The route will be operated by the same ship but with improved and better services
The 14 routes will be from the port of Limassol and the 8 from the port of Larnaca, starting from July.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, citizens will be able to book their tickets to travel to Greece, as part of the start of the second period of the Cyprus-Greece maritime passenger connection, said today the Deputy Minister of Shipping, Marina Hatzimanoli, noting at the same time that the route will be operated from same ship but with improved and better quality services.
At a press conference at the Larnaca Municipality's Creativity and Culture Center, the Deputy Minister of Shipping stated that “from eight o'clock in the morning on Tuesday, April 11, citizens will be able to make their reservations through the reservation and ticket purchase system for the sea connection Cyprus – Greece”.
“The ship Daleela, which performed the passenger connection service last year, will remain the same this year as well, with the difference that this year it will provide more improved and better quality services,” he noted.
He added that “the Deputy Ministry Shipping, taking into account the comments of the passenger public received during the first year of operation of the passenger connection, proceeded to evaluate them together with the contracting company in order to continuously improve the service”.
In this direction, a group of officers of the Deputy Ministries of Shipping and Tourism proceeded to inspect the hotel facilities with very satisfactory results while giving instructions for some changes that will help to further improve the services provided, he said.
As Mrs. Hatzimanoli said, “since the beginning of the sea passenger connection, which started last year, the Deputy Ministry of Shipping has given great importance to serving the needs of citizens and especially those who face difficulties in traveling by air, either for medical reasons or due to age or aerophobia and who feel excluded on the island”.
According to her, it is important that the sea connection has begun to be embraced by our fellow citizens who wish to travel to and from Cyprus with their private cars and two-wheelers, offering an alternative mode of transport, noting that “last year 7,412 passengers traveled and 2,250 vehicles were transported”.
This year, he continued, the contracting company Scandro Holding decided to include in its routes, in addition to the port of Limassol and the port of Larnaca, using both ports of the Republic for the benefit of the passenger public.
He also mentioned that “the the first sailing of the ship will take place on May 31 from Limassol, while the last route from Piraeus to Larnaca is scheduled for September 1”.
The Deputy Minister expressed thanks to the Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis for the cooperation of the two Deputy Ministries as well as all the state services and departments of the Republic for the cooperation regarding the procedures followed at the ports, so that the passenger public can enjoy the highest quality services possible.
“The goal of all of us is the orderly operation and sustainability of the maritime passenger connection”, he said and noted that “many efforts have been made and we will continue to make all necessary efforts so that this great project succeeds again this year” .
For his part, the Mayor of Larnaca, Andreas Vyras, said that “the specific maritime connection Larnaca – Piraeus is expected to upgrade and help even more the tourism of Larnaca, but also by extension of Cyprus in general”.
He noted that the geographical position of Larnaca, with easy access from all the cities of free Cyprus and with the existence of the airport, means that tourists will be able to access the port and the sea connection with Greece.
He added that “this particular connection sends the message once again that Larnaca can face the challenges and opportunities presented to it with a port of primary importance that also meets the specifications for the arrival of large ships”.
At the same time, he said, “with the projects that will be carried out for the unified development of Larnaca port and marina, there will be absolutely no problem so that large cruise ships and ships can be served successfully”.
Mr. Vyras expressed his thanks to all those who helped to support the effort to connect Larnaca with Piraeus by sea and especially the Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hatzimanoli and noted that “Larnaca now knows and claims what it rightfully deserves and should have ».
Besides, Christis Dimitriou, President of the Development, Tourism and Shipping Committee of the Municipality of Limassol, said that “we are too small a place to be able to join forces”.
“We are here joining forces with Larnaca no only with the connection of the city with Piraeus but also for many issues” he said and wished the ferry connection “to be the start of a new page, a new beginning for more collaborations in all matters”.
Mr. Ilias Soulis, CEO of the contracting company Scandro Holding, assured the passenger public that everything is ready for the start of the second season of operation of the Cyprus-Greece maritime passenger connection.
“Tomorrow Holy Tuesday, at 8 in the morning, the upgraded reservation system will be opened, providing the possibility to buy return tickets so that all interested citizens can get their tickets in time,” he added.
Mr. Soulis expressed his thanks to the Deputy Minister of Shipping for the fact that “from the first days of taking up her duties, she raised the issue of the maritime passenger connection as one of her first priorities as well as for the initiatives she has undertaken up to now with the aim of upgrading the services offered by the ship Daleela”.
Zacharias Kapsis, Officer of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping stated that the Cypriot-flagged ferry ship Daleela will once again perform a maritime passenger connection service this year. The ship has a passenger capacity of 400 people and has 38 first class cabins numbering 110 passengers, 68 second class cabins that can accommodate 180 passengers, 110 airline seats and a transport capacity of over 300 vehicles.
The Mr. Kapsis also referred to the company's fees and port fees for the port of Larnaca and Limassol.
In total, he noted that there will be 22 round-trip routes, i.e. 8 between May – June, 7 in July and 7 between August and September.
The 14 routes will depart from the port of Limassol and the 8 from the port of Larnaca, starting from July.
