Heraklion Port is progressing successfully with an ongoing program focused on streamlining its turnaround and transit call services and is already emerging as one of the most competitive cruise ports of the East Mediterranean. Situated right in the heart of this region, Heraklion is an ideal turnaround location with access to a multitude of popular port destinations within short distances. With airlift capacity also being a crucial consideration regarding turnaround ports, note that between January and July of 2014 Heraklion’s international Nikos Kazantzakis Airport handled over 1.4 million passengers from a plethora of European gateways and have reached close to full capacity levels of scheduled and charter flights.
Along with contemporary safety, security and operational efficiency standards, the port now offers a number of features aimed at comfort, destination awareness, entertainment and overall passenger satisfaction. Among the most recent additions is a mobile ISPS unit that provides greater embarkation/disembarkation flexibility and an electric vehicle to facilitate passengers with special needs.
As Ioannis Bras, President and Managing Director of Heraklion Port Authority stated, "We have already shown our commitment to upgrading both the infrastructure and services of our port and we are now going ahead with the installation of a special tent terminal structure on Pier IV, (289 meters length & 14.2 m depth). This will be a permanent fixture, fully air-conditioned and laid out to provide all necessary embarkation/disembarkation services smoothly and efficiently. I would also like to remind cruise operators that the Port of Heraklion is open to all last minute requests for cruise calls throughout the year. Trust us to find a solution that will be appreciated by both passengers and crew."
Thanks to its clement weather, extensive tourism infrastructure, unique cultural interests and historic attractions, Heraklion is a lively year round cruise destination and one of the few East Mediterranean tourist ports with great winter cruising potential.
