Sea Tourism

Queen Mary 2, considered the most magnificent ocean liner ever built, docked in Piraeus last month, which is one of the 18 ports of call on its maiden ‘Round the World in Less than 80 Days’ cruise.

A recent decision by the ministers of merchant marine and health and social services places “rural” doctors on a number of Greek ferry vessels. The doctors’ wages will be paid by the ministry of merchant marine, which has set aside a budget of 696,000 euros to cover expenses for 2007. Under the program, shipowners are obliged to provide each doctor with a private cabin and meals.

The Piraeus Port Authority says it expects to attract some 300 million euros in private investment funds when it allows the private sector, through a tender, to renovate and take over the management of its passenger harbor properties. The port regions open to renovation include from the Pagoda area on the Miaouli Coast to the Krakari sea wall. According to press reports, the port authority bases its expectations on a study carried out by the Bank of Piraeus, which suggests a one and only tender competition for the renovation of the harbor front from a contractor or consortium that will manage the area.

Valef Yachts recently announced the opening of its Greek offices at Marina Zeas in Piraeus. The office is under the competent management of the founder’s two daughters, Kassandra and Alexandra Lefakinis.

Crete-based Minoan Lines appears to be in the center of a shake up in Greece’s coastal shipping sector. Last month, the activity of the Minoan shares on the Athens Stock Exchange, and subsequent press stories, has led most to believe that Attica Enterprises (Superfast Ferries and Blue Star Ferries) is out to control Minoan.

Yet another tourism minister has announced that marine tourism and yachting are very important pieces of the Greek tourism product. During the recent New Year’s reception of the Association of Greek Yacht Owners, Tourism Minister Fanni Palli-Petralia added that this was a particularly profitable and promising sector for tourism.

Tourism Development Minister Fanni Palli-Petralia said, as we go to press, that a tender would be published shortly for the marina at Faliro. It is but one of the many properties owned by Tourism Development Company, which recently announced its financial results for the year.

MSC Cruises’ brand new ultra luxurious cruise ship, MSC Musica, called into Piraeus harbor as part of its European cruise itinerary for the 2006-2007 season.

EasyCruise announced that easyCruiseOne will sail the Greek islands this summer, beginning May 31, 2007, offering three to 14-day cruises to 11 islands (Cyclades and Saronic). The eleven islands include popular islands such as Mykonos, Paros and Ios, and less well-known islands such as Milos, Amorgos, and Folegandros.

Hellenic Seaways (HSW) not only launched the newly built ferry boat, Nissos Chios, last month, but also purchased a relatively new large ferry boat. Both ships are part of HSW’s 200 million euro investment strategy to expand and modernize its fleet and improve the services the company offers to its customers.