Cruise sector in east Med closely watching situation in Israel; itinerary changes add Greek isles, Turkey

Greece’s cruise sector is expected to experience only a temporary boost following Hamas’ terrorist attacks in southern Israel, according to sector officials, with cancellation of cruises to the Mideast country shifting voyage itineraries to certain Greek isles for the remainder of the season.

The assessment was expressed this week by Union of Cruise Ship Owners and Associated Members (EEKFN) president Giorgos Koubenas and the group’s honorary president, Theodoros Kontes.

According to the latter, initial forecasts for 2023 cited roughly 4,800 visits to various Greek destinations by cruise ships, with the estimated number of passenger arrivals exceeding five million. However, revised forecasts now point to 4,940 port of calls and more than 5.24 million passenger arrivals.

The all-time record in Greece for cruise ship passenger arrivals was in the pre-pandemic 2019, 5.55 million.

Conversely, forecasts for 2024 will weigh heavily on the situation in the east Mediterranean, given that the renewed conflict in the Middle East will negatively impact the cruise sector in the wider region, a situation that impacts Egypt too, for instance.

Koubenas told ot.gr this week that cruise operators have cancelled stops to Israel after the vicious Hamas attack and replaced them with stops to Greek isles, especially Rhodes, and Turkish ports in western Anatolia. Home-porting at Haifa is also expected to be negatively impacted.