Greece’s cruise sector achieved an unprecedented milestone in 2024, with industry insiders reporting a record-breaking 8 million passengers visiting 49 destinations across the country.
Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), cruise industry sources hailed the surge as a historic high, surpassing even pre-pandemic figures, though official statistics are still pending.
This marks a significant leap from 2023, when the Association of Greek Ports recorded 5,230 cruise ship arrivals and 7,003,150 passengers across 49 ports, up from 4,629,650 in 2022. Santorini remained the top draw for passengers, with excursion packages booked two years in advance, despite temporary disruptions caused by recent seismic activity and restrictive measures. Currently, cruise ships are barred from approaching the island due to these safety protocols.
According to ANA-MPA sources, the Ministries of Maritime Affairs, Tourism, and Civil Protection are finalising a new joint ministerial decision to allow cruise ships to resume operations near Santorini’s Athinio sea area in the coming days. The decision aims to coordinate arrivals with coastal shipping schedules to ensure safety. Large cruise ships, unable to dock directly at Santorini’s port due to the island’s unique caldera geography, typically anchor offshore, ferrying passengers to shore via smaller vessels, while the port itself serves coastal shipping traffic.
(Source: Amna)