Emma, you belong on a major tv network as a travel reporter. Quitting your job was a good idea. It will work out for you. You have a real knack for this because you’re videos are well prepared and well done. And you’re quite charming at the same time. My wife and I love your videos and look forward to the weekly one minute update. You will surpass 100,000 subscribers in no time and be the Queen of cruise videos.
Istanbul, Türkiye (formerly Turkey) sits on two continents. Divided by the Bosphorus Strait, the eastern side of the city is in Asia; the western side is in Europe.
Your diverse cruising experience makes your reviews so much more interesting than the reviews of the other TH-camrs. Keep up the good work. Going to Greece next year. I won't go on the donkeys and I'll plan to pet the cats. Thanks for all you do.
This ship was Thomson Destiny from 2005-2012 and I sailed on it twice to the Canaries. It was old, traditional and wonderful. Thomson had it on charter from its current owners Louis Cruises (who bought it from RCI).
Emma, total agree on the poor donkey's it was a terrible sight to see when able-bodied people were going up on the donks and some of these people were really hefty. The heat was sweltering and the donkey's were slipping constantly. It would be great if the cruise lines get involved somehow in discussions with locals to help look after the animals welfare properly and to inform the passengers before disembarking on the issue. We saw pretty awful sights and it did spoil our day, in a nut shell use the cable car or walk up.
Someone posted the Freestyle Daily newsletter from NCL Jade a week or two ago on a message board. There was an advisory on the first page of the newsletter for that day to not use the donkeys.
@Martin thankyou for the commentary for those poor donkeys, some countries have no animal welfare laws. I hope people complain ALOT about that & even "suggest" to those people that are riding the poor furrbabies. 😪💔
@Chris Williams oh I could not agree more!! I have not & will not eat veal (badly treated baby calves) or foie gras(sp) ( grossly overfed fowl till death), yes being vegan saves not only slaughtered & inhumane treated cows, pigs, but they say if demand keeps up we do NOT have the land (currently cutting forest, wetlands) to support it all! Killing ourselves (HAVE TO HAVE TREES) To eat meat!! Try extra creamy OAT milk, its great!! I pray people will watch a slaughter house video & watch how a Momma milking cow hollars for days for the newborn calf the dairy takes away after hard birth. Very very sad & disgusting. FOR WHAT? 😭🙏
Surprisingly those donkeys look healthy for the work they do, compared to say the pyramid horses in Egypt I wonder if they've been working with Brook Charity, those guys are really passionate about donkeys
Thanks for speaking about the donkeys in Santorini... I felt bad when I saw that. My experience in Santorini was a memorable one but I hate how they use donkeys to carry human up the hill in a hot burning sun😢 I hate animal cruelty 😥 Thanks a lot Emma for telling people not to use donkeys. Enjoy your cruise guys but don't disrespect animals while on tours. These poor souls deserve to be fed on time.
Yeah, it was so hot and I was just there in the evening and walked up the hill ONCE. Felt so bad. I did think about whether I should include it in the video or not, but I thought yep I should. If people disagree/don't like it, I don't want to be their friend. Ha ha.
We are in Santorinni in September on Celebrity Apex we also don't like the treatment of the donkeys. Thanks for flagging this up Emma. BTW a great vlog...
The last time I visited Santorini was when I was aboard Celebrity Reflection in the fall of '13. I disembarked the ship onto a tender, which took me and other travelers to a dock and then to a bus for a tour of Akrotiri, the incredible excavated city from the 2nd millennium BC. Following that tour, we--our tour group--all went exploring and shopping in Fira and Oia, the towns atop the cliff that are featured in all the photos of the island. Regarding the donkeys, I saw them entering Fira from their climb up that winding trail. Those were very big animals, not like burros or mules. How did I get down to the docks for the return trip to the ship? I took the cable car. There was no way I was going to ride a donkey down that path--too scary for me, and I didn't want to burden the donkey with my overweight body. Regarding cats, there are many of them on Mykonos and in Athens. Are the same nongovernment organizations (NGOs) neutering and spaying cats who are wandering the streets and cafes in Greek cities, too? When I was in Athens in October '17, I saw some cats on the streets; they were sweet kitties, hardly bothersome, and some Athenians fed them. When I visited Istanbul in October '13--after visiting Santorini on that same cruise--I saw many cats wandering their city and some were petted and fed by Turks. The cats are affectionate towards Turks, and the Turks return their affection by helping to shelter and feed cats, especially the Momma cats and their litters. Would NGOs do a good job in Istanbul and other Turkish cities to do TSR--Trap, Spay, and Release--? I'm not sure, especially if they treat NGOs the same way Egypt does--with suspicion.
This is really the kind of cruise I want to go on. Not sure about the 2 ports a day but the smaller boat, all inclusive and included excursions feels like it's a dream. Plus I love Greece.
I love Greece and Greeks, too. They're very hospitable towards visitors to their country, even the ones who come ashore from cruise ships and stay a few hours either in the cities or on the islands.
@@shepwillner7507 Being a nation with lots and lots of islands our people have a natural affinity towards sea travel so we regard cruise ship travelers fellow ship lovers.
When I visited Istanbul, we took a short ferry ride to Asia for a quick look around, just a few hours. There's something cool about saying that we went to Asia for lunch. So depending on exactly where you were, you could very well have been in Asia. Sounds like a great cruise.
** A little explainer about the 'paid promotion' popup box - TH-cam defines paid promotion as 'accepting anything of value from a third party to make your video'. As mentioned in the video I was invited onboard by Celestyal which means that they paid my cruise fare, I'm never paid beyond this but the gifted cruise fare means I need to tick this box. All opinions are my own and no cruise line has control over my content. ** 🎉🎉 If you are curious about how I make money (selling cruises, website adverts, sales of my course, etc), check out this video >> th-cam.com/video/clpjeAMjS0c/w-d-xo.html
I agree, on my first sailing on Carnival Jubilee in 1992 the bow thrusters during docking SHOOK the entire ship. Amazing how those have improved in a few decades.
Don't let anyone bother you about your British accents for things like "bath". Even in the United States people say things very differently depending on the region they are in. Be you, I enjoy listening to you speak about various cruise topics with your British accent. :)
I lived in London for two years in the 90s, visited Norfolk and Wales and other areas with crazy incomprehensible accents. Your accent is super tame and very easy to understand!
Great video. Thanks for pointing out the cruel treatment of the donkeys - I will bear that in mind if I ever end up there. Just curious - for someone who really isn't that into a lot of the entertainment on a cruise ship, but is fascinated by the engineering and mechanics of such a vessel (and is a maritime history buff), are there in depth tours of the engineering section, bridge, etc available? Thanks! You do a great job, and your video about the 50+ cruise suggested I might enjoy a cruise more than I expect (I just turned 50, and figure I might as well lean into it😃).
