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Santorini (Greece) Cruise Port Guide: Review (2024)

• What's At The Pier

Everything you must know about Santorini cruise port: where ships anchor, what's in the tender dock in Skala, top things to do, the attractions in Fira and Oia, how to get around, and more ...

By: Editor-in-Chief Update: September 6, 2024

Few cruise ports in the World are genuinely unique, but Santorini is undoubtedly one of a kind. No other port provides such a spectacular setting as cruise ships anchor in an immense bay formed by a collapsed volcano, between the still-active crater and multi-hued cliffs.

• Where is Santorini Island
• Where Cruise Ships Anchor in Santorini

What’s at the tender pier in Skala

• Top things to do in Santorini
• How to explore Santorini on a cruise

Shore excursions and tours

• How to get around Santorini
• Santorini on Your Own
• Dining in Santorini
• Shops and shopping

Must-know: tourist info, language, and currency

• Safety, emergencies, and basics

Volcano crater in Santorini

Photo © IQCruising.com

On top of the volcano walls, a white lining of houses hints at breathtaking views and quaint beauty, which in fact is the stunning Town of Fira . Only those that have been on top of the caldera's rim, and walked to the towns of Fira, Oia, and Imerovigli know that there is no other place in the World like Santorini.

Fira Town in Santorini

Obviously, exploring these towns is an absolute must as is a visit to the extraordinary archaeological site of Akrotiri , which dates back to 900 BC. Several religious sites, a handful of museums, and a taste of Santo wine should not be missed. If you like to collect beach memories, the black, red, and multicolored sand beaches of Santorini are truly unforgettable.

Where is Santorini Island?

Located between Athens and Crete, Santorini is part of a group of over 200 islands known as the Cyclades , which circularly surround the sacred island of Delos - the legendary birthplace of Apollo and Artemis . Together with Mykonos (which is located very close to Delos), Santorini is one of the most visited cruise ports in the Cyclades for its stunning landscape, archaeological sites, and unusual beaches.

Where Cruise Ships Anchor in Santorini?

Although Santorini is one of the most visited cruise ports in the Mediterranean, with as many as 5 daily visits, cruise ships do not dock in Santorini.

Tender boats, and the piers in Skala and Athinios

As cruise ships anchor at the vast bay surrounding the volcano's crater, passengers will be transported to the small port of Skala on large and comfortable tender boats operated by locals. Skala is right below the town of Fira.

Services and amenities

Cruise passengers will also find in the terminal many activities, diverse entertainment, and shopping (more about all these below). And the following services and amenities:

• Exchange Office
• Tourist Information
• Car and scooter rental
• Local tours and excursions
• Duty-Free shops
• Souvenirs galore
• Cafes, restaurants, and taverns

► Explore: Anchoring and Tender to Skala Where cruise ships anchor and transfer passengers to the pier in Skala, amenities, and services... Learn More ►

Top things to do in Santorini on a cruise

Santorini is one of those cruise ports where there are many diverse things to do. For those that enjoy visiting archeological sites, Akrotiri is one the most important sites to visit for it takes you back to the 9th century BC.

The major towns on the rim of the Caldera are a delight and the views are spectacular, be it in Oia, Fira, Firostefani, or Imerovigli. Fira has a number of interesting highlights, countless shops, and excellent restaurants.

There is no shortage of beautiful landscapes, lovely beaches, and delicious restaurants with stunning views overlooking the caldera, making Santorini a must on anyone’s itinerary.

The wineries of Santorini are famous for their fortified wine (Vino Santo) and the beaches with black sand are out of this world. Here are the top things to do on a cruise to Santorini:

• Visit Akrotiri.
• Walk around Fira.
• Travel to Oia.
• Taste Vino Santo.
• Enjoy the multicolored beaches of Santorini.
• Dive in the Caldera.
• Taste local cuisine.
• Shop for local products and luxury jewelry.

Fira is a mandatory town to visit. The cruise traveler should always keep at least a couple of hours to meander the cobblestone streets lined with restaurants and cafes with breathtaking views, unique shops, and a handful of stunning sites to visit.

Fira Highlights

There are three museums not to be missed in Fira: the Archaeological Museum, the Megaron Gyzi Museum, and the Museum of Prehistoric Thira. The Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, the Fira Catholic Cathedral, and the Dominican Convent are top religious sites to visit.

The walk to Firostefani or even farther to Imerovigli is a memorable delight for photo enthusiasts and light trekkers. If staying in Fira look out for the following attarctions:

• Archaeological Museum
• Megaron Gyzi Museum
• Museum of Prehistoric Thira
• Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral
• Fira Catholic Cathedral
• Dominican Convent

The charm of Oia

The town of Oia is a must-visit with its marble-paved streets, restaurants, bars, shops, a couple of museums, windmills, and the old Venetian Fort. This charming village was devastated by an earthquake in 1956 and has been completely rebuilt.

