Celestyal Crystal
Editor's note: This ship is no longer sailing as part of the Celestyal fleet.
Launched in 1980, Celestyal Crystal began as a Scandinavian ferry but might best be known to Americans for her brief stint as Norwegian Cruise Lineʼs Leeward. Since resold and renovated (most recently in 2014), the 1,200-passenger Celestyal Crystal is a perfectly sized ship for island hopping — big enough to carry three restaurants, a double-deck showroom, and a pool, but small enough to dock at lesser-known ports. Celestyal Crystal now sails year-round itineraries in Cuba.
What We Love
Wrap-Around Promenade: There is nothing better than working off a hearty dinner with a stroll around the promenade on a balmy night.
Fantastic Itineraries: Celestyal Crystal regularly calls on some of the most beautiful, historic places combined with stops in off-the-beaten track villages in the Aegean, Adriatic, or Cuba.
Best Known For
Good Value: Celestyal Crystal offers authentic food, abundant cultural enrichment, and comfortable, clean accommodations for a price that feels affordable compared to what other cruise lines are charging.
Land-Sea Combos: _Celestyal Crystalʼ_s itineraries are often sold as part of packages that include land tours in addition to the cruise.
Who It's Good For
This is an ideal ship for those who want to see and do as much as possible in a short period of time (and not so much for the floating-resort-type of crowd).