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Greek Ports Reopen for Cruise Activities

Recognizing that cruise business is a very important sector of tourism for Greece, the Minister of Tourism Harry Theocharis announced the official reopening of Greek ports for cruise activity as of August 1. This news, first mentioned in a Joint Ministerial decision adopted on July 26, made Greece the first big destination market in Europe to allow the restart of cruise activities for cruise ships of all sizes, permitting transit port calls and shore activities.

The Greek government designated six ports which can be used as home ports and entry ports into the country for cruise ships arriving from abroad: Piraeus, Corfu, Katakolon, Herakleion, Rhodes and Volos. All other Greek ports can only be included in cruise itineraries as transit port calls.

Importantly, on July 24, the Greek government published a guidance for the preparation and management of Covid-19 cases onboard cruise ships. A vital aspect of the protocol requires that all crew members be tested for SARVCoV-2 prior to boarding a ship. It also recommends that the test be repeated every two weeks. Additionally, in accordance with EU Healthy Gateways, the government highly recommends that passengers be tested for SARS-CoV-2 prior to boarding a ship.

It’s also important to note that this protocol simply establishes a welcome baseline. There is still so much unknown about the virus, and the scientific and medical understanding constantly change. This is why CLIA and its oceangoing cruise lines continue to actively engage with partners at the local, national and international levels to facilitate alignment while working towards establishing an industry-wide policy that continues to put people first.

Over the course of this pandemic, CLIA has been working in close cooperation with the Greek government as we all continue to face unprecedented challenges. This relationship has not only facilitated technical calls, which has allowed idle cruise ships to refuel and get essential supplies, but also allowed for crewmembers to be repatriated home safely.

The cruise industry generates close to 1 billion euros annually for the Greek economy and supports over 11,000 jobs. As we move towards the resumption of operations, CLIA continues to be engaged in dialogue with the Ministries of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Tourism, Health and Civil Protection/Crisis Management. The entire cruise community is grateful for the support shown by the Greek government, and we look forward to our industry making a positive contribution to Greece’s economic recovery in the months to come.

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