Today is expected to submit his proposalsto the government the cruise lines for more competitive discount packages to specific groups of passengers and specific itineraries of high demand.

It was preceded by meeting at the Megaros Maximos of the Coastal Ships with the Minister of State Akis Schertso at the beginning of the week regarding the increased ticket prices.

The aim of the meeting was to investigate in depth the increased cost of ferry tickets and to address punctuality on ferries.

The government reportedly asked direct reductions of the order of 20% from the representatives of the ferry companies to address the issue of high ticket prices, through packages or family offers, especially in the main ports.

According to information representatives of cruise ships they promised to look into reductions of up to 20% in specific population groups for specific itineraries.
Priority will be given in social tickets to the beneficiaries of the social tariff, of social tourism, to families traveling by car, as stated by the Minister of Territories, Akis Skertsos.

A family of four who will travel from Piraeus to Milos with a car depending on the ferry he chooses will need to pay between €550 and €763. With a discount of 20% then the prices drop to 440 and 610€.

“The ferry companies expect to carry 4 million people. Out of the 4 million, only 1 million have booked their tickets and a large part of them are related to foreign tour operators. So 75% will book their tickets from now on, said the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis.

However, as passengers who have already paid for their tickets point out, it is now too late.

For example in Rhodes a family of four will need to pay again depending on the type of ship from €844 to €999, with a 20% discount the prices automatically drop to €675 and €800.

Any decisions made by the liners are expected to be announced within the week.