The cruise line turning the heads of Love Is Blind stars

Benaiah and Nicole Grünewald-Bridi weren’t cruise people. Here’s how sailing the Adriatic with Celestyal Cruises changed that.

Benaiah and Nicole Grünewald-Bridi met on Netflix’s Love Is Blind: UK in 2023, and after a season of twists, walked away married. Now, a recent Greek Islands itinerary with Celestyal has flipped their expectations about cruising. Here’s what they had to say about their experience.

What was your opinion of cruising before you embarked on your trip with Celestyal?

Benaiah: Cruising was never on my radar, to be honest. I sort of knew what a cruise entailed, but from what I’d seen, I always assumed there’d be some sort of restriction on my movement, with everyone packed into a ship. I like having the freedom to pick and choose where I go, so I always thought cruising would be a good option for when I’m at an age when I’m less able to do that.

Did the experience change those preconceptions?

Benaiah: My wife Nicole and I sailed on Celestyal’s ‘Heavenly Greece, Italy and Croatia’ cruise, and we absolutely loved it. I’ve lived overseas and travelled all over the place, but this has to be one of the best trips I’ve ever done. I’m a big planner and I’m very methodical because I want to ensure everything runs smoothly, but Celestyal took away all the hassle. Everything was on a plate and ready to go, which meant I could just enjoy the trip.

What were your first impressions of the ship?

Benaiah: It was surprisingly spacious. That notion I had about everyone being packed on board like sardines – it wasn’t like that at all. I know Celestyal’s ships are smaller compared with some cruise lines, but it never felt crowded. In fact, it was just the right size to let us build relationships with the crew and the other guests, which was really nice. The staff were fantastic, so polite and helpful, and the facilities were excellent. I even got my hair done!

As a self-confessed planner, how did it feel letting someone else take care of everything for once?

Benaiah: If I had to plan that trip by myself, with all the admin that’s required and constantly moving around, it would have been insane. Here, you arrive on the ship, your suitcase is delivered to your room, then you wait to be transported to all these incredible destinations and there’s no need to cart your luggage around. Your room is made up, the food and drinks are ready to go and everything you could possibly need is right at your fingertips. All you have to do is turn up. Taking all that stress and pressure off my hands was huge for me.

When you and Nicole recently appeared on World of Cruising TV, you heaped praise on the shore excursions. What was it that impressed you most?

Benaiah: Truth be told, the excursions were something I was quite apprehensive about. For me, the best part of being on holiday is having the freedom to go where you want, when you want, and I thought the excursions might prohibit that. What I didn’t account for is how they allowed us to maximise our time, allowing us to see the best bits of every destination.

It was amazing to let go of that responsibility. I knew I couldn’t have organised these trips better than the itinerary planners and I was comfortable in the knowledge that I was getting the most bang for my buck each day I was ashore.

The staff were fantastic in ensuring everything ran smoothly. If I had any regrets, it’s that I didn’t do an excursion every single day.

To hear more about Benaiah and Nicole Grünewald-Bridi’s time at sea with Celestyal Cruises, watch the full episode of World of Cruising TV here.

Was there a particular destination that blew you away?

Benaiah: I didn’t know much about Kotor in Montenegro before I visited and I deliberately didn’t do much research because I wanted it to be a surprise. But that destination was my favourite. Sailing into the Bay of Kotor was very impressive – it’s somewhere that I’d love to return to and explore more. If I could go back to any port, that would be the one.