Greece will be officially reopening for cruise ships on August 1, Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis confirmed in a letter to the International Cruise Association (CLIA).
Greece will be the first country to officially allow large cruise ships to make multiple port stops since the cruise industry was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The three largest cruise lines operating in Greece, TUI, Costa, and MSC were also informed of the reopening in order to prepare their ships for the relaunch in the region.
The tourism minister officially announced that cruise ships will be allowed to visit six ports upon entry into Greece from August 1:
- Piraeus
- Rhodes
- Heraklion
- Volos
- Corfu
- Katakolo
After their first port stop at one of the above locations, cruise ships will be released to travel to any other Greek port included in their itinerary.
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Theoharis made it clear that this regime will only change if new epidemiological conditions arise.
“All cruise ships are welcome in Greece, in order to offer a unique experience to all their passengers,” the minister said in his letter.
He also stressed that “Greece is the first country that has responded to the cruise industry and introduced health protocols especially for cruising.”
“The health procedures that will be applied under the supervision of the Greek authorities on cruise ships, are based on the published standards of the European Union, while they have been adapted to Greek legislation,” added the Minister.
Theoharis asked the major international cruise agencies to recommend their customers to travel to Greece outside the summer season. “The current season extends to the end of the year,” he emphasized.
Greece sea view from the stairs in the resort From July 5, citizens from these countries can travel to Greece on cruise ships without restrictions or quarantines:
- Algeria
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lichtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Korea
- Romania
- Rwanda
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Great Britain
- Uruguay
- Greece resorts on hill
Greece has also made exceptions for other unlisted countries that have to deliver a negative Covid 19 test result. Greece was officially reopened for tourism on June 15, to select countries and other countries from July 1, 2020.
Greece will be the first country where cruise ships can return and stop at ports.
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