Heraklion (Crete, Greece)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Region
Mediterranean - Black Sea
Local Time
2020-03-30 00:26
54°F 12.1°C
Very Light1.4 m/s
60 °F / 16 °C 46 °F / 8 °C
Heraklion (aka Iraklion) is the largest port city and capital of Crete Island, Greece. One of Greece's biggest cities, it has population around 175,000.
Heraklion is an important seaport and a ferry dock. Regularly scheduled ferries serve the routes to the Greek islands Ios, Paros, Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini. There are also daily ferries to Piraeus-Athens (mainland Greece).
Among the most popular tourist sites near Heraklion are the ruins of the Palace of Minos (aka Knossos palace). In Minoan times (3650-1450 BC) it was the largest settlement on Crete Island. Even though there is no archaeological evidence of it, Knossos may have had a port at Heraklion as early as 2000 BC.
The city's architecture is dominated by Venetian buildings, like Koules Fortress (Rocca al Mare), ramparts and arsenal. Around the city can be found several statues, sculptures and busts commemorating significant events and figures of Crete's history (El Greco, Nikos Kazantzakis, Eleftherios Venizelos, Vitsentzos Kornaros). Many fountains of the Venetian-era are also well preserved (Bembo, Palmeti, Priuli, Morosini, Sagredo.
Heraklion cruise terminal
In 2016, Heraklion port had scheduled a total of 170 ship calls and handled around 220,000 passengers. These numbers were close to the port's 2015 statistics.
The new cruise ship terminal covers a total area of 2500 m2 (26900 ft2) and has all the facilities and staff needed to conduct passenger clearance (passport and security). There is a separate check-in area dedicated to embarking passengers.
The port may expect in near future an increase in passenger shipping traffic (both cruise and ferry) due to the political situations in Turkey and Egypt.
- In 2016, almost all Mediterranean cruise lines cancelled their scheduled calls at ports in Turkey and diverted their vessels to Greek cruise ports instead.
- In 2017, all major cruise companies (with big-sized vessels) cancelled their calls at Kusadasi - one of Turkey's largest resort destinations and cruise port to Ephesus. All ship calls were replaced with Greek islands, mainly to Rhodes and Santorini.
Port Heraklion cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Heraklion, Crete, Greece. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.
| Day | Ship | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 March, 2020 Monday |  MSC Opera | 10:00 | 18:00 |
| 7 March, 2020 Saturday |  Boudicca | ||
| 19 March, 2020 Thursday |  Celestyal Olympia | 07:00 | 12:00 |
| 22 March, 2020 Sunday | Celestyal Olympia | 07:00 | 12:00 |
| 23 March, 2020 Monday |  Marella Celebration | 08:00 | 16:00 |
| 23 March, 2020 Monday |  Costa Victoria | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| 24 March, 2020 Tuesday | MSC Opera | 10:00 | 18:00 |
| 26 March, 2020 Thursday | Celestyal Olympia | 07:00 | 12:00 |
| 27 March, 2020 Friday |  AIDAblu | 05:00 | 22:00 |
| 29 March, 2020 Sunday | Celestyal Olympia | 07:00 | 12:00 |
| 31 March, 2020 Tuesday | Costa Diadema | 07:00 | 16:00 |
- Accidents
Blue Horizon Ferry Smashes on Iraklio Port Wharf
The passenger ferry Blue Horizon smashed on the wharf at the port of Heraklion, Crete, while attempting to moor, authorities announced on Thursday...
January 2, 2020 - Cruise Industry
Odyssey of the Seas Getting Ready for First Mediterranean Season
Royal Caribbean’s newest liner - Odyssey of the Seas, is the first Quantum Ultra Class vessel to be homeported in Civitavecchia-Rome Italy. In...
December 19, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Celestyal Cruises Introduces 2020-2021 Itineraries
Celestyal Cruises released company's 2020-2021 brochure featuring extended itineraries as the once seasonal-only operator is looking towards sailing...
October 2, 2019 - Cruise Industry
New Ferry Route Now Links Sporades to Thessaloniki
For the first time in 10 years, a ferry service was launched on Saturday, June 30, connecting Thessaloniki (northern Greece) with Crete and the...
July 1, 2018 - Cruise Industry
MedCruise Ports Mark the Inauguration of New Terminals
Cruise ports in the Mediterranean last week celebrated the inauguration of two new cruise ship terminals, confirming long-term commitment to offering...
November 20, 2017 - show more news