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Celestyal at the 9th Infrastructure & Transport Conference ITC 2026: Greece at the heart of the company’s DNA – new destinations and a call for greater stability in cruise policy

With a strong operational footprint in Greece, an expanding Mediterranean network and a clear call for a stable, long-term framework to support the development of the cruise sector, Celestyal participated in the 9th Infrastructure & Transport Conference (ITC 2026), held in Athens from 28 to 30 September.
Celestyal Chief Operating Officer, Captain George Koumpenas, participated in the panel discussion “Rebuilding Greece’s Port Industry: The Critical Role of Ferry Shipping, Cruise, Ports and Shipyards”, highlighting both the strength of the Greek cruise sector and the conditions required for it to remain competitive in the years ahead.
Greece: not simply a destination, but part of Celestyal’s operating identity
For Celestyal, Greece is not simply a choice driven by the global appeal of the Greek tourism brand or by guest preferences. The country has long been at the heart of the company’s operations and forms an integral part of its identity.
Celestyal’s global headquarters are based in Greece, the company carries out a significant proportion of its ship repair and refurbishment activity in Greek shipyards, and it works with a broad network of Greek businesses and suppliers to support the day-to-day operation of its fleet.
A notable example is the €22 million investment in the upgrade of Celestyal Discovery, a significant part of which was undertaken in Greece with the involvement of Greek companies, technicians and suppliers.
This Greek footprint is equally evident across the day-to-day operation of the ships, from the procurement of goods and services to the Greek gastronomy and products incorporated into the onboard guest experience – encompassing more than 80,000 SKUs of Greek products – creating a broader value chain for the Greek economy.
At the same time, Celestyal is seeking to extend the benefits of cruise tourism beyond Greece’s most established destinations, contributing to the wider distribution of visitor flows and economic value across more local communities.
As part of this approach, Agios Nikolaos was added to Celestyal’s weekly program in 2026, while Rhodes returned to its 7-night itineraries, strengthening the company’s presence in Crete and the Dodecanese and offering guests additional choices beyond destinations traditionally associated with the highest concentrations of cruise visitors. At the same time, Celestyal continues to maintain a strong presence in the Ionian and Adriatic, with itineraries calling at destinations including Corfu, Katakolo, Kotor, further broadening its Greek and regional footprint.
This strategy will continue into 2027, with Thessaloniki and Volos joining Celestyal’s Eastern Mediterranean winter programme, alongside new itineraries linking Athens with the Western Mediterranean and destinations as far west as Lisbon.
125,000 passengers and approximately 650,000 pax visits in 2025
Celestyal’s strong relationship with Greece is also reflected in the scale of its operations. In 2025, the company carried approximately 125,000 passengers, generating a total of around 650,000 pax visits, while activity in 2026 is expected to remain at broadly comparable levels, despite the disruption to operational planning caused by geopolitical developments in the Arabian Gulf.
These developments also led Celestyal to further reshape its deployment, with an increased focus on the Mediterranean. In 2027, the company will expand its presence across both the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, creating new connections and adding more Greek destinations to its network.
“Strong demand is not enough without a stable framework and the right infrastructure”
Captain George Koumpenas stressed that the strong momentum of the Greek cruise sector should not be taken for granted, with the industry now operating in an environment characterized by significantly higher costs, new European environmental requirements and additional financial burdens.
“Greece is not simply another destination for Celestyal. It is our home, part of our identity and our DNA, and a country in which we have consistently invested – in our ships, our partnerships, our destinations and local communities. The momentum of the Greek cruise sector is strong. However, for that momentum to be sustained over the longer term, the industry needs stable and predictable rules, long-term planning and the right port infrastructure,” he said.
He noted that the operating environment has become increasingly challenging, with higher fuel and operating costs compounded by the requirements of the European EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime frameworks, the cruise passenger fee and other port-related charges.
Against this backdrop, he highlighted the importance of predictability in decisions affecting the sector, noting that cruise lines plan their deployments several years in advance and therefore require clear and stable conditions in order to plan investment, itineraries and capacity effectively.
The cruise passenger fee and the infrastructure question
Particular emphasis was placed on port infrastructure and on the question of whether the additional financial burdens imposed on the cruise sector are matched by corresponding investment.
Captain Koumpenas noted that a significant proportion of cruise activity in Greece continues to be served through anchorage and tender operations, while a number of destinations still lack the infrastructure required by modern cruise vessels. Against this background, he underlined that the introduction of the cruise passenger fee should be accompanied by visible reinvestment in infrastructure and services that improve both the visitor experience and port operations.
He also stressed the critical importance of clear, long-term port master plans, enabling ports to plan investment consistently while giving cruise lines sufficient visibility over the future capabilities of individual destinations.
Looking ahead to 2027, Captain Koumpenas noted that the sector could see a modest adjustment in overall cruise volumes, amid higher operating costs and continuing geopolitical uncertainty. At the same time, he emphasized that Greece retains significant competitive advantages as a cruise destination, which can support further growth provided they are matched by the necessary infrastructure and a coherent, stable long-term policy framework.