Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Greece rolls out the red carpet for Costa's China world cruisers

21baeedc8ce6c3c27e9ffeb86ddabbb2_XL
Costa Atlantica passenger representatives were welcomed in Athens by Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura
Greek officials and residents rolled out the red carpet to welcome the arrival of the first world cruise dedicated to Chinese travelers. Costa Atlantica, carrying nearly 1,000 passengers, reached Greece as the first stop in Europe following calls at ports in Asia.

Government and port officials and residents turned out to welcome the ship. The Greek government held ceremonies in Heraklion and Athens.

In Heraklion, Crete Tourism Commissioner Michalis Vamiedaki and Heraklion Port Authority ceo Yannis Mpras greeted Costa Atlantica at the port before passengers toured the Palace of Knossos and the Archaeological Museum of Crete.

In Athens, Chinese passenger representatives were welcomed by Greece Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura and China's ambassadors to Greece during a welcome ceremony at the Acropolis Museum followed by a luncheon.

The mainstream media in Athens covered Costa Atlantica's arrival, which closely followed Chinese President Xi's announcement of the 'Silk Road at Sea' strategy, whose route resembles China's first world cruise.

Following its stay in Greece, which includes a stop at Santorini, Costa Atlantica will continue to ports in western Europe including Civitavecchia (Rome) and Barcelona, where water cannons are expected to salute the arrival.

The world cruise embarked in Shanghai on March 1.