PIRAEUS, Greece — Louis Cruises is creating a new brand to give travellers an authentic Greek experience with the launch of Celestyal Cruises.

Throughout the 2013 season Louis Cruises sailed to the Aegean’s ‘iconic’ destinations, such as Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes and Santorini, along with revised bar and restaurant menus, new themed programs, onboard entertainment and personalized service.

In 2014 there were itineraries that are taking clients to nine new Aegean destinations, undiscovered islands such as Chios, Ios, Kos, Milos, Samos, Symi, Syros and the Turkish Riviera ports of Bodrum and Cesme.

In 2015 the company will continue to build with new ports of call in the Ionian and Adriatic seas and along the Dalmatian coast.

“In September 2014 we will give a name to this promise: Celestyal Cruises. Celestyal stems from celestial which means ‘pertaining to the stars’ and ‘heavenly’ or ‘divine’. By launching Celestyal, we are expanding the Louis Cruises portfolio thereby reflecting the divine, real Greek experience that one enjoys when sailing with us,” said Kyriakos Anastassiadis, CEO of Louis Cruises.

“We’ve also chosen this name to honour our ancestors, the ancient Greeks, who were among the first peoples to use celestial navigation – by the third century BC Greek mariners were using the Little Bear to navigate their ships.”

Louis Cruises’ itineraries can be booked through most major tour operators in the U.S. and Canada.