Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the Port of Piraeus near Athens on 3rd June 2026 to protest the arrival of the Israeli-operated cruise ship Crown Iris, highlighting continuing tensions linked to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Protesters waving Palestinian flags assembled near Greece’s busiest cruise port as the vessel arrived during a scheduled call on a week-long Eastern Mediterranean itinerary. Organisers said the demonstration was intended to oppose what they described as increasing cooperation between Greece and Israel.
According to local reports, protesters carried signs and chanted slogans in support of Palestinians. Messages displayed during the demonstration included, “They are unwanted here and have no business being here,” while another banner read, “No to genocide tourism.”
Despite the protest, Crown Iris completed its visit to Piraeus as planned. Authorities maintained a security presence around the port area throughout the day, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant operational disruptions.
Cruise Continues Following Athens Call
The demonstration took place while Crown Iris was operating a seven-night roundtrip sailing from Haifa, Israel, which departed on 31st May 2026.
The vessel, carrying around 2,000 passengers, visited the Greek island of Kos on 2nd June before arriving in Piraeus on 3rd June. During its call near Athens, the ship remained in port for approximately 14 hours, from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. local time.
Following its stop in Piraeus, the itinerary continued with visits to Nafplion on 4th June and Syros on 5th June before the ship returns to Haifa on 7th June.
Crown Iris, which measures more than 40,000 gross tons, is operated by Israeli cruise company Mano Maritime and regularly offers cruises throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. The ship has become the focus of multiple demonstrations in Greece over the past year as protests connected to the conflict in Gaza have spread across the country.
Previous Demonstrations At Greek Ports
The latest protest follows several similar incidents involving Crown Iris at Greek destinations.
One of the most notable occurred in July 2025 on the island of Syros, where demonstrators gathered at the port and blocked access to the dock. The action prevented approximately 1,600 passengers from leaving the ship, forcing Crown Iris to abandon the scheduled call and sail away without disembarking guests.
The incident attracted international attention and prompted responses from both Greek and Israeli officials.
Since then, further demonstrations have been reported at ports including Rhodes and Crete. As tensions continued through late 2025, Greek authorities increased security arrangements at some cruise ports visited by the vessel, including Patras and Katakolo, to help prevent disruptions during arrivals.
Crown Iris is currently the only ship operated by Mano Maritime, a cruise company based in Haifa. The vessel joined the line’s fleet in 2018 after a long career under several previous names, including Norwegian Majesty for Norwegian Cruise Line and Celestyal Majesty for Celestyal Cruises.
While Mano Maritime previously operated other cruise vessels, those ships have since left the fleet, leaving Crown Iris as the company’s sole cruise ship and one of Israel’s most recognisable cruise brands.
The vessel is scheduled to continue operating itineraries focused on Greek destinations throughout the remainder of 2026.
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