The Cyprus Shipping Association’s delegates proudly participated in the celebratory inauguration of the cruise vessel Marella Discovery II's home port season at the Passenger Terminal of the Port of Limassol on April 2, 2025.
The event was organised by DP World Limassol and took place in the presence of the Minister of Transport, Communications & Works, and the Mayor of Limassol.
This is the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that a company is offering the "Fly & Cruise" service in Cyprus, confirming our position as a regional cruise hub.
The Minister welcomed the initiative, highlighting its importance in enhancing the connectivity and tourism offering of Cyprus through its ports. He expressed his gratitude to all involved parties, acknowledging that such ventures are made possible through the dedication of the Terminal Operator and the Ship Agents, with whom there is excellent ongoing collaboration.
The Mayor of Limassol emphasised the vital role of the cruise industry in attracting recurring visitors to Cyprus. He noted that Limassol’s status as a home port underscores the city’s unique cultural appeal and the diverse experiences it offers to travellers.
All participants at the event vowed to continue working closely into facilitating such growing trend, encouraging more cruise companies to select Cyprus as the starting point for their itineraries.
The Cyprus Shipping Association (CSA) was established in 1945, to provide a professional forum for the Shipping Agents of Cyprus. In 1954, following its registration under the provisions of the local Trade Unions Law, the Association became the official body representing the profession of the Shipping Agent in Cyprus. The Members of the Association are the leading and long established Shipping Agencies in the island.
The main aims of the Cyprus Shipping Association are:
As the spokesman for the Shipping Agents in Cyprus, the Cyprus Shipping Association ensures that its voice is heard on public issues affecting its members and contributing to the solution of all their problems. The Association also acts as liaison, negotiator and representative for its members in their dealings with the Government, the Legislature, the Port Authorities, the Department of Customs, the Business Community, the Trade Unions and all other interested parties.
With the Shipping Agent being actively involved in the operation and marketing of the Cyprus Ports, the Cyprus Shipping Association plays an important role in port affairs, taking part in the formation of policies applied and the solution to problems arising. The Association maintains close links with other local and international professional bodies pursuing common objectives. Its international affiliations include membership of the Federation Of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents (FONASBA), the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the the International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association (ICHCA). At local level it is a member of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (C.C.C.I) and the Employers and Industrialists Federation of Cyprus (E.I.F).
The Cyprus Shipping Association further provides its members with a platform for the exchange of professional experiences of common interest and acts as a centre for the collection, evaluation and distribution of information on local and international developments relevant to the profession and the port industry in general. In a day and age of revolutionary changes and of enormous growth in competition, the Association places increased emphasis on the upgrading of the skills of its members and their staff, the technological advancement of their operations and the strategic planning of their activities.