President of Royal Carribean Cruises: Greek government backs world cruise industry

The strong prospects for the recovery of the cruise industry in Greece and in the broader Eastern Mediterranean are marked by the choice of SilverSea Cruises to hold the official naming event of Silver Moon, a newly built luxury cruise ship, at the port of Piraeus, from where it began its maiden voyage.

For this year, Silver Moon has planned 70 visits to Greek ports and of course many of them to unexplored island destinations for the cruise public such as Amorgos, Syros and Patmos.

According to estimates by Silver Sea executives, this number is expected to double in 2022, while the company will add a second ship.

Crucial to the selection of Piraeus as the Home port for SilverSea Cruises was the attitude of the Greek government, according to statements by Richard D. Fain, President and CEO of Royal Carribean Cruises, to whose group Silversea Cruises belongs.

“The government has been supportive and has informed us of the restart plan as early as February so that there can be proper planning. Demand is very strong for 2022-2023 but also for next year and this is due to the fact that cruise companies have adapted in time, adopting all the necessary protocols to ensure as much as possible the health protection of their travelers,” said Mr. Fain who came to Greece yesterday to attend the event.

“Our government was the first in the world to support the cruise industry and offer its assistance, allowing more than 40 cruise ships to return to our unique destinations. Silversea in particular restarted with three ships. Our team worked very hard with your team to achieve this,” said Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis, adding that “our goal at the Ministry of Tourism is to establish close partnerships with all cruise companies and to extend the season and we offer unique destinations and ports of approach to a growing cruise public that wants to explore authentic Greece “.

Silver Moon, the newly built Silversea Cruises ship, specializes in high-demand voyages. The cruise costs from 9,000 euros and can reach up to 23,000 euros for the presidential suite inside the ship, which is already booked for this year.

The ship was built in August 2020 and this year started  cruises from Piraeus to ports in the Aegean islands and Cyprus for the first time.

The plan of Silversea Cruises this year, as stated by the company’s representative in Greece, Spyros Albertis, is an expression of confidence in Greek tourism and in particular the Greek cruise. “The company shows, in practice, its preference in the country, which can develop great dynamics in the coming years for high quality cruises”

It should be noted that the company, taking into account the wishes of passengers for non-congestion, this year only 300 to 320 people board each cruise, although the protocol provides for 75% of the ship’s capacity, which is 680 passengers.

According to Giannis Gelasakis, naval agent of Silver Sea Cruises “the presence of Silver Moon in Greek waters creates a strong basis for quality upgrading of tourism in a difficult period and stimulating traffic in the country’s ports, which are not its usual destinations. cruise “.

It is reminded that the company has included more than 20 new destinations in Greece such as e.g. Syros, apart from the usual ports which are Santorini. Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu etc.

Also, according to the company, each visitor spends about $ 300 to $ 400 per port, excluding the cost of any excursions.

In the case of Silver Moon, the free flow model is followed, where tourists disembark and do not necessarily visit shops on the islands in cooperation with the company, but whoever they wish, a fact that strengthens a much larger part of the local community.

As for the markets that choose the cruise for their holidays, great mobility is recorded this year from the American market, while strong demand is observed from Germany, Spain, France, the USA but also from the Balkan countries, such as Romania and Bulgaria.