Thursday. 28.03.2024

Greece announced will open six of its big ports to tourist cruise ships starting on Saturday 1 August, after they were banned because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"All cruisers are welcome in Greece," Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis said on Tuesday. The country is to open the ports in Athens/Piraeus, Rhodes, Heraklion on Crete, Volos, Corfu and Katakolon, he added.

He also urged cruise ship operators to extend their offers until the end of the year instead of ending the season in early November, as they usually do.

The Greek government imposed tough restrictions early on in the pandemic. That has helped the country keep its number of coronavirus infections among the lowest in Europe.

Greece to open ports to cruise ships