Celestyal Cruises


	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Celestyal Cruises Commences its Fourth Year Sailing To Cuba -- Now Offering Year-Round Sailings and P2P Program that Gives American Travelers Even More Opportunities to Experience Authentic Cuba and Its People* --* Piraeus, Greece –December 7, 2016 –Celestyal Cruises, the true specialist in destination centric cruising, is delighted to announce its fourth year of cruise operation in Cuba. After three successful seasons, the company now sails to Cuba year-round, providing thrilled passengers from across the globe the opportunity to experience Cuba authentically with programs that showcase: interactions with its people, culture and customs; historically important and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites; delicious Cuban cuisine, music, and more on board and ashore. The extended sailing season means passengers will have more time to enjoy this unique immersion into Cuban culture. For U.S. travelers, a people-to-people itinerary is offered by Celestyal Cruises that meets current U.S. legal requirements for a full time program of educational and cultural exchange activities. Special shore excursions have been designed to comply with OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) regulations while providing opportunities for personal discovery and enrichment. Click here for the complete itinerary: http://yourcubacruise.com/special-programs-us-citizens-and-residents. The cruise line's meticulously crafted, all-inclusive Cuba cruises include two days in Havana, with calls also at Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. This unique circumnavigation of Cuba enables travelers to experience a mix of iconic ports and hard-to-reach hidden gems of the region, with shore excursions at each port of call designed to provide meaningful personal exchanges with the country's people and showcase the wonderful sights, sounds and tastes Cuba has to offer. The authentic Cuba by Celestyal Cruises program is designed to be inclusive and hassle-free – without additional costs – the cruise program, meals on board, drinks, entertainment, gratuities, and selected excursions are included in one price. Celestyal Cruises is pleased to welcome American travelers aboard its Cuba cruise sailings via two easy ways: booking directly with their travel agent or Celestyal Cruises and they will be automatically registered for the People to People Cuba Cruise group program with Celestyal Cruises and Mediterranean Cruise Consultants, Inc.; or they can book a comprehensive program with an authorized U.S. tour operator partner. The cruise embarks every Monday from Havana, and every Friday from Montego Bay, Jamaica. Additional details are available online at www.cuba.celestyalcruises.com. About Celestyal Cruises: Celestyal Cruises is the only home-porting cruise operator in Greece and the preeminent cruise line serving the Greek Islands and the island of Cuba. The company operates five mid-sized ships, ideal for the provision of highly personal service. Every cruise focuses on true cultural immersion, offering an authentic experience of the regions in which the vessels sail. Sustainability Celestyal Cruises is deeply committed to sustainability and ethical business practice. The company supports the local communities in the destinations it visits, particularly in the field of education. Since 2015, more than 1,000 students on the islands of Milos, Patmos and Ios have enjoyed a ‘journey to knowledge’ by attending the Museums Program, an initiative by Celestyal Cruises to bring interactive exhibits from the highly-respected Herakleidon Museum to remote areas so students can learn first-hand about the connection between science, art and mathematics. In addition to this innovative program, Celestyal Cruises supports cultural NGOs and promotes entrepreneurship, marine student development and child welfare. ISO Certification Following the successful ISO 9001/14001 auditing of three of the company’s ships and the company’s offices, Celestyal Cruises’ operations are now certified in accordance with ISO 9001/14001 standards. This relates to the entire spectrum of cruise ship management including technical, hotel and crew management. The certifying authority is DNV-GL, by far the biggest and most respected classification society in the marine industry. Awards In 2016, the company won the prestigious Editor’s Pick award from Cruise Critic UK, the world’s largest online cruise community, in the “Best Value for Money (Ocean)” category. Celestyal Cruises has received such prestigious awards as the Greek Tourism Awards (winning gold and silver in four categories in 2016), the Efkranti Awards and the HR Community Conference & Awards. The company was a finalist in the UK’s WAVE Awards. Media Contact: Marlene Oliver, APR NJC Communications Direct: 305-491-0512 moliver@njccorp.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Celestyal Cruises Commences its Fourth Year Sailing To Cuba
-- Now Offering Year-Round Sailings and P2P Program that Gives American Travelers Even More Opportunities to Experience Authentic Cuba and Its People --

