Santorini - View from Ship

[jimmymc]

You won't get the iconic views from the ship. Given what you've mentioned about yourselves and the rest of the cruise, I would try to book one of the Disney excursions that uses a bus to bypass the cable car and maybe take it easy on a different day. It's tough to do with med cruises.

 

[Marthasor]

I would really try to find an excursion that will work for you in Santorini so you can go to Oia. It's just so beautiful. The view from the ship or a catamaran will not do it justice.

 

[SleepyDeb]

Why travel thousands of miles to Greece, but then don't want to get off the ship for a once in a lifetime adventure?

If you just want to enjoy the ship, it is a lot easier to do this on a Caribbean cruise.


-Paul

Health issues. They've come up since we booked. I don't want to not get off the ship and I will get off the ship if I'm up to it.

 

[SleepyDeb]

You won't get the iconic views from the ship. Given what you've mentioned about yourselves and the rest of the cruise, I would try to book one of the Disney excursions that uses a bus to bypass the cable car and maybe take it easy on a different day. It's tough to do with med cruises.

Thanks. I have booked the one and only excursion that bypasses the cable car both ways.

 

[Donna3271]

Thanks. I have booked the one and only excursion that bypasses the cable car both ways.

Deb,
Can I ask which one you booked? TY!!

 

[katellynne]

we did the best of santorini last year to avoid the cable car either direction. my teen daughter hated that excursion. Oia is beautiful, but it gets so crowded that you are shoulder to shoulder trying to shove your way through narrow streets and it feels like an oven Your experience will also depend on the tour guide. Ours was awful, it's a running joke. She wasn't even from Santorini, they shipped her in from Spain or something. She kept giving us wrong information. The winery was ok but just a quick stop and rushed. Multiple full bus loads of tourists coming and going. Lunch was a disaster. Especially if you have any allergies, but everyone on our tour agreed it was the worst experience. They try to not let you even walk on the beach.

BUT I don't suggest you miss Santorini! We wanted to do a catamaran cruise but I didn't hear the best reveiws of those either. My recommendation, and what I would do if we return on a cruise ship is to book a private tour with a local or DIY. The cable car is built by the same company that built the WDW Skyliner so look at it as a part of the experience! If you go up very early the lines and wait won't be as bad and it will be cooler. Then return right after lunch time! You can get to Oia long before the tour buses do and get the gorgeous views to yourself. There are a number of shops but prices are high. The town at the top of the cable car has some shopping and restaurants as well.

There are many private guides you can also book who will hep you navigate and give you the ability to see much more of the island without worrying about transportation and directions etc. There is one that I just discovered that meets you at the tender port and takes you on another tender/ferry over to the port where she drives you up and avoids the cable car!! The website is santorinimagicsdotcom But like I said it just the lines for the cable car late in the afternoon that are problematic. Have an amazing cruise! We are doing the 12 night and seeing Mykonos much to my daughters relief

 

[Calantha]

We did a private tour through https://iamsantorini.com/ last year.
It was lovely and the guide was great with our son (then 10). Getting off the boat was terrible though and we were late to meet him and it took almost 2 hours to get back on when the tour was over.

 

[oufpat]

I suggest you check the number of ships in port. When we were there several years ago there were 5 ships, it was so crowded we could not appreciate the visit.

 

[Marthasor]

we did the best of santorini last year to avoid the cable car either direction. my teen daughter hated that excursion. Oia is beautiful, but it gets so crowded that you are shoulder to shoulder trying to shove your way through narrow streets and it feels like an oven Your experience will also depend on the tour guide. Ours was awful, it's a running joke. She wasn't even from Santorini, they shipped her in from Spain or something. She kept giving us wrong information. The winery was ok but just a quick stop and rushed. Multiple full bus loads of tourists coming and going. Lunch was a disaster. Especially if you have any allergies, but everyone on our tour agreed it was the worst experience. They try to not let you even walk on the beach.

BUT I don't suggest you miss Santorini! We wanted to do a catamaran cruise but I didn't hear the best reveiws of those either. My recommendation, and what I would do if we return on a cruise ship is to book a private tour with a local or DIY. The cable car is built by the same company that built the WDW Skyliner so look at it as a part of the experience! If you go up very early the lines and wait won't be as bad and it will be cooler. Then return right after lunch time! You can get to Oia long before the tour buses do and get the gorgeous views to yourself. There are a number of shops but prices are high. The town at the top of the cable car has some shopping and restaurants as well.

There are many private guides you can also book who will hep you navigate and give you the ability to see much more of the island without worrying about transportation and directions etc. There is one that I just discovered that meets you at the tender port and takes you on another tender/ferry over to the port where she drives you up and avoids the cable car!! The website is santorinimagicsdotcom But like I said it just the lines for the cable car late in the afternoon that are problematic. Have an amazing cruise! We are doing the 12 night and seeing Mykonos much to my daughters relief

The vast majority of people working in the tourism industry on Santorini are not from Santorini.

 

[YenSidTravel]

We've been to Santorini. DO NOT miss the shore excursion. It was the highlight of our Greek Islands cruise on NCL. The view from the top of the cliff over the harbor/caldera is other-worldly, as are the close-ups of the town's architecture.

You can rest when you get home.

I agree with this - Santorini was definitely a highlight of our cruise through the Greek Isles.
* I did an overview of our Greek cruise with the DCL Duo podcast - you can find that here: https://yensid.travel/DCLDuo-DreamGreekCruise I hope that is helpful.

 

[SleepyDeb]

Deb,
Can I ask which one you booked? TY!!

The Best of Santorini. Kind of worried about what I've just read above.

I suggest you check the number of ships in port. When we were there several years ago there were 5 ships, it was so crowded we could not appreciate the visit.

There are 2 ships in port. Ours and an MSC ship.

I will not be able to wait 2 hours in the sun for the cable car. This isn't a "I'll be uncomfortable and tired and will need rest." This is a health issue and I have to do what I need to do to avoid ending up in the health center.

 

[Donna3271]

The Best of Santorini. Kind of worried about what I've just read above.

There are 2 ships in port. Ours and an MSC ship.

I will not be able to wait 2 hours in the sun for the cable car. This isn't a "I'll be uncomfortable and tired and will need rest." This is a health issue and I have to do what I need to do to avoid ending up in the health center.

Deb,
I'm concerned for you. Only you know your body. Plus factoring the heat. Sending you good wishes!!!

 

[brentm77]

The Best of Santorini. Kind of worried about what I've just read above.

There are 2 ships in port. Ours and an MSC ship.

I will not be able to wait 2 hours in the sun for the cable car. This isn't a "I'll be uncomfortable and tired and will need rest." This is a health issue and I have to do what I need to do to avoid ending up in the health center.

Don't push past your health limits. It's a cool island, but frankly, it wasn't the highlight of our cruise. The sun there can be brutal. If you do decide to go, take a sun umbrella, which makes a huge difference when standing in lines. Just sailing the peaceful Mediterranean is worth the cruise alone, so don't let it ruin your trip if this island doesn't work for you. There is something special about cruising this area of the world, regardless.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Santorini is beautiful and it is awesome to see. On our trip the ship had to be held to wait for about 25 cruisers that fell ill coming down the stairs in the heat. Honestly, it is only for those in good health to use the stairs. I would try and book the DCL excursion w/o the gondola ride. Will it be the best ever-maybe not, but you would get to experience the island and see the churches. Other option is first up and first down. We went up early-no lines, no waiting. Explore Fira for an hour or so and come back down before lunch.