Athens (Piraeus) Cruises in 2027: Six Cruise Lines Compared by Route, Season and Fare
Six cruise lines tracked by CabinSaver sail 212 cruises from Athens (Piraeus) in 2027: MSC Cruises (76 sailings), Princess Cruises (38), Celebrity Cruises (34), Royal Caribbean (30), Virgin Voyages (21) and Norwegian Cruise Line (13). MSC sails from Piraeus all year, while the other five lines run from spring to fall, peaking at 34 departures in August. Interior fares for solo travelers typically ran approximately $217-394 per night at single occupancy across Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian and Celebrity (as of October 2026, subject to change).
Table of Contents
- Quick Facts
- Which Cruise Lines Sail from Athens in 2027?
- Which Athens Cruise Line Is Cheapest in 2027?
- Where Do Cruises from Piraeus Go?
- When to Cruise from Athens: 2027 Season by Month
- How to Choose an Athens Cruise Line
- Planning Tips
- Related Guides
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Sailings | 212 tracked 2027 departures from Piraeus across six cruise lines |
| Cruise Lines | MSC Cruises (76), Princess Cruises (38), Celebrity Cruises (34), Royal Caribbean (30), Virgin Voyages (21), Norwegian Cruise Line (13) |
| Ships | 14 ships across the six lines |
| Port | Piraeus, the port of Athens, Greece |
| Durations | 5 to 40 nights; most departures on MSC, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Virgin Voyages and Norwegian are 7 nights |
| Most-Visited Ports | Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Ephesus (Kusadasi) and Rhodes |
| Season | All year on MSC Cruises; roughly April to October on the other five lines (busiest month: August, 34 departures) |
| Typical Solo Interior Fare | Approximately $217-394 per night at single occupancy across Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian and Celebrity (subject to change, as of October 2026) |
How we source these figures: CabinSaver tracks published cruise fares daily. The figures on this page come from the most recent tracking window for each line as of October 9, 2026: 365 snapshots for Norwegian Cruise Line (since October 2025), 90 each for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and MSC Cruises (since July 12, 2026) and 77 for Princess Cruises (since July 25, 2026). Fares are priced for solo travelers at single occupancy (which includes the single supplement), except MSC Cruises, which is only tracked per person at double occupancy. Virgin Voyages' tracked fares ended in July 2026, so no Virgin Voyages fares are shown. Figures are subject to change. Verify current fares directly with your cruise line before booking.
Which Cruise Lines Sail from Athens in 2027?
Six cruise lines tracked by CabinSaver sail from Piraeus in 2027, and MSC Cruises alone accounts for 76 of the 212 departures. The lines use Athens in very different ways:
| Cruise line | 2027 Piraeus sailings | Ships | Main pattern | Months | Typical interior fare per night, solo (approx., as of October 2026, subject to change) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSC Cruises | 76 | 3 | 7- and 9-night Eastern Mediterranean round trips | All year | Not comparable (double-occupancy basis only) |
| Princess Cruises | 38 | 2 | 7- to 40-night voyages, many one-way to Barcelona or Rome | April to October | Approx. $281-394 |
| Celebrity Cruises | 34 | 3 | 7- to 12-night Greek Isles, Turkey and Adriatic | March to November | Approx. $311-391 |
| Royal Caribbean | 30 | 2 | 7-night Greek Isles round trips | May to November | Approx. $217-300 |
| Virgin Voyages | 21 | 2 | 7-night Greek Isles round trips, plus longer voyages | May to October | Not shown (fares not current) |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | 13 | 2 | 7-night one-way to Venice (Ravenna) | May to October | Approx. $310-327 |
MSC Cruises from Piraeus
MSC Cruises has the largest and longest Piraeus program in 2027: 76 departures, every month of the year. MSC Orchestra sails 44 of them, mostly 7-night round trips, and MSC Splendida adds 22 nine-night sailings from late April to November, with MSC Lirica covering January to March. MSC's port lists lean on Corfu (75 sailings), Bari (72) and Istanbul (49), so these are as much Adriatic and Turkey cruises as Greek Isles cruises. See the MSC Mediterranean guide for MSC's other embarkation ports.
Princess Cruises from Piraeus
Princess Cruises sails 38 times from Piraeus in 2027, 31 of them on Sun Princess, and it has the longest voyages from the port: ten 21-night sailings and voyages of up to 40 nights. Only 13 are round trips. The rest end in Barcelona (11), Civitavecchia for Rome (10), Trieste, Ravenna or Fort Lauderdale. Every Princess departure from Piraeus calls at Messina in Sicily, and Santorini and Bar in Montenegro each appear on 30.
Celebrity Cruises from Piraeus
Celebrity Infinity carries 27 of Celebrity Cruises' 34 Piraeus departures in 2027, on 7- to 12-night itineraries such as "Best of Greece & Turkey" and "Greece, Malta & Turkey". Santorini and Mykonos each appear on 30 Celebrity port lists, Ephesus on 26 and Rhodes on 25, and only Celebrity's itineraries include Hydra (10 sailings), Thessaloniki (12) and Kavala (9) among the tracked lines from Piraeus.
