Cruises: Europeans choose the Greek islands – What do the heads of large companies in the industry say

The biggest cruise companies in the world have their plans for the summer season in full swing, focusing this year on our country, which precedes the resumption of the industry’s activities from any other European country.

According to the leaders of some of the largest cruise companies who spoke at the 6th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, the Mediterranean is currently the first cruise destination in the world, with Piraeus presenting a picture similar to that of the 1970s, when as  the president of the Association of Cruise Shipowners and Shipping Operators George Koumpenashe noted, departures from the largest Greek port were more than transit visits.

Major cruise companies such as Carnival, Celebrity, MSC, Tui are already here, while other destinations are just opening now, said International Association of Cruise Companies spokesperson Maria Delligianni.

The companies have already deployed 18 vessels in the Eastern Mediterranean and other European destinations and plan to increase their operations with 28 vessels in June and 50 in July, before reaching the summer maximum for 60 fully operational cruise ships in August, while plans for launching others are underway if demand allows.

Greece has been praised internationally for its efforts to develop a tourism product capable of inspiring confidence as a safe destination that is fully prepared to deal with the effects of the pandemic. Greece is one of the countries that achieved the resumption of the cruise earlier than others, stressed Pierfrancesco Vago, President of the International Association of Cruise Companies (CLIA) and CEO of MSC Cruises, speaking yesterday to the 500 representatives of the industry from around the world. participated online in this year’s Forum.

Already, more than 200,000 passengers have made safe cruise trips since the end of last summer and this year the Eastern Mediterranean is showing the way to restart earlier than other areas, which could help Greece become a permanent boarding and departure country for cruises, according to Mr. Vago.

TUI cruises only in Greece

It is characteristic that TUI between May and October this year offers Greece as its only destination, as stated by Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises.

Tui resumed its routes from Crete last week and its plan for this summer is to offer trips to Greece starting from Heraklion, with two different itineraries. “If the travel restrictions are lifted further, we will return to other routes,” he added.

Asia and North America not on routes

Also, according to the CEO of MSC Cruises, Gianni Onorato “the green certificate will allow more Europeans to focus on Europe and Greece will be one of the main destinations for them”.

He estimated that most Europeans will be heading to Europe for cruises this summer, as they are cut off from intercontinental destinations due to air travel restrictions and travel protocols. As he said, some regions such as Asia and North America are still out of schedule for the cruise industry.

Expansion plans up to December

Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Group and Carnival Asia, agrees: “Greece is a steadfast pillar for the Germans, the Italians and the French. We want to expand our presence in Greece beyond the season, maybe even in December. Both of our companies have resumed their routes in Greece, while there will be more ships that will come to the country.”

Finally, it should be noted that Mr. Manolis Alevropoulos, Vice President of Marine Operations Celebrity Cruises Inc., referring to the benefits of home porting, stressed that Celebrity and Royal Caribbean ships that will start from Greek ports, including the newly built Celebrity Apex which will do homeporting in Piraeus, is expected to spend more than $ 8.4 million on Greek suppliers, not including fuel costs and other port services.

The Municipality of Piraeus with a stand at the exhibition

The Municipality of Piraeus also participates in the 6th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, with an emblematic Destination Piraeus stand at the event’s digital exhibition. The exhibition lasts until June 10 and visitors can browse it through the platform https://posidoniaforum2021.com

“Piraeus, as the city with the largest port in the country, the physical headquarters of Greek shipowners with the largest fleet in the world, but also the main gateway for millions of tourists, could not be absent from the international conference and exhibition Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, during a particularly crucial period, which coincides with the opening of tourism and the resumption of cruises,” said the mayor of Piraeus Giannis Moralis and added:” Through Destination Piraeus, the Organization we have set up for the tourist promotion of Piraeus, our city will be present with the aim of networking and informing the representatives of the cruise industry about the tourism product of Piraeus and its development prospects, as they have been shaped, based on the new conditions brought by the health crisis