Three cruise ships bring 7,000 visitors to Chania’s Souda port

Three cruise ships carrying a combined 7,000 passengers docked at the port of Souda in Chania early on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, providing what local reports described as a significant boost for businesses in the area.

The Crown Iris arrived with 1,464 passengers after sailing from Katakolo and was scheduled to depart in the afternoon for Israel. The Sun Princess, the largest of the three vessels, brought 4,352 passengers from Italy and was expected to leave later in the day bound for Turkey. The Artania arrived from Malta carrying 1,114 passengers and was due to depart in the afternoon for Agios Nikolaos.

The simultaneous arrival of the three ships meant thousands of travelers were in Chania at the same time for several hours, many of whom are likely to have taken part in local experiences during their stopover before their ships set sail again.

Cruise calls of this scale typically bring a short-term influx of visitors who explore the town on foot or make use of local transport, including car rental services, during their limited time in port.