Celestyal has unveiled its shore excursion programme for its new winter Eastern and Western Mediterranean deployments, with 190 experiences available to book now.
All details correct at time of publication (21 September 2026)
The launch includes 118 excursions for Celestyal Discovery’s new Western Mediterranean programme sailing winter 2026/27 and 2027/28, alongside 72 excursions for Celestyal Journey’s winter 2027/28 Eastern Mediterranean voyages.
A range of half-day, full-day and two-day options are available, in addition to 27 new ‘Authentic Encounters’, which provide experiences with local people and attractions, and smaller group sizes.
The programme also introduces a new ‘Community Connections’ offering, designed to take guests beyond traditional sightseeing by connecting them with the local people, producers and communities that bring each destination to life.
To mark the launch, the cruise line is offering a 15% discount on all excursions for Celestyal Discovery’s new 2026 Western Mediterranean programme when booked before September 30, 2026.
Highlights include:
‘Mamas and Tapas’, full day ‘Authentic Encounter’ tour. Takes guests from Malaga into rural Andalucía to visit an olive oil mill before being welcomed into the homes of residents in the mountain village of Alfarnate for a traditional five-course lunch. Prices start from £98pp.*
‘Artisan Cheese Tour & Workshop’, half-day excursion. From Cádiz, the tour takes in the small town of El Bosque, where guests meet local cheesemakers, take part in a hands-on workshop and sample cheeses made using milk from livestock farms in the surrounding Sierra de Grazalema. Prices start from £90pp.*
‘Carcaixent Citrus Plantation & Spirit Tasting’, half-day ‘Community Connections’ excursion. Departs Valencia for the countryside of Carcaixent, where guests visit a family-run citrus orchard dating back to 1870. The experience includes an introduction to traditional orange cultivation, tastings of fresh juice, artisan jams and orange-blossom honey, followed by regional citrus liqueurs. Prices start from £72pp.*
Other highlights include a hands-on tagine cooking class in Tangier, a private flamenco and tapas experience in Cádiz, Valencia’s Fallas festival workshops, a gastronomic tour of Palma’s Mercat de l’Olivar, a Taste of Istanbul experience, and a journey on the historic mountain railway from Volos.
Janet Parton, Vice President of Marketing, PR and Customer Experience at Celestyal, said: “For us, an authentically Mediterranean experience has always been about much more than simply arriving in a destination and seeing its most famous sights. It’s about meeting the people who live there and understanding the traditions that have shaped it.
“Winter is such a rewarding time to explore the Mediterranean. There’s a more relaxed pace, and guests have more space to experience destinations. Through our new shore excursions and Community Connections offering, we can help them get closer to local life and traditions, while ensuring tourism delivers real, meaningful value to the people and businesses they meet along the way.”
As part of Celestyal’s current ‘Uncrowded, Unforgettable, Authentically Med’ campaign, which runs until November 2, 2026, seven-night winter Mediterranean cruises start from £419pp and include meals, soft drinks, WiFi, port fees and gratuities.
For more information, visit celestyal.com or call 0808 258 4170.
*Prices shown include the promotional 15% discount available if shore excursions are booked before September 30, 2026.
