The former cruise ship musician Akylas who spent years performing at sea, is now representing Greece at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest with his song Ferto. For those who understand the rhythm of ship life, contracts, turnaround days, and back to back shows, his journey feels especially meaningful.
From Contracts at Sea to Center Stage
Before stepping into the national spotlight, Akylas worked as a singer aboard cruise ships operated by AIDA Cruises. Over the course of two years, he performed across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, singing disco, pop, and rock night after night.
He describes that time as a masterclass.
Performing daily for international audiences gave him something few classrooms can offer, real stage stamina and adaptability. Anyone who has worked in cruise entertainment knows what that means. You either grow quickly or you struggle to keep up. Akylas clearly grew.
A Full Circle Moment in Athens
Only a few months ago, he was singing near Kapnikarea in Athens to cover his basic living expenses.
Now, he has completed filming the official video clip for Ferto, the song that won Greece’s national final and secured his place at Eurovision. Footage from the filming was recently shown during Eurovision coverage on Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation.
He shared how emotional it felt returning to the same place where he once performed as a street singer, this time as Greece’s representative for one of Europe’s biggest music events.
That kind of transformation is something many crew members understand deeply. Hard work, long contracts, and believing in the next opportunity.
Who Is Akylas
Born in 1999 and originally from Serres, Akylas studied at the Music School of his city, developing his stage presence from a young age. Interestingly, he has said that he was not fully focused on vocal training until his cruise ship experience, where he sang every single day.
His first wider recognition came through viral TikTok covers that quickly attracted a loyal audience. In 2024, he released Atelier in collaboration with Papazo under Minos EMI and Universal Music Group, marking an important step in his discography.
In 2025, he continued with singles such as Fthinokraso and Ela Konta, blending emotional songwriting with contemporary pop, electronic, and indie elements. His sound reflects the international exposure he gained while working at sea.
From entertaining guests onboard to representing Greece in front of millions across Europe, his path shows that today’s ship stage can become tomorrow’s international spotlight.
Crew Center sends best wishes to Akylas as he prepares to step onto the Eurovision stage. The entire cruise community will be watching with pride.
