Russia’s Sochi Port announced the launch of a new cruise itinerary visiting Alexandria (Egypt), which is expected to increase traffic at the port by 20%.
Yuri Vladimirov (Sochi Port Manager) explained that the itinerary of the Turkish ship Astoria Grande (fka AIDAcara) could increase Sochi's passenger traffic by 20%.
He added that the launch of the new route to Egypt would attract more tourists to Sochi because the itinerary is in two directions - Egypt and Turkey.
According to Vladimirov, the number of Astoria Grande cruises from Sochi might exceed expectations from 16 to 27 during the 2023 summer season.
Image: Port of Sochi (Russia)
The Port Manager made the statement after Miray Cruises Miray Cruises, which operates Astoria Grande currently sailing from Sochi to Turkey's Cesme and Bozcaada Island, said the administration would study launching a new route to Egypt.
The 1996-built Astoria Grande has 11 decks, 590 passenger staterooms and max passenger capacity 1340 (plus 360 crew).