Some cruise lines have them, including Celebrity. They will offer engineering room and galley tours, but I don't know whether they will offer Bridge tours. Please consider avoiding galley tours, because those things are NOT tours: they're just one long queue into the kitchen, some goodies on trays, the cooks standing around chatting, and out the door you go. I did this "tour" on Costa's Carla C 30 years ago. A total waste of time. Go on the engineering room tour instead. I would go on that tour but I don't like the idea of my tripping over every pipe, cable, or other obstacle in my path just to watch a bunch of dials flickering or huge machines rotating as they move the screws to propel the ship. If you really want a good lecture about the ship, wait for one that explains the water treatment methods and technologies used aboard. I attended one on a Celebrity ship a few years. It would have been a great presentation, but I could tell that the speaker was not trained to talk to a large audience; his voice was a monotone, and the subject was too dry and technical. I did learn the difference between black, brown, and gray water. You will, too, if you attended that lecture if it was offered during your sailing.
Some cruises I've been on have offered bridge tours. For an awesome steam-powered engine room, visit the Queen Mary (if she's open). Unfortunately, her boilers were removed to put in the concert hall. Most of the preserved USN warships have engine and boiler rooms open.
@@robdgaming Thanks for that great reply, RobD. I can probably recall one Bridge tour I've taken in over 30+ years of cruising, but that ship's Bridge didn't compare to the ones that are now aboard the ships we sail aboard now. I would not be surprised if Bridge tours were prohibited for security reasons, e.g, cruise lines don't want to be responsible for another 1985 Achille Laura incident or a Somalian hijacking, e.g., "Captain Phillips-like" incident that happened nearly a decade ago.
Thank you for this Video. Completely agree about the Donkeys! Both times we’ve been to Santorini we have walked up the hill! Not recommended in the midday sun. Love the look of this cruise x
I just saw ice cream mentioned on the menu, I think I will make a trip to the freezer on that suggestion. How Emma stays to fit is probably one of her best-kept secrets lol. Aww, cats! Aww, more cats! Thanks for the video! Blessings to Emma, Hudson (aww, another cat 😀) , and family.
I did the same ports and some more on Cunard 12 day eastern med. a few years back. Did enjoy the full days in ports. But lots to see. We were also the only ship in Santorini which was very nice. Also did the cable car, would not take the donkeys.
Alas the cable car is a good option going up, but when the ships are about to leave long queues are forming in the blazing sun. The authorities of Santorini do not handle this well, although the solution is obvious and easy to implement.
We loved the two-port per day trip in Greece on this cruise line. It was fantastic! We booked our trip though Gate 1 Travel! We look forward to returning!
Great video, Emma.Thanks for presenting it. I have a couple items for your reference: 1. What you refer to as the "funnel bar" was called the Crown Lounge aboard many RCCL ships, including Song of America. The lounge was a signature feature aboard many ships until the Oasis Class ships were launched. When that happened, RCCL redesigned the lounge into suites and Coastal Kitchen, the restaurant dedicated to suite occupants. 2. When you visited Rhodes, did your tour guide correct your imagery about the Colassus of Rhodes, with respect to whether it bestrode the harbor? Many people had that picture in their minds when it was constructed in the 3rd century BC, only to see that the statue did not have its legs on opposite sides of the harbor. Rather, it stood to one side until an earthquake toppled the statue nearly 3 centuries after it was erected. Emma Lazerus, the poet who wrote "The New Colassus" for the Statue of Liberty, mentions the Colassus of Rhodes in that poem.
I really like the idea of this type of cruise. It's sort of like a buffet of countries. You can get a taste a few locals and if some place really connects, you can always go back for the full meal deal on a targeted trip to that destination. Thanks for the info on a cruise that's little different.
This cruise looks more my style: Smaller ship. Morning person hours. Nice menu without too many restaurants. No amusement park rides. However, I do have problems with Greece because of their animal cruelty. The donkeys and the cats as an example. There are now small organizations that are neutering the feral cats - I think it was started by some Brits. Good report Emma.
Indeed, it is atrocious what they are doing to the donkeys in Santorini (actually most of them are mules). The authorities made up some rules (shadow, water, food etc.) but no one follows them. There is only one solution: The tourists must boycott it. Alas you always see overweight tourists on the strained backs of these poor animals.
The Galapagos cruise I went on did 2 'ports' a day, but it wasn't quite the same thing as this, because you had to stay with the guide, so it was really more 2 "landings" or "excursions" per day.
First cruise my parents took us on was back in the seventies on Costas Federico C. That was back in the '70s and I believe the ship was built late 40s early 50s. Same experience with the shaking.
I would not be surprised if the vibrations had several sources: stern thrusters pushing the ship away from the dock--possible only on ships launched in 80s or thereafter); steam winches raising and winding the lines that moored the ship to the bullocks on the pier; raising the anchors; or from the engine room when the captain orders the Chief Engineer to start the engines from the Bridge after hours of disused in port.
Federico C. was built in 1958. My first real passenger ships were from the same era, so for me the shaking and rattling is part of the real ship experience.
Emma i know exactly what you mean about deck 6 lol when we sailed on her as thomson destiny it cofused the hell out of my partner , he has a phobia about using lifts so we allways used the stairways (also a good way of working of the pounds you put on with the food lol) ..he counts the decks as we go up or down (especialy if he had a few tipples) and EVERY time we used the forward stairwell it woud throw him off and we would end up on the wrong deck for our cabin that was at the stern! im going to miss her when she goes and is alegidly being scrapped in 2024 .. We only ever did thomson cruises up to 2013 before they re branded to marella now all the classic ships they had in the fleet have been scrapped..we sailed on Destiny, celebration, spirt and dream in my time of cruising ..my partner even sailed on the Topaz built in 1955 as empress of britain with thomson before i met him ( he says it was one of his fave ships to cruise on but it went in 2003 from thomson and was charted out to peace boat and retierd in 2008 as she would NOT have passed the SOLAS 2010 requirments as it had wood paneling ect! Olyimpia was the last one standing from our thomson days she will be sorely missed we need to get back into cruising ( last one was 2013 on dream in the caribean ..not done any since as had caring duties for my father and mother in law after that in fact my father in law who was an avid cruiser (he did QE 2 twice and a lot of fred olsen and saga) paid for us to do the caribean cruise as we had never been and he knew it would prb be our last one for a long time as he had the start of parkinsons so knew we would end up looking after him and his wife! ) NOW in 2024 im still waiting to cruise again on marella!
My very first cruise in 1996 was on Song of America to Bermuda from NYC and we loved it. Memorable: we drank under the Smokestack and bits of soot would float in our drinks. No problem, we just covered up. Moving around the ship was so easy and it was the first time I was in a casino. Food was great and our table mates were a lot of fun. We participated in the costumes party and it was fun. I'll have to look into booking this ship in future after we are back to normal.
Gota love British euphemisms : I first heard this in Chumbawamba song tubthumping “pissing the night away” which in north America is probably at first interpreted more literally. Or friend who grew up in Britain and would when you asked for wrench exclaim in a rather annoyed tone: “It’s not a wrench, it’s a spanner!” Usually followed by tales of adventure about the British bike he had complete with electrics by Lucas, (prince of darkness).
Hi Emma, I was on this ship when it was the Thomson Destiny about 2006. The bar around the funnel was called the sky bar then. It was my very first cruise and I loved it. It was called the sunbird years before Thomson had it, not sure who owned it then. It was great to see it again and it still looks good. Thanks for the film, regards, Chris.
