Key Aspects:
- A cruise ship tour bus collided with a concrete mixer in Corfu, Greece on May 26 in a sideswipe accident.
- No injuries were reported from either vehicle, though there were traffic delays as the accident site was cleared.
- The only cruise ship in port that day was Viking Star, but increased traffic is a concern at the popular port.
Dozens of cruise guests visiting Corfu, Greece, had a startling and unexpected stop on the island when their tour bus collided with a concrete mixer. The incident happened on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 on the western Greek island in the Nisaki area, 12 miles north of the cruise terminal.
According to local reports, the two vehicles “collided sideways” at a particularly sharp turn. It is unknown whether either vehicle intentionally crossed into the other’s lane, or simply if the length of the bus and the width of both vehicles caused the accident.
Local authorities are investigating the incident. All involved parties, including the cruise guests on the bus, remained at the scene until the vehicles could be safely removed. Delays in the area were minimal, though traffic was stopped until the accident was cleared.
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No injuries were reported for either passengers or the drivers of the two vehicles, though the bus did suffer sideswipe damage on the left side from the impact.
The number of cruise guests onboard the bus has not been released, but only one cruise ship was docked in Corfu on Wednesday: the 47,842-gross-ton Viking Star. The ship can host up to 930 passengers, though tour buses only accommodate a few dozen when full.
Viking Star departed from Marghera (Venice), Italy, on Thursday, May 21, for a 9-night one-way itinerary to Greece. Along the way, the ship has visited ports in Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro. Corfu was the first port visit in Greece, followed by Katakolon on Wednesday and Santorini on Thursday, before the ship arrives in Piraeus (Athens) on Saturday, May 30.
There has been no apparent change to the ship’s itinerary and satellite tracking confirms that Viking Star has already continued on her cruise as planned.
Local Traffic a Concern
With Greek Isles cruises becoming ever more popular, local authorities are concerned about increased traffic and the possibility that tourist-involved accidents may become more common.
Corfu has a resident population of just over 100,000, but that population is concentrated in select areas due to regional geography. Tight roads and the increased use of larger buses to accommodate tour groups, including cruise guests, can raise risks.
At this time, there is no change to other ship visits planned for Corfu. The popular island regularly welcomes multiple ships, from smaller vessels like Viking Star to larger ships from more popular lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises, and Holland America Line.
Cruise Hive has previously reported on traffic accidents impacting cruise guests and shore tours in different ports of call.
In August 2025, an elderly couple was struck by an excursion bus backing up at the Port of Livorno in Italy, and one guest was killed. In March 2025, a cruise tour bus collided with another bus in Barcelona and 53 people were injured.
Such incidents are extreme and while any potential for a serious accident is concerning, thousands of cruisers safely use tour buses every day in ports all over the world.
