After three consecutive years of record growth, Greece’s cruise tourism boom is easing in 2026, as early booking data from the country’s major ports point to a slower pace and a more cautious approach by cruise line operators.

Greece remains a top global cruise destination, but the outlook is shifting. Cruise lines are scheduling fewer port calls and taking a more cautious, strategic approach to itineraries and ship deployment than in recent seasons.

Industry sources say the market “shift” is being driven by higher costs tied to the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), which applies to all ships operating within the EU, along with a special cruise passenger fee imposed only in Greece. Together, these factors are changing how and where cruise lines plan their routes.

Another key factor is the nature of cruise tourism itself. According to executives at the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP), about 70% of passengers sailing in the Aegean are repeat visitors.

The rapid post-pandemic surge in Greek cruising has, in large part, satisfied demand for certain iconic islands, prompting cruise lines to redesign itineraries and seek new routes, either within Greece or beyond it.

This need for destination “rotation” helps explain recent shifts by companies with a strong Greek presence. Celestyal, a Greece-based cruise line, has dropped Thessaloniki and Heraklion in favor of Rhodes and Agios Nikolaos in eastern Crete. MSC Cruises has reduced arrivals in Santorini while sharply increasing calls in Syros. In this broader push to highlight new destinations, Chania, in western Crete, is emerging as a popular destination, posting a 10% rise in port calls this year.

The combined pressure of higher costs and itinerary adjustments was highlighted by George Koumpenas, COO at Celestyal and President of the Union of Cruise Ship Owners & Associated Members (EEKFN). He warned that the sector’s competitiveness is weakening compared with non-European markets.

“Ships are now being directed to regions where the ETS does not apply and where charges are significantly lower,” he said.

Piraeus and Santorini feel the slowdown

The changing climate is evident in Piraeus, Greece’s largest port and the main gateway to Athens. Last year, Piraeus set a historic record with 863 cruise calls and about 1.85 million passengers. For 2026, 777 bookings have been recorded so far. While that figure is expected to rise, it remains below 2025 levels.

Port officials attribute the difference to the cost pressures facing cruise lines, the fact that some smaller operators have yet to declare their schedules, and the absence of the cruise ship Gemini. The vessel made 70 calls at Piraeus last year before suffering damage in a collision and being taken out of service for repairs. Even so, OLP estimates that total passenger numbers could still edge up slightly in 2026.

A similar trend is unfolding in Santorini, one of Greece’s most visited islands. In 2025, it welcomed 728 cruise calls and more than 1.2 million passengers. For 2026, 617 calls have been declared so far, with about 1.1 million travelers expected.

According to Georgios Nomikos, president of the Municipal Port Fund of Thira, the absence of the cruise ship Gemini and fewer arrivals by MSC Cruises have made a noticeable difference. The island was also hit by seismic activity last year. Because cruise planning usually looks two years ahead, companies were cautious in their 2026 schedules, though early signs suggest a recovery in 2027.

Heraklion, Rhodes and the Kastelli airport factor

In Heraklion, Crete’s main port, a new record was set in 2025 with 536,543 passengers and 281 cruise calls. The outlook for 2026 is slightly softer. So far, 242 calls have been logged, a figure Heraklion Port Authority CEO Minas Papadakis expects to rise modestly.

Heraklion has lost calls from operator Celestyal this year, but port officials see a path toward stabilization by 2028, when the new Kastelli International Airport is set to open, boosting air connectivity for central and eastern Crete.

By contrast, Rhodes appears to be gaining momentum. The island has recorded 460 pre-booked cruise calls for 2026, up from 418 last year.

Mykonos and the impact of fees

Mykonos, another flagship destination, is seeing little change. Athanasios Kousathanas Mega, president of the local port authority, has been blunt about the effect of the island’s 20-euro per-passenger fee. He says the charge is dampening cruise traffic to Mykonos and should be reconsidered.