President calls for greater cooperation with cruise giant

President Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday predicted positive developments in the future relationship between Cyprus and cruise giant Royal Caribbean.

He was speaking from Limassol port, where he was visiting the cruise ship Odyssey of the Seas.

The 347-metre ship docked at the port in the morning, and was scheduled to begin its return journey to its base in Civitavecchia, Italy in the afternoon.

Due to the situation is Israel the ship has removed the port of Haifa from the cruise schedule.

Accompanied by deputy shipping minister Marina Hadjimanoli, the president was given a tour of the cruise ship and informed about the possibilities and services it offers to travellers.

“The presence of such a large and well-known company in Cyprus is a vote of confidence for the Cypriot economy, for Cypriot shipping, for Cypriot ports,” Christodoulides said.

He clarified that he accepted the invitation to visit Odyssey of the Seas because “there are many other areas where we can cooperate with the company,” noting that “a dialogue has begun and I am sure that soon there will be other positive news towards direction of cooperation”.

Underscoring the importance of tourism for Cyprus, Christodoulides said that beyond this part of the cooperation “there is the issue of our flag, and many other issues that I believe will have positive developments in the near future”.

Finally he noted that Royal Caribbean has already entered the Odyssey’s twin cruise ship, the Spectrum of the Seas, in the Cyprus registry and has recently opened its European offices in Limassol.

“That is why I am here, as more ships from the same company may come under the Cypriot flag, and this is another area where we can expand our cooperation,” he said.