Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the government might restrict the number of cruise ships calling at Greece’s most popular islands. As one of the most popular cruising destinations worldwide, Greece continues to face growing concerns of overtourism.

Santorini was named one of the most affected destinations from overtourism, with just 15,000 residents but a staggering 800 ships calling on the destination in 2023 alone. About 1.3 million people onboard cruises came to Santorini in 2023, up 17 percent from 2022. Similarly, Mykonos, another popular Greek cruising destination, welcomed 749 cruise ships last year.

The largest cruise ships visiting both Santorini and Mykonos regularly in 2024 are Royal Caribbean International’s Odyssey of the Seas, which carries 4,200 guests, and Norwegian Epic of Norwegian Cruise Line, also carrying 4,200 passengers. Beyond cruising, nearly 33 million visitors traveled to Greece in 2023, an 18 percent increase from 2022. Mitsotakis said these rules could go into effect as early as 2025.

Tourism accounts for about 25 percent of Greece’s economic output. Record numbers of tourists traveling to the country were reached following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some cruise lines, such as Celestyal Cruises, support Greece’s decision. Chris Theophilides, CEO, Celestyal Cruises, stands behind the choice, agreeing with Greece’s decision to promote responsible tourism and reduce overcrowding.

Cruise Lines International Association posed a five-year action plan for Greece in late 2023. The plan includes extending the cruise season and creating destination management plans and a berth allocation system. The plan would better distribute cruise ship arrivals in Mykonos.

The decision harkens back to other popular destinations making similar moves. On June 1, Venice, Italy, limited tour groups to no more than 25 people. The historic city’s cap applies to its historic center, as well as the islands of Murano, Torcello and Burano. Venice also announced plans earlier this year to impose a tourist fee for daytrippers to combat overcrowding during the city’s peak visitor days.

Similarly, Amsterdam imposed a ban on cruise ships. Amsterdam’s central cruise terminal on River IJ closed. The city saw more than 100 cruise ships coming to the city each year, and residents and officials complained of issues going beyond pollution, citing overcrowding and increased unrest as tourists let loose during the night.

And, just last week, Juneau, Alaska, another popular cruise destination, announced plans to limit cruise passengers to 16,000 Sunday–Friday and 12,000 on Saturday.

Have you cruised to Greece before? What are your thoughts on the plan? Have you experience overcrowding in Santorini or Mykonos? Tell us your thoughts. Email us at [email protected]. Please include your full name and location.