easyCruise plans to build new cruise ships

The Greek-based easyCruise and Neorion Holdings have signed a letter of intent for the construction of two cruise ships with the option for a further two in Neorion Holdings? shipyards in Greece. Neorion Holdings own two shipyards, one in Elefsis near Athens and one on the island of Syros.

According to easyCruise?s expansion plans, these cruise ships, with capacity of 500 passengers each, will allow for the introduction of the easyCruise concept in the Greek islands as well as other parts of Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Florida and the Bahamas and Dubai and the nearby areas. “I?m delighted that after an international tender that began back in 2005 with participating shipyards from Italy, Spain and Germany, easyCruise selected Neorion shipyards of Greece to enter into a letter of intent”, said Stelios Haji-Ioannou. “The competition was intense and the criteria for our choice was both financial and technical. We are confident that technically this yard can build great ships for us. However, there are still specific issues to be resolved within the next two months, in order to finalize the agreement.”

Commenting specifically on easyCruise?s expansion plans in Greece, the cruise ships will sail from one of the Marinas located in the Faliro area near Athens (avoiding the commercial port of Piraeus that other cruise lines and ferry companies use), offering weekend cruises to Mykonos and Syros, and 4-day cruises to Santorini, with possible visits to Paros, Naxos, Milos or Serifos.