Piraeus to Welcome More than 700 Cruise Ships in 2022

Photo source: Piraeus Port Authority

The port of Piraeus is getting ready for a dynamic cruise restart next year it was announced on Friday.

The Piraeus Port Authority (PPA), which operates and manages the port, said that more than 700 cruise ships are expected to arrive in 2022. More than 60 percent of the expected cruise ships concern homeport arrivals, which have a positive contribution to the local and national economy.

It is noted that in 2019, before the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic outbreak, 622 cruise ships were served.

“The dynamic restart of cruise is obvious, since a recovery rate of around 60 percent in 2021 has been achieved, compared to 2019 in terms of the number of cruise vessels,” the authority said.

In 2020 the port authority recorded an 88 percent decrease compared to 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2022 an increase to 118 percent, compared to 2019, is expected.

Moreover, new brands are scheduled to reach the port, such as Virgin Cruises and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

According to Piraeus Port Authority Chairman Yu Zenggang, the immediate and rapid restart of cruise proves the dynamics of Piraeus Port due to its high-end services, support offered to cruise companies during the pandemic and also the port’s unique geographic hub location.

Piraeus Port Authority Chairman Yu Zenggang

“It is certain that with the end of the pandemic the port will once again prove to be one of the best in the Mediterranean and Europe and will further enhance the position of Greece’s tourist industry in Europe”, he said.

Chairman Yu Zenggang also pointed out that the expected arrivals will be carried out in strict compliance with the Covid-19 protection and safety measures.