The inauguration of the new Cruise Terminal "Alexander the Great" at Pier 2 of the Port of Thessaloniki occurred on November 22, 2023.
The ceremony, presided over by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Christos Stylianides, and the Executive Chairman of the BoD of ThPA S.A., Athanasios Liagkos, was attended by various dignitaries and officials, including regional authorities, mayoral representatives, and business sector delegates.
The recently operational Cruise Terminal significantly expands Port Thessaloniki's role in the cruise sector, enhancing the city's tourism offering and contributing to the overall development of the tourism industry in the region.
Spanning 2,000 square meters (21527.82 ft2), the new terminal represents a substantial infrastructure investment by ThPA S.A., aiming to provide quality services to cruise ships and their passengers and crew docking at Pier 2 (quays 9 and 10).
Minister Stylianides highlighted the national growth-oriented goal of cruise development, emphasizing Port Thessaloniki's pioneering adoption of the automated Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). He commended ThPA SA for its significant investment in the modern Cruise Terminal, designed to expedite passenger and crew services efficiently.
Mr Liagkos expressed pride in the new terminal, positioning it as a noteworthy investment that elevates the port's standing internationally, fostering growth prospects for Thessaloniki. The fully equipped terminal accommodates homeporting and transit arrivals, catering to over 6,000 passengers and crews of two simultaneously arriving cruise ships daily. ThPA S.A. reaffirms its commitment to the investment plan for port infrastructure upgrades and close collaboration with Thessaloniki's authorities, contributing to the city and Northern Greece's broader regional growth efforts.