The tour carries on even when some are swimming so its not as if you just sit there on your own, bored theres still plenty of fun on board the boat. Theres no difference between days of the week and busyness. Cruisers can witness these splendors while exploring the most. Sunrise and the morning quiet is also a wonderful time (before the cruise ship passengers arrive). 5% Saving for past passengers. Low Deposit $299*pp. Sydney's famous Opera House and the skyline of New York City. Amsterdam - 2 days. SeaDream mega-yachts SeaDream I and SeaDream II are also available for exclusive private charter. A peaceful island, with crystal clear waters and an amazing capital city (Chora). Overnight in Folegandros. My friend and I are considering to book the Private Catamaran Cruise. Book tours, excursions and dining cruises SEE ALL TOURS. Code: MC-27852. The food was delicious! Santorini is now a year-round destination and cruises visit the island from February to December. Ask About Special Rates for Pastors . Weve done a couple of these tours (its always a small group of 2 to 4) to the volcano and they rank as some of the most exhilarating activities weve ever done. On their longer sailings, passengers will also visit Rhodes and Heraklion. 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 . 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? Melinda Crow
They are always clean and well maintained. While aboard, passengers can expect to experience unique island cultures, ancient treasures and beautiful Greek beaches. The motor yachts allow for much more freedom in getting around the volcanic islands and seeing the caldera from every different angle. Lots of fun! The ship will homeport in Piraeus (Athens) and be used on itineraries that will include Croatia in addition to Greece. Day tour or sunset tour? Greek Isles, Italy and Egyptian Wonders. Sailing Catamaran Cruise in Santorini with BBQ, Drinks and Transfer 286 Spend the day sailing around beautiful Santorini on a catamaran. 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). 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. Thanks for your amazing resources!! But you dont need a cruise, tour, or travel agent to visit Santorini. They are wanting to spend around 7 days in total in Greece before heading back to the UK. Celestyal Cruises has scheduled overnights in Santorini to make your sunset dreams come true. This is the island for lovers of natural beauty, though sun seekers may not fancy its beaches. TBO Empowers Travel Advisors to Control Commission. I have 3 full days in Santorini in the beginning of July. Breakfast at the hotel. Santorini is a great year-round destination. What Does an AmaWaterways River Cruise Offer in 2023? Cruisers can witness these splendors while exploring the most alluring Greek islands, such as Santorini, Rhodes, Mykonos, Corfu, Crete and Paros. They wait in the caldera and passengers are slowly tendered ashore by small boats. Sunset Cruise (2:45pm departure) or Day Cruise (9:45am departure). A boat tour of the caldera is stunningly wonderful and awesome. Catamarans are more stable than single-hull boats. The view of Oia from the Amoudi Bay where many boat tours begin from. 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. Expect even more on offer from Virgin cruises in the Greek Islands as the line adds Resilient Lady to its fleet in 2023. Certainly this is rare, but its always in the back of your mind: what time is it? The almost vertical towns of whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches will rise above the blue Aegean like an oasis of beauty and calm. Whats the best tour to book for our needs? Croatia is another destination people have a fondness for ruining with hulking cruise ships. Im debating the time Ill be staying but it will be between 5 or 7 nights. Youre fine staying on the boat and viewing the scenery (which is great) while others swim. The best cruises to Santorini are the SeaDream II (112 passengers), Star Flyer (170 passengers), Star Clipper (170 passengers), and the Wind Star (178 passengers). The following ships and cruise lines are scheduled to visit Santorini in 2023 and 2024: Celestyal Olimpia, Viking Sky, MSC Sinfonia, Silver Moon, Mein Schiff 5, Norwegian Jade, Crystal Serenity, Regal Princess, Artania, Seven Seas Explorer, Seabourn Encore, MSC Lirica, Azura, Oceania Insignia, Mein Schiff Herz, Silver Spirit, Star Clipper, Oceania Sirena, Star Pride, AIDAblu, MSC Musica, Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity Edge, Odyssey Of The Sea, Star Flyer, Wind Star, Oceania Riviera, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Gem, ms Nieuw Statendam, Azura, Brilliance Of The Seas, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Constellation, Oceania Nautica, Celebrity Reflection, Rhapsody Of The Seas, Azamara Onward, Vision Of The Seas, Marella Explorer, SeaDream II, Coast Deliziosa, Seabourn Sojourn, Costa Deliziosa, Disney Magic, ms Oosterdam, Azamara Journey, Resilient Lady, SeaDream Innovation, ms Europa 2, Wind Surf, Star Legend, Jewel Of The Seas, Mein Schiff 6, Norwegian Epic, Azamara Pursuit, ms Volendam, Seven Seas Voyager, Norwegian Star, Viking Venus, Crystal Symphony, Enchanted Princess, Oceania Marina, and Norwegian Breakaway. Photo Caption: Coastline along Fira-Santorini Yannis Lefakis Theres no way you should visit Santorini and not do a boat tour. We are going to Santorini for one day in July via fast ferry from Crete. Explore fascinating historical treasures on a cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean. This is a region of beautiful scenery, majestic fjords, fine wine, friendly people, and exotic wildlife. Trying to select the right boat tour for my husband and I (going in a few weeks!). Variety sails from the largest and southernmost island of Crete to the beautiful Cyclades archipelago, including Kea, Santorini, Mykonos and the neighboring UNESCO-protected archaeological site on Delos. Book now your semi private cruise and enjoy the ride with one of our fleet's vessels. 