@@toddferalio7135 Hi Todd, I know this ship has been around a bit. My cruise was around the Canary Islands, then Madeira and Morocco. It finished back were it started in Tenerife, I did see the ship in Athens about six years ago whilst we were on the Thomson Celebration. Take care, regards, Chris.
But you got to witness an RCCL ship during the cruise line’s infancy and you see how far they have progressed - so very nice. Now I have to go book a trip to Greece to save all the cats (and maybe donkeys too)
You can't save all of the animals in one sailing. How about starting with the cats on Mykonos first? They're very beautiful and affectionate toward their fellow caregiving island residents.
Song of America is one of my favorite ships. I was on her twice in 1996 and 1998 for cruises to Mexican Rivera out of Los Angeles. She was still RCI then. We had a storm on the way back up to Los Angeles and were asked to stay in our cabins one night. I woke up being rolled out of bed and had to grab the bed rail so I did not end up on the floor. I had an interior cabin at the bow of the ship on a lower deck. If the world goes back to normal I'd want to take her on the Greek Island cruise. I like the Greek Islands and she is one of my two favorite ships. I have great memories of being on her on wood decks at sunset and dancing in the Crown Lounge. She is a grand lady with style and great lines of a true cruise ship not a floating barge resort.
The only time I ever saw a bathtub in a cabin was when I accompanied my Mom and Dad aboard Celebrity Zenith in March '02 for a Parkinson's Disease Support Group cruise to the Western Caribbean. We shared a mini-suite that included a sleep sofa and a queen-sized bed. The bathroom had a bathtub which provided me and Dad lots of room to take showers and gave Mom the opportunity to take baths--she loved taking them. Me, I prefer a nice big shower that I could move around in without getting stuck with those horrible curtains.
Emma you always amaze me with your cruises for sure.. that cruise would definitely be a challenge for us but we would give it a shot for sure! Oh your 50 plus video was also fantastic! 🇺🇸👍
@@hosnkrocha Louis Hellenic cruise lines operated it at the time, but yes I seem to remember wasn’t there a name change of the company to Celestial? I know there’s definitely some link between the two
One port every other day is more my pace! Or at the maximum, 3 port days in a row as a one-off in a 16-nighter. Otherwise, I feel rushed. I'm also one of those "the boat is the destination" types so like my sea days. They're much more appreciated after walking around for 4-6 hours the day before.
The reason for two toilet roll holders in the bathroom is to have somewhere to put the spare toilet roll. Must places don't have a second toilet roll holder because the spare roll is normally placed on the vanity or a shelf.
We cruised on your same itinerary with Louis Lines in 2006, except we started in Istanbul. I think Louis was an ancestor of Celestyal. We were on the Perla, which started life in the early 70s with Norwegian as the Starward, thus was pushing 35 years old. 1,200 passengers, which gave us a preference for small ships. On excursions our tour groups got in and out of the major sites just as the groups from the big ships were arriving. We were very satisfied with Louis and it was a great first cruise. When in Mykonos I highly recommend an excursion to Delos, which has numerous ruined temples from several different religions (how this happened is a long story).
Hey, fellow sailor of the NCL ship Starward! I was aboard her 3x: '82, '84, and '88. All three sailings were visited Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean ports. The last time I was aboard Starward--July '88--the line had switched the disco and the main dining room (MDR) spaces and locations: the MDR was relocated to the aft section of the ship while the disco was relocated to the MDR's former space mid-ship. I didn't care because I had a great time aboard ship and ashore.
Yes, those poor donkeys! There are different kinds of animals in many countries that are exploited like that for tourism. Thank you for speaking out to your viewers to not support animal abuse! ❤️
@@EmmaCruises Especially souvlaki, bread, kabobs, and gyros. I love the lamb kabobs and vinos. One thing I don't like: Greeks, especially the men, smoke too much and the fumes can be suffocating.
Not sure how I ended up with one but my msc meraviglia had a bath in my standard balcony room. I suppose it was a premium room but it was a guarenteed room also. So idk.
Shout out to the Thomson Destiny, my first cruise ship and still my favourite! So happy this is still going strong despite the rest of the Thomson naughtiest fleet getting dismantled !
Emma you don't get free excursions now, you get .monly towards them. No free sodas, but you get a drink with lunch & dinner. There are 2 packages, inclusive & enhanced. I am booked on the New celestyal Journey for a 21 night cruise next March
I had a cruise booked for Nov but it was canceled, Celestryl is stopping all sailing as of 31 Aug till March. I did rebook a Christmas and New Years 2022 cruise.
Beautiful scenery and lots of great information. I think a bit too rushed for me but you're younger than I am LOL. I loved the cats. I lived in Istanbul for a couple of years (Ephasus was amazing, wasn't it?) and they have lots of cats. It's really sweet because you have to do is sit on a bench and you'll have a little friend for awhile.
That schedule is like those school trips you used to go on, see something for 5 mins and move on 😂 I did some of these ports on a 7 night Greek cruise though and don’t think I could do Santorini for example in half a day
My Grandmother (Emma's great Grandmother) never used to go to the toilet/ bathroom - she always used to say " I'm going to spend a penny" Inflation 'eh? 😁 I think paying for public toilets used to be far more common than it is now.
Thank you for a very interesting review. I had planned to cruise the eastern Mediterranean with Royal Caribbean in 2020, but that obviously didn’t happen. I do want to cruise there when it’s safe to do so. I think two ports per day would be a bit much. I hate being rushed on vacation. But the ship sounds delightful. I see on Celestyal’s website that they do offer several 7 day cruises that visit one Mediterranean port per day, and one of them even has a sea day. I’ll keep Celestyal in mind for the future.
They offer 7 day cruises even with an overnight in Istanbul - Celestyal, the Cypriot company being the ONLY one offering regular calls at the port at the moment btw. - as well as 3 and 4 day itineraries with one port per day. As a matter of fact, it is only the "Iconic Aegean" - a traditional itinerary that has been done by Greek cruise companies for way over half a century - that has the "two ports per day" schedule.
i went on a cruise and we were in the main restarant which was included in our price i didnt like the menu for that evening so ended up with 3 starters lol
I must say I have a big problem with cruise ships keeping passports. I like my passport with me at all times, they are a real bind to replace if lost or stolen. A cruise company losing my passport would result in legal action against them. I have 2 passports, British and American..
When I looked at the thumbnail my brain added a 't' to 'busy' and my first thought was "why the heck would that matter?", and then I looked again and laughed at myself.
A real whirlwind cruise with some great ports. Maybe not for me as I like to take things easier. When the ship was sold to Airtours many years ago, Royal Caribbean did want the funnel bar to be taken down, but Airtours protested about the cost of doing this and RC relented. It is so nice to see the ship still going. I enjoyed many cruises on the ship under the guises of Airtours Sunbird and Thomson Destiny. Nice video.
Emma, you think this is a busy cruise? Try the day cruises to the Saronic Islands, you will have THREE ports in a day! It is very recommendable though, especially for people who want to get a glimpse of cruising, and it is inexpensive. Btw. Louis/Celestyal markets itself as "the real Greek experience", but the company is actually Cypriot. Another little correction: Ephesos was not one of the Seven Wonders, the Artemis Temple IN Ephesos was. Alas there is not much left of it. Also they tell you you can't throw the toilet paper into the toilet in Greece, but actually you can. I have done it for almost 50 years now, because I find the other option GROSS!