Oia's Windmills in Santorini

Buildings and tree trunks are painted white every year and stand out against the background of rust color layers of rock, earth, and volcanic ash. Here are the main attractions to enjoy in Oia:

Akrotiri Archaeological Site

The ancient city of Akrotiri lies at the southwestern tip of Santorini and is a fascinating and important archaeological site.

First settled during the 9th century BC by the Greeks known as Dorians, Ancient Thira comprises a diverse mixture of ruins with architectural elements from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine eras.

After being covered by lava from a volcano eruption in the 15th century, it has now been partially excavated.

Wine-making and Wine Tasting

The local wine-making industry on the island of Santorini has long been thriving, with a number of large vineyards located around the villages inland.

Santo Wines in Santorini

The following are the most famous wineries in Santorini, and all cruise lines offer wine tasting tours.

• Boutari Winery
• Venetsanos Winery
• Canava Roussos
• Santo Wines Winery

Beaches and Water-sport

Santorini volcanic beaches have produced unusual black and red sand that make for dramatically unique landscapes.

The many famous beaches are along the eastern coast, each with its own unique characteristics.

Although Santorini's beaches are not as nice as some of the others in the Greek islands, its volcanic rocks have produced unusual black and red sand that make for dramatic landscapes.

One thing to note is that this sand absorbs the sun’s rays and gets much hotter than golden sand.

On the more popular beaches, umbrellas can be rented, and tavernas and refreshment stands abound. The more secluded beaches are worth a visit, though the paths leading down to them can be tricky. Here are the most popular and famous beaches in Santorini for cruise visitors:

• Perissa and Perivolos
• Amoudi Beach
• Kamari Beach
• Monolithos beach
• The Red Beach
• Aspri Ammos or White Beach
• Armeni Beach

Other beaches on Santorini worth mentioning include Baxedes , on the northern coast (and uncrowded), although the swimming is not ideal. Cape Columbo beach is a secluded spot with calm waters suitable for swimming, dark sand, tall cliffs, and fine views.

Karterados is undeveloped, Messa Pigadia is small and easy to reach by boat, Pori is picturesque and quiet, Vlihada has pleasant views and dark sand, and Vourvoulos has two adjoining beaches with plenty of privacy.

Snorkeling and diving

The volcanic eruptions created impressive underwater scenery making for plenty of diving opportunities. Diving tours offer trips to shipwrecks, volcanic caverns, and coastal reefs. Snorkeling locations also abound for those wanting to look below the waves with a bit less equipment.

At the dives sites around the edge of the caldera and below the cliffs, there are many colorful sponges, lobsters, groupers, snappers, barracuda, schools of fish, and even octopus.

Scenic Views

Santorini is well known for its breathtaking sunsets from its towering cliffs, particularly when seen from the village of Oia on the island's far northern end. However, very few cruise ships sail late and do not stay in port long enough for cruise travelers to enjoy such a spectacle. When choosing a cruise calling at Santorini, you should pay attention to the sail away times.

How to explore Santorini on a cruise?

All cruise lines visiting Santorini offer excellent tours and excursions of the island to all highlights and top attractions. These excursions (aka Shorex or Cruise Excursions) offered onboard cruise ships can be very advantageous.

For those that like to be toured by guides with excellent knowledge of sites, shore excursions are advisable to visit the archeological site of Akrotiri, an overall visit to the highlights of the Santorini or the charming village of Oia.

However, the latter is also easy to explore on your own. There are four possible ways to discover and enjoy a day at the cruise port of Santorini:

• Book a Shore Excursion onboard your cruise ship
• Local tours at the tender pier in the port of Skala
• On your own to Fira by cable car or donkey (mule)
• Transfer to Amoudi
• Rent a car or a scooter

You can rent a car or a scooter at the pier in Skala, but you will pick up your vehicle in Fira, and to get there you will need to go on the Cable Car, on a Donky, or climb 587 steps, which are shared with the smelly equines.

If you wish to visit the archeological site of Akrotiri a shore excursion is the best way to do it as you will have a knowledgeable tour guide accompanying you.

For those that wish to do a full tour of Santorini stopping at all the major highlights, a shore excursion or a tour with local guides is also advisable.

Local tours are also ideal for excursions of the caldera, be it to bathe in the hot springs of the volcano, snorkel, or fishing.

Obviously, all cruise lines offer many diverse shore excursions in Piraeus (Athens). Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean offer as many as 19 shore excursions . Norwegian Cruise Line has available 9 shore excursions . Oceania Cruises organizes 22 shore excursions , and Princess has 27 excursions available.

There are also excursions offered by the following reputable private online services and local tour operators:

• Shore Trips
• Shore Excursions Group
• Tours by Locals
• Venture Ashore
• Private Shore Trips

How to get to Fira, Oia, and around Santorini

Unless you choose to stay onboard your cruise ship or by the port of Skala, you will need to go up to the rim of the caldera to explore the attractions of Santorini. Regardless of whether you go on a shore excursion, or explore Santorini on your own, you will have to travel to the top of the volcano.

