
The year comes to an end with twice as many cruise ships compared to 2022 visiting the port of Heraklion local media reported Sunday.
The Cretan port recorded a 50% increase in its passenger traffic in Dec. 2023 while it seems to be optimistic for the year to come.
The Heraklion Port Authority organized a special event with special Cretan treats, traditional music and gifts, to say goodbye to the last cruise ship leaving its port for 2023; the Silver Moon.
According to official data of the Heraklion Port Authority, a total of 382,981 cruise passengers visited the port in 2023, while cruise ship arrivals reached 253.
The port arrivals recorded a 27% increase compared to 2022 in passenger traffic.
In terms of passenger origin, the majority for 2023 came from America, with 1 in 4 passengers and a total number of 97,245 Americans.
Other nationalities included, Italians, Germans and English with 54,629, 45,187 and 42,416 passengers respectively.
The CEO of the Heraklion Port Authority Minas Papadakis, pointed out that, “2023 marked an extremely successful year for cruise ships in the port of Heraklion, while 2024 is expected to be a new milestone, with estimates reaching 300 cruise ships, 38 of the which are homeport.
Papadakis added that with collective effort and systematic work, the port of Heraklion is consistently chosen by major companies in the sector establishing it as one of the most important homeports for embarkation and disembarkation in the Eastern Mediterranean”.
Ioannis Vardavas, President of the Heraklion Port Authority added that “the official figures for the cruise ships in our port demonstrate its dynamics due to the high quality of services provided.
The port of Heraklion is one of the most popular destinations in Greece, he noted while the year “2024 will be another year of significant progress for the cruise ships with significant growth rates, with multiple benefits, both for the city of Heraklion and for the economy of Greece.”
Source: tovima.com


Latest News

Greece Faces Renewed Fears of Water Crisis Ahead of Summer 2025
Following a prolonged drought that began in 2024, fears of a water crisis highlight the urgent need for infrastructure improvements

Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and More Seek Collaboration with Greek Unis
Greece's former Minister of Education Kyriakos Pierrakakis announces an €82 million funding boost to support the partnerships

Greek Government Reshuffle Brings in More Young Technocrats
Greek PM Mitsotakis has brought in younger leaders and technocrats in a bid to accelerate the government's efforts at modernization and efficiency, according to New Democracy insiders

Greece’s New Government Members Sworn in at Presidential Mansion
Greece's new government members were sworn in on Saturday morning and head straight to work through the first meeting of the new cabinet.

Moody’s Upgrades Greece to Investment Grade, Ending Crisis Era
The rating agency raised Greece’s long-term credit rating to Baa3 from Ba1, with a stable outlook.

EFET on World Consumer Day: Humanity Faces New Challenges
This year’s message emphasizes the need for a transition to sustainable lifestyles while safeguarding consumers’ legally recognized rights. This means ensuring access to essential goods such as food and energy, as well as health and safety.

Athens Hotels Lead Europe in Value Growth for Third Year
Over the entire period from 2015 to 2024, the average annual increase in hotel value was 6.1%.

Unemployment Rate in Greece Down 8.9% in January: IOBE
The unemployment rate in Greece recorded a further decline in January 2025, reaching 8.9%, according to the latest Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE) report.

Demand for Short Term Rentals in Greece Surges Ahead of Easter
Among the most popular Easter destinations from Good Friday to Easter Monday are Corfu, Hydra, the Peloponnese, Ioannina, Patmos, Loutra Edipsou, Kavala, Thassos, and Pelion

Opposition Reacts Strongly to Greek Government Reshuffle
PASOK's spokesperson, Kostas Tsoukalas, characterized the reshuffle as a clear indication of Mitsotakis' "strategic deadlock."