Agreed about the Artemis Temple in Ephesus: it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only parts of it you can see are pieces of columns and the bases they stood on, along with the plot of land everything was placed.
I would not feel comfortable off the boat, in another country, without my passport. If you miss ship's movement... how do you get back home? I have had a couple hotels, in the Philippines, ask for my passport and I simply refused. They took a xerox of it. 😎
My wife and I wanted to do a cruise with Celestyal this summer, then the NCL Jade came out with a killer price, so we went with NCL instead. Maybe in the future!
Did you get a new camera? I don’t see the blue ring in your eyes! Also, thank you for these videos. I watch all of them just to enjoy the views and imagine being in the ships. A nice alternative till I can get on a real one again. My one cruise was Carnival Celebration which was retired. I keep trying to find pictures of that ship and it’s interior but there isn’t much out there. Anyhow please keep the videos coming!
I've been always looking for the opposite - two days at one port. As an evening person who usually sleeps late I can't imagine having to wake up early or miss the port 😀 I actually did a cruise that made a two-day stop just last week and I enjoyed first day much more than the second when I had to rush back on ship in time. It's great to hear they have something available from people who prefer shorter port stops, I wish there was the opposite as well :)
@@EmmaCruises I did something like several locales in a single visit on a port call to Kusadasi in October '13. The first place was the amphitheater in Melitus (?). The second site was the Temple of Apollo someplace else, a lunch buffet complete with wandering cats in the dining area--to catch food dropping off plates as feline vacuum cleaners?--, and the piece d'resistance, Ephesus itself! The return bus ride to Kusadasi was uneventful, but I had to wonder why the bus didn't stop at any of those outlet stores I saw on the road: because the stores probably would not send kickbacks to Celebrity if tourists shopped there? Or not enough time available remaining in the tour to shop those outlets, but more than enough time at the mini-mall in Kusadasi which probably did send those kickbacks to Celebrity? Anyway, I had a good time on the tour and had some opportunities to pet some sweet kitties roaming the amphitheater ruins and the lunch buffet. I also learned how to pronounce the name of the port: Kuh shah dah see. :-)
Hi Emma, just got to know your channel, with going professional maybe consider upgrading video quality (4K)and color grading and perhaps HDR also up saturation a bit, it will give it a more sunny highly professional holiday feel. Good luck
I’m an officer on Jewel of the Seas so I see Celestyal Olympia a few times every week. Now I understand their early departures. If they’re still doing the same itinerary now that is…
@@EmmaCruises It was the second dessert item on the menu you showed. It sounds very interesting because Anthotiro is a very sweet but firm fresh cheese that is not as fatty as Mascarpone.
good summary . This cruise isn't for me. Too rushed. A cruise to me is for relaxation and to see one port in a day. 2 ports are just 1 too many. Great video and well explained
This is the "Iconic Aegean" tour, a classic route in the Aegean that has been done by countless Greek lines. However, Celestyal does have other 4-day (as well as 3-day and 7-day) itineraries with only one port per day, like Iconic Discovery. I cannot recommend the Idyllic Aegean though because it starts in Piraeus and ends in Lavrion, that is over an hour away from Athens. They also offer 7-night-cruises with overnight in Istanbul and very long stays on Santorini. You will not find another line outside the luxury market with such an itinerary.
@@hosnkrocha no problem. I didn't say anything bad about the cruise just that it wasn't my cup of tea. I'm sue a lot of people will enjoy it and it fills a segment of the market. All good
Emma, you belong on a major tv network as a travel reporter. Quitting your job was a good idea. It will work out for you. You have a real knack for this because you’re videos are well prepared and well done. And you’re quite charming at the same time. My wife and I love your videos and look forward to the weekly one minute update. You will surpass 100,000 subscribers in no time and be the Queen of cruise videos.
YESSSSSSSSSSSS
@@AHAproductions712 AGREED!!!!
@@georgeshepherd6431 YESSSSSSSSSSSS
Awwh thank you so much!! Really appreciate this, too kind.
I agree!
Istanbul, Türkiye (formerly Turkey) sits on two continents. Divided by the Bosphorus Strait, the eastern side of the city is in Asia; the western side is in Europe.
Your diverse cruising experience makes your reviews so much more interesting than the reviews of the other TH-camrs. Keep up the good work. Going to Greece next year. I won't go on the donkeys and I'll plan to pet the cats. Thanks for all you do.
This ship was Thomson Destiny from 2005-2012 and I sailed on it twice to the Canaries. It was old, traditional and wonderful. Thomson had it on charter from its current owners Louis Cruises (who bought it from RCI).
Emma at 12:40 You said you saw Celebrity Edge, which at the moment I am watching you are on that ship ! Interesting..
Yess!!!!
Emma, total agree on the poor donkey's it was a terrible sight to see when able-bodied people were going up on the donks and some of these people were really hefty.
The heat was sweltering and the donkey's were slipping constantly.
It would be great if the cruise lines get involved somehow in discussions with locals to help look after the animals welfare properly and to inform the passengers before disembarking on the issue.
We saw pretty awful sights and it did spoil our day, in a nut shell use the cable car or walk up.
So agree! We took the cable car when we visited. Poor animals 😤😭
Someone posted the Freestyle Daily newsletter from NCL Jade a week or two ago on a message board. There was an advisory on the first page of the newsletter for that day to not use the donkeys.
If enough people complain to the cruise line that may make difference
@Martin thankyou for the commentary for those poor donkeys, some countries have no animal welfare laws. I hope people complain ALOT about that & even "suggest" to those people that are riding the poor furrbabies. 😪💔
Yes thank you for talking about the donkeys! More people need to care about stuff like this. Great video btw 😊
@Chris Williams oh I could not agree more!! I have not & will not eat veal (badly treated baby calves) or foie gras(sp) ( grossly overfed fowl till death), yes being vegan saves not only slaughtered & inhumane treated cows, pigs, but they say if demand keeps up we do NOT have the land (currently cutting forest, wetlands) to support it all! Killing ourselves (HAVE TO HAVE TREES) To eat meat!! Try extra creamy OAT milk, its great!! I pray people will watch a slaughter house video & watch how a Momma milking cow hollars for days for the newborn calf the dairy takes away after hard birth. Very very sad & disgusting. FOR WHAT? 😭🙏
Surprisingly those donkeys look healthy for the work they do, compared to say the pyramid horses in Egypt
I wonder if they've been working with Brook Charity, those guys are really passionate about donkeys
Thanks for speaking about the donkeys in Santorini... I felt bad when I saw that.
My experience in Santorini was a memorable one but I hate how they use donkeys to carry human up the hill in a hot burning sun😢 I hate animal cruelty 😥
Thanks a lot Emma for telling people not to use donkeys.
Enjoy your cruise guys but don't disrespect animals while on tours.
These poor souls deserve to be fed on time.
Yeah, it was so hot and I was just there in the evening and walked up the hill ONCE. Felt so bad. I did think about whether I should include it in the video or not, but I thought yep I should. If people disagree/don't like it, I don't want to be their friend. Ha ha.
