Key Aspects:
- Protesters gathered at the Port of Piraeus outside of Athens on June 3 to oppose the arrival of the Israeli-operated cruise ship Crown Iris.
- The demonstration occurred during Crown Iris‘ current 7-night sailing from Haifa.
- The protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations that have followed the vessel at Greek ports since 2025.
Tensions flared at Greece’s busiest cruise port as demonstrators gathered in Piraeus near Athens, Greece, to protest the arrival of the Israeli-operated Crown Iris.
Protesters waving Palestinian flags gathered at the cruise port on June 3, 2026, in the latest in a series of actions targeting the ship amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Organizers described the vessel and its arrival as symbols of what they say is Greece’s growing cooperation with Israel.
Hundreds of protesters called for solidarity with Palestinians and urged local authorities not to welcome the ship.
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The Crown Iris is operated by Israel cruise company Mano Maritime and regularly sails itineraries throughout the eastern Mediterranean. The more than 40,000-gross-ton ship has drawn protests at several Greek destinations in recent months as opposition to the war in Gaza has fueled demonstrations throughout the country.
One protest slogan, according to local reports, stated, ”They are unwanted here and have no business being here,” while another sign read, “No to genocide tourism.”
Authorities maintained a security presence around the port during the protest. The ship was able to complete its scheduled call with no immediate reports of injuries or major disruptions.
Current Voyage Includes Multiple Greek Ports
The protest in Piraeus took place during a 7-night cruise that departed Haifa, Israel, on May 31, 2026,
Carrying approximately 2,000 passengers, the vessel called in Kos, Greece, on June 2 before arriving in Piraeus on June 3 for a scheduled 14-hour stay from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., local time.
Following its call in Athens, the ship is scheduled to continue to Nafplion, Greece, on June 4 and Syros, Greece, on June 5 before returning to Haifa on June 7.
This is was not the first time Crown Iris has faced opposition while sailing in Greek waters. In July 2025, demonstrators on the island of Syros gathered near the port and blocked access to the dock, preventing approximately 1,600 passengers from disembarking.
The ship ultimately departed the island without completing the scheduled visit and was rerouted. The incident drew international attention and prompted responses from both Greek and Israeli officials.
Additional demonstrations have since been reported at other Greek ports visited by Crown Iris, including Rhodes and Crete. By late 2025, Greek authorities had begun increasing security measures during some arrivals as a precaution against potential disruptions, including at ports like Patras and Katakolo.
Crown Iris is the only cruise ship operated by Mano Maritime, based in Haifa. The vessel entered service with the company in 2018 after previously sailing under different names, including Norwegian Majesty for Norwegian Cruise Line and Celestyal Majesty for Celestyal Cruises.
The company previously operated several other cruise ships over the years but have since left the fleet, leaving Crown Iris a recognizable Israeli brand.
The ship is spending the remainder of the year sailing to Greek ports.
