You get a very limited amount of time on the island (just 3 to 8 hours when you account for getting up to the top of the caldera). This tour is almost the opposite of the Sunset Catamaran Cruise. They are wanting to spend around 7 days in total in Greece before heading back to the UK. Includes: Match tickets. No prices currently available for this sailing. COMPLIMENTARY gratuities saving up to $2,106. Santorini one day from Heraklion Crete, Two days tour to Santorini/Thira island. Theres no difference between days of the week and busyness. The 5-hour small group tour is cheaper than the other two but will have a few more people on the boat and the food served is not quite as robust as for the semi-private and sunset catamaran cruises. Join the adventure of a lifetime as Cunard's newest ship sails to fascinating destinations spanning five continents. The private tours bring the drinks out before youve left the harbor. So when you know there will be a few ships in port its a good time to visit the inland wineries, Akrotiri, the excellent restaurants in Perissa and Perivolos beaches, and the lighthouse at the southern tip. Cruisers can witness these splendors while exploring the most. Is there a sailing trip that just goes for a trip around the caldera, with no swimming or snorkeling? Theres another Spiridakos boat tour that is excellent and very similar to the private tour Ive listed above. Venice. You may use your Facebook account to add a comment, subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Another luxury option if you want a little longer on the water is the fantastic 7-Hour Private Catamaran Cruise. Adventure and Culture in Tahitis Islands, Bowmans Travel Brief: Wi-Fi in the Skies, Best Destinations for Travelers Who Hate People, The Top 20 Most Powerful Travel Agencies in 2022, Parents Leave Baby at Airport Check-In Counter To Catch Their Flight, 19 Caribbean All-Inclusive Resorts with the Finest Dining, 21 Amazing Vacation Ideas for Big Families. Overnight in Folegandros. All 3 are great and youll love whatever you choose. All Rights Reserved. Thanks for all of your excellent insights! Code: MC-27852. By the look I think a smaller cruise boat would be best do you agree, or should we island hop? Fun Fact #1. If they want to visit Santorini and Mykonos on the same trip its much better that they wait until late March (when there should be ferries running between the two islands) or April/May (when there will be direct flights between London and Mykonos, and between London and Santorini). 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. Ideal for a luxury honeymoon cruise, small group, or family. Quiet sunset view from Santorini (after the cruise ships have departed). Reaching Santorini during the famous Sunset. Its much better to pack your bags and move to whatever island you want to see. The Morning Tour and Evening Tour stick to the south coast of the island. Sort of fun and festive, actually. Yet they continued to fill cruise ships with passengers, endangering those aboard and helping spread Covid-19 to the U.S. and around the globe.). A Greek island cruise is packed with world-famous sights, such as the Parthenon, charming seaside tavernas and crystal-clear waters. 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. We use 256-bit encryption for data transmission from DigiCert, one of the world's largest SSL Certificate providers. Do you have another good boat tour that you could recommend? The perspective you get as you ride through the caldera is awe-inspiring. Hi Dave But these are notoriously unreliable and I wouldnt count on there being one. The view of Oia from the Amoudi Bay where many boat tours begin from. 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. Santorini View, licenced Greek travel agency, offers tours, activities and cruises in Santorini, organised by selected local tour operators. Fewer drinks are served as well. Theres a morning departure (for lots of swimming and sunshine) and an afternoon departure (for the sunset but still plenty of time to swim too). Spectacular Santorini -- scene of one of the world's most violent volcanic eruptions around 1450 B.C. Whats the best tour to book for our needs? And note, hot springs are not hot just warm. Hi Dave, Five to seven days is what I recommend for most visitors to Santorini, but even a one-night stay is better than visiting on a cruise. Product Code: MC-27532 . A day tour/cruise usually runs from 9 or 10 am to 3 pm, serves lunch, and has lots of swimming. Celestyal is based in Cyprus and is noted for its authentic onboard cuisine that showcases Greek specialties prepared with fresh Mediterranean ingredients. We want to avoid doing a cruise but would love to