Israeli Cruise Ship Evacuated in Greece After Bomb Threat

The Israeli cruise liner Crown Iris, operated by Mano Shipping, was detained in the Greek port of Syros on Tuesday after a bomb threat was reported. All 1,537 people on board, comprising 940 passengers and 597 crew members, were evacuated to shore as a precautionary measure. The threat was communicated to the captain via VHF radio by an unidentified individual, who claimed an explosive device was attached to the ship's hull below the waterline. Following the warning, the captain alerted port authorities, and the ship was prevented from departing for Haifa, Israel, as scheduled. Initial security sweeps, including the use of a trained dog and a diver, did not locate any suspicious items. Passengers reported waiting for several hours on the vessel before being instructed to disembark for further inspections. Mano Shipping stated they are cooperating with local security services and believe the threat was false. The ship will be cleared to leave the port once all necessary checks are completed. This incident occurs amidst a series of similar bomb threats in Europe, including at least three flights on November 3rd and a Wizz Air flight diverted to Budapest the previous day, none of which yielded any dangerous findings. The Crown Iris has previously faced disruptions in Greek ports, including protests by pro-Palestinian activists in July 2025 that caused a route change.