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MSC Group’s Cruise Division presented its strategic vision for cruising in Greece, which is evolving into a strategic hub of the Eastern Mediterranean
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- Δημοσιεύτηκε στις Τετάρτη, 01 Οκτωβρίου 2025 11:33

On Friday, 26 September, the Cruise Division of MSC Group - MSC Cruises and luxury brand Explora Journeys - hosted an event aboard EXPLORA I in Piraeus, marking the ship’s final call of 2025, following previous events in Thessaloniki, Kavala, and Syros. The event was attended by representatives of Local Government, PPA/COSCO, the Coast Guard and institutional stakeholders from the shipping and tourism sectors. Specifically, the following honored the event with their presence and greetings:
The Captain of Explora I, Diego Michellozzi, who welcomed the attendees and expressed his joy at the presence of Explora in Greece, one of the most luxurious and beautiful cruise ships in the market.
Mr. Stavros Voidonikolas, Deputy Regional Governor of Piraeus, representing the Regional Governor of Attica, Mr. Nikos Hardalias, stated: “I would like to express our belief that today's event will lead to important conclusions, which will bring benefits to the city, our great port and the local community. As a retired Coast Guard officer, having served for twenty years at the cruise port, I know both the problems and the huge opportunities for development that arise. Opportunities that become reality thanks to the efforts of all of you, who, with vision, planning and hard work, are working for the future of cruise tourism. The development of a national cruise strategy is of vital importance for tourism, for the benefits it will bring to the Greek economy and, above all, for strengthening our local communities.”
Mr. Giannis Moralis, Mayor of Piraeus, noted: “Cruising obviously concerns not only Piraeus, but the entire country. I am pleased to say that lately we have seen an increase in homeporting, which means that tourists now stay one or two nights. This way, they manage to visit both Athens and Piraeus, boosting our local economy. We are open to fruitful dialogue, we try and expect to listen, because we always want to be part of the national cruise planning discussion.”
Mr. Beiyan Jin, Vice President of PPA, emphasized that this discussion is of particular importance, given the strategic potential of the sector, which continues to grow and plays a decisive role in the country's economy and local communities. “I would also like to express my sincere satisfaction with the long-standing cooperation between MSC Cruises and the Piraeus Port Authority. We greatly value this cooperation and look forward to its continuation, with mutual progress and success in the coming years. The Piraeus Port Authority will continue to support Cruise and Tourism, investing in infrastructure upgrades and service improvements, in order to further promote Piraeus and Greece as unique destinations.”
On behalf of the Chief of the Coast Guard, the Central Port Authority of Piraeus, Rear Admiral CD Grammateas Angelos
The Cruise Division, represented by Mrs. Elisabetta De Nardo, Senior Vice President of Global Port Partnerships & Commercial Operations, and Mr. Kyriakos Anastasiadis, Senior Advisor, highlighted the increasing presence of MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys in the Greek market.
In the first part of the presentation, Mrs. Elisabetta De Nardo presented MSC Cruises, which today operates a fleet of 23 modern ships, with four new vessels scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2030. She also highlighted Explora Journeys, the Cruise Division’s luxury brand, which launched in 2023 and is expanding its fleet to six luxury ships by 2028.
She emphasized that MSC Cruises is currently the No. 1 cruise line in calls to Greece, while more than 70% of the fleet visiting Greece consists of small and medium-sized ships, proving a balanced and destination-sensitive strategy.
In winter 2024-2025, MSC Cruises launched weekly departures from Piraeus with MSC Sinfonia, operating seven-day cruises including Greece, Italy and Turkey.
From December 2027 onwards, Explora plans to introduce calls in late autumn and winter — an important step towards year-round presence and support for local tourism during shoulder and off-peak seasons.
Mr. Kyriakos Anastasiadis then highlighted the need for a national cruise strategy, emphasizing long-term investment not only in port infrastructure but also in destinations themselves, sustainability through the adoption of Smart Traffic Management systems, and digital berth allocation systems, for optimal access to ports as well as transparency in the use and allocation of resources. He stressed that close and effective cooperation between the State and the private sector is the key to success for the future. Specifically, Mr. Anastasiadis noted:
Cruise passenger tax: MSC Cruises welcomes the transparent reinvestment of passenger and port fees in infrastructure development, while stressing that Greece must remain competitive.
Transparency and planning in revenue allocation are particularly critical. He noted: “if we do not know which infrastructure projects (in the port or the destination itself) will be funded in the coming years and what the overall plan is, it is impossible to plan the development of new destinations, given that cruising requires at least two years of planning before introducing a new port of call.”
Economic Contribution of Cruising: In 2023, cruising contributed nearly €2 billion to the Greek economy, supporting more than 22,000 jobs. Passengers spend an average of €253 per visit, while 40% later return for longer holidays. Extending the season into autumn and winter months can further boost local revenues.
Environmental Commitment: The Cruise Division aims for net-zero emissions by 2050. Already, 80% of the fleet is shore-power ready, while new technologies such as LNG, bio-LNG fuels and advanced waste management systems position the company at the forefront of sustainable cruising.
The event was attended by: MP of New Democracy in Piraeus B, Mr. Dimitris Markopoulos, CEO of Elefsina Port Authority & President of Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME), Mr. Apostolos Kamarinakis, Chairman of the Board of Lavrio Port Authority, Mr. Nikolaos Giampanas, President of Corfu Port Authority (OLKE) & President of MedCruise, Mrs. Theodora Riga, CEO of Lavrio Port Authority, Mr. Georgios Vakondios, CEO of Volos Port Authority & General Secretary of ELIME, Mr. Socratis Anagnostou, Deputy Director of the Secretariat for Board, Public and Investment Relations of PPA SA, Mr. Nektarios Demenopoulos, Honorary President of Hellenic Cruise Ship Owners & Associated Members (EEKFN) & Director of Majestic International Cruises INC., Mr. Theodoros Kontes, Executive Director of Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME), Mr. Vasilis Mamalis, Business Advisory Manager at the Athens Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Nikos Mavrikos, Eastern Mediterranean Director of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Mrs. Maria Deligianni, and MSC’s General Manager in Greece, Mr. Ilias Tsoukalas.
The event concluded with a tour of the luxurious Explora I, offering guests a unique experience of discovering MSC Group’s new luxury cruise brand.