A group of around 150–300 pro-Palestinian residents on Syros Island (Greece) halted the arrival of the Israeli-operated cruise vessel Crown Iris this week.
Carrying approximately 1,700 passengers, the ship attempted to disembark, demonstrators waving Palestinian flags and holding banners reading “Stop the Genocide” and “No a/c in hell” assembled at the dock. Their action prevented disembarkation on Tuesday, July 22nd. For safety and security reasons, the Captain chose to sail directly to Limassol, Cyprus, as confirmed by both Greek coastguard records and the shipowner's/Mano Maritime’s statement.
The protest remained peaceful, and there were no reports of violence or injuries, though some passengers, including families with children, expressed tension at the unfolding events. Some waved Israeli flags and chanted aboard ship, yet those on board described the vessel itself as secure.
Islanders behind the demonstration explained that their goal was to protest the ongoing military campaign in Gaza. They emphasised an ethical stance, declaring that residents felt compelled to act against what they viewed as “genocidal war” in their regional neighborhood.
A local group known as We Stay Active added in a social media post that those associated with the conflict—soldiers, settlers, and their supporters—were not welcome on Syros.
Mano Maritime confirmed that the protest blocked disembarkation and noted the decision to reroute the ship was taken to ensure passenger comfort. All crew and guests remained on board as the ship proceeded to Cyprus.
Diplomatic attention followed the incident. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar reached out to his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, prompting commitments from Greek authorities—most notably from Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis—to safeguard the travel rights of all visitors and to prevent the intersection of political sentiments with tourism.
From a maritime angle, the situation underscores how shore-based demonstrations in geopolitically sensitive regions can disrupt cruise schedules and prompt rapid rerouting. While the Crown Iris continued on a course to Cyprus, the decision reflects both operational obligations and prudent leadership on behalf of the line amid evolving security conditions ashore.
For more Crown Iris incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.