Cruise companies have requested the implementation of the extraordinary cruise fee per passenger from 2026 in order to avoid any unpleasant consequences in the specific sector.
According to a letter from Majestic International Cruises INC that “Naftemporiki” has at its disposal and signed by two of the cruise industry’s most experienced executives, the company’s general manager Michalis Lambrou and director Theodoros Kontes, “CLIA’s vision on the implementation of the new cruise passenger fee from the year 2026 onwards is reasonable because the 2025 cruises are already sold in advance and it is impossible for the companies to pass on the cost to the passengers, which means they will bear it themselves.”
Mykonos – Santorini
The two experienced executives also highlighted that a value of 10 euros per cruise passenger in the destinations of Mykonos and Santorini would certainly be reasonable and acceptable as long as it starts from 2026.
They also expressed fears that “if the war in the Middle East ends, companies will prefer, instead of Greek destinations, destinations in Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and the southern ports of Turkey, where passenger fees are zero”.
“We are confident that with your personal intervention the appropriate solution will be found to satisfy the companies operating in the Greek area, without protests and unpleasant results,” the letter adds.
“Unforeseen consequences of rising costs”
The president of the Union of Cruise Ship Owners and Navigation Agencies, speaking recently to “N” on the subject, said that “the announcements by the Ministry of Tourism on the implementation of the cruise tax in Mykonos and Santorini, but also in other islands will further increase the cost for passengers choosing Greece.”
He stressed that the specific announcement was made “without any consultation with the competent bodies in the sector, as well as municipal authorities”.