Not worth it. Is there a sailing trip that just goes for a trip around the caldera, with no swimming or snorkeling? All cruises are sold out until Nov 2015.) My advice is to first decide whether you want the sunset or more sun/swimming. Sailings include themed "Mamma Mia!" The answer to longer stays isn't necessarily staying in an outrageously priced hotel on the island. I have been reading the cruise forums and there are many reports of people missing their cruise (or almost missing their cruise) due to long lines at the cable car. It's one of the most Instagrammed bucket list places on the planet, but is Santorini worth the hype? Romantic Rhine River and Greek Island Discovery. After the shore excursions have returned to the ship and the cruises have departed, Santorini returns to a calmer and more tranquil pace. 1/10 (I still dont recommend them, but much better than the monstrous cruise ships.). We have 5 hours in Santorini and want to do the the hike between Oia and Fira. In 2017, Santorini self-imposed a daily cruise passenger limit of 12,000. They include the Classical Greece voyage that sails through turquoise-blue waters to reach the island of Kythira, a hidden gem in the Aegean Sea. Santorini is often included in cruise itineraries of operated by Costa, MSC, Royal Caribbean, NCL Norwegian, Holland America, Celebrity, Princess, as well as the luxury brand companes Crystal, Azamara, RSSC Regent, Oceania, Seabourn, SeaDream. On their longer sailings, passengers will also visit Rhodes and Heraklion. Step inside Diocletian's Palace in Split, a sprawling fort built for a Roman emperor in the fourth century. HighSpeed 7 Two Days Tour to Santorini ( Thira ) from Heraklion ( Iraklion ) Crete island Book on-line ! The worst cruises are the Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Epic, Odyssey Of The Seas, and Disney Magic, all of which dump nearly 5,000 visitors at the Santorini Old Port. Your friends likely took a high-speed catamaran with Hellenic Seaways or SeaJets. If you're looking to cruise the Greek Islands in a small, stylish ship, then Seabourn Cruise Line may be your best bet. Fewer drinks are served as well. Theres usually a long line to get on the cable car up to Fira. Will the boat tour to the volcano and hot spring be suitable for those who get sea sick? Code: MC-27532. No hidden costs for transfers or entrance fees - the price you see is what you pay. Like arms joined in a . The dreadfully ugly Norwegian Gem cruise ship ruins the caldera view. With its pitch-black beaches, rugged landscape and stunning caldera (volcanic crater), it's more akin to one of the. Alissa, I dont know of any boat tours that take in caves. Please, no. 6th Day: Santorini. Best Santorini tours by category EXPLORE CATEGORIES. Late March, April, and early November can also be good but can be chilly with a bit of rain. The ship you want is the Blue Star ferry. Good luck. Quick View. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. But sailing tours (small ship tours, yacht tours, or private sailing tours) are different. Ships can not dock at Santorini, and a tender is needed to get ashore. You only get to spend a few hours on Santorini and those hours are when your entire ship is also touring the island you dont get to see the magic of what makes Santorini so special. With overnight stays, you can explore the charm of the cafe . Santorini View, licenced Greek travel agency, offers tours, activities and cruises in Santorini, organised by selected local tour operators. If this tour is fully booked then try the Caldera Cruise or Santorini Sunset Cruise. Overnight stay in Santorini. All boat tours below provide meals onboard and have hotel pick-up and drop-off (which doesnt sound like a big deal when youre booking but makes the day so much easier and hassle-free when the time arrives). Or maybe its group 32? Rivari Santorini Hotel: A week's stay - Read 341 reviews, view 360 traveller photos, and find great deals for Rivari Santorini Hotel at Tripadvisor. In Athens, visit the famous ruins of the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena that dates back to 438 BC. Yacht cruise of the Greek islands. 