We are in Santorinni in September on Celebrity Apex we also don't like the treatment of the donkeys. Thanks for flagging this up Emma. BTW a great vlog...
The last time I visited Santorini was when I was aboard Celebrity Reflection in the fall of '13. I disembarked the ship onto a tender, which took me and other travelers to a dock and then to a bus for a tour of Akrotiri, the incredible excavated city from the 2nd millennium BC. Following that tour, we--our tour group--all went exploring and shopping in Fira and Oia, the towns atop the cliff that are featured in all the photos of the island. Regarding the donkeys, I saw them entering Fira from their climb up that winding trail. Those were very big animals, not like burros or mules. How did I get down to the docks for the return trip to the ship? I took the cable car. There was no way I was going to ride a donkey down that path--too scary for me, and I didn't want to burden the donkey with my overweight body.
Regarding cats, there are many of them on Mykonos and in Athens. Are the same nongovernment organizations (NGOs) neutering and spaying cats who are wandering the streets and cafes in Greek cities, too? When I was in Athens in October '17, I saw some cats on the streets; they were sweet kitties, hardly bothersome, and some Athenians fed them. When I visited Istanbul in October '13--after visiting Santorini on that same cruise--I saw many cats wandering their city and some were petted and fed by Turks. The cats are affectionate towards Turks, and the Turks return their affection by helping to shelter and feed cats, especially the Momma cats and their litters. Would NGOs do a good job in Istanbul and other Turkish cities to do TSR--Trap, Spay, and Release--? I'm not sure, especially if they treat NGOs the same way Egypt does--with suspicion.
@@cruisecrazy7066 Yes, but they also scrape pedestrians with toddlers in baby carriers against the stone wall.
The use of the Donkeys is deplorable but it’s catch 22. Ask the donkeys if they would prefer to be cat food.
This is really the kind of cruise I want to go on. Not sure about the 2 ports a day but the smaller boat, all inclusive and included excursions feels like it's a dream. Plus I love Greece.
Yeah! They have some 7 day itineraries that just do a port per day, I think we were just trying to see as much as we could as fast as we could :-)
@@EmmaCruises They also have 3 and 4 day itineraries with only one port per day.
I love Greece and Greeks, too. They're very hospitable towards visitors to their country, even the ones who come ashore from cruise ships and stay a few hours either in the cities or on the islands.
@@shepwillner7507 Being a nation with lots and lots of islands our people have a natural affinity towards sea travel so we regard cruise ship travelers fellow ship lovers.
When I visited Istanbul, we took a short ferry ride to Asia for a quick look around, just a few hours. There's something cool about saying that we went to Asia for lunch. So depending on exactly where you were, you could very well have been in Asia. Sounds like a great cruise.
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If you are curious about how I make money (selling cruises, website adverts, sales of my course, etc), check out this video >> th-cam.com/video/clpjeAMjS0c/w-d-xo.html
As always, great content and a very professional production!
Thanks lots, much appreciated :)
I agree, on my first sailing on Carnival Jubilee in 1992 the bow thrusters during docking SHOOK the entire ship. Amazing how those have improved in a few decades.
Don't let anyone bother you about your British accents for things like "bath". Even in the United States people say things very differently depending on the region they are in. Be you, I enjoy listening to you speak about various cruise topics with your British accent. :)
I love the British accent, regardless of where it's spoken in the UK. I would marry a British woman just to hear that accent spoken all day! :-)
Haha! Thank you :)
I lived in London for two years in the 90s, visited Norfolk and Wales and other areas with crazy incomprehensible accents. Your accent is super tame and very easy to understand!
Great video. Thanks for pointing out the cruel treatment of the donkeys - I will bear that in mind if I ever end up there.
Just curious - for someone who really isn't that into a lot of the entertainment on a cruise ship, but is fascinated by the engineering and mechanics of such a vessel (and is a maritime history buff), are there in depth tours of the engineering section, bridge, etc available?
Thanks! You do a great job, and your video about the 50+ cruise suggested I might enjoy a cruise more than I expect (I just turned 50, and figure I might as well lean into it😃).
Some cruise lines have them, including Celebrity. They will offer engineering room and galley tours, but I don't know whether they will offer Bridge tours. Please consider avoiding galley tours, because those things are NOT tours: they're just one long queue into the kitchen, some goodies on trays, the cooks standing around chatting, and out the door you go. I did this "tour" on Costa's Carla C 30 years ago. A total waste of time. Go on the engineering room tour instead. I would go on that tour but I don't like the idea of my tripping over every pipe, cable, or other obstacle in my path just to watch a bunch of dials flickering or huge machines rotating as they move the screws to propel the ship.
If you really want a good lecture about the ship, wait for one that explains the water treatment methods and technologies used aboard. I attended one on a Celebrity ship a few years. It would have been a great presentation, but I could tell that the speaker was not trained to talk to a large audience; his voice was a monotone, and the subject was too dry and technical. I did learn the difference between black, brown, and gray water. You will, too, if you attended that lecture if it was offered during your sailing.
Some cruises I've been on have offered bridge tours. For an awesome steam-powered engine room, visit the Queen Mary (if she's open). Unfortunately, her boilers were removed to put in the concert hall. Most of the preserved USN warships have engine and boiler rooms open.
@@robdgaming Thanks for that great reply, RobD. I can probably recall one Bridge tour I've taken in over 30+ years of cruising, but that ship's Bridge didn't compare to the ones that are now aboard the ships we sail aboard now. I would not be surprised if Bridge tours were prohibited for security reasons, e.g, cruise lines don't want to be responsible for another 1985 Achille Laura incident or a Somalian hijacking, e.g., "Captain Phillips-like" incident that happened nearly a decade ago.
Thank you for this Video. Completely agree about the Donkeys! Both times we’ve been to Santorini we have walked up the hill! Not recommended in the midday sun. Love the look of this cruise x
I just saw ice cream mentioned on the menu, I think I will make a trip to the freezer on that suggestion. How Emma stays to fit is probably one of her best-kept secrets lol.
Aww, cats!
Aww, more cats!
Thanks for the video! Blessings to Emma, Hudson (aww, another cat 😀) , and family.
I did the same ports and some more on Cunard 12 day eastern med. a few years back. Did enjoy the full days in ports. But lots to see. We were also the only ship in Santorini which was very nice. Also did the cable car, would not take the donkeys.
Sounds amazing. Yep so much to see. Glad to hear that, thank you.
Alas the cable car is a good option going up, but when the ships are about to leave long queues are forming in the blazing sun. The authorities of Santorini do not handle this well, although the solution is obvious and easy to implement.
I really like this design. The rear of the ship is, for me, vastly more elegant than the modern ships. Thank you for the video!
We loved the two-port per day trip in Greece on this cruise line. It was fantastic! We booked our trip though Gate 1 Travel! We look forward to returning!
Yess, glad to hear it. Have a great time :)
Hi! Did you feel as though it was rushed?
