PPA S.A.: First cruise ship departure of the year at the Port of Piraeus – Historical cruise passenger record achieved in the year 2024

PPA S.A. welcomed the Viking Saturn, the first cruise ship of the new year, to the Port of Piraeus through a special ceremony that included a traditional exchange of plaques and treats for passengers during check-in at the cruise terminal.

The Viking company, which operates homeport cruises throughout the year at Piraeus, is expected to call at Greece’s largest port 41 times in 2025 with 10 of its ships, a significant increase compared to 28 calls with 7 ships in 2024.

Notably, preliminary data highlights record-breaking achievements for cruise passengers in 2024, with more than 1.7 million passengers compared to 1.5 million in 2023. Homeport passengers also exceeded 1 million, up from 800,000 in 2023. The port served 810 cruise ship calls, of which 600 were homeport, compared to 760 in 2023. Additionally, pre-booking data suggests strong momentum for the cruise industry in 2025, with approximately 940 ship arrivals already booked for the year.

The CEO of PPA S.A., Mr. Su Xudong, shared his satisfaction with the significant and steady growth of the cruise sector in Piraeus, highlighting that the port’s strategic location, combined with PPA S.A.’s investments and upgrades to infrastructure and services, are delivering the desired results.

The luxurious Viking Saturn, with a capacity of 930 passengers, is 228 meters long, has 9 decks and is scheduled to call Piraeus five more times this year.

About PPA S.A.

Piraeus Port Authority SA is an Athens Stock Exchange listed company engaged in the management and operation of Piraeus port, Greece’s largest port and one of the largest integrated harbours in Europe, providing a complete range of services. Some of the company’s activities involve cruise, coastal (ferry/passenger), container and car terminal services, as well as general cargo, ship repair, logistic and free zone services. The main shareholder of Piraeus Port Authority S.A., with a stake of 67 percent, is COSCO SHIPPING, one of the largest maritime companies in the world.

Over the last decade the company has experienced a remarkable growth in all port activities, which is still underway, largely contributing to the country’s economy, while driven by green development and increased digitalization, alongside a people-first approach and a spirit of giving back to the society.

PPA is a member of “ECO PORTS”, holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 50001:2018 Certifications, is included in the Athens Stock Exchange ESG index and is one of the “Most Sustainable Companies in Greece 2024”.

For more information please visit: https://olp.gr