More than 150 cruise ships will depart from, or make a stop at, Limassol Port in 2022, recording an increase compared to 2020 and 2021, while the same upward trend is expected for 2023, based on information obtained by "Entrepreneurial Limassol" from DP World Limassol. Despite the serious challenges faced, DP World Limassol indicates that it was able to cope successfully, with the support of the local authorities and its partners and demonstrate a very positive performance in the Cruise sector.
"The fact that leading cruise lines choose and trust Limassol as their port of choice is the greatest recognition of the efforts made by the management company and the government to improve the competitiveness of the port and turn it into a major hub in the Eastern Mediterranean", according to DP World Limassol. DP also aspires to turn Limassol port into a destination of choice for cruise lines.
From August to mid-December, Limassol will welcome six large cruise ships, with around 18 thousand passengers. The cruise ships were or will be welcomed at the Port of Limassol with festivities by artists dressed in traditional Cypriot costumes in special ceremonies. The ceremonies are organized by the Limassol Municipality in collaboration with the Tourism Deputy Ministry, the Limassol Tourism Board and DP. The first welcome ceremony was held in early August for Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas cruise ship with 2,200 passengers, while MSC Lyrica arrived on September 9 with 2,500 passengers.
On September 26, Celebrity Apex will arrive with 3,655 passengers and on November 27, AidaBlue with 2,500.
On December 5, the Costa Venezia will arrive with 4,200 passengers and on the 13th of the month, the Norwegian Epic with 2,800.
Limassol Municipality and the Limassol Tourism Board emphasize the significant benefits that Limassol, and Cyprus in general, derive from the development of the cruise industry.