The traditional way to go up to Fira is the old Greek way - by donkey (mule). Although we mention this tradition in this review, it does not imply that we approve of the use of mules to climb to Fira.

Cable Car in Santorini

Since 1979, there is a cable car connecting the port of Skala and Fira. The Cable Car offers spectacular views of the island and is thrilling for some.

Less known, divulged, and rarely mentioned onboard most cruise ships, there is also the Editor's Favorite way of exploring Santorini. For around €20.00 per person, you can get from the Port of Skala to the off-track Port of Amoudi - in itself a wonderful attraction - just below the village of Oia, which is one of the Top Highlights of Santorini.

• Donkeys (mules)
• Boat transfer to Amoudi

There are three main ways to get around Santorini, explore the top attractions in Santorini (like the charming town of Oia), or spend some time at one of the unique beaches of Santorini:

• Rental Car or Scooter

Discover and enjoy Santorini on Your Own

Cruise passengers that like to explore ports independently will be happy to know that most highlights of Santorini are easy to explore on your own. You will find almost all you need to discover Santorini on your own as you step out of the tender boat at the pier in the port of Skala.

But you can easily travel to any of the unique beaches of Santorini on your own or spend quality time in Oia.

To get to any of the beaches in Santorini, renting a car or a scooter is our favorite way. Although a taxi may cost less, you will be time constrained.

The fastest way to get to Oia from Fira is by taxi, and the slowest (around 30 minutes) is by public bus.

Our favorite way to travel to Oia is by boat transfer from the port in Skala to Amoudi Bay, a small and charming port just below the village of Oia.

Amoudi Bay Transfer in Skala

From the pier in Amoudi, you can take a regular bus, a donkey, or walk up 214 steps to Oia.

In Amoudi Bay, before going up to Oia, you can choose to walk along the sea (make a left turn at the pier) and go swim on a secluded beach. Next to the pier in Amoudi, there are a few restaurants with marvelous settings and excellent fresh fish.

Amoudi Bay in Santorini

A couple of tour operators on the port of Skala offer this transfer to Amoudi including the bus transfer from Amoudi to Oia and from Oia to Fira.

Tourist Info

There is a Tourist Information at the pier in the port of Skala, and also up in Fira.

Greek is the official language, but English is widely spoken - Santorini is such a tourist island that English-speaking cruise passengers will easily communicate with locals everywhere.

The legal tender in Greece is the Euro (€) (EUR). US$ dollars or any other currency are NOT accepted in Greece.

Safety, US travel advisory, and basics

For comprehensive and updated information about traveling to Greece see the U.S. Department of State website page evolving advisory. The US Embassy in Greece also has useful COVID-19 Information for travelers.

Santorini Cruise Port Basics

► Explore: Anchoring and Tender to Skala Where cruise ships anchor and transfers passengers to the pier in Skala, amenities and services... Learn More ►

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Vita, vino, e viaggio!

Review of the Royal Caribbean Cruise: 7 Night Greece & Croatia Cruise

Rick and I are no strangers to cruising, but most of our cruising has taken place in the Caribbean as we head to the Bahamas or Mexico. We’ve been discussing cruising in different places and an opportunity presented itself this summer.

Unfortunately, Go Ahead Tours canceled a trip we were planning with our friends to Croatia two months before the trip was scheduled to go, so we had the time off work but nowhere to spend it. I still had Croatia on my mind so I started looking up if we could do it on our own or still visit it.

We were getting our money back from Go Ahead and then we thought about cruising as it’s relatively affordable and I happened to find this 7 Night Greece & Croatia Cruise through Royal Caribbean – who we normally cruise with – and over the dates we had off already. The cruise was set to depart from Venice, Italy (really Ravenna which is two hours away) on Sunday, July 2 and return to Italy on Sunday, July 9. We already had June 29 – July 10 off. Perfect!

We decided to spend a day and a half in Venice before the cruise as we’ve learned it’s always better to get there early than have something happen to your flights and freak out about missing the boat!

So, here’s what we thought of our first European cruising adventure with Royal Caribbean.

Cruise itinerary

• Day 1: Venice, Italy (Ravenna port)
• Day 2: Split, Croatia
• Day 3: Cruising
• Day 4: Athens, Greece
• Day 5: Santorini, Greece
• Day 6: Kefalonia, Greece (Originally it was Olympia)
• Day 7: Cruising
• Day 8: Venice, Italy (Ravenna)

The itinerary was perfect for what we were looking for as it included a stop in Croatia! I’ve wanted to visit Greece over the years but I wasn’t sure about my comfort level with planning a full trip in Greece on our own. This was a great way to visit iconic travel destinations in Greece without worrying about transportation or accommodations.

We booked several shore excursions during our cruise but did leave our last stop open just for wandering and enjoying the port city. We booked our excursions through Royal Caribbean, but many were operated by third-party vendors.

