Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) and other cruise operators recently announced their first Greece cruises after the pandemic-ravaged past year, beginning in July of 2021, according to greekreporter.com.
All the companies say they expect a phased-in approach to restarting cruises, while taking into account the public health environment, global travel restrictions, and port availability, among other considerations.
Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) also stated as part of the announcement that all its initial voyages will operate with what is calls a “robust, multi-Layered SailSAFE health and safety program. This will include mandatory vaccinations for all guests and crew and universal COVID-19 testing as well.
The line will offer 7-day trips around the Greek Isles, leaving from Athens, starting in late July and sailings from Jamaica and the Dominican Republic on two other ships starting in August.
As part of the phased return to cruising, Norwegian Cruise Lines will initially offer seven-day cruises to the Greek Isles on “Norwegian Jade” from Athens (Piraeus), Greece beginning July 25, 2021.
Greece is still pinning its hopes on a May 14 opening for its long-awaited tourism season, according to Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis.
Restoring cruises to Greek ports topped the agenda of a recent teleconference between Theoharis and the Cruise Lines International Association, with the Greek minister underscoring the careful steps being taken to restart it once conditions make that a possibility.
Cruise companies and operators participating in the teleconference included Carnival Group, Celebrity Cruises/Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and many other lines.
Theoharis mentioned other alternative ways in which to promote Greece at the teleconference, including the promotion of Greek products on board the giant passenger vessels.
“In this way, the ‘Greek experience’ will be heightened on each cruise ship,” he noted. The possible extension of the tourism season past the “shoulder season” to the very end of the calendar year was also raised by the Minister.
CLIA’s Maria Deligianni, the representative for the Eastern Mediterranean, said during the conference ‘The cruise industry has worked diligently to introduce improved protocols to protect passengers, crew and local communities. Greece is an important cruise destination and we look forward to proceeding with its safe resumption in cooperation with the competent authorities.”
At least five cruise companies plan to make Greece their home ports this summer, while twelve indicate that they wanted to resume cruising to Greek island destinations.
Reports say that cruise giants Carnival and Norwegian are also firming up their plans to homeport vessels in Greece, while Greece-based Celestyal Cruises already announced it will depart from Piraeus on May 29.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
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