have an ocean-going experience from Athens to Santorini. This is an incredible way to see the Santorini cliffs and stare up at the villages perched on the calderas edge. Quick View. Thanks, Cruise passengers enduring the long lines to get the cable car back to the tender boat and then back to the ship. The Round The Lighthouse Tour goes into the caldera and offers incredible views of the caldera cliffs. Athens Barcelona Corfu Florence Kotor Marseille Mykonos Rome Santorini Rooted in Greek mythology, Athens is alive with stories from civilizations of the past. These are just two of the many iconic sights in store on Queen Anne's 2025 No-Fly Maiden Grand World Voyage. Go where other cruise lines can't. COVID-19 Vaccine & Requirements. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. If yes, which would it be. 15 Night Fly, Stay & Cruise Holiday with $3000 Bonus Value Including City Stay, Exclusive Package Savings & More. Huge, ugly, loud, and packed with tourists that will visit the island for just a few rushed hectic hours. There's no way you should visit Santorini and not do a boat tour. We will be in Santorini for 3 days after ferries from Athens-Mykonos then Mykonos-Santorini. 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. Any info on flights/transport you can offer would be great. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Classes: 21 Things You Can Learn on Your Next Cruise, 8 Things You'll Love About Celebrity Edge, Sail Here, Not There: Avoiding Overtourism in Cruise Ports, The World's Best Beaches to Visit on a Cruise, The Pros and Cons of a Port-Intensive Cruise, Best New Itineraries on Small Ships in 2021-2022, Santorini, Greece (Photo: gorillaimages/Shutterstock), Greek Isles Cruise on Celestyal Crystal (Photo: Gina Kramer), A Windstar cruise in Mykonos (Photo: Windstar Cruises), Seabourn Encore (Photo: Seabourn Cruises). Step inside Diocletian's Palace in Split, a sprawling fort built for a Roman emperor in the fourth century. Cruise ships are just as ugly and awful when they visit Mykonos. Greek, but virtually everybody speaks English. 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). It is expensive but Im sure youre expecting that already. On these boats you can not access the deck except when the boat is in port and windows are often caked in sea salt. In Athens, visit the famous ruins of the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena that dates back to 438 BC. Lots of fun! When to go: May to September Best of Turkey & Greece Cruise-Tour Both the 5-Hour Caldera Cruise at Sunset (3pm departure) and the 5-Hour Small Group Catamaran Cruise (9:30am and 2:30pm departure) run into late November. Yes, all catamaran cruises provide free pickup and drop-off services no matter where you stay in Santorini. They wait in the caldera and passengers are slowly tendered ashore by small boats. Explore fascinating historical treasures on a cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean. Windstar Cruises The beautiful Greece and Greek Isles cruise ports, from the in-progress archaeological digs at Delos to the Old Towns of Crete and Rhodes, the Greek Islands are brimming with history. Earn Exclusive DOUBLE CRUISE MILES worth up to 6,399*. My advice is to first decide whether you want the sunset or more sun/swimming. No, sorry. What Does an AmaWaterways River Cruise Offer in 2023? Take a look. Thanks Joady. Book now your semi private cruise and enjoy the ride with one of our fleet's vessels. A shore excursion from a cruise ship. Food on the boat tours is surprisingly good sometimes great. All of Varietys Greek Island cruises are seven-night round trip sailings from Athens. 5-Hour Small Group Catamaran Cruise Theres no boat tour (that I know of) that would get you back in time to get your return ferry to Crete. The food was delicious! In Athens, visit the famous ruins of the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena that dates back to 438 BC. On days with cruise ships in port, what would be the best things to do on those days, in order to avoid the cruise ship crowds? If, instead, you might be visiting in March and get some good weather then theyll be fine (though still not many running). After the shore excursions have returned to the ship and the cruises have departed, Santorini returns to a calmer and more tranquil pace. 1 or 2 Night Hotel stay. 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. I have several posts on this site about where to stay on Santorini and best towns and beaches. Together, we create unique holiday programs based on your spending plan and travel preferences! We are looking for the best sunset tour around Santorini. Dont think a Greek island cruise on Virgin is all drinks and parties, though. Island hopping is always the best way to go (the most fun and relaxing). With only 24 hours here, you can see the ruins of Akrotiri, the vineyards at Megalochori, and the whitewashed villages of Oia and Fira. From there its a long walk or cable car to Fira. