Greece seeks even more cruise tourists despite Mykonos and Santorini crackdown

More cruises will be docking in Greece this year (Image: Getty)

Greece is ramping up efforts to attract more cruise tourists, especially from the US, even though its most iconic islands, Santorini and Mykonos are preparing to regulate arrivals due to overtourism fears. At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 in Miami, one of the world’s top cruise industry events, Greece is spotlighting its booming cruise sector and seeking deeper ties with American partners.

Cruise tourism brought in a record-breaking eight million passengers in 2024 and €2.2 billion (£1.88 billion) in revenue, up from €1.4 billion (£1.2 billion) in 2022. “Cruising is a pillar of our tourism economy,” said Andreas Fiorentinos, Secretary General of the Hellenic Tourism Organization, who met with Fort Lauderdale’s Greek-American mayor, Dean Trantalis, to explore US-Greece tourism and cultural partnerships.

Mykonos and Santorini have been grappling with overtourism in recent years (Image: Getty)

Americans are Greece’s top spenders, shelling out an average of €1,034 (£885) per person in 2024, a 10% jump from the year before. With 1.37 million Americans visiting last year, their importance to the tourism industry is undeniable.

But the boom is testing local limits. Last year, it was reported Santorini and Mykonos would start capping cruise ship visits in 2025.

“Santorini is the most vulnerable,” previously said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, pointing to stretched infrastructure and safety concerns. Santorini alone, home to just 16,000 residents, hosted 1.3 million tourists in 2023.

In September, the Greek Prime Minister announced plans to impose fees on cruise passengers disembarking on the two islands. 

Cruise lines like Princess Cruises have already trimmed Santorini stops due to congestion. Local businesses say the influx overwhelms the islands without delivering proportional economic value.

Even so, Greece isn’t backing down on cruising, it’s just shifting strategy. The country is investing in greener port infrastructure to power docked ships from land, reducing pollution and fuel use.

As European destinations from Barcelona to Amsterdam tighten cruise rules, Greece is aiming to strike a balance, welcoming high-value tourism while protecting its most fragile gems.

“People are willing to pay more for less crowding,” Mitsotakis said. “That’s the future we’re planning for.”