Great video, Emma.Thanks for presenting it. I have a couple items for your reference: 1. What you refer to as the "funnel bar" was called the Crown Lounge aboard many RCCL ships, including Song of America. The lounge was a signature feature aboard many ships until the Oasis Class ships were launched. When that happened, RCCL redesigned the lounge into suites and Coastal Kitchen, the restaurant dedicated to suite occupants. 2. When you visited Rhodes, did your tour guide correct your imagery about the Colassus of Rhodes, with respect to whether it bestrode the harbor? Many people had that picture in their minds when it was constructed in the 3rd century BC, only to see that the statue did not have its legs on opposite sides of the harbor. Rather, it stood to one side until an earthquake toppled the statue nearly 3 centuries after it was erected. Emma Lazerus, the poet who wrote "The New Colassus" for the Statue of Liberty, mentions the Colassus of Rhodes in that poem.
I really like the idea of this type of cruise. It's sort of like a buffet of countries. You can get a taste a few locals and if some place really connects, you can always go back for the full meal deal on a targeted trip to that destination. Thanks for the info on a cruise that's little different.
Yeah! Exactly! :D
I cruised on this ship twice, years ago, when it was the Thomson’s Destiny and before that, in 2001, when it was the ‘Sundream’ by Airtours.
This cruise looks more my style: Smaller ship. Morning person hours. Nice menu without too many restaurants. No amusement park rides. However, I do have problems with Greece because of their animal cruelty. The donkeys and the cats as an example. There are now small organizations that are neutering the feral cats - I think it was started by some Brits. Good report Emma.
Indeed, it is atrocious what they are doing to the donkeys in Santorini (actually most of them are mules). The authorities made up some rules (shadow, water, food etc.) but no one follows them. There is only one solution: The tourists must boycott it. Alas you always see overweight tourists on the strained backs of these poor animals.
The Galapagos cruise I went on did 2 'ports' a day, but it wasn't quite the same thing as this, because you had to stay with the guide, so it was really more 2 "landings" or "excursions" per day.
Great video. This is the type of cruise ship I would love. I find the huge ships to be exhausting.
Emma you have a career waiting in TV presenting. You come across really well and you have a fantastic speaking voice.
And a very understandable accent!
Thank you!! Appreciate that :-)
First cruise my parents took us on was back in the seventies on Costas Federico C. That was back in the '70s and I believe the ship was built late 40s early 50s. Same experience with the shaking.
I would not be surprised if the vibrations had several sources: stern thrusters pushing the ship away from the dock--possible only on ships launched in 80s or thereafter); steam winches raising and winding the lines that moored the ship to the bullocks on the pier; raising the anchors; or from the engine room when the captain orders the Chief Engineer to start the engines from the Bridge after hours of disused in port.
Federico C. was built in 1958. My first real passenger ships were from the same era, so for me the shaking and rattling is part of the real ship experience.
Emma i know exactly what you mean about deck 6 lol when we sailed on her as thomson destiny it cofused the hell out of my partner , he has a phobia about using lifts so we allways used the stairways (also a good way of working of the pounds you put on with the food lol) ..he counts the decks as we go up or down (especialy if he had a few tipples) and EVERY time we used the forward stairwell it woud throw him off and we would end up on the wrong deck for our cabin that was at the stern! im going to miss her when she goes and is alegidly being scrapped in 2024 ..
We only ever did thomson cruises up to 2013 before they re branded to marella now all the classic ships they had in the fleet have been scrapped..we sailed on Destiny, celebration, spirt and dream in my time of cruising ..my partner even sailed on the Topaz built in 1955 as empress of britain with thomson before i met him ( he says it was one of his fave ships to cruise on but it went in 2003 from thomson and was charted out to peace boat and retierd in 2008 as she would NOT have passed the SOLAS 2010 requirments as it had wood paneling ect!
Olyimpia was the last one standing from our thomson days she will be sorely missed we need to get back into cruising ( last one was 2013 on dream in the caribean ..not done any since as had caring duties for my father and mother in law after that in fact my father in law who was an avid cruiser (he did QE 2 twice and a lot of fred olsen and saga) paid for us to do the caribean cruise as we had never been and he knew it would prb be our last one for a long time as he had the start of parkinsons so knew we would end up looking after him and his wife! ) NOW in 2024 im still waiting to cruise again on marella!
My very first cruise in 1996 was on Song of America to Bermuda from NYC and we loved it. Memorable: we drank under the Smokestack and bits of soot would float in our drinks. No problem, we just covered up. Moving around the ship was so easy and it was the first time I was in a casino. Food was great and our table mates were a lot of fun. We participated in the costumes party and it was fun. I'll have to look into booking this ship in future after we are back to normal.
Gota love British euphemisms :
I first heard this in Chumbawamba song tubthumping
“pissing the night away” which in north America is probably at first interpreted more literally.
Or friend who grew up in Britain and would when you asked for wrench exclaim in a rather annoyed tone:
“It’s not a wrench, it’s a spanner!”
Usually followed by tales of adventure about the British bike he had complete with electrics by Lucas, (prince of darkness).
Great watching videos again 😊
Oh man you're so far in the past!! ha ha.
The cats may give me a cuteness overload.
I knoww!!! That's definitely a problem! :')
Hi Emma,
I was on this ship when it was the Thomson Destiny about 2006. The bar around the funnel was called the sky bar then. It was my very first cruise and I loved it. It was called the sunbird years before Thomson had it, not sure who owned it then. It was great to see it again and it still looks good. Thanks for the film, regards, Chris.
I was on her when she was Song of America in 1993. New York to San Juan
@@toddferalio7135 Hi Todd,
I know this ship has been around a bit. My cruise was around the Canary Islands, then Madeira and Morocco. It finished back were it started in Tenerife,
I did see the ship in Athens about six years ago whilst we were on the Thomson Celebration. Take care, regards, Chris.
I subscribed the minute u stood up for the donkeys, thank u for raising awareness ❤️
Thank you! 😁❤️
I'd find all those early starts fun actually, I'd love to try something like this out
Great video. You had me at chocolate chip cookies... LOL. Seems like a great little cruise line. I'll put that one on my list. Thanks, Emma.
Thank you for speaking up for the donkeys! ❤
But you got to witness an RCCL ship during the cruise line’s infancy and you see how far they have progressed - so very nice. Now I have to go book a trip to Greece to save all the cats (and maybe donkeys too)
You can't save all of the animals in one sailing. How about starting with the cats on Mykonos first? They're very beautiful and affectionate toward their fellow caregiving island residents.
@@shepwillner7507 Plus they are on every single postcard ...
Song of America is one of my favorite ships. I was on her twice in 1996 and 1998 for cruises to Mexican Rivera out of Los Angeles. She was still RCI then. We had a storm on the way back up to Los Angeles and were asked to stay in our cabins one night. I woke up being rolled out of bed and had to grab the bed rail so I did not end up on the floor. I had an interior cabin at the bow of the ship on a lower deck.
If the world goes back to normal I'd want to take her on the Greek Island cruise. I like the Greek Islands and she is one of my two favorite ships. I have great memories of being on her on wood decks at sunset and dancing in the Crown Lounge. She is a grand lady with style and great lines of a true cruise ship not a floating barge resort.
Very nice! Another great video, Emma. Your production and content work is exceptional. Thanks!
