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PSTF Panels Ponder on Ports, People, and Pressure as Cruise Industry Heavyweights Call for More Data From and Dialogue with Destination Authorities

How can ports built for a bygone era keep up with 21st-century cruise ships - and the millions of tourists they bring? That question dominated the second day of the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum in Heraklion, Crete, as industry leaders, port operators, and local authorities tackled a trio of challenges: infrastructure bottlenecks, community pressures, and the urgent need for better alignment between cruise lines and destinations.

During a dynamic discussion, ‘Cruise Ports: Can Infrastructure Keep Up With Demand?’ the burning issues of port suitability, berth availability, and local community integration were tabled to a panel of experts from some of the world’s biggest cruise lines, port authorities, and terminal operators.

“Ports were built for ships fifty years ago - vessels today are a different beast entirely,” said Manolis Alevropoulos, VP, Marine Operations, Celebrity Cruises - Royal Caribbean Group. “We need to upgrade port infrastructure across the board, and we must do it while helping the communities we work in. From waste management to freshwater generation and clean shore energy, the technology already exists - it’s time to deploy it, especially in the Med, where we’ve got wind, sun and waves year-round.”

Isabelle Côté, International Terminal Operations Management Consultant, Virgin Voyages, emphasised the urgency of interim solutions: “The long-term plans are important, but what about now? We need quick wins - smarter, creative refurbishments and adjustments to ease pressure while we wait for major redevelopments to catch up.” She added, “Waste management, better recycling systems and rethinking our guest experience - helping them be more like travellers and less like tourists - are ways to act now, not later.”

For Aziz Güngör, Regional Director, East Med Ports, Global Ports Holding, the challenge is as much bureaucratic as it is physical: “Even technology can’t always fix congestion when infrastructure falls short. Local engagement, streamlined regulations and environmental responsibility are key to long-term success - and they all take time, planning and community buy-in.”

Minas Papadakis, CEO, Heraklion Port Authority, spoke candidly about the transformation of Greek ports and the scale of the challenges involved: “Ports are no longer just passenger or cargo hubs - they are evolving into energy hubs, and that shift requires enormous capital investment, smart planning, and a modernised legal framework. For ports like Heraklion, which are close to urban centres, this is especially sensitive. The local community sees itself not just as a stakeholder, but as a shareholder in the port’s future. That means every step we take - in master planning, redevelopment, or investment - must be taken with public trust in mind.”

He also pointed to the financial and operational strain caused by berth cancellations from cruise lines: “We are actively considering implementing cancellation fees for berths that are booked at the start of the season but later released. These last-minute cancellations create inefficiencies, disrupt planning, and represent lost opportunities for both the port and the local economy. Cruise lines must share the responsibility for sustainable port operations.”

“It’s a paradox: today, it’s easier to build a cruise ship than the port it docks at,” said Gianluca Suprani, Senior VP, Port Development, MSC Cruises. “We support OPS [onshore power supply] initiatives, especially near urban ports, and we want berth allocation systems to be transparent and publicly accessible. With half of our guests disembarking for excursions, better coordination with local authorities is essential to avoid congestion and preserve the destination experience.”

Adam Sharp, Deputy Deal Director, Cruise Terminals International, summed up the discussion in stark terms: “Part of the solution is simply acknowledging there’s a problem.”

One of the highlights of the event included the announcement of a two-year strategic partnership between the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum and MedCruise. Theodore Vokos, Managing Director of Posidonia Exhibitions S.A. said: “We would like to thank MedCruise for their constant support of PSTF, as they were one of the first organisations to recognise our commitment to promote the cruise industry an create a platform conducive to the strengthening of relations between Mediterranean ports and the industry, and today we formalise this long-term collaboration with a strategic agreement that binds us to work together for many PSTFs to come in the future.” MedCruise’s presence at this year’s PSTF was again strong, with both President Theodora Riga and the Secretary General Nicky Guerrero joining panel discussions and providing insight into the ports’ perspective.

