The recovery of the cruise industry in Greece during the last two months of 2021

Revealing on how the cruise industry recovered from the pandemic this year are the data of Marine Traffic for the arrivals of cruise ships (passenger ships with gross tonnage GRT greater than 49,999 tons) in the Mediterranean ports, for the months of September-October, of the last three years (2019, 2020 and 2021).

This is an interesting period to record the trends as, during this period of time, the season peaks and comes to its end.

Thus, arrivals of cruise ships in the Mediterranean ports, in September and October, for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 were as it follows:

-for the examined two months of 2019 the arrivals amounted to a total of 2,410

-for the two months of September-October 2020 the arrivals collapsed at 315

-while for the months of September-October 2021 they recovered to 1,526

There were 201 active cruise ships on 7/11/21 worldwide, while, in the corresponding period of 2020, there were 220 active cruise ships and, in 2019, there were 199 of them.

On the same day (7/11/2021) there were 19 active cruise ships in the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, compared to 16, in 2020, and 9, in 2019.

The above data are also indicating us how the cruise industry will move in 2022. Everyone is talking about a total recovery from next April, the month that formally marks the beginning of the season, after the outbreak of the pandemic, as it is estimated that, during this month, 94% of the cruise ship fleet worldwide will be operational.

Greece will have a leading role in 2022, as well, with its two largest ports, Piraeus and Thessaloniki, ready to register new record levels.

2022 will be the year that Greece will reap the fruits sown in 2021, a year when Greece dared and distinguished itself as one of the few countries in the world that “opened” the industry since last May. Thanks to the measures taken then, the cruise industry started and, as a result, many companies chose to continue their activity in the region, in 2022.

In 2022, Greece is expected to be one of the first destinations chosen by many companies, while the opening with Turkey (Istanbul and Kusadasi) will further enhance the cruise industry in the region.