Royal Caribbean from Piraeus
Royal Caribbean's 30 Piraeus departures are almost all 7-night sailings, 25 of them on Rhapsody of the Seas and 5 on Explorer of the Seas, and 23 are round trips. Royal Caribbean is the only tracked line whose Piraeus itineraries reach Egypt and Cyprus regularly, with Alexandria and Limassol on 8 sailings each under the "Greece, Egypt & Cyprus" title.
Virgin Voyages from Piraeus
Virgin Voyages sails Scarlet Lady from Piraeus on 20 departures between May and October 2027, plus one Resilient Lady sailing. Mykonos is on all 21, Santorini on 15, and Bodrum on 9. Virgin Voyages is adults only (18+).
Norwegian Cruise Line from Piraeus
Norwegian Cruise Line's 12 Norwegian Gem departures from Piraeus are 7-night one-way cruises to Venice (Ravenna), calling at Santorini, Katakolon (Olympia), Corfu and Koper, Slovenia, plus Kotor on 11 of them. Norwegian Sun adds a 21-night voyage from Piraeus to Dubai in September 2027 via the Suez Canal. Norwegian Cruise Line's other European sailings are covered in our Mediterranean preview.
Which Athens Cruise Line Is Cheapest in 2027?
For solo travelers, Royal Caribbean had the lowest typical interior range on 2027 Piraeus sailings in CabinSaver's tracking, at approximately $217-300 per night at single occupancy (as of October 2026, subject to change).
| Cruise line | Priced 2027 sailings | Typical interior fare per night, solo (approx., as of October 2026, subject to change) | Lowest single observation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | 30 | Approx. $217-300 | Approx. $195 |
| Princess Cruises | 38 | Approx. $281-394 | Approx. $191 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | 13 | Approx. $310-327 | Approx. $297 |
| Celebrity Cruises | 34 | Approx. $311-391 | Approx. $177 |
Based on CabinSaver's own fare tracking as of October 2026, the lowest single solo fare from Piraeus was on Celebrity Cruises, at approximately $177 per night, even though Celebrity had the highest typical range, which shows how much individual dates vary (subject to change). Norwegian Cruise Line's range is the narrowest because 12 of its 13 sailings are the same Norwegian Gem itinerary.
MSC Cruises is tracked only per person at double occupancy, where its 2027 Piraeus interior fares typically ran approximately $122-163 per night per person (as of October 2026, subject to change). That figure is not comparable with the solo figures above, because solo fares include the single supplement.
Where Do Cruises from Piraeus Go?
Almost every 2027 departure from Piraeus is an Eastern Mediterranean cruise, but each line builds the week differently. The table counts 2027 sailings whose port list includes each stop:
| Cruise line | Santorini | Mykonos | Ephesus (Kusadasi or Izmir) | Rhodes | Corfu | Istanbul |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSC Cruises (76) | 22 | 4 | 50 | 0 | 75 | 49 |
| Princess Cruises (38) | 30 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 23 | 0 |
| Celebrity Cruises (34) | 30 | 30 | 26 | 25 | 0 | 2 |
| Royal Caribbean (30) | 26 | 22 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 9 |
| Virgin Voyages (21) | 15 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line (13) | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
Two patterns stand out. For classic Greek Isles island-hopping with Santorini and Mykonos on the same trip, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages are the most consistent. MSC Cruises instead heads north into the Adriatic and east to Istanbul, which suits travelers who want Corfu, Bari or Turkey more than the Cyclades.
Round trips also vary: 72 of MSC's 76 Piraeus sailings return to Piraeus, compared with 26 of Celebrity's 34, 23 of Royal Caribbean's 30, 18 of Virgin Voyages' 21, 13 of Princess's 38 and none of Norwegian's 13. One-way sailings most often end in Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia) or Venice (Ravenna).
When to Cruise from Athens: 2027 Season by Month
August is the busiest month at Piraeus, with 34 departures across the six tracked lines, and June through October each have 28 to 34.
| Month (2027) | Departures (six tracked lines) |
|---|---|
| January | 4 |
| February | 4 |
| March | 6 |
| April | 12 |
| May | 23 |
| June | 30 |
| July | 29 |
| August | 34 |
| September | 28 |
| October | 30 |
| November | 8 |
| December | 4 |
From December to February, MSC Cruises is the only tracked line sailing from Piraeus. Celebrity Cruises opens its season on March 22, 2027, Princess Cruises in late April, and Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages and Norwegian Cruise Line in May. October stays busy at 30 departures, which makes it a strong shoulder month for travelers who want milder late-season weather and smaller summer crowds.