Our tickets for our excursions were in our stateroom when we arrived on the ship and most of the check-ins take place in the theater. The only one we didn’t meet on-board was our first excursion in Split.

Split by Open Air Sightseeing Bus with Walking Tour

This tour was fantastic and the most affordable! I will say the pictures of the tour were a bit misleading as it said we’d get views above the city, which we did not, but whatever.

It started with a bus tour of the more modern parts of Split before dropping us off at the Riva, waterfront walkway, for a walking tour of the city and Diocletian’s Palace. Our guide was great and is a Split local and talked about the changes the city’s gone through as well as regular life, such as pointing out the square where his parents met.

The only thing I wish we had known was that the bus pulled up right in front of the ship. We got off the ship and wandered to the parking lot where we saw buses but that’s not what we needed to do. We literally could have just walked off the ship at the meeting time and gotten right on board.

• Tour time: 10:15 a.m.
• Tour duration: 4 hours and 15 minutes
• Price: $158 (for two people)

Explore Athens and Ancient Acropolis

I had no interest in waiting in long lines to get tickets for the Acropolis or figuring out how to get there on our own, which was a good decision as we actually dock in Pireaus and have to drive to get to Athens.

This was a pretty good tour as we were picked up right from the ship and then took a bus tour of Athens before heading to the Acropolis. Our tour guide was great and shared the history of the sites we were visiting and guided us to the top of the Acropolis.

We did have like 30 minutes to explore on our own and I really wish we had had more time to really appreciate the historic landmarks, read all the signs, and just enjoy our time there. I felt rushed and would have liked a bit more time, but it is what it is.

After our exploration it was back on the bus to head back to the ship. We had debated staying in Athens on our own just to see more but we were also hot and tired and decided to take the bus back to the ship. I think if we do this itinerary again we’ll look up how to get a cab back to the ports so we can spend more time in Athens.

• Tour time: 8:30 a.m.
• Tour duration: 4 hours and 15 min
• Price: $238 (for two people)

Selfie Tour of the Best of Santorini

The name of the tour was kind of cringe, but we forged ahead as I thought we’d get a neat photography tour of Santorini and this was the most disappointing excursion we booked as it was not really a photography or even selfie tour.

We took a tender boat to Santorini and then boarded a bus and drove to Oia and on the way one of the guides handed out selfie sticks… Okay… And then our guide led us to the drop-off point and Oia and told us where to go.

For what we paid, we might as well have booked the simple Oia tour and saved money. I expected a guided tour of the city and “hidden” spots to snag the best photos. I’m still glad we got to visit Oia as it’s cute, but honestly, Rick and I snapped a few pictures and then went to a wine bar to escape the crowds.

Oia is small with narrow alleys and the crowds were ridiculous. We had like an hour at this stop to take pictures and you’re waiting at least 5-10 minutes to get a good spot to get some photos.

I’d love to return to Oia but stay at a hotel there to fully enjoy the city and wait for the cruise crowds to head back to the ships, and then enjoy a gorgeous sunset!

This tour included stops in Oia and Fira and we really loved our time in Fira! The tour does state that you have to get back to the ship on your own, but many people apparently didn’t read the tour description. You can either pay six euros and take a cable car down to the port and board a tender boat there, or there is the Donkey Trail which you can walk that also leads you back to the port and tender boats.

Rick and I opted to walk the Donkey Trail and it is steep and the trail is rocky, so if you want to walk it, wear good shoes with good traction or tread!

• Tour time: 8:15 am
• Duration: 4 hours 15 min
• Price: $278 (for two people)

Check-in & check-out & transportation

Rick and I were both surprised at how much more streamlined the boarding process was in Italy compared to our times getting on cruises in Florida. Once we got off the bus, we got in a line for security. They scanned our boarding passes, checked our carry-on bags, asked us a few health-related questions, and then we were good to get on the ship and get to our room.

Check-out was also easy, at least for us, as we opt to carry our own bags off the ship. So, we bypass the whole bag collection and waiting for your group to be called to disembark. We did have to visit guest services to let them know how we wanted to get off the ship and how we were getting back to the airport, but otherwise we docked at 6:30 a.m. and walked off the ship at 6:45 with our own bags and met our driver right there at the dock.

We had booked bus transportation from Venice to Ravenna via Royal Caribbean and it was pretty easy to figure out, it was just a lot of waiting around. We arrived at the Tronchetto around 10:30 a.m., waited at least an hour and a half, in the sun, before boarding our bus. It is a two-hour drive from Venice to Ravenna (without traffic). The bus ride did include one stop for bathrooms and it cost about €1.50.

We did book a private car to get us back to Venice for our flight home as we have had issues in the past with the group transportation back to the airport. Like, one time we sat on the bust for over an hour before leaving for the airport and we had a flight to catch! We weren’t chancing that with an international flight so we booked our own car service back to Marco Polo airport.