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Youll likely have an overnight stay in Mykonos, too, so you can experience the clubbing and nightlife on offer. You can choose between a day time and sunset cruise and step aboard along with a highly experienced and helpful crew. 23 Day Fly, Stay River & Ocean Cruise Holiday with $4000 Bonus Value Including City Stays, Onboard Beverages, Exclusive Package Savings & More. The staff were very attentive and the cuisine plentiful and delicious! Awesome cruise around the volcano, staring up at the cliffs of the caldera. Do whatever works best. Boat around the Santorini waters on a local fishing boat. A wine tour is a great year-round thing to do in Santorini. I have 3 full days in Santorini in the beginning of July. Great job by deck hand on lunch served. A $200 DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE TO SINGLE PASSENGERS WHO ARE WILLING TO SHARE A CRUISE CABIN. Were not great swimmers and if thats requirement well have to book another boat tour. On a catamaran, you feel like youre on vacation. OMG - it was an outstanding experience. We are trying to decide between going from the cruise port to Oia or from the cruise port to Fira. Viking, Adults-only cruise line Virgin Voyages is so smitten with the region that its newest upcoming ship Resilient Lady will be taking its maiden voyage (or MerMaiden as the brand witty dubs it) from Athens to a selection of Greek islands when it sails in May - and there's a lot on the menu. Exclusive Itinerary. Quick View. Lavrio: 06.00 Location 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 . Make a booking now for this stunning offer and get ready for this event. The single biggest difference is whether the tour goes through the day or in the late afternoon (and gets the sunset). Both tours last 5 hours. Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, a movie starring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, was filmed in many areas of Greece, including stunning Santorini. by Santorini Dave Updated: February 17, 2023. Thanks! Book your stay in Santorini at Elysian Santorini in Finikia. If you're looking to cruise the Greek Islands in a small, stylish ship, then Seabourn Cruise Line may be your best bet. Maybe take in the sunset too, but as you say, its a choice between more swimming/sunshine and sunset/evening so not sure what well decide. Among the sailings that take in Greece is the six-night Greek Isles & Maltese Magic itinerary. We can only recommend to choose Santorini View with it's wonderful crew. January is the only month that doesnt have any cruises to Santorini. 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. (From the Wall Street Journal: Early in March, the worlds cruise-ship operators had ample evidence to believe their fleet of luxury liners were incubators for the new coronavirus. $4000 Bonus Value. 4. Thanks for your insight, love reading all of your suggestions. Is there a tour or boat that would do that? 24th February, 2024. Great informative website! Cruise Line & Cruise Ship It's a massive new industry, and you can't miss the hire shops in Fira. Is it worth it to do both? We use PayPal and Stripe, both leaders in online payments, to handle our payment transaction processes safely and securely. Hot Deals. Cruises to Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island). Were in our late 70s and love to walk and do tours, but not so much beaches. Island hop from Santorini to Mykonos, discover Croatia's stunning coastline, or sip Chianti on the cobble-lined streets of Italy. (From Nov 17, 2015. Best April / May deal: A week in Santorini for 304. 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. That includes the chance to swim in the same lagoon the goddess Athena was said to have bathed. Cruise ships near Fira are just visible in the distance. We've curated itineraries featuring longer port stays and overnights in some of the most idyllic islands and effervescent cities in Europe. Greece Santorini-Mykonos Greek Cruises Next, we enjoy three nights on the island of Mykonos, considered one of the most beautiful and popular islands in Greece, with its trademark windmills, glittering white houses, cobblestoned streets and lively atmosphere. Wine Tours in Santorini A Private Catamaran Cruise to the hot springs and around the Santorini caldera is one of the highlights of a trip to Greece. Sleeping in a cave and waking up with views of the caldera out your window is a very special experience. A sunset tour/cruise runs from about 3 pm to 8 or 9 pm, serves dinner, has a little less swimming than the day tour, and typically finishes by sailing beneath the Oia cliffs to watch the sunset. Some sailings include a port of call in Mykonos until 2 a.m. so passengers can enjoy its nightlife to the fullest. Typically, a private cruise in Santorini starts from Ammoudi Port or Vlychada Port while the drop off may be the Old Port of Fira. Late March, April, and early November can also be good but can be chilly with a bit of rain. Alissa, I dont know of any boat tours that take in caves. 