How to Choose an Athens Cruise Line
Each line's 2027 Piraeus program has a distinct shape, based on CabinSaver's itinerary tracking:
- MSC Cruises is the only choice in winter and has the most dates, with Corfu and Istanbul on most itineraries.
- Princess Cruises suits a long trip: 21- to 40-night voyages, and one-way sailings that end in Barcelona or Rome.
- Celebrity Cruises has the most complete Greek itineraries, with Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and smaller ports such as Hydra.
- Royal Caribbean had the lowest typical solo range and the most 7-night round trips, and is the line for adding Egypt or Cyprus.
- Virgin Voyages suits adults-only travelers, with Mykonos on every Piraeus departure.
- Norwegian Cruise Line suits a one-way week from Athens to Venice on Norwegian Gem.
Planning Tips
- Confirm your terminal. Piraeus has several cruise terminals spread along the harbor, and assignments can change. Check your boarding documents and verify the terminal with your cruise line.
- Plan the airport transfer. Athens International Airport is typically about 45-60 minutes from Piraeus by car, depending on traffic, and the metro also connects the two.
- Book one-way flights early. Princess and Norwegian sell mostly one-way sailings from Piraeus, so you will need an open-jaw ticket home from Barcelona, Rome or Venice.
- Allow a pre-cruise night. Flying into Athens the day before gives time for the Acropolis and a buffer for flight delays. Embarkation times vary by line, so verify yours before booking.
- Check documentation. A valid passport book is typically required for cruises from Greece, and itineraries that visit Turkey or Egypt may have additional entry requirements. Requirements vary by citizenship, so always verify with your cruise line and official government sources before your trip.
Data current as of October 2026, derived from CabinSaver's own cruise fare tracking. Always verify availability and details directly with the cruise line.
Related Guides
- 2027 Greek Isles Cruises: Santorini, Katakolon and the Aegean Season - The Greek islands as ports of call, with timing and itineraries.
- 2027 Royal Caribbean Europe Cruises: Seven Ships from Rome to Southampton - Royal Caribbean's full 2027 European program.
- 2027 Celebrity Europe Cruises: Greek Isles, Iceland and a Solar Eclipse at Sea - Celebrity's 2027 European ships and routes.
- 2027 Princess Europe Cruises: Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Iceland and the Eclipse Sailings - Princess's 2027 European voyages.
- 2027 MSC Mediterranean Cruises: 14 Ships and 27 Ports to Board From - Every MSC embarkation port in the Mediterranean.
- Rome (Civitavecchia) Cruises in 2027: Eight Cruise Lines Compared - Compare 2027 cruises from Rome (Civitavecchia) on MSC, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Celebrity, Norwegian, Carnival and Cunard:...
- Barcelona Cruises in 2027: Eight Cruise Lines Compared for the Mediterranean - Compare 2027 cruises from Barcelona on MSC, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Virgin, Carnival and Cunard: 457...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cruise lines sail from Athens (Piraeus) in 2027?
Six cruise lines tracked by CabinSaver sail from Piraeus, the port of Athens, in 2027: MSC Cruises with 76 departures, Princess Cruises with 38, Celebrity Cruises with 34, Royal Caribbean with 30, Virgin Voyages with 21 and Norwegian Cruise Line with 13, for 212 tracked 2027 sailings as of October 2026.
Can I cruise from Athens in the winter?
Yes, on MSC Cruises. MSC is the only tracked cruise line with Piraeus departures in January, February and December 2027, on MSC Orchestra and MSC Lirica, typically 7-night Eastern Mediterranean round trips. Celebrity Cruises adds one departure each in March and November, and Royal Caribbean one in November, based on CabinSaver tracking as of October 2026.
How much does a cruise from Athens cost per night in 2027?
For solo travelers at single occupancy, interior fares on 2027 Piraeus sailings typically ran approximately $217-300 per night on Royal Caribbean, $281-394 on Princess Cruises, $310-327 on Norwegian Cruise Line and $311-391 on Celebrity Cruises, based on CabinSaver fare tracking as of October 2026 (subject to change). MSC Cruises is tracked only at double occupancy and Virgin Voyages fares were not current, so neither is included.
Which cruise lines offer 7-night Greek Isles round trips from Athens in 2027?
Royal Caribbean (23 sailings, all on Rhapsody of the Seas), Virgin Voyages (14, on Scarlet Lady), Celebrity Cruises (13, on Celebrity Infinity) and MSC Cruises (48, on MSC Orchestra and MSC Lirica) have 7-night round trips from Piraeus in 2027. Norwegian Cruise Line's 7-night Norwegian Gem sailings from Piraeus are one-way to Venice (Ravenna), based on CabinSaver tracking as of October 2026.
When is the busiest time to cruise from Athens in 2027?
August 2027 is the busiest month at Piraeus, with 34 departures across MSC Cruises, Princess, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages and Norwegian Cruise Line, and June through October each have 28 to 34. January, February and December have only 4 departures each, all on MSC Cruises, based on CabinSaver tracking as of October 2026.