New Ferry route to operate between Cyprus and mainland Greece
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KALAMOS BOOKS
Jul 8, 2010, 4:34:44 PM7/8/10
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http://www.about-larnaca.info/2010/07/new-ferry-route-to-operate-between.html
Thursday, July 8, 2010
New Ferry route to operate between Cyprus and mainland Greece
Frommer's Greek Islands (Frommer's Complete)
Source: www.offradarcruisenews.com
Off Radar received information from local Cyprus news sources recently concerning an ambitious project to restore a car-ferry route between a port on mainland Greece and Limassol, Cyprus.
It was a decade ago before a regular Ferry service operated, however it ceased operations back in 2001. Following this, for a few years a summer service between Cyprus and Rhodes was managed, which enabled passengers to make a 2 stage Ferry journey from mainland Greece to Cyprus. The old Princesa Marissa of Louis Cruises, which was in essence a converted Ferry, for a period, ran an interesting side business permitting a small number of cars and even trucks to be transported onto the one and only remaining vehicle deck, still surviving from the conversion.
This particular route ceased to exist back in 2007 when the Princesa Marissa retired from service and was sent to the Elephants graveyard for ships scrap in India.
Since this sad day, there has been absolutely no reliable or easy way to get off the “Island of Love” apart from flying or taking a round trip cruise. This fact however excludes Northern Cyprus, whereby in the occupied territories a TRNC service to mainland Turkey operates regularly.
In view of the recent Icelandic Volcanic Dust airspace emergency, the residents of Cyprus started to feel how vulnerable, isolated and over-dependant upon air travel they really are. The situation is astonishing, when one considers the excellent variety of Ferry routes across nearby Greece and Turkey. Cyprus Car Plates must be a Car Spotters dream to discover on continental Europe, especially as Cypriots drive on the opposite side of the road to most of EU member countries.
There is now hope however on the horizon with this new announcement. It could not come soon enough for residents, as until recently the only tangible way of arriving to the Republic of Cyprus by sea with a vehicle, was to travel via a Grimaldi freighter. Grimaldi actually operate a neat little service between the UK and a host of Mediterranean ports. They however only permit embarkation at a fraction of the locations they frequent, but its still an option. Presently, if would be passengers would like to take advantage of the service, they need to drive to south-west Italy and board a freighter in the port of Salerno. Disembarkation occurs in Limassol a whole 7 days later. To view Grimaldi’s current Mediterranean schedule follow this link: http://www.grimaldi-freightercruises.com/freighter/england/medEnglish.pdf.
The details of the new service are at best sketchy and there is no definitive date or timetable for the start of the operation, although some reports claim it will be a reality by the end of the current 2010 summer. What we do know is that the Ferry route is expected to operate between Lavrio, on the southern tip on mainland Greece (relatively near Athens), and Limassol using a “Roll-On Roll-Off” Ferries, capable of carrying Cars, Lorries and Buses according to reports.
All we know at Off Radar is that the authorities are putting together the necessary paper work for parliamentary approval to allow Cyprus to become a future Ferry Hub.
The core aim of this new sea link is to optimize trade ties with Greece and offer tourists from both countries an alternative option of travel, much like the way “Island Hopping” works in Greece.
Unfortunately as all Cruise visitors to Cyprus know, approaching, entering and travelling through the port of Limassol is not the most scenic or pleasurable experience. Nevertheless, the resumption of a regular Ferry service will be welcomed by residents and tourists alike.
Strategically speaking the port town of Larnaka would be a far better option for the island due to its central location of the triangle of Cypriot cities and close proximity to the capital Nicosia. The Larnaka port is within walking distance to the town centre also, which would work a great deal better than in Limassol, whereby the port is isolated, being 20 minutes by car from the centre of town and not realistically possible to walk. There are plans afoot to build a new Cruise Ship port in Larnaka due to its strategic location and excellent undeveloped coastal front, however due to the recession coupled with legal and administrational complications the project is somewhat on the back burner.
Off Radar will keep you posted on this development in due course.
