ATHENS — The German cruise ship "Mein Schiff 6" departed from the port of Piraeus on Tuesday night, having been the first cruise ship that relaunched cruising in the Eastern Mediterranean on September 13, and the first to dock at Piraeus after a 6-month suspension of cruises in Greece.

The ship was welcomed by port officials who exchanged souvenirs with the ship's captain, the CEO of TUI Cruises and the representative of Cruise Lines International Association Europe (CLIA), expressing their gratitude and support for the resumption of cruises in Greece.

Some 700 passengers are onboard the German cruise liner, including the Greek-German singer Vicky Leandros who will give a live concert on the ship accompanied by other artists.

In a statement, the company said that the safety of passengers, staff and the Greek population is a top priority for TUI Cruises. "Cruises are possible even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. In collaboration with Greek authorities, we have drawn up a plan to ensure the highest level of safety for our passengers throughout the journey. I am very happy that we are contributing in this way to the recovery of tourism in Greece," said the company's CEO Wybcke Meier.

As part of measures observed by TUI Cruises are keeping to a required 60 pct capacity maximum and having passengers undergo a Covid-19 detection test (PCR test), the cost of which is included in the price of the trip.