Santorini Welcomes First Cruise Ship After Quakes Rattle Island

SANTORINI, Greece — Santorini, a prime tourist destination, welcomed its first cruise ship of the year on Sunday, marking a hopeful return to normalcy following a series of minor earthquakes that raised concerns among locals and led to a state of emergency on the island.

The Celestyal Discovery arrived in the Aegean waters carrying around 1,700 mostly American tourists. The cruise line had previously removed Santorini from its itinerary due to safety concerns stemming from earthquakes that hit the region in February.

“It’s exciting to know that the island’s open again and we get to visit first,” said Deborah Terry, a 67-year-old passenger. Julie Eberly, another passenger, expressed her confidence in the island’s safety. “We trust the tourism board here, so if they said it was safe to come, we came with open arms,” Eberly said.

Thousands of residents were evacuated from Santorini and nearby islands such as Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi after approximately 20,000 earthquakes of magnitude 1 or higher were recorded between January 26 and February 22, according to the University of Athens. The quakes, some measuring up to 5.3 on the Richter scale, prompted officials to halt construction, close schools, and dispatch rescue teams.

Despite the seismic activity, no major damage has been reported on Santorini, which relies heavily on its tourism sector, welcoming about 2.5 million visitors annually. Locals are optimistic for the return of tourists. “We all hope that things will return to normal, that people will come back,” said Tassos Kontos, a local shop owner. “The cloud seems to be lifting.”

Authorities are taking precautions to ensure safety during the tourist season, including planning an evacuation port for potential future emergencies. However, the current assessment has shown that the island is safe for tourists, allowing the local economy to revitalize.