Crown Iris Cruise Ship Evacuated in Syros After Bomb Threat

03 Nov 2026, 21:06 by Kosta Papadopoulos · Greek City Times

Authorities evacuated the cruise ship Crown Iris at the port of Syros on Tuesday after its captain reported a warning about an explosive device allegedly placed beneath the vessel, while a local church official separately complained about passengers urinating in front of children during a visit to a monastery.

The Hellenic Coast Guard ordered the evacuation after receiving the warning that an explosive device might be attached to the ship’s hull.

The Crown Iris had been scheduled to sail to Haifa with 940 passengers and 597 crew members.

The captain alerted port authorities to the reported bomb threat, prompting an immediate evacuation and security inspections.

Specialist teams began searching the vessel with the assistance of a sniffer dog. A diver also joined the operation to inspect the ship’s underwater hull.

Church official reports passengers for indecent behaviour at monastery

Separately, a senior representative of the Syros Diocese lodged a formal complaint over the alleged behaviour of passengers during an organised visit to the Monastery of Saint Barbara (Agia Varvara) on 3 November 2026.

According to the report by local news outlet CYCLADES24, Archpriest Flavianos Albeskou, Archpriestly Commissioner of Syros and director of the Diocese’s In the Palm of God childcare centre, addressed a formal protest to those responsible for organising visits from the Crown Iris.

In his written complaint, Albeskou alleged that members of a visiting group exposed their genitals and urinated in the shared parking area of the monastery and the childcare centre.

He said the incident occurred in front of teachers, parents and, most seriously, young children attending the childcare centre.

The monastery and childcare facility share an outdoor area, which serves both visitors and the families and staff of the educational facility.

Albeskou described the alleged behaviour as an affront to the religious site, the childcare facility and the people present.

He also pointed out that security cameras monitor the area and could help document the incident, subject to the appropriate legal procedures.

Diocese demands action from cruise organisers

In his complaint, Albeskou stressed that the Orthodox Church respects people regardless of their nationality, cultural background or religious beliefs and expects visitors to extend the same respect to Christian places of worship.

He said the Syros Diocese welcomes visitors from different countries and religious backgrounds, keeps its churches and monasteries open to the public without seeking financial gain, and asks only that visitors respect their religious character.

He also acknowledged the importance of tourism and cruise ship visits to the island’s economy and the livelihoods of local residents.

The Diocese, he added, has repeatedly supported efforts to maintain a welcoming atmosphere amid concerns about the impact of increased tourism.

However, he stressed that hospitality should not mean tolerating behaviour that undermines human dignity, public decency or the protection of children.

Albeskou called on the cruise organisers to take immediate and specific measures to prevent similar incidents.

He also requested that passengers and tour escorts receive advance information about the religious and educational nature of the sites they visit and the need to respect the presence of children.

The church official concluded by requesting an official response to the complaint and details of the measures the organisers intend to introduce.

(Source: AMNA)

Stay connected to Greek City Times for Free on Google News
Click NOW
Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on WhatsApp, Google News and Apple News.

Related coverage

Advertising