Greece has been selected as the number one cruise destination in the world — as a port and country — for 2019, according to a prestigious industry award.
Judges from the Wave Awards noted Greece’s diverse picturesque seascapes and wide range of cruise options — including smaller ships that visit quieter islands — as unique upsides.
Launched in 2015, the Wave Awards recognize, reward and celebrate innovation and excellence within the worldwide cruise industry and bring international attention to the destinations they award.
Categories include cruise lines, travel agents, tourist boards, ports and any other individual involved in industry, and winners are chosen by judges and public voters.
This news comes as Disney Cruises announced its return to Greece after a five-year hiatus from the country, which will bring thousands more tourists to the country’s already jam-packed islands during peak summer months.
Disney’s re-entry into Greece will include three Mediterranean options sailing from Rome. One 12-night and two nine-night sailings will visit places like Piraeus, Katakolon and island stops Santorini, Mykonos and Crete.
Santorini and Mykonos, in particular, have become major cruise destinations, attracting millions of visitors from the world over but also testing the tiny islands’ limits.
The University of the Aegean has already rung alarm bells over the situation on Santorini, where water, sewage and garbage services are tested daily on the island during peak summer months.
The crisis led the island’s officials to set a limit of 8,000 people daily — cutting the number of arrivals almost by half during the peak summer months when an average of 13,000 people daily disembark on the tiny volcanic island.
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