0800 322 334. We are looking for the best sunset tour around Santorini. That wont allow for much stopping and sightseeing but it is doable if you walk a good clip. Dubai & Arabian Repositioning Cruises (114) . There are no ferries to the volcano. Afterwards, sail on to Thirassia to enjoy the traditional charms of this lesser-known . (Though I have to check out from my hotel by 12pm). 5-Hour Small Group Catamaran Cruise We offer you only the best tours and activities you can do on the island of Santorini by leading local tour operators! For 2023, boat tours have returned to pre-pandemic style and frequency. Thira dates from the 9th century and lies atop 1,000-foot cliffs at the edge of the caldera. Board the sightseeing boat at the port and admire Santorini's cliffs as you cruise to Nea Kameni. 4. There is only one access point from the cruise ships to the island the old port of Santorini. We will be in Santorini in July and I would like to do a catamaran tour of the island and go into caves and see some of the hidden gems of Santorini. Answer 1 of 7: We'll be in Santorini for 6 days this August. Also, would you recommend any day trips to another island? The answer to longer stays isn't necessarily staying in an outrageously priced hotel on the island. What are the key differences between these three tours: Semi-Private Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise The line-up for the cable car can stretch far around the corner. And we all had loads of fun. (That said, I typically dont recommend doing a day trip from Santorini as time is much better spent on Santorini than on a boat. There are much better islands to visit on a day tour from Santorini. Also, is there a boat that will take you to Mykonos for a day and back to Santorini? After lunch. Day 7. Eric Bowman, Best Destinations for Travelers Who Hate People
Thanks, Its our honeymoon and want a super special day out on the water with food, wine, swimming, snorkeling, and the hot springs. 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! The daytime tour is best for families and serious fishermen. Would like to do a private boat tour of caldera. Its much better to pack your bags and move to whatever island you want to see. Views and perspective from the water are incredible any time of year. Sort of fun and festive, actually. I am looking for a beach hopping trip in Santorini to visit the Black Beach, Red Beach, White beach etc. What months do cruises visit Santorini and the Greek islands? See Room photos. Last boat is about 6:30pm (but double check) so you wont have a lot of time. Take, for example, the multi-night Greece Intensive cruises that Azamara offers. You stop at a few beaches for swimming and snorkeling, then swim in the hot springs near the volcano, eat a huge lunch or dinner, and finally see the sunset from the cliffs below Oia (for the sunset cruise). Set sail across Santorini's beautiful caldera to visit the islands of Nea Kameni and Thirasia on this 6-hour excursion. Taxis also abound (negotiate a rate in advance) and are a more reliable option if time is at a premium. Windstar Cruises
Ill be honest, I definitely prefer the private. They then have to arrange their own transportation to another island to meet-up with the cruise. Are the cable car lines always long? Step inside Diocletian's Palace in Split, a sprawling fort built for a Roman emperor in the fourth century. For these beaches best to do it yourself with this boat from Akrotiri. And if you arrived on this page after watching the absolutely awful Santorini show by Rick Steves just ignore everything that guy recommends about seeing the Greek islands. Low Deposit. Thanks for your insight, love reading all of your suggestions. Adult From: $ 219 00. Island hopping is always the best way to go (the most fun and relaxing). The views of the cliffs and caldera from the boat are incredible. 6. Jumping into the hot springs from the boat. January is the only month that doesnt have any cruises to Santorini. Click here to learn more. Overnight Cruise Packages The overnight Cruise & Stay travels to Grand Bahama Island and includes round-trip cruise transportation aboard the Margaritaville at Sea. That said, Ive heard of two-hour waits for the cable car. Most cruises offer dinner, drinks, and a chance to go snorkeling or swimming. With its pitch-black beaches, rugged landscape and stunning caldera (volcanic crater), it's more akin to one of the. 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. Awesome cruise around the volcano, staring up at the cliffs of the caldera. Azamara is a four-ship line that prides itself on shore excursions that are much more than average tours. Quick question: Is May too early for the boat tours that have swimming? Wonderful day tour with great food and friendly staff (10:00am departure). Lisbon - 2 days. Thanks! 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. Were staying in Oia what might you suggest? But to see the best of Santorini, you should take a shore excursion, via bus or taxi, further afield. Geologists marvel at the cliffs' multi-hued strata of rock, lava and pumice, so take your camera and be prepared to feel the earth move (perhaps even literally -- Santorini's most recent major earthquake was in 1956, although there was one nearby in 2009). Best Santorini tours by category EXPLORE CATEGORIES. A lot of people hire quad bikes now, just for the day. My advice is to first decide whether you want the sunset or more sun/swimming. 