Cyprus – Piraeus ferry bookings begin

The booking system for the Cyprus – Piraeus ferry route opened on Tuesday for passengers wanting to travel to Greece by sea, Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis said.

The link is operated by the same ship Daleela, but with improved and better-quality services, she noted.

She said that authorities considered all comments and suggestions made by passengers during the first year of operation and now offer improved services.

The ferry route was relaunched last year after more than two decades without a sea link to Greece.

“We attach great importance to meeting the needs of all the passengers who choose to travel by sea, and they are satisfied because people begin to welcome this new sea route.”

Hadjimanolis said that 7,412 passengers travelled on the Daleela ferry last year, and the ship transported 2,250 vehicles.

This year Larnaca will also be used in addition to Limassol as a home port.

The first trip is scheduled to leave Limassol port on May 31. The last route from Piraeus to Larnaca is scheduled for September 1.

Hadjimanolis said the main goal is the orderly operation and sustainability of the maritime passenger connection.

Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras said the Larnaca-Piraeus connection would upgrade the city’s tourism.

Vyras said that the projects underway to connect the port and the marina would give the opportunity to large cruise ships to dock there.

Christis Dimitriou, President of the Development, Tourism and Shipping Committee of the Municipality of Limassol, said that they are joining forces with Larnaca to benefit tourists.

Elias Soulis, Managing Director of the contracting company Scandro Holding assured all passengers that everything is in place for the second season of the sea route between Cyprus and Greece.

Zacharias Kapsis, Deputy Ministry of Shipping official, said the Cypriot-flagged ferry Daleela has a capacity of 400 people and has 38 first-class cabins for 110 passengers, 68 second-class cabins that can accommodate 180 passengers, 110 seats and a transport capacity of over 300 vehicles.