Cruise: 10% increase in passenger traffic for Celestyal
Source: Tornos News
Celestyal participated in the 8th Infrastructure-Transport Conference, held on September 22–24 in Athens, with the Chief Operating Officer, Capt. George Koumbenas, to discuss the prospects, challenges and needs of the cruise industry in Greece, as a speaker on the panel “Coastal Shipping – Shipping – Ports: Fleet Renewal and Port Infrastructure Upgrade”, together with representatives of institutional bodies and organizations such as the Ports Regulatory Authority, the Hellenic Ports and Ports Authority, the Ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki, as well as Octane Management Consultants.”
Mr. Koumbenas emphasized that cruising is the fastest growing form of tourism worldwide, setting a new record in our country as well. In 2024, Greece welcomed 8 million cruise passenger movements, while an increase of 10% is expected for 2025. Celestyal also recorded a corresponding increase, by 10%, compared to last year.
“Cruising is going from record to record and Greece is clearly benefiting from this momentum. At the same time, however, the growth is accompanied by significant challenges that we must address strategically, focusing on infrastructure and environmental requirements,” said Capt. George Koumbenas.
Among the key factors affecting cruising, Mr. Koumbenas highlighted the increasing environmental requirements of the EU, which lead to high operating costs for ships, the uncertainty surrounding the cruise tax, which began to be implemented in July 2025 with an unorthodox design regarding implementation and revenue sharing, as well as possible unexpected conditions such as seismic activity in Santorini, which affected bookings earlier in the year.
“The cruise fee was based on assumptions that need to be reviewed, as it is not certain that the revenues will be directed to infrastructure projects – which are the main concern of the sector. Targeted investment in port facilities, within the framework of a national strategic plan, is crucial for maintaining and strengthening the development path of cruises in our country,” he pointed out.
The Chief Operating Officer of Celestyal particularly highlights the need for the creation of a national strategic plan for cruises, noting that without a clear plan there can be no meaningful project planning or proper utilization of resources. As he emphasized, cruises approach dozens of Greek ports, most of which lack the necessary infrastructure.
Special mention was also made of the port of Lavrion, characterizing it as “an important alternative gateway, which can operate complementary to Piraeus, thanks to its proximity to both the airport and the Cyclades”.
At the same time, the President of the Ports Regulatory Authority, Mr. Apostolos Papapostolou, stressed that investments in ships cannot precede port infrastructure, while he underlined that there is a significant gap in the way port facilities are managed in the country, explaining the need for a Unified Register of Port Facilities, coordination and a plan.
From the side of the PPA, Mr. Thanasis Karlis, Deputy Manager of the Marketing & Quality Control Department, pointed out that this year’s cruise season is positive, while an even greater increase is expected, but with clearly more moderate prospects. He stated that the challenges for Greek ports are many and that on the one hand new available spaces are required, which are difficult to find and to be properly configured in reasonable time intervals, on the other hand a clear institutional framework that will give organizations the opportunity to utilize them immediately and effectively.
Finally, Mr. Ioannis Tsaras, CEO of the Thessaloniki Port Authority, noted that Thessaloniki has already made significant steps in the development of cruises, confirming the strong interest in the region and underlining the decisive role that Celestyal played in this process.
The original article: belongs to Tornos News .