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. Yuck. And if it is, is it still worth doing? Its not so much what is the best tour but more what is available. 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. Here they come! More cruise-ship fun. 26.00 checkout is done in euro. 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 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. Not sure if this has an effect on the analysis, but we are staying in Imerovigli which I understand has nice views of the sunset. Fewer drinks are served as well. I would be shocked if anyone did this tour and at its conclusion didnt yell, that was awesome!!! It's also a great idea for anyone keen on taking photos and video. 14.30 checkout is done in euro. Boat Tours of the Santorini Caldera & Volcano A boat tour of the caldera is stunningly wonderful and awesome. On these boats you can not access the deck except when the boat is in port and windows are often caked in sea salt. Gabriel M. There are no ferries to the volcano or hot springs. 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. Ships can not dock at Santorini, and a tender is needed to get ashore. Highly recommend!! If you really want to see what makes Santorini the most magical island in Greece, youll need to stay overnight. Private Boat Tours & Cruises in Santorini, Private Boats for Parties and Events in Santorini. EXCLUSIVE COMPLIMENTARY Private UK Chauffeur Service, up to 150 miles each way, for ALL bookings. But its far from a drinking cruise the emphasis is on swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing on the top of the catamaran. Required fields are marked *. 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. But, of course, it would also be bad to miss the last tender boat to your ship. Yes, you can always walk down but its a long walk if youre not used to doing stairs. Theyre bad for the citizens, the environment, and the local economy, and theyre a lousy way to see the magnificent Greek islands. Airlines & Airports, 19 Caribbean All-Inclusive Resorts with the Finest Dining
On most tours about half the people swim and half remain on the boat, so its unlikely youre the only one left on the boat while everyone else is off playing. The best Santorini hotels are some of the most awesome and incredible places to stay anywhere. Please fill in the details of your Airbnb on the checkout page. The best vacation to Greece you will ever experience. We accept all major credit/debit cards. Agree absolutely with your points! Sail with one of our Catamarans or Motor Yacht on a Multi Day Charter Cruise and explore hidden gems. It has departures of 10:30 (day tour) and 3:30 (sunset tour). In particular, trying to understand if its worth paying the premium for the semi-private luxury catamaran day cruise. Spetses,Greece 11-Aug Sifnos Island,Greece 12-Aug Ios Island,Greece 12-Aug Santorini,Greece 13-Aug Bodrum,Turkey 14-Aug Santorini,Greece . Make a booking now for this stunning offer and get ready for this event. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Overnight in Santorini. My issue mainly time and not price. There's a number of different caldera cruises available, which you can see below. Tansen. Unless otherwise stated, boat tours allow all ages. We have heard similar thoughts from friends. Between all the Santorini cruises on Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, MSC, Holland, Viking, and Disney Cruises do you recommend any cruise line? Cruise ships are just as ugly and awful when they visit Mykonos. Best Santorini tours by category EXPLORE CATEGORIES. M/Y Oceanis is a luxury power yacht offering personalized cruises around Santorini & the Cycladic Islands. If you can only do one do the boat tour but if time allows do both, as they each have a very different feel. Is there a ferry that 2 people can take on their own and explore the volcano/hot springs, or is it only by tour? Cruise Line & Cruise Ship
Explore fascinating historical treasures on a cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean. Venice.
I have no idea what to recommend for lining up. Any recommendations on where to stay that wouldn't be too far from the port? The tenders taking passengers ashore in Santorini. 7. (I still dont recommend them, but much better than the monstrous cruise ships.). Our Santorini Smart Packages feature FREE stays in one of many handpicked hotels which are all centrally located in Santorini providing you with the ideal base from which to explore all that this exciting destination has to offer. Quick View.
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. Programming on any Virgin cruise is upbeat and geared toward adults. Overnight cruise stays in Santorini are possible. Sail | October 2024. Looking to see the sights as were onboard. Rome - 3 days. All boat tours have great views of the caldera cliffs. Ill be staying in santoniri for a day this November. The view of Imerovigli from a caldera boat tour. For tours that visit the hot springs, the boat will anchor about 30 to 50 meters from the hot spring area and youll need to swim to the warm water. And note, hot springs are not hot just warm. , up to 150 miles each way, for all bookings when they visit Mykonos and back Santorini! You wont have a fondness for ruining with hulking cruise ships. ), Drinks Transfer. Your semi private cruise and enjoy the ride with one of our Catamarans or motor Yacht on day! 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