Photo source: MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises Executive Director Norbert Stiekema recently visited Greece, where he addressed the newly announced cruise levy set to apply to passengers disembarking from commercial cruise ships at Greek ports starting in 2025.
The levy, ranging from 5 to 20 euros, depending on the port, is part of Greece’s strategy to manage high-season tourism pressures in over-visited destinations such as Santorini and Mykonos.
While the levy is intended to support sustainable tourism and local economies, Stiekema expressed concerns about its potential impact on demand. “When the price of a service rises, demand typically drops,” he explained.
“The discussion should focus on improving infrastructure rather than increasing taxes,” Stiekema said and underlined that rising costs could push cruise passengers to select other destinations, affecting Greece’s competitiveness in the global cruise market.
Stiekema’s remarks came as MSC Cruises launched its first-ever winter season in Greece, with weekly Mediterranean cruises departing from Piraeus aboard the MSC Sinfonia.
MSC Cruises is actively engaged in discussions with the Greek government about investments in infrastructure to better manage cruise traffic. The company has demonstrated interest in Greek ports, including its recent proposal to collaborate with Olympic Marine S.A. to explore the exploitation of Lavrio Port.
In addition to supporting infrastructure development, MSC Cruises is working to diversify its offerings. For the upcoming season, the company will include Syros in its itineraries, providing an alternative destination to Greece’s more crowded islands. “Some infrastructures in Greece are only used in the summer,” Stiekema noted, emphasizing that MSC’s winter season could help mitigate overcrowding.
MSC Cruises’ winter season in Greece
MSC Cruises has begun its first-ever winter season in Greece, marking the first time the company operates year-round cruises from the country. The MSC Sinfonia will embark on weekly voyages from Piraeus, offering Mediterranean itineraries with stops in destinations like Corfu, Izmir (Turkey), Istanbul (Turkey), and Bari (Italy).
The initiative aligns with Greece’s broader tourism strategy to extend the visitor season and promote year-round tourism. The winter cruises help attract international visitors during the off-peak months, providing a boost to local resorts and cities, especially as many guests extend their trips with pre- or post-cruise stays in Greece.
MSC Cruises also supports sustainable tourism by offering over 40 different shore excursions across Greek destinations, all led by local suppliers.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, MSC Cruises is the world’s third-largest cruise company. It currently operates a fleet of 22 cruise ships, with plans to expand by adding three more vessels by 2025.
