By
Rebecca Gibson |
Heraklion Port in Greece is to welcome an additional 18 cruise calls and 34,290 passengers before the end of 2015.
The first of these ships, Costa Cruises’ Costa Classica, called on 15 August with 1,518 passengers and 620 crew members, while the second, AIDA Cruises’ AIDAstella, made an inaugural call in Herkalion with 2,600 passengers and 620 crew members on 16 August.
To mark the maiden visit, the port exchanged commemorative plaques and gifts with AIDAstella’s captain, while passengers were able to watch a traditional Cretan dance show, taste local delicacies. AIDAstella will call another five times before the end of 2015.
AIDAstella is the seventh ship to make an inaugural call in Heraklion this year. Others included Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride, Princess Cruises’ Emerald Princess, P&O Cruises’ Oriana, Celestyal Cruises’ Celestyal Odyssey, Nippon Yusen Kaisha’s Asuka II and Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria.
Princess Cruises’ Emerald Princess returned to the Greek city on 18 August with 3,127 passengers. The ship’s passengers were able to enjoy cooking classes and a ‘party station’ in the terminal. Plus, the Heraklion City Philharmonic band performed an exclusive concert for passengers as the ship departed.
All events are developed by Heraklion Port Authority in close collaboration with its partners, the city’s representatives, Heraklion’s Chamber of Commerce and the Region of Crete.