Thanks so much 😊❤️
There was a bath on my Seabourn cruise, and it was delightful!
The only time I ever saw a bathtub in a cabin was when I accompanied my Mom and Dad aboard Celebrity Zenith in March '02 for a Parkinson's Disease Support Group cruise to the Western Caribbean. We shared a mini-suite that included a sleep sofa and a queen-sized bed. The bathroom had a bathtub which provided me and Dad lots of room to take showers and gave Mom the opportunity to take baths--she loved taking them. Me, I prefer a nice big shower that I could move around in without getting stuck with those horrible curtains.
Thanks for the informative vlog Emma! I might have to look into this cruise line, thanks! 👍
Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼
Not a morning person either. The only time I’m awake before 10 is for work. I’d manage it for excursions but I’d need a bucket load of coffee first.
Emma you always amaze me with your cruises for sure.. that cruise would definitely be a challenge for us but we would give it a shot for sure! Oh your 50 plus video was also fantastic! 🇺🇸👍
We went on a cruise with a stop in Santorini and I have to agree, give the donkeys a break!
I love that old-style layout!!
Interesting fact, there is a sunken cruise ship in Santorini port. Sea diamond, sank there in 2007 after running aground.
And it belongs to this very cruise company ...
@@hosnkrocha Louis Hellenic cruise lines operated it at the time, but yes I seem to remember wasn’t there a name change of the company to Celestial? I know there’s definitely some link between the two
Taken same ship with same itinery in 2019 and agree with what you mention in your trip report.
One port every other day is more my pace! Or at the maximum, 3 port days in a row as a one-off in a 16-nighter. Otherwise, I feel rushed. I'm also one of those "the boat is the destination" types so like my sea days. They're much more appreciated after walking around for 4-6 hours the day before.
Another great video. My sister in law had her honeymoon on Song of America. We'll have to go on this ship now and bring her along.
To visit lots of ports in a short time try Hurtigruten along to Norwegian coast!
The reason for two toilet roll holders in the bathroom is to have somewhere to put the spare toilet roll. Must places don't have a second toilet roll holder because the spare roll is normally placed on the vanity or a shelf.
We cruised on your same itinerary with Louis Lines in 2006, except we started in Istanbul. I think Louis was an ancestor of Celestyal. We were on the Perla, which started life in the early 70s with Norwegian as the Starward, thus was pushing 35 years old. 1,200 passengers, which gave us a preference for small ships. On excursions our tour groups got in and out of the major sites just as the groups from the big ships were arriving. We were very satisfied with Louis and it was a great first cruise. When in Mykonos I highly recommend an excursion to Delos, which has numerous ruined temples from several different religions (how this happened is a long story).
Hey, fellow sailor of the NCL ship Starward! I was aboard her 3x: '82, '84, and '88. All three sailings were visited Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean ports. The last time I was aboard Starward--July '88--the line had switched the disco and the main dining room (MDR) spaces and locations: the MDR was relocated to the aft section of the ship while the disco was relocated to the MDR's former space mid-ship. I didn't care because I had a great time aboard ship and ashore.
Louis IS Celestyal, they just changed the name to make it unspellable because ...?
I’ve still never been on a cruise but I enjoy these vids and they are helpful if I ever do
Thanks Bob! I hope you do one day :)
@@EmmaCruises thx
@@chriswilliams6568 ok when I get enough money to go on one
Yes, those poor donkeys! There are different kinds of animals in many countries that are exploited like that for tourism. Thank you for speaking out to your viewers to not support animal abuse! ❤️
Of all my cruises, Carnival Pride also had a bath in their rooms.
Went to Rhodes last year, was beautiful to explore
wow still looks alot like she did back as the song of america. my folks sailed her back in the early 90s.
Yeah! She hasn't really changed at all :')
Great video! The food looks really good too, and what a good price!
Yeah! It was nice, I tried lots of new foods too. The Greek people know how to do good food :D
@@EmmaCruises Especially souvlaki, bread, kabobs, and gyros. I love the lamb kabobs and vinos. One thing I don't like: Greeks, especially the men, smoke too much and the fumes can be suffocating.
@@shepwillner7507 Alas our people is European champion - in smoking. Not a title you should be aspiring ...
The Bosphorus is considered the border between Europe and Asia.
Not sure how I ended up with one but my msc meraviglia had a bath in my standard balcony room. I suppose it was a premium room but it was a guarenteed room also. So idk.
Celestyal Cruises used to be sail as Louis Cruise Lines previously.
Shout out to the Thomson Destiny, my first cruise ship and still my favourite! So happy this is still going strong despite the rest of the Thomson naughtiest fleet getting dismantled !
Emma you don't get free excursions now, you get .monly towards them. No free sodas, but you get a drink with lunch & dinner. There are 2 packages, inclusive & enhanced. I am booked on the New celestyal Journey for a 21 night cruise next March
Have the best time ever!!!! 😀❤️
I had a cruise booked for Nov but it was canceled, Celestryl is stopping all sailing as of 31 Aug till March. I did rebook a Christmas and New Years 2022 cruise.
Ooo that'll be amazing!!! :)
Beautiful scenery and lots of great information. I think a bit too rushed for me but you're younger than I am LOL. I loved the cats. I lived in Istanbul for a couple of years (Ephasus was amazing, wasn't it?) and they have lots of cats. It's really sweet because you have to do is sit on a bench and you'll have a little friend for awhile.
That schedule is like those school trips you used to go on, see something for 5 mins and move on 😂 I did some of these ports on a 7 night Greek cruise though and don’t think I could do Santorini for example in half a day
Thanks Emma normal brilliant video you've found your niche in life well done
Thanks so much John!
You have to pay for public toilets in the UK as well. I think it’s still 20p at most large rail stations.
My Grandmother (Emma's great Grandmother) never used to go to the toilet/ bathroom - she always used to say " I'm going to spend a penny" Inflation 'eh? 😁 I think paying for public toilets used to be far more common than it is now.
Thank you for a very interesting review. I had planned to cruise the eastern Mediterranean with Royal Caribbean in 2020, but that obviously didn’t happen. I do want to cruise there when it’s safe to do so. I think two ports per day would be a bit much. I hate being rushed on vacation. But the ship sounds delightful. I see on Celestyal’s website that they do offer several 7 day cruises that visit one Mediterranean port per day, and one of them even has a sea day. I’ll keep Celestyal in mind for the future.
They offer 7 day cruises even with an overnight in Istanbul - Celestyal, the Cypriot company being the ONLY one offering regular calls at the port at the moment btw. - as well as 3 and 4 day itineraries with one port per day. As a matter of fact, it is only the "Iconic Aegean" - a traditional itinerary that has been done by Greek cruise companies for way over half a century - that has the "two ports per day" schedule.
i went on a cruise and we were in the main restarant which was included in our price i didnt like the menu for that evening so ended up with 3 starters lol
Finally, we know his name is Hudson. I love your videos, but I've been dying to know your kitty's name. I always enjoy it when he pops up.
🐈 😻 Cats Emma, if you are in Key West go to Ernest Hemingway's house. The Cats still occupy his home.
I must say I have a big problem with cruise ships keeping passports. I like my passport with me at all times, they are a real bind to replace if lost or stolen. A cruise company losing my passport would result in legal action against them. I have 2 passports, British and American..
