The latest data from the Port Authority depict an explosive rise in both cruise and coastal shipping, with the island steadily strengthening its position on the map of international destinations.
The continuous increase in passengers, the higher number of cruise ship calls, and the dynamic growth of cross-border lines highlight a port that is evolving, investing, and taking a leading role, operating as the country’s western gateway and a lever for development for tourism and the local economy.
According to data from the Corfu Port Authority for the ten-month period January-October 2025, cruising in Corfu recorded a strong upward trajectory, with the total number of passengers reaching 845,744, compared to 781,444 in the corresponding period of 2024, marking an increase of 8.23%.
Simultaneously, transit passengers exceeded all previous records for the period, reaching 649,987 compared to 585,387 in the same period last year, a rate increased by 11%.
Cruise ship calls for the same period amounted to 428, up from 409 in 2024, while for the two-month period November–December, 51 additional calls have already been scheduled, a factor that strengthens efforts to extend the tourist season and gives a significant boost to the local economy.
The new cruise season for the port of Corfu begins on January 2, 2026, with a cruise ship call that will bring 2,679 passengers to the island, inaugurating a year projected to be exceptionally positive, with over 500 scheduled calls.
In the same period, coastal shipping proves for yet another year to be a stable pillar of growth, with passenger flows substantially reinforcing the port’s cross-border character. Traffic shows a steady and healthy rise, with Corfu now operating as an interregional reference point serving both tourism and daily commutes.
On the Corfu-Igoumenitsa line, which remains a significant daily transport axis, a small but steady increase was recorded. Disembarked passengers reached 791,494 compared to 785,796 in the corresponding period of 2024 (+0.73%), while embarked passengers amounted to 776,392 from 773,212 (+0.41%).
More pronounced is the upward trend in the connection with Albania, which is emerging as one of the fastest-growing maritime corridors in the region. Disembarked passengers soared to 327,360 from 272,694 (+20.05%), while embarked passengers rose to particularly high levels, reaching 318,718 compared to 245,243 in the nine-month period of 2024 (+29.96%).
The Corfu-Italy line presents a mixed picture, with disembarked passengers showing a slight dip compared to the same period last year, reaching 32,493 from 38,155 in 2024 (–14.84%), however embarked passengers increased significantly, to 33,458 from 26,421 (+26.63%).
The CEO of O.L.K.E. S.A., Dimitris Apergis, stated: “This year’s picture of the port clearly shows what we have been consistently building in recent years. Corfu is evolving into a port that not only serves but plays a leading role in the Adriatic region.
The cruise and coastal shipping data prove that our port possesses dynamism, resilience, and prospects.
We continue to work on upgrading modern services and infrastructure, so that every ship and every passenger arriving here encounters a port that reflects the quality and character of Corfu.”
