After almost six months of dredging work, the Volos Port Authority welcomed on Thursday, June 12, 2025, the 293 m long cruise ship “NORWEGIAN VIVA” of the Bahamas flag, with 3,352 passengers and 1,469 crew members.
This is the first large cruise ship to call at the port of Volos, after the devastating floods of 2023 that hit the port, transporting 700,000 cubic meters of debris into the port basin, which resulted in the reduction of operating depths and the cancellation of several approaches by cruise companies.
The ship was welcomed by the CEO of OLB S.A. Mr. Socrates Anagnostou, together with the Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism, Ms. Anastasia Adamopoulou, the Sporades Councillor Amalia Gravani, the Deputy Mayor for Tourism of the Municipality of Volos, Ms. Melpomeni Lazarou, as well as the shipping agent Angelos Petinaris.
Mr. Socrates Anagnostou welcomed the Italian captain of the cruise ship, Mr. Giorgio Voussolino, and they exchanged souvenirs, while they had the opportunity to discuss various issues related to the cruise, the port of Volos, and the city.
In his statements, Mr. Anagnostou said, “We are particularly happy that the contractor has kept his commitments to us and the work of removing the debris from the cruise ship pier of the port of Volos has been complete,d and now at the points of approach there is a useful depth of -11m. We have already informed all cruise companies by letter, in order for them to reconsider the readjustment and modification of their itineraries for the approach of additional ships to our port, and we await their response. At the end of June, the Hydrographic Service is expected will draw up the new bathymetric map, so that both cruise companies and any interested party can be informed of the new useful operating depths.
For her part, Ms. Adamopoulou said: The arrival of the Norwegian Viva at the port of Volos is a resounding proof of the dynamic restart of maritime tourism in Thessaly. We all worked methodically to restore the port’s operational function, and today it is proven in practice that Thessaly can once again claim the place it deserves on the international cruise map. As a Region, we are steadily strengthening our strategy for tourist extroversion, investing in the promotion of the authentic experiences that our place offers: the unique cultural heritage, our gastronomy, the natural wealth, but also the possibility of direct access to destinations such as Pelion, Meteora, and the Thessalian hinterland. Cruising is a crucial pillar of this effort, and today is just the beginning. With synergies and a plan, we continue.
Both the Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism, Ms. Anastasia Adamopoulou with Ms. Gravani, and the Deputy Mayor for Tourism of the Municipality of Volos, Ms. Melpomeni Lazarou, discussed with the CEO of the Volos Port Authority, prospects for attracting cruises to Volos, while during the discussion, Mr. Anagnostou raised again issues such as the implementation of excursions with the Pelion train for cruise ship tourists, which is a pole of attraction, the operation of museums and archaeological sites during the days of arrival of cruise ships. The excellent cooperation between the parties was jointly reaffirmed, while it was decided to undertake joint initiatives for the tourist development of the region.