The second panel of Day 2 of the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, ‘Cruise Lines & Destinations: ‘The Need for an Earnest Dialogue’ picked up where the first left off: with a call to action for deeper cooperation between cruise lines and destinations. In a standout panel, speakers tackled what one participant described as the lingering disconnect between visitor satisfaction and community wellbeing. What emerged wasn’t just a series of soundbites, but a compelling roadmap for a more collaborative, sustainable future.

Ligia Balea, Product Manager, Shore Excursions, Carnival Cruise Lines, opened the discussion with a ground-level perspective: “Small innovations can go a long way,” she said, pointing to curated cultural experiences that not only delight guests but strengthen local economies. “In some destinations, we receive real-time community feedback that helps us adjust and improve shore excursions. When local vendors and operators are involved in designing experiences, the result is more than a tour - it’s a shared story. This isn’t just business; it’s about giving back.”

Dimitris Bekos, Head of Greece, Cyprus, Egypt & UAE, Intercruises, expanded on this theme, urging the industry to confront the growing unease among residents in popular cruise destinations. “There’s real concern about our environmental footprint and the impact of cultural dilution when thousands of guests arrive at once,” he said. “We need to be more mindful. Immersive, community-centric tours are one answer. They allow us to diversify our offerings while creating meaningful connections between guests and locals.”

Bekos’ comments bridged the environmental and social aspects of sustainability, suggesting that authentic cultural experiences are also a tool for preservation.

From a more operational angle, Michele Bosco, Manager, Shore Excursion & Operations, Princess Cruises, focused on the logistics that can make or break destination experiences.

“There are practical ways to ease the pressure,” he noted. “Staggering ship arrivals, avoiding port calls during major local events, or simply extending stays from one to two days - these changes spread the flow of excursions and reduce congestion.”

Taking a step back, Alessandro Carollo, Associate VP, Government Relations, Royal Caribbean Group, highlighted a structural challenge: the fragmented nature of destination governance. “Often, we’re not speaking to one unified voice,” he explained. “Tourism boards, port authorities, municipalities - they don’t always align. Before meaningful collaboration with cruise lines can begin, destinations must first align internally. Only then can they articulate what they want to achieve - be it sustainability, guest flow management, or economic development.”

Carollo’s point was clear: effective dialogue must be preceded by local coherence. Only when destinations define their identity can they invite the cruise industry into a productive conversation.

Finally, Thanos Pallis, Professor, Maritime & Port Economics, Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus, grounded the discussion in pragmatism and data.

“We need less buzzwords and more facts,” he said bluntly. “Long-term stability in sea tourism depends on sound planning, and for that we need data - shared, accessible, and understood by all stakeholders. It’s the only way we’ll move from reactive adjustments to proactive strategies.”

The second and final day of the Forum also included parallel sessions on ‘Coastal & Short Sea Shipping and ‘Yachting & Marinas, to examine the evolution of maritime transport towards greener practices and the development of marina infrastructure to support the growing yachting sector.

The afternoon concluded with the ‘YES to Sea Tourism Forum’ session, focusing on youth engagement and education in the maritime sector. This session underscored the importance of nurturing the next generation of maritime professionals and fostering a culture of sustainability and innovation within the industry.

Backed by the Region of Crete and the Heraklion Port Authority, and organised by Posidonia Exhibitions, PSTF 2025 is doing more than spotlighting best practices; it's setting the agenda. As the Mediterranean cruise sector seeks its future compass points—collaboration, resilience, and sustainability—forums like PSTF are essential landmarks on the map.

Sponsors for the 2025 PSTF include: Diamond Sponsor Heraklion Port Authority, Gold sponsors Region of Crete and Hellenic Organisation of Cultural Resources Development (ODAP), Silver Sponsors Greek National Tourism Organization and Piraeus Port Authority, Bronze sponsors Celestyal and Kyvernitis Travel Group, Sponsors Five Senses Consulting & Development, Minoan Lines, and Thessaloniki Port Authority, Supporters Heraklion International Airport and Creta Interclinic, Official Airline SKY express, and is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Municipality of Heraklion and is supported by the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MedCruise), the Union of Cruise Ship Owners & Associated Members of Greece, and the Panhellenic Ship Suppliers and Supporters Association.