A different picture was seen in Chania this morning, as the port of Souda was filled with three imposing cruise ships and approximately 9,000 passengers, who flooded the city.
The Celebrity Infinity with 2,184 guests and the impressive Odyssey of the Seas with 4,296 passengers docked at the piers, while the Resilient Lady, which arrived unexpectedly due to weather, anchored in Souda Bay with 2,520 passengers. The latter will remain until Saturday afternoon, marking the first overnight stay of a cruise ship in Souda.
The day was recorded as historic, since – as announced by the president of the Chania Port Fund, Dimitris Virirakis – the piers were not sufficient to accommodate all the ships. Thus, for the first time, the solution of “floating” disembarkation was implemented, with launches that transported visitors from the Resilient Lady to a specially designed point.
This unprecedented image highlighted the possibilities and challenges of the port, at the same time that Chania recorded one of its busiest days in cruise tourism. Thousands of visitors toured the old town, filled cafes, restaurants and shops, giving another economic “breather” to the local market.