The Explorer of the Seas

We were on the Explorer of the Seas for this cruise and you could tell the ship was older but it was still well-maintained. It had all the same amenities and dining and bars we expected to find, such as the theater, lounges, casino, pool deck, and dining.

It felt exactly like the other ships we’ve sailed on in the Caribbean.

Accommodations

We have learned to spring for a stateroom with a balcony when we cruise and we definitely wanted one for this adventure as we pulled into the different ports. Our room was spacious enough for our needs and had a Queen-sized bed, couch, desk, closet, and bathroom.

The bedding was cozy but I think the pillows could have been a bit better, but we made do. For how often we were in our room, it worked for the two of us. When we were in our room we were most often on the balcony, enjoying a drink and the exceptional views of the Greek islands.

Housekeeping

Our attendant, Iwayan, was fantastic! He took great care of our room, provided us with anything we needed (like a corkscrew to open our wine), and was often around to let us back into our room if we were carrying souvenirs or cocktails back to our room.

He also checked in with us on the first day on-board to ask what time we would like our room cleaned and so we got to pick 9:30 a.m. as we knew we’d be out of the room by that time each day.

Dining & bars

The ship had the typical dining options we expect onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, such as:

• The Windjammer (buffet)
• The Promenade (pizza, sandwiches, light bites)
• The dining room (which we did not visit during this trip)
• Specialty restaurants (which we also did not visit)

We opted to just eat at the Windjammer buffet so we could eat on our own schedule. I know, we’re boring like that.

We did visit plenty of the bars though! We both loved the British pub, the Schooner Bar, and The R, plus we visited the pool bars a few times while soaking up the sun. Each bar has its own menu of specialty drinks, plus they all serve the cocktail of the day, and you can get standard bar drinks too.

We mostly stuck with prosecco but we did try a few specialty cocktails. I absolutely loved the rum punch at The R and ordered two of those and I also made some return trips to the British pub to get this beer-based cocktail that had jam and honey.

We also made sure to bring our own wine on board as you’re allowed to bring one bottle of wine per person on the ship. We feel this is a great way to save money at the bars and not buy a full drinks package. But, we also do have Diamond status so we also get four drink coupons each every day. So that also makes it easier to not buy a drinks package when we cruise.

Diamond Lounge

Royal Caribbean changed up its loyalty rewards program a bit. Rick and I have Diamond status and that used to mean that we could make great use of the Diamond Lounge for its happy hour where it was all-you-could-drink from 4-8. Now, your SeaPass card is loaded with four drink coupons to use throughout the day.

So, this was the first cruise we’ve been on where the Diamond Lounge is kind of dead. I think we only ever saw at most five other people in the lounge with us at any given time. We did pop in a few mornings to get some breakfast, served from 7-10 a.m., and enjoyed the breakfast breads and pastries, fresh fruit, and yogurt parfaits, plus some lattes!

We still visited the Diamond Lounge in the evening as it offered a great and quiet place to relax, have a glass of prosecco, and watch the sunset.

Entertainment

We enjoyed the entertainment on the show and felt the cruise directors and entertainers were engaging. We checked out the ice skating show, battle of the sexes, trivia nights, the comedians, the dancing shows, live music, and so much more.

We really love the audience participation games, like Battle of the Sexes, The Newlywed Game, and so on as every single show is different. I’d seen a few online reviews that said the entertainment wasn’t good on this ship but I would disagree. Sure, it’s your standard cruise entertainment, but it wasn’t bad by any means.

Since we had two days at sea, Rick and I knew we’d be paying a visit to the spa! I booked a 100-minute hot stone massage and Rick chose a traditional 100-minute Swedish massage treatment.

Both of our treatments were fantastic and we’re so glad we waited until the last day of the trip and last day at sea to book our appointments. It was the perfect way to tend the trip and relax after days of walking and exploring.

It’s good to note that gratuities are already included in your fee for any massage treatment!

With our Diamond status we do get one free day of internet, which worked wonders on on our last day to check in for our flight home. But, I will say the internet is not great. I would not be happy if I paid almost $30 per day for it. I could not use the internet in our room and had to go to a main area to be able to check in on the United app.

It worked okay out about on the ship but it became super slow, like I was having flashbacks to the internet of 1999 as soon as we were in our room.

Royal Caribbean app

You definitely want to download the Royal Caribbean app before your trip so you can view the ship’s deck maps, activities, and discover what’s open for eating and drinking. It also loads your booked activities so we knew what time we had to be ready to go for our excursions and where to meet.

All in, we had a great experience with our first European cruise! We love this type of travel, cruising and guided tours, as it allows us to get a taste of certain travel destinations and understand if we want to come back or we’ve seen it and are ready for new adventures.

We weren’t sure what to expect with Royal Caribbean in Europe, but honestly, it felt the exact same as departing from Florida. So, if you’ve cruised before it’ll feel so familiar.