Written by Grant Holmes
Publisher
Off Radar Cruise News
Posted by Progress Intenational Media at 5:10:00 PM
Labels: Ferry, Port
--
June Samaras
KALAMOS BOOKS
(For Books about Greece)
2020 Old Station Rd
Streetsville,Ontario
Canada L5M 2V1
Tel : 905-542-1877
E-mail : kalamo...@gmail.com
www.kalamosbooks.com
http://kalamosb.alibrisstore.com/
http://www.antiqbook.com/books/bookseller.phtml/kal
Thursday, July 8, 2010
New Ferry route to operate between Cyprus and mainland Greece
Frommer's Greek Islands (Frommer's Complete)
Source: www.offradarcruisenews.com
Off Radar received information from local Cyprus news sources recently concerning an ambitious project to restore a car-ferry route between a port on mainland Greece and Limassol, Cyprus.
It was a decade ago before a regular Ferry service operated, however it ceased operations back in 2001. Following this, for a few years a summer service between Cyprus and Rhodes was managed, which enabled passengers to make a 2 stage Ferry journey from mainland Greece to Cyprus. The old Princesa Marissa of Louis Cruises, which was in essence a converted Ferry, for a period, ran an interesting side business permitting a small number of cars and even trucks to be transported onto the one and only remaining vehicle deck, still surviving from the conversion.
This particular route ceased to exist back in 2007 when the Princesa Marissa retired from service and was sent to the Elephants graveyard for ships scrap in India.
Since this sad day, there has been absolutely no reliable or easy way to get off the “Island of Love” apart from flying or taking a round trip cruise. This fact however excludes Northern Cyprus, whereby in the occupied territories a TRNC service to mainland Turkey operates regularly.
In view of the recent Icelandic Volcanic Dust airspace emergency, the residents of Cyprus started to feel how vulnerable, isolated and over-dependant upon air travel they really are. The situation is astonishing, when one considers the excellent variety of Ferry routes across nearby Greece and Turkey. Cyprus Car Plates must be a Car Spotters dream to discover on continental Europe, especially as Cypriots drive on the opposite side of the road to most of EU member countries.
There is now hope however on the horizon with this new announcement. It could not come soon enough for residents, as until recently the only tangible way of arriving to the Republic of Cyprus by sea with a vehicle, was to travel via a Grimaldi freighter. Grimaldi actually operate a neat little service between the UK and a host of Mediterranean ports. They however only permit embarkation at a fraction of the locations they frequent, but its still an option. Presently, if would be passengers would like to take advantage of the service, they need to drive to south-west Italy and board a freighter in the port of Salerno. Disembarkation occurs in Limassol a whole 7 days later. To view Grimaldi’s current Mediterranean schedule follow this link: http://www.grimaldi-freightercruises.com/freighter/england/medEnglish.pdf.
The details of the new service are at best sketchy and there is no definitive date or timetable for the start of the operation, although some reports claim it will be a reality by the end of the current 2010 summer. What we do know is that the Ferry route is expected to operate between Lavrio, on the southern tip on mainland Greece (relatively near Athens), and Limassol using a “Roll-On Roll-Off” Ferries, capable of carrying Cars, Lorries and Buses according to reports.
All we know at Off Radar is that the authorities are putting together the necessary paper work for parliamentary approval to allow Cyprus to become a future Ferry Hub.
The core aim of this new sea link is to optimize trade ties with Greece and offer tourists from both countries an alternative option of travel, much like the way “Island Hopping” works in Greece.
Unfortunately as all Cruise visitors to Cyprus know, approaching, entering and travelling through the port of Limassol is not the most scenic or pleasurable experience. Nevertheless, the resumption of a regular Ferry service will be welcomed by residents and tourists alike.
Strategically speaking the port town of Larnaka would be a far better option for the island due to its central location of the triangle of Cypriot cities and close proximity to the capital Nicosia. The Larnaka port is within walking distance to the town centre also, which would work a great deal better than in Limassol, whereby the port is isolated, being 20 minutes by car from the centre of town and not realistically possible to walk. There are plans afoot to build a new Cruise Ship port in Larnaka due to its strategic location and excellent undeveloped coastal front, however due to the recession coupled with legal and administrational complications the project is somewhat on the back burner.
Off Radar will keep you posted on this development in due course.
Written by Grant Holmes
Publisher
Off Radar Cruise News
Posted by Progress Intenational Media at 5:10:00 PM
Labels: Ferry, Port
--
June Samaras
KALAMOS BOOKS
(For Books about Greece)
2020 Old Station Rd
Streetsville,Ontario
Canada L5M 2V1
Tel : 905-542-1877
E-mail : kalamo...@gmail.com
www.kalamosbooks.com
http://kalamosb.alibrisstore.com/
http://www.antiqbook.com/books/bookseller.phtml/kal
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