Piraeus, Greece –December 7, 2016 –Celestyal Cruises, the true specialist in destination centric cruising, is delighted to announce its fourth year of cruise operation in Cuba. After three successful seasons, the company now sails to Cuba year-round, providing thrilled passengers from across the globe the opportunity to experience Cuba authentically with programs that showcase: interactions with its people, culture and customs; historically important and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites; delicious Cuban cuisine, music, and more on board and ashore. The extended sailing season means passengers will have more time to enjoy this unique immersion into Cuban culture.

For U.S. travelers, a people-to-people itinerary is offered by Celestyal Cruises that meets current U.S. legal requirements for a full time program of educational and cultural exchange activities. Special shore excursions have been designed to comply with OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) regulations while providing opportunities for personal discovery and enrichment. Click here for the complete itinerary: http://yourcubacruise.com/special-programs-us-citizens-and-residents.

The cruise line's meticulously crafted, all-inclusive Cuba cruises include two days in Havana, with calls also at Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. This unique circumnavigation of Cuba enables travelers to experience a mix of iconic ports and hard-to-reach hidden gems of the region, with shore excursions at each port of call designed to provide meaningful personal exchanges with the country's people and showcase the wonderful sights, sounds and tastes Cuba has to offer. The authentic Cuba by Celestyal Cruises program is designed to be inclusive and hassle-free – without additional costs – the cruise program, meals on board, drinks, entertainment, gratuities, and selected excursions are included in one price.

Celestyal Cruises is pleased to welcome American travelers aboard its Cuba cruise sailings via two easy ways: booking directly with their travel agent or Celestyal Cruises and they will be automatically registered for the People to People Cuba Cruise group program with Celestyal Cruises and Mediterranean Cruise Consultants, Inc.; or they can book a comprehensive program with an authorized U.S. tour operator partner. The cruise embarks every Monday from Havana, and every Friday from Montego Bay, Jamaica. Additional details are available online at www.cuba.celestyalcruises.com.

About Celestyal Cruises:
Celestyal Cruises is the only home-porting cruise operator in Greece and the preeminent cruise line serving the Greek Islands and the island of Cuba. The company operates five mid-sized ships, ideal for the provision of highly personal service. Every cruise focuses on true cultural immersion, offering an authentic experience of the regions in which the vessels sail.

Sustainability
Celestyal Cruises is deeply committed to sustainability and ethical business practice. The company supports the local communities in the destinations it visits, particularly in the field of education. Since 2015, more than 1,000 students on the islands of Milos, Patmos and Ios have enjoyed a ‘journey to knowledge’ by attending the Museums Program, an initiative by Celestyal Cruises to bring interactive exhibits from the highly-respected Herakleidon Museum to remote areas so students can learn first-hand about the connection between science, art and mathematics. In addition to this innovative program, Celestyal Cruises supports cultural NGOs and promotes entrepreneurship, marine student development and child welfare.

ISO Certification
Following the successful ISO 9001/14001 auditing of three of the company’s ships and the company’s offices, Celestyal Cruises’ operations are now certified in accordance with ISO 9001/14001 standards. This relates to the entire spectrum of cruise ship management including technical, hotel and crew management. The certifying authority is DNV-GL, by far the biggest and most respected classification society in the marine industry.

Awards
In 2016, the company won the prestigious Editor’s Pick award from Cruise Critic UK, the world’s largest online cruise community, in the “Best Value for Money (Ocean)” category. Celestyal Cruises has received such prestigious awards as the Greek Tourism Awards (winning gold and silver in four categories in 2016), the Efkranti Awards and the HR Community Conference & Awards. The company was a finalist in the UK’s WAVE Awards.

Media Contact:
Marlene Oliver, APR
NJC Communications
Direct: 305-491-0512
moliver@njccorp.com