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Louis Hellenic Cruises replaces Sea Diamond
Louis Hellenic Cruises has acquired its 14th cruise ship – the Cristel, formerly the Leeward and Superstar Taurus operating by Norwegian Cruise Line and Star Cruises.
The vessel has entered service as a replacement for the Sea Diamond which sank off Santorini earlier this year.
Cristel is sailing on a series of three and four-day cruises from Piraeus, the port of Athens, to Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Heraklion, Santorini and Rhodes until November 12.
The Cyprus-based line will then deploy the ship on a series of 29 seven-day eastern Mediterranean sailings from Athens next summer.
The cruises, which start on April 11 and run until October 31, include Istanbul with an overnight stay, Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Heraklion and Santorini.
The season will conclude with four seven-day Greece, Turkey and Egypt sailings from Piraeus on October 31, November 7, 14 and 21 to Istanbul, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Alexandria with an overnight stay and Santorini.
The ship, built in 1980 as a Baltic cruise-ferry, has 480 cabins, with many of the 317 outside cabins featuring picture windows or suites with balconies. Cristal features a pool with a retractable glass roof, beauty centre, two restaurants and two cafes, three lounges, a casino, shops internet centre and conference room.
Cristel has been refurbished by Louis before entering service this month.
by Phil Davies
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