The cruise ship Crown Iris received a cordial reception on her inaugural 2024 visit to Larnaca (Cyprus), having sailed from Haifa, Israel. Local officials, including representatives from the Larnaca Municipality, Tourism Board, and Chamber of Commerce and Industry, gathered to celebrate the ship's arrival on Friday, June 7.
This event marks the first docking of a large cruise ship at Larnaca since the Port Authority took over management following the termination of its contract with Kition Ocean Holdings.
With a capacity of 2,000 passengers, Crown Iris is set to operate a nearly weekly Haifa-Larnaca route until early November. The ship is scheduled for ~22 port calls in Larnaca this year, a notable increase from the previous year.
A joint statement from Larnaca stakeholders indicated that Crown Iris will feature overnight stays during some visits to Larnaca. Passengers have the opportunity to explore nearby towns, with many expected to visit Larnaca’s city center. On her inaugural visit, the ship arrived with 1,600 passengers, more than half of whom were repeat visitors.
Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras welcomed the ship's captain, Michaloliakos, and expressed gratitude to Mano Cruises for their ongoing choice of Larnaca, as well as to local representatives, Louis Travel. Vyras highlighted the long-standing ambition to boost cruise ship traffic in Larnaca, emphasizing the city's convenient location for easy access to the city center and attractive excursions to nearby destinations.
The Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry also expressed appreciation to Mano Cruises for choosing Larnaca as a disembarkation point. They noted that the steady influx of visitors from the cruise ship positively impacts Larnaca's commercial center and economy.
The Larnaca Tourism Board has once again stationed a representative to manage an information point in the passenger hall during cruise ship arrivals, offering detailed information about the city and its surroundings.
During the meeting between the ship's crew and Larnaca officials, discussions centered on streamlining the arrival process and exploring further collaboration opportunities.