When I looked at the thumbnail my brain added a 't' to 'busy' and my first thought was "why the heck would that matter?", and then I looked again and laughed at myself.
Omg Rob, ha ha!!
A real whirlwind cruise with some great ports. Maybe not for me as I like to take things easier. When the ship was sold to Airtours many years ago, Royal Caribbean did want the funnel bar to be taken down, but Airtours protested about the cost of doing this and RC relented. It is so nice to see the ship still going. I enjoyed many cruises on the ship under the guises of Airtours Sunbird and Thomson Destiny. Nice video.
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING OUT FOR THE POOR DONKEYS!! MAD RESPECT, YO. THANK YOU!
❤️❤️❤️
I have a question....at 10:54 on the right of the video is what looks like a toilet paper dispenser, but it's shiny. What would that be??
Oh the right there a shiny toilet paper holder and a toilet brush and a shiny bin on the left? :)
Emma, you think this is a busy cruise? Try the day cruises to the Saronic Islands, you will have THREE ports in a day!
It is very recommendable though, especially for people who want to get a glimpse of cruising, and it is inexpensive.
Btw. Louis/Celestyal markets itself as "the real Greek experience", but the company is actually Cypriot.
Another little correction: Ephesos was not one of the Seven Wonders, the Artemis Temple IN Ephesos was. Alas there is not much left of it.
Also they tell you you can't throw the toilet paper into the toilet in Greece, but actually you can. I have done it for almost 50 years now, because I find the other option GROSS!
Eeek! I'd be way too scared to block it. Good to know though.
3 ports per day!!! I never knew such a thing existed. Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼
@@chriswilliams6568 I am Greek. I have property in Greece, including a hotel. I know what I am talking about.
Agreed about the Artemis Temple in Ephesus: it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only parts of it you can see are pieces of columns and the bases they stood on, along with the plot of land everything was placed.
@@chriswilliams6568 You were answering to my post and I was specifically talking about Athens/Greece as was Emma.
I don't have lot things because of my cats Bandit and Frisky. But they are better than things.
The old ships have a certain "Charm" to them!
Chocolate chips cookies are always worth a bit more😁
I would not feel comfortable off the boat, in another country, without my passport. If you miss ship's movement... how do you get back home? I have had a couple hotels, in the Philippines, ask for my passport and I simply refused. They took a xerox of it. 😎
If you miss the ship they will bring your passport ashore and hand it to the port agent. No worries.
^^ Yep. If people don't get onboard they pass off their passports. :)
@@EmmaCruises "Pass off" - new Britishism of the day?
My wife and I wanted to do a cruise with Celestyal this summer, then the NCL Jade came out with a killer price, so we went with NCL instead. Maybe in the future!
Ooo, I do love the NCL Jade. Lot more included with Celestyal though! But both good choices :-)
I looked at Celestal to Greece and then decided to go with Celebrity which is my favorite cruise instead.
Did you get a new camera? I don’t see the blue ring in your eyes!
Also, thank you for these videos. I watch all of them just to enjoy the views and imagine being in the ships. A nice alternative till I can get on a real one again. My one cruise was Carnival Celebration which was retired. I keep trying to find pictures of that ship and it’s interior but there isn’t much out there. Anyhow please keep the videos coming!
Nope exactly the same, Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼
I've been always looking for the opposite - two days at one port. As an evening person who usually sleeps late I can't imagine having to wake up early or miss the port 😀 I actually did a cruise that made a two-day stop just last week and I enjoyed first day much more than the second when I had to rush back on ship in time.
It's great to hear they have something available from people who prefer shorter port stops, I wish there was the opposite as well :)
cracked up when you said bath so many times!
Ha ha, didn't sound like a real word to me anymore!!
Turkey is often referred to as Asia Minor. You were in Asia.
I love this ship,perfect size!
Yesss, such a lovely size of ship :)
Very interesting 👌🏻😊
Love this, but, two ports a day would probably wear me out. I always try to do too much anyway on a cruise.
It was tiring for sure, but I can't think of any other way of seeing as many places so fast. Imagine if you tried to do it on land!! My gosh :')
It is not as stressed as you think. Greece is a very relaxed country and due to the size of the ships all on board is 30 minutes before departure.
@@EmmaCruises I did something like several locales in a single visit on a port call to Kusadasi in October '13. The first place was the amphitheater in Melitus (?). The second site was the Temple of Apollo someplace else, a lunch buffet complete with wandering cats in the dining area--to catch food dropping off plates as feline vacuum cleaners?--, and the piece d'resistance, Ephesus itself! The return bus ride to Kusadasi was uneventful, but I had to wonder why the bus didn't stop at any of those outlet stores I saw on the road: because the stores probably would not send kickbacks to Celebrity if tourists shopped there? Or not enough time available remaining in the tour to shop those outlets, but more than enough time at the mini-mall in Kusadasi which probably did send those kickbacks to Celebrity? Anyway, I had a good time on the tour and had some opportunities to pet some sweet kitties roaming the amphitheater ruins and the lunch buffet. I also learned how to pronounce the name of the port: Kuh shah dah see. :-)
Hi Emma, just got to know your channel, with going professional maybe consider upgrading video quality (4K)and color grading and perhaps HDR also up saturation a bit, it will give it a more sunny highly professional holiday feel. Good luck
Hey Rom, no thanks. Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼
yes the Mediterranean diet is a healthy one apart from Italy where they have lots of pizza
pizza and 10.000 different dishes... our is a mediterranean diet... we don't eat pizza every day like tourists do.
Real Italian pizza IS healthy!
@@hosnkrocha yes, it is.
@@oseo943 oh i see
I’m an officer on Jewel of the Seas so I see Celestyal Olympia a few times every week. Now I understand their early departures.
If they’re still doing the same itinerary now that is…
Yeah! Yep.
They are, but they have different routes as well.
Did you try the Anthotiro Tiramisu?
Nope what's that?! :')
@@EmmaCruises It was the second dessert item on the menu you showed. It sounds very interesting because Anthotiro is a very sweet but firm fresh cheese that is not as fatty as Mascarpone.
If you think ships that old vibrate a lot just imagine how much ships 100 years ago vibrated
good summary . This cruise isn't for me. Too rushed. A cruise to me is for relaxation and to see one port in a day. 2 ports are just 1 too many. Great video and well explained
This is the "Iconic Aegean" tour, a classic route in the Aegean that has been done by countless Greek lines. However, Celestyal does have other 4-day (as well as 3-day and 7-day) itineraries with only one port per day, like Iconic Discovery. I cannot recommend the Idyllic Aegean though because it starts in Piraeus and ends in Lavrion, that is over an hour away from Athens.
They also offer 7-night-cruises with overnight in Istanbul and very long stays on Santorini. You will not find another line outside the luxury market with such an itinerary.
@@hosnkrocha no problem. I didn't say anything bad about the cruise just that it wasn't my cup of tea. I'm sue a lot of people will enjoy it and it fills a segment of the market. All good
Thanks lots Larry! It definitely not for everybody, but what a way to see a lot of places if you have limited time. Very cool. Thanks for watching! :)