DP World Limassol: Record cruise ship visits in October

DP World Limassol saw record cruise ship calls in October 2023, welcoming 31 cruises and around 48,000 passengers to the island.

This was the company’s best-ever monthly performance since taking over the operation of the cruise terminal in 2017.

Cruise passengers had the opportunity to get to know the city of Limassol and take part in organized excursions to places of interest around the island, making a significant contribution to the local economy. Many guests chose excursions to Limassol’s wine villages, while other high-demand excursions included Paphos castle and the Troodos Mountains.

Passengers arrived from all over the world, including the US, South America, Italy, Spain, Indonesia, Australia, Israel and the UK. This variety is important for Cyprus’ tourism, considering that six out of 10 passengers often return to one of the cruise destinations they visited for a longer vacation, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

DP World Limassol also offers a great opportunity for locals to embark on a cruise from Limassol, as six cruise ships used Limassol as a homeport or partial homeport for the 2023 season and are expected to continue in 2024.

DP World Limassol and the Municipality of Limassol also organized an event to celebrate the October wine festival, offering passengers traditional delicacies such as palouzes (grape jelly) and handmade spoon sweets (fruit preserves). Passengers also got to see the Cypriot custom of grape stomping and enjoy a performance by local musicians playing traditional Cypriot music.

CEO of DP World Limassol Simon Pitout said October’s performance is a result of the company’s ongoing and targeted efforts in coordination with government and other stakeholders to develop the sector by establishing strong connections with major cruise lines. “The cruise sector is undergoing a revival and despite the geopolitical challenges in the region, we are excited for the next few years”, he said.

“We expect to have welcomed around 200 cruises by the end of this year and we have already received around 200 bookings for next year. This reaffirms Limassol as a key port of call for cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean”, he added.