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. Costa Fortuna's new cruises in the Med will last two weeks, available for the first time at the height of summer. too. Eat on board, swim and snorkel at private beaches, and sail around the Greek islands at your own pace. In the check out it asks for passport information. Boat Tours of the Santorini Caldera & Volcano A boat tour of the caldera is stunningly wonderful and awesome. This package includes 2 nights aboard ship, as well as 2, 4 or 6 nights at the resort of your choice. A peaceful island, with crystal clear waters and an amazing capital city (Chora). You get the volcano, hot springs (with swimming), and a visit to Thirassia island but no beaches or going outside the caldera, and no sunset. Certainly this is rare, but its always in the back of your mind: what time is it? Yuck. No hidden costs for transfers or entrance fees - the price you see is what you pay. Hi there, I love to read and follow all of your posts so thank you for always having the most up to date information! The hike from Oia to Fira is a highlight of Santorini. Package Itinerary Accommodation Stateroom Sail Dates Important Info. All boat tours have great views of the caldera cliffs. As the time grows closer (February or early March) search Getyourguide for Santorini Boat Tours and choose the most appropriate. 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). The best Santorini boat tours are day trips you do while staying on the island but you wont have time to do a volcano boat tour if visiting from a cruise ship. The nine-night Ancient Wonders of Greece and Ephesus cruise sails round trip from Athens and provides an immersive experience throughout the trip. Yes, you can always walk down but its a long walk if youre not used to doing stairs. Were Santorinis leading marketplace to explore and book unforgettable travel experiences. Tipping in the 10% to 20% is appreciated. Dont worry! Expert service from IgluCruise Single Supplement: Year-round 2023: $1,073* (inside cabin), $1,133 (outside cabin) Year-round 2024: $1,100* (inside cabin), $1,175 (outside cabin) *SINGLE CRUISE CABINS ARE LIMITED AND SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. Both are great tours. Thanks for all the information on this site. Generally, its usually pretty calm. For Mykonos its more of a toss-up. There is not a huge difference between the two types of tours beyond the time of day. 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). Not sure what you mean by enough but youll certainly get a good stretch of time to swim. Go to Oia first, mainly because boat taxis between the cruise port and Oia are inconsistent so you wouldnt want to rely on them to get you back to your cruise ship. The answer to longer stays isn't necessarily staying in an outrageously priced hotel on the island. A Greek island cruise is packed with world-famous sights, such as the Parthenon, charming seaside tavernas and crystal-clear waters. This is the cheapest boat tour of the caldera. cruises visiting beaches and locations on Skopelos where outdoor scenes in the movie were filmed. The dreadfully ugly Norwegian Gem cruise ship ruins the caldera view. Answer 1 of 7: We'll be in Santorini for 6 days this August. And should we go to Oia first or Fira? Set sail across Santorini's beautiful caldera to visit the islands of Nea Kameni and Thirasia on this 6-hour excursion. From the catamaran, enjoy the view of the white towns on the rim of the caldera and watch as the sun sets. There are actually two ports within caldera, Fira and Athinos. Paul Gauguin Cruises, Adventure and Culture in Tahitis Islands Great trip deal available for you to support Ireland in Six Nations Rugby 2024. The view of Imerovigli from a caldera boat tour. That said, Ive heard of two-hour waits for the cable car. Dates vary by tour but most begin sailing in late April or early May and run until mid or late October. We will be on Santorini, staying in Fira, September 4-11. 