Cruise sector in Greece expected to exceed 2022 levels this year

Greece’s relevant tourism minister on Monday announced record-setting cruise ship bookings for the coming summer season, saying 807 vessels have scheduled holiday cruises in Greek waters, up 19 percent compared with 2022 figures

Minister Vassilis Kikilias said 607 bookings for homeport cruises have also been registered, up 38 percent for 2022

Pre-booking figures for the port of Piraeus show the arrival of 786 cruise ships this year, up 16 percent from 2022, and at higher levels than before the pandemic. Homeport arrivals at the Piraeus also show a 30-percent increase from 2019.

Για την κρουαζιέρα στον Πειραιά:Σύμφωνα με τον ΟΛΠ, μετά τις εντυπωσιακές επιδόσεις του 2022 (+9% στις αφίξεις & +33% στο home port vS 2019), για το 2023 ήδη έχουμε κρατήσεις για τουλάχιστον 807 κρουαζιερόπλοια (+19% vS 2022) & για 607 homeport κρουαζιερόπλοια (+ 38% vS 2022).

— Vassilis Kikilias (@Vkikilias) January 30, 2023

Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) Deputy CEO Capt. Jin Beiyuan also expressed satisfaction over what he called the “dynamic course” of the cruise sector in Greece’s largest and busiest port.

Chinese multinational Cosco owns a majority stake of PPA and holds its management in a long-term concession.