Getting ashore
Piraeus (Athens) is usually a dock stop.
Most ships dock at Piraeus (Athens), which usually makes the day simpler: walk off the ship, meet your tour, and get back on board without tender queues.
Greece
Cruises from Piraeus (Athens)
Piraeus (Athens) is a major embarkation gateway with moderate cruise traffic, typically mid-size ships, and departures throughout the year, but concentrated in May through October.
Usually docks
Moderate traffic
Cruises start or end here
Mid-size ships
What to expect in Piraeus (Athens)
How much time will you have?
About 11h is typical
Most cruises spend 10h to 12h in Piraeus (Athens), which makes it a relatively long port day compared with many stops.
How busy does Piraeus (Athens) get?
Expect other ships to be in port.
Multiple ships are in port on roughly 44% of days, so the exact date can change the port experience considerably.
- Typical day: ~5,700 passengers
- Busy day: 16,750+ passengers
- Multiple ships on 44% of days
When to cruise from Piraeus (Athens)
Cruises depart throughout the year, with the busiest season from May through October.
Departures run throughout the year, but the schedule is most concentrated from May through October.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Departures
5
4
9
16
38
44
43
48
21
49
19
5
Price/night
$71
$83
$114
$122
$204
$201
$194
$210
$229
$304
$375
$147
↑
Cheapest
↑
Priciest
Check your date
September 2026
Jump
Better value
Pricier
Sailings
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Where Piraeus (Athens) fits into a cruise
Cruises from Piraeus (Athens) most commonly head into Greek Isles itineraries, often starting with Kusadasi and Izmir .
Commonly arrives from
Piraeus (Athens)
Commonly continues to
Who sails here?
Ships visiting Piraeus (Athens) typically carry around 2,150 guests, with MSC Orchestra, MSC Splendida, and Explora II calling most often.
Most frequently visiting ships
- 1 MSC Orchestra 85 calls
- 2 MSC Splendida 68 calls
- 3 Explora II 53 calls
- 4 Celebrity Infinity 33 calls
- 5 Seabourn Ovation 33 calls
- 6 MSC Fantasia 28 calls
Next port calls
Sep 16 Celebrity Equinox · Carnival Legend
Sep 17 Celebrity Infinity
Sep 18 MSC Fantasia · Celebrity Eclipse
Sep 19 Emerald Azzurra
Sep 20 Seabourn Quest · Scarlet Lady · Silver Nova · Azura
Best current deals from Piraeus (Athens)
These departures surface first because they combine stronger-than-typical pricing with fresh tracked fares and standout value signals.
Explora II
Piraeus (Athens) → Mykonos → Kotor → Brindisi
Nov 19 · 5 nights
$1,505 suite · $301/night
Limited price history
Silver Dawn
Piraeus (Athens) → Náfplion → Agios Nikólaos, Kríti → Piraeus (Athens)
Jul 8 · 11 nights
Good value
$15,150 suite · $1,377/night
13% below typical · 6-month low
MSC Seaview
Piraeus (Athens) → Kusadasi → Napoli → Genova
Nov 2 · 6 nights
$629 inside · $105/night
Limited price history
Explorer of the Seas
Piraeus (Athens) → Mykonos → Valletta → Barcelona
Oct 25 · 7 nights
Exceptional value
$1,014 oceanview · $145/night
26% below typical · 6-month low
Scarlet Lady
Piraeus (Athens) → Mykonos → Soúda → Piraeus (Athens)
May 30 · 11 nights
About average
$1,639 inside · $149/night
Emerald Kaia
Piraeus (Athens) → Mykonos → Paphos → Larnaca
Oct 21 · 10 nights
About average
$9,911 balcony · $991/night
Cruise routes from Piraeus (Athens)
Compare the route families that depart from Piraeus (Athens), then open the itineraries with the best mix of schedule fit and pricing opportunity.
Adriatic Sea Circuit: Mykonos & Dubrovnik
From $1,505
$1,505
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Greek Isles Loop via Mykonos, Kotor & Dubrovnik
From $1,639
$1,639
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Greek Isles One-Way via Delos, Pátmos & Bodrum
From $9,911
$9,911
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Greek Isles Loop via Thessaloníki, Kavála & Kusadasi
From $974
$974
·
2 upcoming sailings
·
1 ship
2 upcoming sailings
1 ship
View itinerary →
Greek Isles One-Way via Santorini, Kusadasi & Messina
From $1,830
$1,830
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Greek Isles Loop via Santorini & Kusadasi
From $746
$746
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
FAQ about cruises from Piraeus (Athens)
Short answers for common search intent around cheap cruises, best time to cruise, and booking strategy from Piraeus (Athens).
What is the cheapest month to cruise from Piraeus (Athens)?
January currently looks cheapest based on median nightly fares for upcoming cruises from Piraeus (Athens). Use the departure calendar above to compare exact sailing dates, because deal quality can vary within the month.
When do cruises from Piraeus (Athens) usually get expensive?
November is currently the priciest month for upcoming departures from Piraeus (Athens). Higher-demand holiday and peak-season windows usually cluster there, so compare nearby departure dates before booking.
What itineraries are most common from Piraeus (Athens)?
The most common upcoming itinerary families from Piraeus (Athens) include Adriatic Sea Circuit: Mykonos & Dubrovnik, Greek Isles Loop via Mykonos, Kotor & Dubrovnik, and Greek Isles One-Way via Delos, Pátmos & Bodrum. Open any itinerary card to compare departures, price ranges, and which sailings look stronger value right now.
How far in advance should I book a cruise from Piraeus (Athens)?
Start tracking cruises from Piraeus (Athens) early, then book when a sailing moves below its typical range or hits a new recent low. If your dates are flexible, use the calendar and cheapest months section first, then set a price alert for the departures you would actually book.
Price alerts
Track cruise prices →
Get alerted when fares drop on cruises from Piraeus (Athens), then come back to the calendar and deal cards when the numbers move in your favor.