boatlife

4 hours ago, Hlitner said:

I do think we need to be bluntly honest and suggest that Santorini is not a good place for most with severe walking limitations.  Most excursions include both Fira and Oia, each of which can only be explored by walking (a scooter can work although there will be some limitations).

 

Just getting on the cable car (to get down to the tender port) can be difficult for some folks since the station involves walking on some sloping areas and negotiating some steps.  Once at the bottom you still need to walk from the cable car station to the tender pier.

 

Hank

In that case maybe we will simply split into groups on that day so that those who find walking hard can decide to stay onboard if that's better. I just thought there was an advantage in taking the excursion but perhaps not. MSC have listed the excursion as "moderate" so maybe it is too much. Thanks for your feedback.

51 minutes ago, MeHeartCruising said:

It is not clear what you are asking, as you first indicated you don't want to wait for the cable car, but then indicate you need the cable car.

 

If you book a ship excursion,  you will ride a tender boat to a level area where you will meet a tour bus which will take you up to the populated top of the crater to wherever your excursion goes.  There will not be a cable car.  However, you will need to walk a short distance to the shuttle bus.

 

Generally ship excursions do NOT return you to that same location to re-board the ship later in the day.  Instead, they give you a ticket to the cable car and drop you off in Fira, the town with the cable car.  You will need to walk thru that town a little bit to get to the cable car.  You will need to wait in any line that may be there at the cable car (this will depend on how many people are in port, time of the ship departures, etc.).  Then you ride the cable car down to a dock area where a tender boat will take you back to the ship.  Again, there will be some walking involved down at the water level.

 

SOME cruise lines (like Celebrity) seem to be starting to have some of their excursions return to the same place where the passenger boarded the bus.  They then tender back to the boat from that location.  This avoids the cable car entirely -- both in the morning and in the afternoon.  But this is a relatively new happening (last year was the first year, I believe).  It is unclear if that will continue this year and it doesn't seem that most cruise lines do this.

 

Without doing a ship excursion, you will be tendered to the location of the cable car, where you wait in line and ride it up the hill. You would also ride the cable car back down -- waiting in line if necessary.

 

 

Thank you so much for your detailed response. I guess I had misunderstood how things work in Santorini in terms of the excursions. Now I understand what to expect so we can make the best decision for our group. I will check with the cruise line regarding the details of the excursion. Many thanks.

Our Msc cruise will be stopping sta Santorini and while we are not booking excursions in advance for most ports we were advised that it is advisable for Santorini so we don't have a long wait for the cable car. We are cruising with elderly relatives who are not able to manage challenging walks so will need the cable car.

Thanks everyone for your advice and feedback. If I do decide to take them does it make any difference whether I pack in main luggage or hand luggage as to whether they are more likely to allow me to take them?

I have been told different things about whether straightening irons are allowed on Msc Cruises. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere they are allowed. If anyone can point me in the right direction as to where I may have seen this or if you have any knowledge on this I would really appreciate it. 

Thank you. In that case I'll contact customer service to resolve this.

When I log onto my MSC booking I see an option to purchase a drinks package but not to buy a Wifi package is this done onboard? I'm not sailing until June so plenty of time.

On 10/28/2022 at 12:50 PM, john watson said:

 

I had a measure up on the website. 9041, 9043 and 9045 all appear same larger size cabin.  The larger balconies seem to start at 9054 and 9059.  Being lower decks these cabins will exhibit less motion in rough seas.  Note 9041 is forward of the thick white line which as some of the ship construction experts herein have pointed out implies that balcony dividers may not be propped open. Accommodate MIL in 9041!

 

Lol John

Thank you for the very helpful advice on all fronts  😀 

4 hours ago, john watson said:

As an aside the balcony cabins numbered 10060 to 10072 (evens) and 10061 to 10071 (odds) seem to be shown as larger cabins than the lower numbered cabins.  The balcony cabins 10073 (odds) and 10074 (evens) and higher numbers are also shown with larger balconies too.  The latter probably because they are inset but that is not usually a problem apart from those right next to the change.

 

Regards John

Thats interesting. Our group has grown and we have now been offered 3 cabins on deck 9 instead, 9041 9043 9045, would the same apply to this deck, so these would be smaller?

Thanks so much 

We are booking a cruise with friends and on the deck plan between the 2 cabins 10059 10061 there is a thick white line which isn't shown for most of the cabins, (I've circled it  in red on the attached plan) does anyone know what this line means?