Details: Arriving on May 24 at 8:00am and leaving at 10:00pm
Note: There are 5 ships in port that day - 8,990 passengers with 2,902 arrival at 7:00am and the remaining 6,088 at 8:00am. Departure times are 6:00pm -1952, 6:30pm - 2826, 9:00pm - 148, (one ship doesn't have a time shown for departure - 950 passengers) and so only the 3114 are possibly looking to leave at 10:00pm if every person on our ship was waiting until the end of the night.
Extra Information: We are going to be on a Royal Caribbean ship and have The Key (priority tendering is part of this perk). I would like to take the cable car to Fira as early as we can possibly do that, but am thinking it will be at least 9:00am before we reach Fira (is even that too early to plan on arriving there?).
Our plan is to do the hike from Fira to Oia - based on research I think this will take 3-4 hours with stopping to take photos, and just in general enjoying and not rushing. If this is the case, we hopefully would be reaching Oia around 12:30 - 1:00 pm.
When we get to Oia, we would want to get something to eat, but not a huge meal. I'd really love to go down to Ammoudi Bay if we get to Oia early enough, but would like suggestions on where to eat a light snack and get a drink after that hike.
We are then going to be picked up for a private tour (at the taxi station in Oia) at 2:30pm. This 6 hour tour will be taking us all over the rest of the island (including the lighthouse, Megalochori, Mt. of Prophet Elias, Black Sand Beach with the option of getting an early dinner in the area, etc.) and then dropping us off at the cable car at 8:30pm.
My question is if this sounds possible, or if I am pushing it to get back to the ship before the 10:00pm departure time. I'm okay with a busy day, we are prepared for the 6 mile hike, I want to see as much of the island as possible and avoid the crowds as much as we can. I'm just concerned about that cable car getting us to the port and then getting on the tender if we don't head to the line until 8:30pm.
I'd appreciate any insight or thoughts from those of you are more experienced with Santorini from a cruise ship. Thanks!