8th Day: Santorini. See Room photos. Its a more surreal feeling being in a kayak at water-level looking up at the huge cliffs (depending where your tour goes). Allow your cares to melt away as you relax into your holiday with a stunning . If you're happy to enjoy a browse around the shops and a lazy lunch with a view, Fira will fit the bill perfectly -- and it even has some 9th-century clifftop ruins to explore. Top 17 Sailing Cruises in Santorini - Online Booking - Santorini View Sailing Cruises Join us on a memorable private or semi-private sailing cruise along the breathtaking island of Santorini that will exceed your expectations. Emphasis should be on getting something booked in advance before they sell out for your dates. Nearby Chora, the largest village, is perched on a steep, rocky outcrop and provides panoramic views over the island and the sea. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Santorini. A peaceful island, with crystal clear waters and an amazing capital city (Chora). Officially the island is Thira, yet the Latin name of Santorini persists. The perspective you get as you ride through the caldera is awe-inspiring. Its truly awful. Afterwards, sail on to Thirassia to enjoy the traditional charms of this lesser-known . Yes, its safe and secure. One of the best activities on Santorini is a caldera boat tour and a trip to the active volcano but neither are possible when you visit Santorini on a cruise ship. I found great value flights for just 139 in April. NEW VOYAGE COLLECTION We are now taking pre-registrations for Cunard's new cruises from Oct 2024 - May 2025 including Alaska 2024 . The good news is that the cruise ship masses dont really get anywhere interesting. Most locals hate cruise ships. Furthermore, once you have made your reservation, an email with a link from which you can manage/cancel your reservation will be sent to you. Sydney's famous Opera House and the skyline of New York City. Ill probably book a dinner reservation at Kastro, but even then, Im concerned of the crowd spilling over near there and affecting the beautiful mood and view, because I actually prefer an outer table with a view of the Oia buildings as well. By the look I think a smaller cruise boat would be best do you agree, or should we island hop? Thanks! 3. Thanks!! Hi Dave Awesome site. Tours & Cruises. Island hop from Santorini to Mykonos, discover Croatia's stunning coastline, or sip Chianti on the cobble-lined streets of Italy. Agree absolutely with your points! Were Santorinis leading marketplace to explore and book unforgettable travel experiences. Youll likely have an overnight stay in Mykonos, too, so you can experience the clubbing and nightlife on offer. Most cruise passengers will not have enough time to visit a winery. A $200 DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE TO SINGLE PASSENGERS WHO ARE WILLING TO SHARE A CRUISE CABIN. With its fleet of six small luxury ships, Windstar can visit hidden Greek ports in the Aegean Sea -- such as Nafplio, Monemvasia and Patmos -- along with well-known islands, including Santorini and Mykonos. Santorini: (16.30 - 21.30) Cruising towards Santorini is like being swept away on a current to somewhere truly magical. I hope that helps. Do you think that the day of the week that we book the day tour matters much (Friday vs. Saturday vs. Monday)? by Santorini Dave Updated: February 17, 2023. It is expensive but Im sure youre expecting that already. You only see the island when its densely crowded with other cruise ship passengers (your shipmates). Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Code: MC-27852. Its sleek and intimate ocean ships, carrying between 450 to 600 passengers, offer all-inclusive cruising and in-depth Greek island excursions through its Ventures of Seabourn program all the while visiting ports not accessible to larger vessels. Hi Dave, This is a region of beautiful scenery, majestic fjords, fine wine, friendly people, and exotic wildlife. Overnight Cruise Packages The overnight Cruise & Stay travels to Grand Bahama Island and includes round-trip cruise transportation aboard the Margaritaville at Sea. Santorini is beautiful but not so great as part of a cruise. Jumping into the hot springs from the boat. Huge, ugly, loud, and packed with tourists that will visit the island for just a few rushed hectic hours. Is this even possible? Quick question: Is May too early for the boat tours that have swimming? Boat Tour of the Volcano Get out on the water and sail to the volcano. Whats the best tour to book for our needs? Food is top notch. Would like to be able to swim and just see some beautiful scenery, but will have a 4-year-old and husband that might be debatable if he would get sea-sickness so 5 hours feels like a big commitment. We