Greek cruise line Celestyal Cruises will provide complimentary travel insurance for all new individual bookings made from now through to November 30 for March to June 2021 sailings.

The new policy, which is provided by Allianz Global Assistance includes coverage for medical/hospitalisation expenses including those associated with COVID-19. Transportation costs to the nearest hospital as well as travel costs to the next port of call, if required are covered along with travel expenses to return home due to illness if required, and reimbursement for any unused portion of the cruise.

Passengers also have the option to upgrade their policy to include trip cancellation coverage for an additional fee.

“We are extremely optimistic about the future of cruising and are truly excited to introduce our guests to our newest addition to the fleet, the Celesytal Experience. We recognise that concerns surrounding the pandemic still exist, and we want to help put our guests at ease when booking with us for voyages during the first half of next year,” said Leslie Peden, chief commercial officer, Celestyal Cruises.

“Thus we’re proud to be one of the first in cruising to offer complimentary COVID cover travel insurance along with very attractive all-inclusive introductory pricing to help restore their confidence in booking that dream vacation that they likely had to put on hold this past year as a result of the pandemic.”

Celestyal’s first sailing of the 2021 season will be on March 6 on board its new flagship, the Celestyal Experience, with the seven-night “Three Continents” itinerary calling on Greece (Athens and Rhodes), Turkey (Kusadasi), Israel (Ashdod), Egypt (Port Said) and Cyprus (Limassol).  Beginning on April 3, 2021 the Celestyal Experience will set sail on the seven-night “Idyllic Aegean” itinerary visiting Athens, Rhodes, Crete (Agios Nikolaos), Santorini, Milos, Mykonos and Kusadasi (Ephesus). For a limited period, all-inclusive launch pricing starts at just $999 per person for an inside stateroom and the new Sana Wellness Junior Suites at just $2,719 per person. Celestyal has also reduced the deposit required to just $289 per stateroom.

Celestyal Cruises has also added extra departures to the special seven-night “Steps of Paul” itinerary due to popular demand, which traces the footsteps of St. Paul, the Apostle, across the Mediterranean, departing on October 16 and November 13, 2021. Additionally it has introduced an amended seven-night “Eclectic Aegean” itinerary to maximise time ashore and to offer Thessaloniki as a new embarkation/disembarkation port which is the second largest city in Greece with a rich cultural and culinary heritage being the gateway to the land of Alexander the Great, stellar nightlife, and laid-back authenticity. The seven-night ‘Eclectic Aegean’ has departures between October 23 and November 6, 2021.

The Celestyal Experience has a capacity of up to 1,800-guests in 789 staterooms, 166 of which feature balconies, sea terraces, and bridge-view verandas. The Celestyal Experience which has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment will offer an intimate onboard guest experience with all the warmth of traditional Greek hospitality. The ship is also well-suited for visiting smaller ports, a key differentiator for Celestyal, with destinations that remain off-limits to larger vessels.

The Celestyal Experience features a range of experiences for guests of all ages including four specialty restaurants, seven bars and lounges, two pools, two Jacuzzis, a beach club, sundeck, jogging track and state-of-the art two-deck panoramic Sana Wellness Spa. Rounding out the “Celestyal Experience” will be nightly entertainment, a casino, library, meeting rooms, and onboard boutiques, all topped off with a unique, specialty wine and cheese bar that will serve as a tribute to Mediterranean wines and cheeses.