Piraeus Port Breaks Passenger and Homeporting Records in 2024

Photo source: Piraeus Port Authority

The Port of Piraeus achieved unprecedented success in 2024, setting new records in cruise passenger traffic and homeporting, further solidifying its position as a leading cruise hub in the Mediterranean.

Preliminary data released on Tuesday by the Piraeus Port Authority (PPA or OLP in Greek) highlights remarkable growth in cruise activity. In 2024, Greece’s largest port welcomed 1.7 million cruise passengers, a significant increase from 1.5 million in 2023. It also recorded a historic milestone in homeporting, serving 1 million homeport passengers — up from 800,000 the previous year.

Additionally, the total number of cruise ship calls at Piraeus rose to 810 in 2024, compared to 760 the year before. Of these, more than 600 ships used Piraeus as their homeport, further reinforcing its reputation as a key gateway for cruise travel.

Promising outlook for 2025

Looking ahead, Piraeus Port is set for another record-breaking year. Pre-bookings for 2025 already point to the arrival of 940 cruise ships, signaling continued growth and demand.

In an announcement, PPA S.A. CEO Su Xudong expressed his satisfaction with the consistent upward trajectory of the cruise sector in Piraeus. He attributed the success to the port’s strategic location and the authority’s targeted investments in infrastructure and services.

Regarding 2025, Piraeus seems to be on the way for yet another record-breaking year, with preregistrations for the arrival of cruise ships already amounting to 940.

Piraeus Port welcomes first cruise ship of the new year

Captain Arild Jernaes and Stamatia Tzevelekou, Deputy Manager of Cruise & Ferry Terminal dept. of PPA S.A.

The new cruise season officially began a few days into the new year, with the arrival of the Viking Saturn at Piraeus.

The 228-meter vessel, featuring nine decks and a capacity for 930 passengers, was welcomed in a special ceremony that included the traditional exchange of plaques and treats for passengers during check-in at the cruise terminal.

Viking Cruises, a long-term partner of the port, continues to grow its operations in Piraeus. In 2025, the company plans to bring ten ships to the port for a total of 41 calls, up from seven vessels making 28 calls in 2024. allCruises and Cruiseway Travel are the sales representatives of Viking Cruises in Greece.