are going to Santorini for one day in July via fast ferry from Crete. Please fill in the details of your Airbnb on the checkout page. And while it's wonderful to explore the past, the beaches of Mykonos and the architecture of Santorini and Athens are just a few of the many pleasures that await you. Day 7. Windstar Cruises ), We are visiting Santorini in the next few weeks. by Santorini Dave Updated: February 13, 2023. Boat Tours of the Santorini Caldera & Volcano A boat tour of the caldera is stunningly wonderful and awesome. Is there a tour or boat that would do that? A lot of people hire quad bikes now, just for the day. Our only concern is that we also want lots of swimming. Hi Dave are there any boat trips available from Santorini that are maybe just 2-3 hours instead of a half or full day? I have no idea what to recommend for lining up. Amsterdam - 2 days. There are much better islands to visit on a day tour from Santorini. Postcard-perfect Santorini owes a volcanic eruption some 3,500 years ago for its iconic crescent shape and sheer cliffs some rising more than 1,000 feet. Its still enjoyable even with the crowds. . More like 2 to 3 hours. This is the Santorini you get to experience when you stay on the island and enjoy it at your own pace. Any recommendations on where to stay that wouldn't be too far from the port? This is just a small part of the line it can stretch far back and around a corner. Fewer than 350 guest per cruise. Is there a ferry that 2 people can take on their own and explore the volcano/hot springs, or is it only by tour? Im planning a honeymoon in Greece this upcoming May and your site has been an amazing resource thanks! We have booked 7 days on Santorini at Agnadi Villas and would like to go on a cruise of about 7-10 days as an add on to our Greek trip any suggestions? You start or finish your trip in Santorini so you get to spend 1 or more nights on the island to see how it really is. petition to ban cruise ships from Santorini. Catamarans are more stable than single-hull boats. SEMI-PRIVATE CRUISES Explore the mesmerizing Santorinian seas, sail towards the volcano and float on the blue seas of the island. The sunset tour is best for couples. Share: Convenience of one-stop shopping for all of the ports you'll be visiting. One of the highlights of a Santorini vacation is visiting one of the fantastic Santorini wineries which is very hard to do if you come to Santorini on a cruise. Theres no way you should visit Santorini and not do a boat tour. Step inside Diocletian's Palace in Split, a sprawling fort built for a Roman emperor in the fourth century. Can also take a different boat back to Kamari (if you were taking the bus, if youve got your own car then youll need to return to Akrotiri). And you dont get to stay overnight and see the island in the morning when it can feel almost deserted even in high season. There's no way you should visit Santorini and not do a boat tour. We had a lovely sunset cruise in February. Be sure to take a change of clothes for the sunset tour (it can get chilly at night). Imbibe unlimited amounts of white wine, soft drinks, and water and indulge in a delicious barbecue prepared onboard the catamaran as you sail in the gorgeous blue waters of the sea off the shore of Santorini. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Highly recommend!! Exclusive Itinerary. The answer to longer stays isn't necessarily staying in an outrageously priced hotel on the island. Costa Fortuna's new cruises in the Med will last two weeks, available for the first time at the height of summer. Santorini one day from Heraklion Crete, Two days tour to Santorini/Thira island. After booking, you will receive a voucher via email which contains a map with the pickup location. Ephesus and Patmos cruise excursions, breakfast and dinner daily, 3 lunches, full time English speaking tour escort, services of air conditioned deluxe motor coach, all guides, entrances, touring and transportation as appears on itinerary, baggage handling at hotels (one piece), tips to driver, guides, hotel staff, and cruise staff . You could put in your correct name and then just make up a letter/number combination for the passport number. Im debating the time Ill be staying but it will be between 5 or 7 nights. This is a 10 star experience. Low Deposit. Gabriel M. There are no ferries to the volcano or hot springs. But water can still be a bit chilly. 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