Two studies conducted under real-world cruise ship conditions found high acceptance of advanced public-health technologies among both passengers and crew, although passengers were considerably more cautious about measures involving personal monitoring and health data, according to an article in the weekend edition of the Athens daily “Ta Nea”.
Under the scientific direction of Kyriakos Souliotis, dean of the school of social and political sciences at the University of the Peloponnese and president and scientific director of the Institute for Health Policy, two studies examined the social acceptance of advanced public-health technologies in the cruise industry. The research separately assessed the views of passengers and crew members.
The first study, published in 2024, involved 336 passengers aboard the Celestyal Olympia. Overall, 92.3% said they would accept at least one of the proposed technologies for preventing and detecting infectious diseases at an early stage.
Acceptance, however, varied considerably depending on how intrusive the technology was. For instance, air purifiers in cabins and air-conditioning systems received approval from 89.6% of passengers, while 80.4% accepted air-quality sensors. Antibacterial or antiviral surfaces were supported by 78.3%, and 75% approved of televisions or screens that could provide real-time instructions during an outbreak.
Acceptance declined as technology moved closer to passengers’ personal sphere. Cameras capable of detecting passengers with fever were accepted by 64%, while sensors designed to detect viruses in sinks and toilets received 61.3% approval. Conversely, wearable devices, such as smartwatches used to monitor health indicators, were accepted by just 45.5%.
Among passengers who rejected at least one of the proposed technologies, 80.4% said they did not want to be monitored and 72% expressed concerns about the security of their health data. More than half also feared possible social stigma if they were identified as having an infectious disease.
Older passengers were less willing to accept cameras and wearable devices, while those who were more concerned about contracting an infectious disease tended to be more receptive to the technologies.
Crew shows stronger acceptance
The second study, involving 280 crew members, produced a markedly different picture. About 98% accepted at least one of the proposed technologies, with particularly strong support for systems involving personal health monitoring.
Wearables were accepted by 87.5% of crew members, compared with 45.5% of passengers, while fever-detection cameras received 90.7% approval, compared with 64% among passengers. Antimicrobial surfaces were supported by 95.4%, air purifiers by 94.6% and screens providing instructions during an outbreak by 91.8%.
The difference reflects the distinct health and safety culture of maritime employment, where preventive protocols are part of everyday professional practice rather than temporary measures adopted during an emergency. Strict health and safety procedures are intended to reduce occupational risks, protect crew members and ensure the uninterrupted operation of a ship.
The findings are particularly relevant as cruise tourism continues to expand its role in Greece. Greek ports handled 6,129 cruise ships in 2025, up 11.7% from 2024, while passenger traffic rose 6.2% to 8.42 million. Piraeus led the country with 863 ship calls and about 1.85 million passengers, followed by Mykonos with 762 calls and Santorini with 728.
Piraeus has also become increasingly important as a homeport. Nearly 80% of its cruise activity in 2025 involved homeporting, with passengers often staying in the greater Athens-Piraeus area before or after their voyages and spending on hotels, restaurants, shopping and other tourism services. The port is seeking to turn more of these transit visitors into longer-stay tourists.
The expansion is now accompanied by efforts to spread cruise activity beyond Greece’s most crowded destinations. New itineraries are being developed for less-congested ports, while higher costs linked to European emissions rules and Greece’s cruise passenger levy are prompting operators to rotate destinations. Santorini and Mykonos have faced particular pressure, while Rhodes, Syros and Chania (Hania) are gaining greater attention.
Against this backdrop, the studies suggest that the success of health innovation aboard cruise ships will depend not only on artificial intelligence, sensors and algorithms but also on trust. Passengers appear willing to embrace technologies that protect their health without intruding into their private lives, while concerns over privacy, data security and transparency remain decisive factors in determining broader acceptance.
