Strong start to the cruise season at Corfu Port

Increase in March

Good numbers were recorded in March, far surpassing the same month last year, as there were 10,079 cruise passengers compared to 1,894. In March this year there were nine cruise ship arrivals compared to four in March 2023. Among them, we saw the enormous cruise ship Sun Princess belonging to the Carnival Group, with a capacity of 5,189 passengers, which is considered the first ship oriented towards sustainability, in Corfu Port last month.

The President of Corfu Port Authority Board of Directors, Spyros Zervopoulos, told Enimerosi that this year's cruise season is expected to develop well, as cruising has returned dynamically after the pandemic, recording excellent performances. "Cruises have started well and it seems that it will go well this year too," he said. "The earlier it starts and the later it ends, means that the season is extended and there is a better distribution."

This year, Corfu Port is operating as a home port (cruise starting and ending point) twice a week, every Friday and Saturday. The start was on March 30 with the Aida Blu, while the Marella Explorer starts from May 3.

525 arrivals in 2024

Based on the schedule prepared by Corfu Port Authority, following the announcements of the ship schedules, a total of 525 cruise ships are expected by the end of the year, with the curtain falling on December 29 again with the Arethusa. In 2023, the year closed with 353 cruise ship arrivals and 667,182 passengers, while in 2022, essentially the first year after the global health crisis, there were 527,609 cruise passengers.

MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI

Photo: Enimerosi