfu, and Katakolo. The itinerary is sailed on Celestyal Journey, a 1,260-guest ship that recently joined the boutique cruise line’s fleet.

Travel Market Report was invited to experience Celestyal’s new itinerary firsthand, alongside several members of the press and 24 travel advisors. Over eight days, the group sailed the (mostly) tranquil waters of the Adriatic coast, explored ancient ruins, and enjoyed local food and drink.

Celestyal Highlights Iconic Architecture in Dubrovnik, Puglia & Corfu

Celestyal’s Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia itinerary explores some of the region’s most striking architecture, historic ruins, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The itinerary offers a chance for travelers to check off two bucket-list attractions: the iconic Dubrovnik walls in Croatia and the trulli houses in Italy (pictured above).

In Dubrovnik, guests can walk along the city’s UNESCO-protected medieval walls, explore centuries-old stone buildings, and visit baroque churches nestled within the Old Town. Celestyal offers a range of shore excursions focused on Dubrovnik’s history, as well as a Game of Thrones location tour for lovers of the hit TV show.

In Bari, the capital of Italy’s Puglia region, travelers can choose between three distinct shore excursions focused on unique archetecture: a trip to see the picturesque “fairytale” trulli houses in Alberobello; a Saint Nicholas-focused guided tour of Bari’s Old Town, Swabian Castle, the Cathedral of San Sabino, and the Basilica de San Nicola; and an exploration of Ostuni, known as Italy’s “White City.”

A note on crowds: Both the Dubrovnik Old Town guided tour and the Alberobello tour are very busy. Even in early May, before peak travel season, both destinations were extremely crowded by midday.

In Corfu, guests can see the spectacular Achilleion. Built in 1890 for Empress Elisabeth of Austria (also known as Empress Sisi), the palace is one of the most renowned royal residences in Europe. The grounds offer spectacular panoramic views of nearby Corfu, and are decorated with marble statues inspired by Greek mythology, including the dying Achilles, the nine muses, and Arion.

Celestyal’s Itinerary Focuses on Cultural Immersion & History

Celestyal is known for prioritizing immersive experiences, and Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia does not disappoint on this front. Many shore excursions offer an intimate view of local communities and history, which can be enjoyed with a guide’s commentary or at one’s leisure.

A real standout was the Panoramic Dubrovnik, Village Life & Wine excursion. Guests visit a family-run Croatian winery for a tasting, then head to Poljica to see the traditional Dalmatian homestead and sample olive oil.

In Montenegro, guests can explore Budva and Kotor—another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Budva is a charming coastal city, while Kotor sits at the foot of majestic mountains. Both maintain an old-world charm, with surviving medieval architecture. Our tour, Kotor Off-Road Adventure, ran through a working farm and included a rustic picnic of local meats, cheese, and the local fruit-based brandy, rakija.

Celestyal’s Shore Excursions Offer Adventurous Routes to Experience the Adriatic

For the adventurous in spirit, Celestyal offers several opportunities to explore the Adriatic destinations in a more active travel style. In Kefalonia, guests can explore the captivating Drogarati Cave, and then see the spectacular Cave of Nymphs and Melissani Lake by rowboat.

In Bari, guests can skip the city views and opt for some spelunking: Celestyal’s Cool Caves and Clifftop Town shore excursion takes guests through Italy’s biggest cave network, Grottoes of Castellana. After reaching depths of 70 meters, the tour moves on to Polignano a Mare, a charming town perched on 20-meter-high limestone cliffs.

The aforementioned Kotor Off-Road Adventure tour brings guests to the top of Lovcen Mountain for spectacular views of the city below. Guests board jeeps, which hold four passengers (plus the driver), to drive off-road through winding paths in Lovcen National Park. It’s a bit of a rough ride, but that’s all part of the fun.

Note: The Kotor Off-Road Adventure tour is several hours long, and there are no bathrooms available. (Guests can wash their hands before sampling the Montenegrin cheese and ham at a portable hand-washing station.)

Celestyal Invites Travellers to Experience the Mediterranean Sans Crowds

The Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia offers clients a standout combination of Greece, Italy, Croatia, and Montenegro, but with a focus on more immersive and off-the-beaten-path experiences. Still, these are incredibly popular tourist destinations: there will be crowds.

Celestyal has devised clever ways to minimize time spent in crowds without compromising regional attractions. One such strategy is staying later than other cruise lines. In Dubrovnik, Celestyal stays in port until late in the evening (our all aboard time was 12:30 a.m., and the ship departed at 1:00 a.m.). The Old Town is busy during the day when multiple ships are in port, but by dinner time, there are significantly fewer people on the streets.

A tip from personal experience: Travel advisors should warn their clients that the main port gates close before the all aboard time. They should check with the port security officials what time the main gate closes that day, and be prepared to walk roughly 10 to 15 minutes from the secondary gates.

Montenegro is also a welcome respite from the crowds. Kotor is known for being busy in summer months, but in early May, the experience was markedly different. Celestyal Journey arrived at 7:00 a.m. and, after a brief tender, guests on shore excursions promptly boarded their awaiting transportation. The off-road Jeep experience was surprisingly intimate, with only about a dozen participants. The National Park was quiet and serene, with endless tall, dark trees nestled in the mist.

For travel advisors, these quieter moments are a key selling point. There are downsides: not all shops and attractions stay open in Dubrovnik into the evening, and the Croatian winery, while quaint and intimate, failed to impress. Regardless, Celestyal’s approach of longer port stays and curated, local-focused excursions offers excellent value at the boutique cruise line’s modest price point.