A new vessel will serve the Cyprus-Greece sea passenger route this season, with ticket sales opening on Wednesday April 22 and the first sailing departing Limassol on May 29, Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hadjimanoli announced at a press conference.
The Italian-flagged AF Marina replaces the Daleela, which served the route in previous seasons. Contracted operator Scandro Holdings Ltd will run 22 return journeys between Limassol and Piraeus, with the last sailing of the season returning from Piraeus to Limassol on September 1. Fares will not increase, as fuel for the vessel was secured before recent price rises.
Hadjimanoli said the route “has been embraced by the public and has contributed to creating a new segment of the tourism market, strengthening Cyprus’s connectivity with Greece and by extension with mainland Europe.” She added that “the prospects for the viability of the route remain positive” and that the goal is for the connection to eventually become permanent, viable and self-sustaining.
The AF Marina offers several improvements over its predecessor. All cabins have private toilets and bathrooms, passenger capacity is higher, and pets will travel in dedicated cabins rather than kennels. A team from the Deputy Ministries of Shipping and Tourism inspected the vessel’s hotel facilities in Italy, where it is currently undergoing an upgrade ahead of the season.
Built in 1994, the AF Marina can carry 394 passengers and up to 290 vehicles depending on their length. It has 20 single cabins, 10 double cabins and 58 four-berth cabins, alongside two three-berth cabins for passengers with disabilities, eight four-berth cabins for passengers travelling with pets and 84 aircraft-style seats. On board facilities include a restaurant, cafeteria, medical room and casino.
The route has grown steadily since its launch. Comparing the first and fourth years of operation, passenger numbers rose 6.27%, vehicles carried increased by 35.07%, passengers with disabilities grew by 157.14% and pets by 74.63%.
This season also brings a change to the cancellation policy, introduced after passengers were found to be making multiple bookings and using only one, leaving other travellers unable to find places. Under the new rules, cancellations will not be refunded beyond port fees, and a fee will apply for any ticket modifications.