Santorini Cruise Season Threatened by Earthquakes as Native Authorities Works to Salvage Season

The Greek authorities is working time beyond regulation to ensure that Santorini, the “Jewel of the Aegean”, is prepared for the beginning of cruise season.  However after current earthquakes have triggered evacuations and injury to the port metropolis, it stays to be seen if it will likely be prepared in time.

Over a million cruise passengers go to the enduring Greek cruise port of Santorini yearly, however that quantity may drastically change for 2025. 

In response to current information stories, Santorini is already dealing with a downtrend in tourism, with about 20% much less vacationer exercise in comparison with earlier years. 

The downturn is because of greater than 20,000 earthquakes which have rattled the town, with some measuring as much as 5.3 in magnitude.

The seismic exercise has shut down the well-known Santorini cable automotive main as much as Fira close to the cruise port, and it’s anticipated to be inoperable for one more three months whereas earthquakes are monitored.

This can be a massive deal as a result of Greek authorities have stated that cruise ships mustn’t dock on the primary Fira port and as an alternative ought to dock at Athinios Port on account of security considerations.

Santorini’s cruise season begins in late March with only a handful of cruise ship visits, and exercise begins ramping up much more in April and onward. The 2025 schedule reveals:

Present Cruise Schedule for Santorini

• April: 28 cruise visits from 14 traces
• Could: 69 cruise visits from 23 traces
• June: 82 cruise visits from 18 traces
• July: 90 cruise visits from 24 cruise traces
• August: 85 cruise visits from 26 cruise traces
• September: 79 cruise visits from 26 cruise traces

Whereas monitoring seismic exercise, the Greek Authorities is doing the whole lot it could possibly to ensure the cruise season begins on time and that the town is prepared and secure for cruise passengers.

Cruise Tax

However earthquakes aren’t the one factor shaking issues up.  The port metropolis lately determined so as to add a further cruise tax of as much as 20 euros to incoming guests as nicely.

The passenger charge would really be 20 euros throughout peak summer season months (June-September), 12 euros within the shoulder seasons (April, Could, October), and 4 euros through the low season (November-March).

Over the following few weeks, native officers are anticipated to decide in regards to the new tax and the way it will likely be utilized.  The earthquakes put a short lived maintain on discussions in regards to the cruise tax, however now it may add one other layer to the complexity of cruising to this common port.

For now, native port officers are extra involved with security.  The Overseas Workplace lately gave recommendation about earthquakes within the metropolis with this message:

“The realm across the Cycladic islands of Santorini (Thira), Anafi, Ios and Amorgos, is at present experiencing frequent earthquakes which can proceed for a number of weeks. The Greek authorities suggested individuals in these areas to not attend giant indoor gatherings, to keep away from previous or deserted buildings and the ports of Amoudi, Armeni, Korfos and Outdated Port (Paleos Limenas) within the space of Fira and to decide on secure routes when travelling, notably in areas the place the landslide danger is excessive.”