Earthquake triggers travel concerns for top cruise destination
A troubling trend in seismic activity is once again worrying travelers with plans to visit a popular summer cruise destination.
A rare precautionary tsunami warning was issued for a highly sought-after travel destination on May 14 after a powerful, 6.0-magnitude earthquake rattled the region overnight.
Although there are no initial reports of significant damage and injuries from the quake, the wobbling ground and resulting temporary tsunami warning incited panic among some visitors and residents.
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Travelers with upcoming plans to vacation in the region have quickly taken to online forums to express concerns for their trips.
Prior to the quake, uncertainty about travel to this destination was already high due to an unusual spike in seismic activity in the region that persisted over an extended period of time earlier this year.
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Greece continues to face seismic challenges
In February, Greece’s volcanic island of Santorini was placed under a state of emergency as thousands of earthquakes — most of small magnitudes — rattled the island for weeks. Precautionary measures were taken to prepare for the worst, as the possibility of a larger quake or a minor eruption of one of the area’s volcanoes could not be entirely ruled out.
Luckily, Santorini’s persistent quakes died down and the state of emergency was lifted in March. Now, the popular island that’s featured on many Mediterranean cruise itineraries this spring and summer is once again welcoming visitors.
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But as Santorini rebounds, it appears that Greece’s seismic concerns are not over. The country’s strongest earthquake yet this year struck deep in the Aegean Sea in the early hours of May 14.
The epicenter of the earthquake was recorded between the small islands of Kasos and Karpathos and near Greece’s largest island, Crete. The shaking was felt as far away as Egypt.
Should cruise travelers worry about earthquakes in Greece?
Experts say the latest quake was an isolated event that’s unrelated to Santorini’s recent seismic activity or to a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that shook nearby Turkey in April, according to local media reports.
“There is no connection whatsoever to the events in Santorini or Turkey,” Efthymis Lekkas, president of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, said in a statement about the earthquake. “Santorini lies within a volcanic arc — a completely different geological structure. Meanwhile, the seismic activity in Turkey is driven by the Anatolian fault system. The Greek arc operates under an entirely distinct geotectonic regime.”
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No travel warnings have been issued for Greece at this time, and its islands are still considered safe to visit. If you plan to visit Greece on an upcoming cruise or other trip, make sure to monitor local media for the latest information and follow the instructions of local authorities.
During a cruise, you should also review any cruise port safety information provided by your cruise line and listen for any announcements from the captain.
Cruise ships from Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and other lines are currently sailing Mediterranean cruises around the Greek isles. No cruise itinerary changes related to the earthquake have been reported at this time.
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