CUnitJ

Thanks Dan! 

We will be 3 guest in the cabin so i am

glad to read this:)

Hello!

Will cruise this fall on Ms Koningsdam, cabin V8032 and i was hoping someone here can answer my questions:) 

1-Any pictures of the sofa bed (opened!)

2-According to deck plans, cabin and balcony seems a little bigger due to the location of the cabin, is that really the case? 

Thanks!

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Just be aware that the boats running from the tender pier (below Fira) to Oia are really a hit-miss thing.  They are operated by private companies and often do not have much of a schedule.  As one boat operator told us, "we will leave when we are full."  On one of our early season visits (in April) the boat operators never even bothered to operate.  A friend of ours waited around the pier for about 2 hours until the operator gave up for lack of customers.   I do think those boats are a good option and they will generally include a return bus ticket in their fare....but you need to push them on "when are you going to leave" and be prepared with a "Plan B"....which would be to take the cable car up to Fira and then either use a taxi, rental car, or bus.

 

Hank

That is what i read in other forums. 

I think we will take the cable car and bus to Oia ... cab or bus to come back.

12 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

There are ways to check how many other ships are scheduled to be in port with you, if desired. 

Just did and looks like Koningsdamis the only cruise ship that day 🙂🙂

21 hours ago, wheezedr said:

One small addition.  At the tender dock there are boats which motor directly to another dock below Oia.  Some visitors will opt for that approach. From there you will be bused up to Oia.  Others will take the cable car, the donkeys, or walkup to Fira. As Bruce notes all of the travelers will ultimately need to return back to the tender point below Fira.  Not everyone will take the cable car down as some will elect to walk down the steps .  

Since this stop is on the 7th day of our itinerary, i think i’ll wait and ask on cruise what are the best options to visit on our own, but motor boats from the tender port looks like a good one. Visiting in october shouldn’t be as busy as in the summer.

8 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

If you are saying what I think you are, let me add that Santorini is a bit different to other ports due to the tendering and the limited options for getting up the cliff.

 

Some people do prefer to take the ship's transfer to Oia rather than do it on their own. Why?  The ship tours depart earlier by quite a bit, due to the fact that only ship tour passengers can tender in to the first point (to meet tour buses), then the ship has to move and anchor prior to tendering passengers off to the point where you can get up the cliff to Thira.

 

Thus if you do Oia on your own, you have to wait for the first set of tenders, wait for the ship to move, wait for your turn on the second set of tenders, then either wait at the foot of the cliff for the cable car or walk up/take a donkey to top (Thira) to take a bus to Oia. Or take a private boat shuttle from the tendering point round the island to Oia.

 

All of these things take time and importantly, Oia can get very, very crowded with tourists if several ships are in port. Many people feel it is worth it to take the ship tour or transportation in order to get to Oia early before the worst of the crowds.

 

If you are going to Santorini off-season or on a day when there are not a lot of other ships, getting around isn't so difficult. But otherwise.....the island is small and the transportation infrastructure can only handle so many people without leading to long waits.

 

Edited to add:  There are destination forums here on Cruise Critic -- look for the one on the Mediterranean -- Greek ports.  Many discussions there on Santorini and options.

 

I will check thisnout thanks! The thing is that the transfer offered by the cruise is 1-expensive for what it is 2-only leaves us 4 hours to visit both Oia and Fira...

@CruiserBruce Thanks for the quick reply ! 

I was so confusend since the are selling shore excursions to transfer to Oia and Fira. I see that there is a bus i can take to go from Fira to Oia (figured out why they don't promote the fact that the ship will actually take you to the cable car to Fira!)

Time isn't really an issue since the ship leaves port at 11pm.

Thanks a lot  !

Hello, I hope i'm asking my question at the right place here ! I couldn't seem to find the answer to my question anywhere...! 

I will be boarding the 12-Day  Ancient Empires Holland America cruise in october and was wodering about Santorini (Thira) port. Does the boat dock and leave the passengers at the port of Thira or do they offer the transfer to the port of fira to take the cable car?