Now that we’ve done it, I’m already looking up other options for future European cruises as we really enjoyed our experience!

What other destinations do you recommend we check out on a European cruise? Let us know your favorite cruising destinations in the comments below!

Hey, I'm Stephanie! I'm a copywriter living in beautiful Denver with my husband Rick, and our dog Rocco. I love traveling, writing, reading, and being outside as much as possible - unless I'm on the couch binge watching Stranger Things with a glass of wine! Thanks for reading and being a part of the adventure with Back to the Passport! ❤️

You might also like

Glad you had a great European cruise. 😊

Check out a Baltic itineary for your next European cruise adventure. It’s a great way to visit Northern Europe!

A cruise to Norway and around Iceland is also filled with amazing scenery. Highly recommend!

Do they speak English on the excursions in the foreign countries(Greece, Croatia etc)? On board- are there any announcements in English from the captain or the activity planner?

Hey Julie, yes to both! They do offer excursions in other languages but they also have English-speaking options and it will be clearly labeled what language the tour is in. And all the announcements are made in English, plus a few other languages. The Cruise Compass (the printed schedule of the day’s activities) is also in English.

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Santorini Excursions

By Jap724 , November 20, 2019 in Greece Ports

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I will be in Santorini in July 2020, On a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Is it better to book a cruise excursion, or venture out. Can someone please help with the planning of this.  

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Perhaps ask this in the roll call threads for your particular sailing date?  You can also get info in the port of call threads.  Let people know what activities you like so they can provide appropriate responses.

When we cruised the Greek Isles we used ship excursions only, but that was just for our piece of mind.  Santorini is a wonderful isle to experience however you decide to do it!

6 minutes ago, Jap724 said: Hi,   I will be in Santorini in July 2020, On a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Is it better to book a cruise excursion, or venture out. Can someone please help with the planning of this.  

if you do a bit of reading on the sub forum for 'Greece Ports' you will find a lot of relevant information.

here:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/463-greece-ports/

Remember that Santorini is a tender port, so a ship's tour will have priority for tenders.

Private tours are good and many are mentioned in the thread mentioned above.

If you take a private tour then it will be necessary to ascend to the upper level where the tours meet.  This needs to be done by cable car, donkey ride or walking the poop covered walkway up from sea level to the town.

1 hour ago, evandbob said: Santorini is a wonderful isle to experience however you decide to do it!

Whereas we found it so overcrowded that we would never go back.  Other islands, yes; Santorni, no.

1 hour ago, VMax1700 said: Remember that Santorini is a tender port, so a ship's tour will have priority for tenders. Private tours are good and many are mentioned in the thread mentioned above. If you take a private tour then it will be necessary to ascend to the upper level where the tours meet.  This needs to be done by cable car, donkey ride or walking the poop covered walkway up from sea level to the town.

On Santorini I think priority for tenders is rather different for most cruise lines - incl RCI with whom we sailed there. 

Tenders are either a mix of ship's and local operators' or all local operators', and they go to two different points on Santorini - ship's tours are tendered down the coast to the little ferry harbour at Athinios where they transfer to tour buses, independents are tendered to a little pier at the foot of the cliffs under Fira as per VMax's post.

Because of the two tender arrangements we independents didn't have to wait until ship's tour groups had gone, we disembarked at the same time.

From that tender pier under Fira you can go up the cliff by cablecar. or by donkey up the zig-zag path (only the super-fit would walk up). The "donkeys" are actually mules, so capable of carrying the weight of most folk, but I'll not get embroiled in any argument about cruelty.

Or to avoid going up the cliff from that tender pier you can take a ferry to the little harbour at Oia, a few miles up the coast, where a local bus up to the village is included in the fare..

So ships' excursion passengers score over independents on the transfers to Santorini.

But the big problem is the return to the ship.

Most cruise line tours end at Fira & passengers have to make their own way down to the tender pier at the foot of the cliff, same as everyone else (no priorities).

Add to that there's no ferry from Oia back to that pier.

If you're tolerably fit you can skip the cablecar line & walk down the zig-zag path. 

If you learn that there'll be half-a-dozen ships in on the same day, don't panic.

Check their arrival times and especially their departure times -  cruise lines & captains are aware of the problem and do their best to avoid clashes = some are in just for the morning, some til around 5 - 6 pm, some til 9pm.

Bear in mind that "last tender time" is the time that you have to be at the tender pier, not the time you have to be back on the ship. If the line at the tender pier is still there at last-tender-time the tenders will continue to operate until they've mopped-up the line.

Last summer Celebrity were experimenting with bringing back their ships' tours via the harbour at Athinios, same as the outbound.

That makes a whole lot of sense !!!!!

It might be worth checking if RCI plan to follow suit. 

The real "crowding" problem on Santorini is from tender pier to Fira, and especially from Fira back down to the tender pier.

Yes, it also gets crowded in Fira itself, Oia etc too, but I've seen a lot worse elsewhere in the world.

