Most reports of Greece’s ongoing recession — the country has struggled financially since 2008 despite bailouts — say the tourism industry fared well. In fact, the number of foreign visitors rose 21 percent in 2014 despite the country’s crisis.

Still, Greece’s tourism industry employees, from hotel owners to tour operators to restaurant servers, are suffering across the country, and they’re desperate for those high visitor numbers to continue. It remains to be seen whether that will happen; recent reports show many would-be visitors to Greece are choosing to go elsewhere. Ferry operators note a decrease in bookings for Greek island passage, down 30 to 40 percent from the same time in 2014. They’re cutting back schedules to match the declining demand.

So what does this mean for potential visitors? If you book a cruise of the Greek islands, expect to find little inconvenience. While some museums and historic sites have cut back operating hours, this isn’t typical of the major sites on popular islands you’re likely to visit on a cruise. Prices have dropped some, and overall the Greeks seem just as welcoming as ever — after all, they understand how badly their country needs the cash.