Celebrity Cruises has added new sailings in the Mediterranean for the 2017 season, when it will offer cruises in the Mediterranean and northern Europe onboard four ships: Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Silhouette.
That year the line’s newest ship, Celebrity Reflection, will double the amount of sailings offered to the French, Italian and Spanish Rivieras, offering eight 11-night “Best of the Western Mediterranean” sailings. These sailings call at ports including Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy, Nice (Villefranche), France and Gibraltar, the United Kingdom, as well as four different stops in Spain, including an overnight stay in Barcelona.
For 2017, Celebrity Constellation will set out on an assortment of nine- and 10-night sailings that take guests to Mediterranean destinations including new ports of call for Celebrity Monte Carlo, Monaco and Sète.
In port, travelers can join one of Celebrity’s shore or overnight excursion offerings, as well as multi-day trips. Celebrity’s shore excursion lineup includes:
- Theatrical Play “Antigone” by Sophocles – A theatrical performance of Sophocles’ “Antigone,” in Mykonos. The play, written in 441 B.C., is one of the most famous of the Greek tragedies. After the play, attendees will explore Mykonos.
- Portofino and Italian Riviera Land and Sea Tour – This excursion explores the beauty of the Italian Riviera, including Portofino and two other stops on the Gulf of Paradise. The trip begins with a winding, cliff-side drive to Santa Margherita before sailing on Paraggi Bay and exploring Rapallo to see its famous 16th-century castle.
- Belgium Chocolate Workshop – Foodies can explore the chocolate capital of Belgium on a guided walking tour through Market Square and on to a chocolatier’s workshop to see first-hand how fine Belgian chocolates are made.
- Catherine Palace and Amber Restoration Workshop – During a visit to St. Petersburg, Russia, culture seekers will visit Catherine Palace, the summer residence of the Russian tsars, with a tour of the world-famous Amber Room and experience an Amber restoration workshop.
Celebrity also offers sailings to coincide with three of Europe's most iconic events. The Signature Event Sailings include a visit to The French Open in June 2017 onboard Celebrity Eclipse, and two special sailings to The British Open onboard Celebrity Silhouette departing in July 2017. Celebrity Silhouette will also offer two additional Signature Event Sailings to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August 2017.
Additionally, Celebrity is now introducing the “Summer Camp at Sea” on all European sailings, allowing children to enjoy a vacation that moves beyond purely entertainment, to also deliver enriching and inspiring activities. From offering the “Creation Station” program that allows children to express themselves creatively, to putting their chef skills to the test with a cooking at sea program, children ages 3-17 have a range of educational activities at their fingertips.
For foodies, the line will be offering the Taste of Europe culinary program, which offers complimentary events for adults at sea. Events include a culinary demo with Celebrity featured chefs, mixology demos and wine tastings. Exclusive events are also available for a fee, including a fresh pasta and mozzarella making class (followed by lunch in Tuscan Grille), and an exclusive five-course tasting dinner with Celebrity chefs.
Also available the Taste of Europe Premium Package, which gives guests a taste of all of the culinary, wine and cocktail experiences available onboard Celebrity Cruises, from the Chef Market Discovery excursion to a “Blentique” wine blending class to a Riedel Wine comparison workshop.
Finally, the line has debuted a “Two If By Sea” offer for nearly all of the brand’s 2017-2018 sailings. Guests who book an oceanview or higher stateroom from September 1, 2016, until October 2, 2016, will save 50 percent off the second guest’s fare and both can enjoy complimentary Classic beverage packages. Guests who choose to “Go Big” can swap their beverage package for one of three additional options: an unlimited high-speed Internet package, prepaid gratuities or $150 to spend onboard per person. Full details about this offer are available at celebritycruises.com/halfoff.