I cannot tell you which might be better, but will share our experience.   When we went this past spring it was on an RCI excursion which left in the morning.  Like JB explained, it was tender in, catch a bus to Oia where we were given a sufficient amount of time to see the place, visit various establishments, and take the mandatory pic's.   Then back to the same bus for a drop off in Fira.  From there we were on our own to get back down to the tender place below Fira.  

There were no crowds at Oia.  The place was literally wide open.   There were a pretty good number of people in Fira but not like super crowded.  We walked right on to the cable car down.  I think we were one of two cruise ships that day.  I suspect that the morning tour as well as it being early spring had something to do with the lack of crowds.  After hearing all of the horror stories we were very pleased with the experience.   

So, I guess my only advice might be to go as early in the morning as you can to stay ahead of the crowds and fingers crossed.

1 hour ago, clo said: Whereas we found it so overcrowded that we would never go back.  Other islands, yes; Santorni, no.

We were there with 220 passengers, only ship in port until an hour before we were leaving when a couple of mega-loaders heaved into the caldera.  No crowds at all until they showed up.

To the OP--We took the aerial up and walked a few blocks to the bus depot. A couple Euro each for a r/t ticket got us to Oia and back on the public bus.  It runs in a circle around the island, so we got to see quite a bit in each direction.

You can also walk the footpath to Oia if that is of interest.

3 minutes ago, ducklite said:   We were there with 220 passengers, only ship in port until an hour before we were leaving when a couple of mega-loaders heaved into the caldera.  No crowds at all until they showed up.   To the OP--We took the aerial up and walked a few blocks to the bus depot. A couple Euro each for a r/t ticket got us to Oia and back on the public bus.  It runs in a circle around the island, so we got to see quite a bit in each direction.   You can also walk the footpath to Oia if that is of interest.

We came on the ferry and IIRC there was one cruise ship in port.  This was in the spring.

11 minutes ago, clo said: We came on the ferry and IIRC there was one cruise ship in port.  This was in the spring.

I could see if the cruise ship in port was huge.  We were on a small ship. We were there in late May / early June.

navybankerteacher

First time was on Marco Polo in 1996 — only ship in, but the 800 passengers pretty much overwhelmed. I went back by ferry a few years later and spent two nights - and found it best to just hunker down during cruise passenger hours. 

 Because of tendering, you probably should take ships tour - priority tendering will give you a lot more time on Island.  I see that on July 16 there will be two Royal Caribbean ships and an MSC - possibly others - that 7,000+ load will mob things.

6 hours ago, Jap724 said: Hi,   I will be in Santorini in July 2020, On a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Is it better to book a cruise excursion, or venture out. Can someone please help with the planning of this.  

There is a forum on Greek Ports   You will find lots of tips about Santorini. The four times we ehave been there we have never taken an organized tour. It's easy to get a cab to Oia (a must see) and to the beach. There are also vinyards, and some historical sites. Don't forget to wander Thira, the views of the caldera are beautiful

Nebr.cruiser

We did a private tour--or I should say I did, as my husband had to cancel due to not feeling well that day, that another passenger arranged--about 16 or so on a small bus.  We visited the archaeological site, a winery and had plenty of free time in Oia and stopped for sunset views before heading back to Fira.

It was a great day; we were off the ship quite early because we got early tender tickets and the wait for the funicular was not too bad.  We were in port late.

We always try to do independent tours if possible, but I can see that a ship tour would perhaps make things easier here, although we had no trouble getting to our tour.

Thank you for your post on the Ask a Cruise Question  forum! 👍  

However since your inquiry concerns one particular port, I have moved your thread to the Greece Ports forum where it will be on-topic. 

Happy sails,

On 11/20/2019 at 10:32 AM, John Bull said:     But the big problem is the return to the ship. Most cruise line tours end at Fira & passengers have to make their own way down to the tender pier at the foot of the cliff, same as everyone else (no priorities). Add to that there's no ferry from Oia back to that pier. Add to that other ships visiting from the same tender pier and the line to go down on the cablecar can be ridiculous - sometimes literally hours.   

This is what I am afraid of, and we have small kids in the party. Wish there were return ferries from Oia. 

How are the taxis? Is it possible to go from Oia to the port by land? Will taxis take a family of 5 into a car?

On 11/20/2019 at 11:10 AM, ldubs said: So, I guess my only advice might be to go as early in the morning as you can to stay ahead of the crowds and fingers crossed.    

There will be 5 ships (including 3 big ones) docking at 7am on the day we arrive. 😞

On 11/22/2019 at 10:40 AM, jennyumaa said:   This is what I am afraid of, and we have small kids in the party. Wish there were return ferries from Oia.  How are the taxis? Is it possible to go from Oia to the port by land? Will taxis take a family of 5 into a car? Thanks!

