A peaceful island, with crystal clear waters and an amazing capital city (Chora). Going down sounds easier than up and it is but its not effortless. Are there any shorter cruises around Santorini that we can do in that window of time that we will be there? Theyll need to inch their way out from Oia castle along the narrow streets, wait for the local bus (for those who didnt pay for the cruise excursion and didnt have chartered buses), sit on the bus ride back to Fira, queue and wait for the cable car (or walk 600 steps) down to Old Port to take their tenders. Just found this fantastic website thanks Santorini Dave, have been finding it really useful! Cruise Line & Cruise Ship Some ships transfer their passengers direct to Athinos from where there are bus transfers to the top. Greece Santorini Best Boat Tours While the larger sale features sailings across the globe, with free perks valued at up to $2900 per person, these are our favourite 2023 itineraries across Europe (priced per person): Lisbon to Monte Carlo: 10 days on Sept. 12 . What a way to see the island, and the sunset, THE SUNSET! If the tour or cruise is cancelled due to bad weather conditions, you will be refunded the entire amount you paid unless you wish to change the date of your booking with no extra cost. After booking, you will receive a voucher via email which contains a map with the pickup location. More like 2 to 3 hours. If you can only do one do the boat tour but if time allows do both, as they each have a very different feel. I have 3 full days in Santorini in the beginning of July. They stick pretty close to the caldera paths in Fira and Oia. Ubiquitous -- and noisy -- Greek motorcycles. Lavrio: 06.00 Location It will be 10 per person round trip. Thanks for all of your excellent insights! Its truly awful. Im planning a honeymoon in Greece this upcoming May and your site has been an amazing resource thanks! The Norwegian cruises are among the worst of the Santorini cruise ships. Definitely do a boat tour in Santorini. Theres plenty of history on the itinerary, including stops to see the ancient ruins of Rhodes plus castles, markets, beaches and Turkish history during a day in Bodrum. Were Santorinis leading marketplace to explore and book unforgettable travel experiences. Theresa Norton, Airlines Face Wheelchair Dilemma Yes, theyll be running in May (usually start in April) and youll be able to swim. 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. Click here to learn more. You can not access the volcano unless youre part of an organized (private or group) tour. TBO Empowers Travel Advisors to Control Commission. 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. Ill be staying in santoniri for a day this November. Food on the boat tours is surprisingly good sometimes great. You can read more about travel agencies for Santorini vacations here. Catamarans are more stable than single-hull boats. All boat tours have great views of the caldera cliffs. Awesome cruise around the volcano, staring up at the cliffs of the caldera. Santorini's 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Stay in #1 Oia - Where to Stay in Santorini for Your First Time #2 Perissa - Where to Stay in Santorini on a Budget #3 Fira - Where to Stay in Santorini for Nightlife #4 Megalochori - Coolest Place to Stay in Santorini #5 Kamari - Where to Stay in Santorini for Families Fewer drinks are served as well. Price for flights and a seven-night stay in the Zacharakis apartments is only 304, or stay in the picture perfect town of Oia for only 500 including flights. Rivari Santorini Hotel: A week's stay - Read 341 reviews, view 360 traveller photos, and find great deals for Rivari Santorini Hotel at Tripadvisor. My issue mainly time and not price. What's Included. I hope that helps. With only 24 hours here, you can see the ruins of Akrotiri, the vineyards at Megalochori, and the whitewashed villages of Oia and Fira. Is it reasonable to do in a day or will we be ferried out? Thanks. Island hop from Santorini to Mykonos, discover Croatia's stunning coastline, or sip Chianti on the cobble-lined streets of Italy. I am looking to book the sunset catamaran trip this summer. Full & Half Day Charter, Sunset Cruises to Oia, 2 cabins & luxury salon, full kitchen, 2 showers cabins. Cruisers can witness these splendors while exploring the most. These are just two of the many iconic sights in store on Queen Anne's 2025 No-Fly Maiden Grand World Voyage. And should we go to Oia first or Fira? 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. (If you want a private yacht charter of the Greek islands then just book all 8 spots on the boat.). A luxury Greek islands small ship cruise visiting the key highlights of Greece including Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos, along with lesser known destinations including Folegandros and Syros. Sailings include themed "Mamma Mia!" The less-expensive tours hold-off for a bit until the boat gets to the first destination and youve had a swim, which might be an hour to two, but after that, its an open bar. Since its larger than the catamarans it also has a less bumpy ride and is less likely to cause sea-sickness. Do you think we have enough time? There are numerous things to do onboard - take delight in the catamaran ride and the amazing views of Santorini from the sea, sunbathe, and enjoy the meal the staff will prepare for you, or just relax with your drink on board! Last boat is about 6:30pm (but double check) so you wont have a lot of time. Explore the Greek Islands on a Fam Trip With Exodus Travels, For more information on Nearby Chora, the largest village, is perched on a steep, rocky outcrop and provides panoramic views over the island and the sea. 