Celebrity Adds Istanbul Itineraries for 2011

mercedes · July 13, 2010

Celebrity Cruises has designed three new 12-night, port-intensive itineraries sailing roundtrip out of Istanbul in the early fall of 2011, aimed at connecting discerning cruisers with the Byzantine city of Istanbul and three new ports of call.

Celebrity's introduction of these new cruises marks the first time the cruise line has offered roundtrip cruises from the city on the famed BosphorusStrait that connects Asia and Europe, a unique placement that has long intrigued travelers due to its multiple cultures.

Presented on the newly revitalized, 2,034-guest Celebrity Constellation, the "Greek Isles and Turkey" cruises, sailing on September 19 and October 1 and 13, 2011, will each begin with an overnight in port in Istanbul, before spending a day at sea. Then, guests will enjoy stops in Ephesus (Kusadasi), Bodrum and Marmaris, Turkey; Rhodes, Santorini, Athens (Piraeus), Mykonos and Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece, before spending one more day at sea and returning to Istanbul. Bodrum, Marmaris and Chania are new ports for Celebrity Cruises and examples of ways the cruise line is designing unique experiences in exotic destinations to appeal to discerning cruisers.

The Istanbul itineraries will be bookended by Mediterranean sailings taking place on September 7 and October 25, 2011. On September 7, Celebrity Constellation will sail a 12-night itinerary from Amsterdam to Istanbul, featuring visits to Brugges, Belgium; Cherbourg, France; Vigo, Spain; Gibraltar, United Kingdom; Sicily, Italy and Athens. The 11-night October 25 cruise from Istanbul to Barcelona features an overnight stay in port in Istanbul, then visits to Athens; Naples, Rome, and Florence, Italy; Provence, France; and Palma de Mallorca. On November 5, Celebrity Constellation will reposition from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, Florida during a 14-night transatlantic voyage, featuring visits to Cartagena, Spain; Gibraltar; Madeira, Portugal; and Tenerife and La Palma, Canary Islands.

Guests who wish to extend their Istanbul experience can combine the October 13 roundtrip Istanbul cruise, the October 25 Istanbul-to-Barcelona cruise and the November 5 transatlantic cruise, without repeating any ports except Athens, for a 37-night extravaganza.