Limassol port set for promising cruise season

• 2022 could be the Cyprus cruise industry’s best year after pandemic

As Cyprus gears up for the start of the tourist season, at DP World Limassol we remain optimistic over the sustained recovery of the island’s cruise industry, which started last year.

DP World Limassol expects over 150 cruise ship calls this year that will either use its facilities as a layover, homeport, or port of call; a substantial increase over 2021 when Limassol port welcomed approximately 90 cruise ships.

As such, 2022 is turning out to be better for the island’s maritime tourism. And this upward trend is expected to continue into 2023.

Despite a difficult 2020 due to the pandemic, in 2021, the company managed to bolster its partnerships with leading global cruise lines, cementing Cyprus’ position as a top destination for sea lovers. In fact, last year’s figures were almost as good as 2019, when 107 cruise ships approached Limassol.

Return of homeporting

Royal Caribbean has recently announced that after last year’s success, when Limassol served as its home port, this season, its 2,400-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas will carry out a series of seven-day trips from Limassol to the Greek islands during August and September 2022.

Last year, Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship Jewel of the Seas carried more than 43,000 passengers on 17 cruises from Limassol, boosting tourism revenues and creating new jobs.

The fact that leading cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, trust Limassol port as their home port is the biggest recognition of DP World Limassol’s and the Government’s efforts to improve the cruise sector’s competitiveness, synergies, and destination offerings, transforming it into a leading homeport and hub for cruise ships in the Eastern Mediterranean.

DP World Limassol’s Cruise Terminal represents a significant improvement in infrastructure and services, providing an excellent experience to visitors and cruise lines while contributing to the sustainable growth of Cyprus’ tourism.

An overall positive outlook for cruises and tourism

Cyprus Airport passenger figures for April and May 2022 are also a sign that 2022 will be a better year for tourism overall, compared with 2021.

Moreover, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) recently said it expects passenger volumes to recover and surpass 2019 levels by the end of 2023, while they are projected to recover 12% above pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2026. In the upside forecast, passenger volume is expected to recover to 101% of 2019 levels a year earlier, by the end of 2022.

At DP World Limassol, we are proud to have an active role in the country’s economic growth, and we continue to work closely with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, local tourist agents, as well as the municipality to better utilise opportunities in a bid to further develop the tourism industry.

We are especially excited for what the future holds for Cyprus’ cruise tourism, and believe that with targeted and collective efforts, we will be able to turn Limassol port into a top cruise hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.

CEO, DP World Limassol.