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. View of the caldera from a Santorini hotel. Please visit the page of the tour you are interested in so that you can find out its cancellation policy or contact us. Breakfast at a Santorini hotel with caldera view. We were travelling with a 5 month old. Melinda Crow Its much better to pack your bags and move to whatever island you want to see. If by winter, you mean December, January, and February then there will be few (if any) boat tours running and I dont think Id recommend them. Originally built as a private yacht in 1931, Sea Cloud is a classic four-masted windjammer that carries 64 passengers; Sea Cloud II, accommodating up to 94 guests, was launched in 2001 as a modern take on a tall ship. On the motor yachts it feels a little more like youre on an adventure (though theres still plenty of swimming, snorkeling, eating, and drinking). AmaWaterways, Take Your Sweetie to Tahiti $4000 Bonus Value. We are visiting Santorini the first week of November, will the water be too cold for these awesome excursions with swimming in hot springs and volcanoes? Most have wonderful sunset views. If you love visiting small islands in large packs then a cruise ship just might be for you. Fewer than 350 guest per cruise. I would be shocked if anyone did this tour and at its conclusion didnt yell, that was awesome!!! My fiancee and I are going to be in Santorini in August for our honeymoon and are definitely booking one of the boat tours, but we just cant decide on whether to do a day or sunset voyage. Agree absolutely with your points! Thanks. Taxis also abound (negotiate a rate in advance) and are a more reliable option if time is at a premium. Thank you. Santorini is home to one of the world's most iconic skylines and offers excellent dining and sightseeing, To see much of anything beyond the main town of Fira, you'll need to book an organized shore excursion or tour, Santorini is scenic spot to soak up Grecian culture and enjoy some sunshine and shopping. Cruise ships are just as ugly and awful when they visit Mykonos. The crescent-shaped island of Santorini is compact enough that driving from one end to the other takes less than an hour, and it's easy to maximize a short trip. Its our honeymoon and want a super special day out on the water with food, wine, swimming, snorkeling, and the hot springs. Yes, all catamaran cruises provide free pickup and drop-off services no matter where you stay in Santorini. After the shore excursions have returned to the ship and the cruises have departed, Santorini returns to a calmer and more tranquil pace. Your Facebook information, including your name, photo & any other personal data you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment, and may be used on TravelPulse.com. Sunset Cruise (2:45pm departure) or Day Cruise (9:45am departure). embark ship - venice, (ravenna) - kotor, montenegro - corfu, greece - athens Ships can not dock at Santorini, and a tender is needed to get ashore. Private boat tour or small group tour? Is there a sailing trip that just goes for a trip around the caldera, with no swimming or snorkeling? -- is inarguably the most scenically dramatic of all the Greek Islands. If you're looking to cruise the Greek Islands in a small, stylish ship, then Seabourn Cruise Line may be your best bet. Take a look. It's worth remembering that the bay surrounding Santorini is actually the world's largest volcanic crater, created 3,500 years ago by a massive eruption of the Thera volcano (which is still active). Hundreds of cooking-cutter cabins on a cruise ship docked in Athens. 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. Do you think its worth doing a boat tour on each island? Is there a ferry that 2 people can take on their own and explore the volcano/hot springs, or is it only by tour? I am about to book the semi-private boat tour and we are going the last week of June into July (which, from what I understand, is a very crowded time of year). The good news is that the cruise ship masses dont really get anywhere interesting. Island hopping is always the best way to go (the most fun and relaxing). But the more the better holiday workers really rely on tips to make a living wage. Croatia is another destination people have a fondness for ruining with hulking cruise ships. I bet any local would tell you the same. Are the cable car lines always long? we cant miss our departure time. Book your stay in Santorini at Heart of Oia in Oia. The information is requested by the port authority but its never used. At Sailawaze we know a cruise holiday is the ultimate . The Round The Lighthouse Tour goes into the caldera and offers incredible views of the caldera cliffs. Best Features Power Motor Yacht - [ Nearby Island Cruises - [ Private Yacht Charter - [ Ideal for Intimate Event Celebration Cruises It's hard to take that iconic Santorini Sunset picture if you aren't there at sunset. For tours that visit the volcano, the boat will dock and youll be able to walk off without getting wet. Their Greek island-hopping cruises include an eight-night sailing from Thessaloniki to Athens and visits the Cycladic island of Folegandros, which is only accessible via the tiny port of Karavostasis and almost untouched by mainstream tourism. A view of Santorini from a cruise ship. This cruise sets out from Athens and visits islands including Rhodes, the best-known of the Dodecanese Islands, where the legacy of the ancient Greeks mingles with that of besieging Turks, crusading knights and occupying Italians. Dont worry too much about which tour you book theyre all good. Venice. What are the key differences between these three tours: Semi-Private Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise Ill be honest, I definitely prefer the private. 5-Hour Small Group Catamaran Cruise After we've toured around a few of the towns such as Oia and Fira (we are staying in Oia and Imerovigli), does anyone have any suggestions of decent day trips to take? Its still enjoyable even with the crowds. We help travellers have the best experience in Santorini by finding local advice and recommendations. Required fields are marked *. If youre into wine, great food, and sightseeing the best time to visit Santorini is from April to early June and late September to early November. Hi Dave, How far in advance should we line up? Typically, a private cruise in Santorini starts from Ammoudi Port or Vlychada Port while the drop off may be the Old Port of Fira. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Known as one of the most luxurious, romantic, and honeymoon destinations, we were very excited that the Santorini cruise port in the Cyclades Islands was one of the places on our Mediterranean Cruise with Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. For less luxury but a lot more adventure, we loved our . What an amazing cruise! Oh my god, shoot me. Euro. A fantastic day, very relaxing stopping at a few beautiful spots for a swim and lunch. Im going to Santorini and Mykonos for 8 days. With its pitch-black beaches, rugged landscape and stunning caldera (volcanic crater), it's more akin to one of the Canary Islands than the Cyclades, though its whitewashed churches and clifftop houses score highly in the charm stakes. Another luxury option if you want a little longer on the water is the fantastic 7-Hour Private Catamaran Cruise. The sunset catamaran trip this summer lavrio: 06.00 location it will be?! But its not effortless go ( the most day or will we ferried. 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