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. Also, all tours enter the caldera, sail to or near the volcano, and have plenty of swimming and snorkeling. Another cruise line that provides a real taste of Greek island-hopping is Celestyal Cruises, which offers a choice of year-round itineraries in the Aegean Sea on its two ships. This tiny port gets absolutely overwhelmed with cruise ship passengers and makes for a terrible introduction to the island. Additionally, our 33 year experience guarantees a unique Multi Day Charter Cruise experience for you and your beloved ones. The best Santorini hotels are some of the most awesome and incredible places to stay anywhere. Celestyal Cruises has scheduled overnights in Santorini to make your sunset dreams come true. Hi Dave are there any boat trips available from Santorini that are maybe just 2-3 hours instead of a half or full day? These European cities are world renown and . The nine-night Venice to Athens sailing is one of the line's special Wine Voyages featuring wine tastings and winemaker's dinners reflecting the areas being visited. Looking to see the sights as were onboard. Melinda Crow Hi, my daughter and her friend would love to visit Santorini and Mykonos in early March. But water can still be a bit chilly. Though if you booked a private boat tour (expensive, obviously) they would return you to port whenever you wanted. Do you think boat tours are fine during winter season? If we visited on a ship or on our own when would be the best month to go to Santorini? With its pitch-black beaches, rugged landscape and stunning caldera (volcanic crater), it's more akin to one of the. We are going to Santorini for one day in July via fast ferry from Crete. ), We are visiting Santorini in the next few weeks. Sail Down Under on an over-the-top vacation that immerses you in cosmopolitan cities from Sydney to Auckland, natural wonders from the Great Barrier Reef to Milford Sound, and world-class beaches from Fiji to Vanuatu. And also yes, its definitely still worth doing a boat tour even if you dont swim. There are small boats that do regular routes to the neighboring island of Thirassia (that forms the western side of the caldera) but this isnt the volcano. Best views are from the cliffs bordering the caldera, which was formed when the center of the island basically collapsed into itself. (I still dont recommend them, but much better than the monstrous cruise ships.). we cant miss our departure time. If you get back to Fira and are running short on time walk down the stairs to the port instead of waiting for the cable car as the line will likely be long. Definitely do a boat tour in Santorini. The Star Clipper ships are smaller and more unique. I tried to book the private boat tour and the sunset tour above but both were fully booked for our dates. Sailing Catamaran Cruise in Santorini with BBQ, Drinks and Transfer 286 Spend the day sailing around beautiful Santorini on a catamaran. Hi, Dave Thanks! 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. 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. Hotel & Resort, 21 Amazing Vacation Ideas for Big Families We accept all major credit/debit cards. Your friends likely took a high-speed catamaran with Hellenic Seaways or SeaJets. All cruises are sold out until Nov 2015.) Thanks. My friend and I are considering to book the Private Catamaran Cruise. If we do the sunset tour will we have enough time to swim? Euro. Since its larger than the catamarans it also has a less bumpy ride and is less likely to cause sea-sickness. The full program of the cruises includes Savona, Rome (Civitavecchia), Messina, Greek islands (Crete with a call at Heraklion, Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, Kefalonia (with a call at Argostoli . Shorter sailings include the seven-night Adriatic & Greece cruise with time to explore the beaches, cobbled Old Town and countryside of Crete (one of the most popular Greek Islands). 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. Hi Dave Awesome site. After lunch. Low Deposit. The only other option (as far as getting on a boat) is the ferry to Thirassia or the water taxis along the south coast beaches. LOG IN TO BOOK. If you have ever seen a picture of Santorini, 99.9999% of the time, the photographer was sitting on the edge of the cliff on that west coast side. 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. Swimming from the boat to the warm waters of the hot springs. In recent years Santorini has been limiting cruise ship access to the island. You get more input on where to go, how long to spend at different spots, what music to listen to, and (sometimes) where you get dropped off at the end. Tansen. Exclusive Itinerary.
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