German cruise lines AIDA and TUI to sail Greek cruise season for 2021
Both AIDA Cruises and TUI, Germany’s two largest cruise lines, have announced a Greek cruise season starting in May, 2021. AIDA Cruises will offer new cruises in Greece from May 23rd, 2021, with seven-day cruises departing from Corfu, while TUI will offer two different one-week itineraries sailing from Crete from May 13th, 2021.
TUI will deploy Mein Schiff 5 on two different one-week itineraries sailing from Crete to either Rhodes, Piraeus (Athens) and Souda (Chania) or Corfu, Katakolon and Piraeus. Six cruises are open for booking as of Friday with prices starting at 1,399 euros per person for a balcony cabin and 1,849 euros per person for a junior suite.
Pricing includes flights on chartered aircraft, as TUI operates the entire trip in a bubble. Passengers wishing to disembark in ports of call will need to purchase a TUI-organized shore excursion.
Bookings open on April 20th, 2021, with 23 dates to choose from between May 23rd and October 24th, 2021. The Greek cruises can also be booked as 14-day itineraries, AIDA said.
In addition to the new season out of Greece, AIDA Cruises is also operating seven-day voyages around the Canary Islands through June aboard AIDAperla.
All cruises are carried out in compliance with AIDA’s enhanced health and safety protocols, as well as applicable laws and regulations, the cruise line said in a press release. The enhanced health and safety protocols — tested by SGS Institut Fresenius and confirmed by the classification society DNV — includes a mandatory PCR test, as well as regular health checks, social distancing and hygiene protocols, medical care including testing capacities on board and other measures.
AIDA said that cruises in other destinations will not be possible at this time, with AIDA cancelling the remaining voyages of April through May.
