The Greek government has confirmed the disembarkation fees at Greek ports for 2025.

At the major cruise ship destination islands of Mykonos and Santorini, for the period from June 1 to September 30, passengers going ashore will be charged a fee of 20 euros per person. For the months of April, May and October, the fees are reduced by 40%, i.e. down to 12 euros, whilst for November to March the reduction is 80%, down to 4 euros.

The fee at all the other country’s ports will be 5 euro from June 1 to September 30, with similar reductions as above for the rest of the year.

The estimated annual income is estimated at 50 million euros, of which a third will go to the relevant municipalities, a third to the Greek Ministry of Shipping and the final third to the Greek Ministry of Tourism.

The fees are being introduced due to the number and ever-increasing size of cruise ships visiting major destinations in Greece. As far as Santorini is concerned, this summer up to six cruise ships have been dropping anchor each day and disembarking thousands of extra tourists onto an already crowded island. The problems the island is experiencing are not just due to the influx of people, but also the infrastructure needed to service the increase. The island now has more than 500 large buses, 4,000 minibuses and vans, hundreds of quads, tourist rental vehicles and delivery vehicles, all creating major traffic jams, Adding to this is the impossibility of parking in many areas. Both locals and tourists on the island are seeing Santorini suffocating under the unacceptable pressure of over-tourism.

Greece is renowned worldwide for “Philoxenia”, a deeply ingrained cultural philosophy of warmly welcoming all and every visitor, but the present situation is certainly putting a strain on that conviction.