The Heraklion Port in Greece hosted a warm welcome event for passengers on the Asuka II as the Japanese ship was in port during her world voyage.

The event was organized jointly by the Heraklion Port Authority and the Crete Region. Cretan traditional deserts, “xerotigana” and “tsikoudia” were offered to the disembarking passengers by members of a folk group, dancing local Cretan dances and wearing traditional costumes.

A special welcoming ceremony was held onboard by the ship’s captain for the President and Managing Director of Heraklion Port Authority Ioannis Bras and the Crete Region’s Vice Governor for Heraklion Evripides Koukiadakis, during which gifts and emblems were exchanged.

The Japanese cruise ship Asuka is the second ship carrying Asian passengers that visited Heraklion port this year, following the visit of Costa Atlantica on March 31st, on her world cruise from China.

“It should be noted that the Asian market is characterized as one of the most emerging markets in the cruise industry for the years to come, something that Bras has already acknowledged, making targeted efforts to attract it. It is a numerous, high income market, from which the local and the National economy can receive huge benefits,” said a statement from the port.