Israeli Ship Carrying 1,600 Passengers Forced To Cancel Port Call In Syros Amid Protest

An Israeli-owned cruise ship carrying about 1,600 passengers was forced to cancel its port call at the Greek island of Syros on July 22, after a large pro-Palestinian protest took place near the dock. The cruise ship, Crown Iris, was rerouted to Limassol, Cyprus, due to growing safety concerns.

The ship, operated by Mano Maritime, had planned a six-hour stop in Ermoupoli, the main town on Syros. It arrived at midday, but shortly after docking, protestors began gathering at the port.

The group held Palestinian flags and banners that read messages like “Stop the Genocide” and “No A/C in Hell”, referring to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Local reports estimated that around 200 to 300 people participated in the protest, while some outlets mentioned over 150 protestors.

The protest was organised by residents of the island who said their goal was to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and oppose the welcoming of Israeli tourists while the war continues.

Videos from the scene showed protestors blocking roads, waving Palestinian flags, and chanting “Free, Free Palestine”. Flyers and signs were placed along the route leading from the dock.

Greece says NO to Israelis entering Syros: pic.twitter.com/0cjqDKgLBa

— PalMedia (@PalMediaOrg) July 22, 2025

Some passengers who disembarked briefly were reportedly met with water being thrown at them by protestors. In response, the cruise line quickly brought all passengers back on board.

Passengers said the ship’s security advised them to remain indoors, although some were later seen on the deck waving Israeli flags and singing songs.

Per reports, there were about 300 to 400 children on board. Passengers described the situation as calm inside the ship, but said the children appeared to be stressed.

Mano Maritime initially expected the protest to end quickly and considered extending the port stay. But as time passed and the demonstration continued, the company decided to cancel the stop and sail to Cyprus instead.

Passengers told Israeli media that it took the police two hours to arrive at the scene. One traveller told Channel 12 that the decision to leave was the right one, given the number of children on board and the risk of the situation escalating.

BREAKING: Pro-Palestine Protest blocks Israeli Cruise Ship in Syros

Hundreds of Israelis aboard a Mano Maritime cruise ship were stranded at the port of Syros, Greece, after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked them from disembarking. The protest was held in response to… pic.twitter.com/x6d2p0Ue5k

— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) July 22, 2025

The cruise ship Crown Iris, measuring 40,876 gross tons, is registered in Panama and operates cruises from Haifa, Israel. It was built in 1992, extended in 1999 when it belonged to Norwegian Cruise Line, and later purchased by Mano Maritime in 2018 from Louis Group’s Celestyal Cruises.

Greek media reported that the Syros Port Authority and Hellenic Police were on alert, and a nearby parking lot was closed due to security concerns. The cruise ship set sail around 3 p.m., earlier than planned.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that he spoke with his Greek counterpart, Giorgos Gerapetritis, asking for help to resolve the situation. Israel’s Embassy in Greece closely followed the events and warned that such incidents could harm future Israeli tourism to Greece.

According to official data, around 621,000 Israeli tourists visited Greece in 2024 alone.

Just last week, dockworkers in Piraeus refused to handle a cargo ship heading to Israel. There have also been recent cases of antisemitic vandalism, including damage to an Israeli-owned restaurant in Athens, which is being investigated as a hate crime.

References: timesofisrael, apnews

Source: Maritime Shipping News