MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, the Cruise Division of the MSC Group, were honored with three major distinctions at the Tourism Awards 2026, reaffirming their leading role in shaping a new development model for cruise tourism and the Greek travel industry.
The awards ceremony, held on April 28 at the Athens Concert Hall celebrated for the 13th consecutive year the most impactful initiatives in Greek tourism.
The two companies received:
- Gold Award for enriching the tourism offering and developing a new destination
- Gold Award for luxury guest services
- Silver Award for extending the tourism season
Syros at the forefront: a model for sustainable destination development
The first Gold Award highlights Syros as a successful example of balanced and sustainable cruise destination development.
Through the “Syros Uncovered” initiative, MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, in close collaboration with the Municipality of Syros–Ermoupolis and local stakeholders, played a key role in positioning the island as an authentic cultural destination, while respecting its identity and heritage.
This approach does not adapt the destination to cruise demands; instead, it integrates cruise tourism into the character of the place. As part of this initiative:
- More than ten curated visitor experiences were developed
- The island’s architecture, history, gastronomy, and arts were showcased
- Local community participation and small businesses were actively supported
- International visibility expanded into new markets
This momentum is reflected in the growing number of cruise calls, establishing Syros as an emerging destination with tangible economic and social impact.
Statement by the Municipality of Syros–Ermoupolis
On the occasion of this important distinction, the Municipality of Syros–Ermoupolis stated:
“We warmly congratulate MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys on their distinction at the Tourism Awards 2026, which highlights the importance of meaningful collaboration between local authorities, the business community, and major cruise operators.
This recognition is particularly significant for Syros, as both the Municipality of Syros–Ermoupolis and the Cyclades Chamber of Commerce actively contributed to the coordinated effort to welcome, manage, and promote the destination as part of MSC’s presence on the island.”
Redefining luxury hospitality
The second Gold Award recognizes the comprehensive redesign of the guest service experience, with a strong focus on quality, responsiveness, and personalization.
Explora Journeys transformed its customer service operations into a fully integrated experience platform, where every interaction is treated as an opportunity for care and meaningful engagement.
This new approach was built on:
- Advanced training in high-level hospitality standards
- The use of technology to deliver fast and high-quality service
- A shift from request handling to proactive guest care
The results include increased guest satisfaction, faster response times, and an overall enhanced experience, positioning service as a core element of the travel value proposition.
Greece as a year-round cruise destination
The Silver Award recognizes the strategy to extend the tourism season, strengthening Greece’s position as a destination capable of welcoming visitors year-round.
Through the development of winter itineraries and the use of Piraeus as a home port, the initiative demonstrated that cruise operations can be effectively sustained beyond the summer season, creating new opportunities for local economies.
The implementation included dozens of itineraries and calls at Greek ports, contributing significantly to reducing seasonality and supporting employment and local economic activity.
“We are truly honored to be recognized at the Tourism Awards 2026. This distinction reflects the collective effort of our teams and our shared commitment to delivering authentic, highquality experiences for our guests. It also recognizes our longterm dedication to Greece, from developing new destinations to supporting the sustainable growth of Greek tourism. Responsible tourism is central to how we operate, working closely with local communities, partners, and authorities to ensure that growth brings lasting value, today and for the future,” said Mr. Kyriakos Anastassiadis, Senior Strategic Advisor of MSC Cruises in Greece.
