Piraeus Port Sees ‘Impressive’ 85% Increase in Cruise Passengers in Jan-Aug

A cruise ship at the Piraeus port.

The Port of Piraeus, the largest port in Greece and one of the largest in Europe, saw an 85 percent increase in the total number of cruise passengers in the period January-August 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.

According to recent data presented by the Piraeus Port Authority SA (PPA), the port in 2023 welcomed 928,357 passengers compared to 500,905 in the previous year.

Homeporting played a significant role in this growth, with 78 percent of the ships and 55 percent of the passengers starting their cruises from Piraeus.

The number of cruise ship arrivals also recorded a notable increase of 14 percent, reaching 478 in 2023 compared to 419 in 2022, making Piraeus port one of the leading cruise ports in the Mediterranean.

Piraeus Port presents cruise services at Seatrade Europe Expo

The PPA pavilion at SeaTrade Europe Photo source:PPA.

The data was presented during PPA’s participation at the Seatrade Europe, Cruise & River Cruise Convention 2023 held in Hamburg earlier in September, where the company had its own pavilion.

During the event, PPA’s cruise executives attributed the port’s growth as a cruise hub to the successful implementation of the company’s strategy, which has focused on improving customer service, promoting sustainable practices, and forging strategic partnerships with leading cruise companies.

PPA also highlighted its commitment to innovation and sustainability, noting that it is already implementing a number of measures to minimize environmental impacts and promote responsible tourism.

A cruise ship at the Piraeus port. Photo source:PPA.

Earlier this year PPA S.A. was honored by the Greek Tourism Ministry for contributing to the country’s tourism through its high performance in the cruise industry.

Chinese state-owned COSCO Shipping operates the port in Piraeus.

SeaTrade Europe is one of the most influential exhibitions in the cruise industry. The event attracts industry leaders from around the globe fostering the exchange of ideas and facilitating discussions on the latest trends and developments in the cruise sector. The focus revolves around innovation, excellence, and sustainability particularly in relation to port operations.