You cannot get to the tender pier (where you get the tender back to the ship) via any kind of vehicle.  You can certainly try to get a taxi from Oia back to Fira (they usually charge 20-25 Euros) but there are not always taxis waiting around for fares.  Some (not all) taxis can hold 5 but you cannot count on finding one in Oia.  There is also a public bus that will take you back to Fira.   If you decide to take a boat from Fira (by the tender pier) to Oia, the boat fare will usually include return bus to Fira.  Those buses are separate from the public buses and run on a specific schedule (they will tell you the return times when you buy the ticket).  We recently did just that (last month) and  the bus dropped us at a rather distant location (as you near Fira) which left a multi block walk back into the heart of Fira (and to the Cable Car Station).  Speaking of the boats to Oia, once you get off the bus you do need to walk about a 100 yards (uphill) to where you can get a shuttle bus that takes you up the steep hill to Oia.  While it is possible to walk up that hill to Oia we do recommend taking the bus (included in the boat fare).   Once you see the steepness of that hill you will likely agree :).

Once back in Fira  you would need to either use the cable car, the donkeys, or your feet to get down to the tender pier.  Keep in mind that there can be some very long queues for the cable car (to get down) when it gets near the time when folks must be back on the ship.

I should add that there is a lot more to Santorini then just Fira and Oia.  There are wineries, beaches, ruins, etc.  We have previously enjoyed renting a car on the island and it is also possible to get to many places on the local buses...although the schedules are often too darn infrequent for most folks.

3 hours ago, Hlitner said: You cannot get to the tender pier (where you get the tender back to the ship) via any kind of vehicle.  You can certainly try to get a taxi from Oia back to Fira (they usually charge 20-25 Euros) but there are not always taxis waiting around for fares.  Some (not all) taxis can hold 5 but you cannot count on finding one in Oia.  There is also a public bus that will take you back to Fira.   If you decide to take a boat from Fira (by the tender pier) to Oia, the boat fare will usually include return bus to Fira.  Those buses are separate from the public buses and run on a specific schedule (they will tell you the return times when you buy the ticket).  We recently did just that (last month) and  the bus dropped us at a rather distant location (as you near Fira) which left a multi block walk back into the heart of Fira (and to the Cable Car Station).  Speaking of the boats to Oia, once you get off the bus you do need to walk about a 100 yards (uphill) to where you can get a shuttle bus that takes you up the steep hill to Oia.  While it is possible to walk up that hill to Oia we do recommend taking the bus (included in the boat fare).   Once you see the steepness of that hill you will likely agree :).   Once back in Fira  you would need to either use the cable car, the donkeys, or your feet to get down to the tender pier.  Keep in mind that there can be some very long queues for the cable car (to get down) when it gets near the time when folks must be back on the ship.   I should add that there is a lot more to Santorini then just Fira and Oia.  There are wineries, beaches, ruins, etc.  We have previously enjoyed renting a car on the island and it is also possible to get to many places on the local buses...although the schedules are often too darn infrequent for most folks.   Hank    

Thank you so much for your detailed answer! It seems that in order to see Oia, we have to go through the whole ritual? Now I am wondering if we should split the family, and leave the little one somewhere...

• 2 weeks later...

We booked a 4-6 hour private tour with Vicky of Santorini Skyline travel and she customized the tour to what we wanted to see. We told. her we didn't want to stop at the winery.

You will have to take the tender from the ship  to  the dock below Fira and then the cable car to the top of Fira. We arranged to meet Vicky at 9am. So we were on the first or second tender from the ship (for the DIY passengers)

Vicky's tour company met us outside the cable car terminal with a sign and walked us over to where the car was parked.

She took us first to Oia to avoid the crowds, then to Akrotiri ruins and then around the island to Red Beach and Black Beach where we had lunch. Then she dropped us off in Fira, where we had time to walk the pedestrian path with shops  in Fira to the cable car terminal.

There isn't any way to avoid the cable car back down to the tender dock, unless you want to walk. It took about an hour in line to get back down.

The cost was  worth the private tour. Since Vicky knew the shortcuts, she saved us time. We didn't have to figure out how to use the bus to get from Oia to Fira, the Fira to Akirotiri and back to Fira.

If you have a large group or family  the price becomes cost-effective. 

The company advertises on Trip Advisor but we just emailed her at [email protected] and inquired.

We recently used the private tour company "Greek Traveling" they were wonderful for our day port stop in Santorini.

On 12/6/2019 at 4:15 PM, dkata said: There isn't any way to avoid the cable car back down to the tender dock, unless you want to walk. It took about an hour in line to get back down.

One hour line in the off-season? That's a lot! How long would it take to walk?

3 hours ago, jennyumaa said:   One hour line in the off-season? That's a lot! How long would it take to walk?

25-35 minutes or longer depending on how fast you walk and how hot it is and how much donkey dung you need to avoid.

When we were there, another couple from our ship, decided to walk down at the same time we got in line, and maybe they beat us to the bottom by 10-15 minutes, but we were both on the same tender back to the ship.

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