Cruise Control: Why Sailing Around The Med Should Be On Your Bucket List
It’s not difficult to see the appeal of cruising around the Mediterranean. From the unparalleled scenery, to the entrancingly dramatic history of the area. At least once in your life you need to visit and bask in all the Mediterranean region has to offer.
Whether it’s relaxing beneath the sun on the beach or exploring quirky coastal towns, wherever you choose to visit you will be sure experience the best in culture, history and cuisine.
From the ancient city of Athens, to the white buildings of Santorini or the colourful island of Mykonos it can almost be impossible to choose one place to holiday.
There are no limits to the adventures awaiting you around the Mediterranean. But why choose just one destination? When you can wake up every day and see all the above and more.
Enter Celebrity Cruises, who have taken the best bits of a luxury Greek holiday and created the perfect package of relaxation and escapism for holiday makers.
Boarding at Athens the ship, the Celebrity Reflection, is like a sleek boutique hotel.
It is instantly relaxing, especially after a long day of traveling. With the contemporary art and a live ficus tree, which is impressively suspended midair, being the first thing that catches the eye you can tell that everything has been perfectly considered with the sophisticated traveller in mind.
The ship, built in 2012, weighs in at 122,400 tonnes with the Reflection being the biggest in the Celebrity fleet. With the ships’ twelve-story atrium it’s almost impossible to believe that its carrying 2,886 passengers, the atmosphere is completely calm and friendly.
The ship is incredibly well designed, whether you want to relax at the onboard Spa or spend an afternoon watching the ocean on the top deck from a secluded hideaway spot in The Alcoves, you are offered a whole host of luxury features to guarantee a cruise you’ll never forget.
All cabins, or staterooms as their size was impressive and luxurious, came with their own private verandas which offered the perfect place to relax after a warm and balmy excursion filled day.
The spa-inspired rooms, offer access to the Relaxation room and Persian Gardens, which provide a sanctuary in which to rejuvenate. If you love spas, there’s no finer way to travel.
The guest to staff ratio on board is nearly unbeatable with it at 2:1 and with the twice daily makeup and turndown service you are truly looked after.
The staff onboard are outstanding. Made up of the highest quality hospitality workers from all over the globe, every single member of staff will go out of their way to provide the best experience as possible for passengers. Which is a rare thing to encounter nowadays. The staff are what makes the Reflection an extraordinary ship.
Other than the outstanding staff, one of the big selling points about the Reflection is its food. With nine restaurants onboard the dining venues offer a variety of extraordinary ways to enjoy the best cuisine at sea.
At the heart of the ship is the opulent, award-winning main dining room where old Hollywood glamour meets chic and contemporary dining. Sit back, relax and enjoy the elegant dining experience.
Be warned though while delicious, the food in the main dining room is very rich and heavy that’s why the Blu restaurant provides a lovely alternative. Blu is inspired by the Mediterranean Sea, and the cool blue colours experienced when visiting Greece.
Blu’s cuisine is very clean on the palate with crisp flavours and inventive dishes with popular dishes available without fussiness or pretense.
But If you’re looking for a truly spectacular culinary experience, then you have to try one of the speciality restaurants onboard? One of these speciality restaurants is Qsine.
Qsine is unlike anything else on land or sea. Think Heston Blumenthal with a very quirky sense of humour! Qsine is a real sight for the eyes.
Sushi lollipops, lobster escargot and popcorn fish and chips all feature on a menu where you order your food using an iPad. Disco Shrimp and Spring Rolls presented like a coiled spring, it really is a once in a lifetime dining experience.
All the senses are delighted as you eat your way through this joyful experience and will be a real highlight of any trip. A surprise not to be missed!
After you have slept deeply with a full belly in your stateroom it’s time to explore the amazing port towns you are docked into.
Yes if you can pull yourself away from the onboard comfort, the ports of call are some of the best places to visit in the whole of the Mediterranean.
The Greece, Turkey & Italy Cruise calls at
Rome, Italy
Santorini, Greece
Athens, Greece
Mykonos, Greece
Kusadasi, Turkey
Bodrum, Turkey
Chania, Crete, Greece
Naples, Italy
Which is an itinerary that’s exciting and action packed with every port providing a desirable location. Every destination is sure to inspire with new sights, sounds and sensations.
To experience each destination in the full, it is recommended to book escorted shore excursions. Run by local experts, they provide a real opportunity to be immersed in local culture. They are expensive, but it’s definitely worth doing at least once during your journey.
One that is recommended is in Chef Market Discoveries in Chania on the Crete island, which is a new tour for Celebrity Cruises.
One of the best experiences of a holiday is enjoying the freshest local produce unique to that destination, or trying a new dish or ingredient.
This excursion is hosted by one of Celebrity Cruises’ talented chefs, the new Chef’s Market Discoveries allow guests to meet farmers and food producers, tour markets and taste local specialities.
The gourmet experience culminates with an exclusive meal prepared by the chef using ingredients from the day’s market haul.
When arriving in Chania you also get the chance to explore the herbs, plants and trees of Crete’s Botanical Park and Gardens. Then sample cheeses, honey and olives and learn how to prepare the popular dish of Boureki pie, before enjoying a freshly prepared lunch by the chef.
Celebrity Cruises provide a way to see the Mediterranean region, which encompasses various countries and cultures, in a truly relaxing atmosphere. The friendly and hardworking staff provide the perfect holiday for food lovers and gourmets.
Visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk/news for more about how you can book your Mediterranean adventure.
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