It’s not a secret that some of the Greek islands, such as Mykonos and Santorini, have really suffered in the last 10 years from over-tourism, and the hundreds of cruise ship arrivals per year have worsened the situation a lot.
At the moment, the disembarking fee per person in Mykonos and Santorini (the 2 most visited islands for cruise ships in Greece) is only €0.35 per person, which brings “peanuts” to the islands.
Now, the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs is introducing a new law to be enforced in 2026, which will include the following fees (only for people who want to step off the ship to these islands):
- For Mykonos and Santoriniports:
- 1st June – 30th September: 20 euros
- 1st October – 31st October: 12 euros
- 1st April – 31st May: 12 euros
- 1st November – 31st March: 4 euros
- For any other Greek islands/ports:
- 1st June – 30th September: 5 euros
- 1st October – 31st October: 3 euros
- 1st April – 31st May: 3 euros
- 1st November – 31st March: 1 euro
The law will go through a consultation process but it’s almost sure that will be effective from 2025.
There are lots of arguments in regards to how (and if) cruise ships are benefiting the economy of the destinations they reach, and I am personally a big hater of cruise holidays as they are pretty bad for the environment, the local communities, and their economies.
I recorded the horrible situation of Santorini’s cruise port last year when I spent a few weeks on the island, and I can say it cannot get worse. You can see it for yourself here, in my video above.It’s also important to note that 57% of all cruise ship passengers in Greece only visit Piraeus, Mykonos, and Santorini.
I applaud the Greek government’s measures for these fees, and (let’s be honest) they should have been introduced at least a decade ago.
There have been some negative reactions from the cruise industry and the Cruise Lines International Association who asked for 1 year delay of the port levy.But we need to be honest here:
For someone who is paying more than $3K for one of these cruises, would a 20 euros fee make any difference at the end of the day or even change their whole plans for a cruise? I don’t think so…
These 2 Greek islands have been completely transformed and (I dare to say) ruined by over-tourism over the last decade, and every measure towards a more sustainable future for their local economy and infrastructure should be applauded.
