With steady steps and impressive growth, Greece is establishing itself as one of the leading cruise destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean, strengthening both its tourist image and the national economy.
According to the Annual Report of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Greece is emerging as a key destination in the Eastern Mediterranean, having welcomed 1.86 million passengers from all over the world in 2024, compared to 1.54 million in 2023, of which 1.1 million came from Europe – compared to 966,000 in 2023.
The industry’s economic contribution is also expected to reach 2 billion euros in 2023, an increase of 600 million euros compared to 2022.
In 2024, cruises close to travelers’ home destinations remained attractive, with the Mediterranean region as the most popular destination for European cruise passengers, followed by the Caribbean and Northern Europe.
Europe remains a key market, with a 2.8% increase in European cruise passengers in 2024, with the top five European markets being Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain and France.
According to Clia data, the global cruise industry welcomed 34.6 million passengers in 2024, while 37.7 million are expected in 2025.
Strategic position
The president of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vasilis Korkidis, speaking recently at an event of Piraeus Municipality on the development of the cruise industry, pointed out that its development is not based only on geopolitical reasons, but on the country’s strategic position and the quality of the Greek tourist product.
He stressed that “Greece is the third largest destination country in Europe, after Italy and Spain, with over 5,500 ship arrivals annually” and called for the improvement of infrastructure, the strengthening of services and the organization of excursions for the smooth management of visitors.
