Peteymil Posted July 27, 2018 #76 Share Posted July 27, 2018 Where the tender drops you off is a small docking area, nothing else. There is another port where there is bus access if you don’t want to take the cable car. If you take a cruise ship excursion, that should be where the tender takes you. Otherwise, there are companies at the tender dock that you can pay a fee to. They will boat you to the other dock, bus you to oia, then have return buses available for thira. But either way, you’ll have to wait in a long line to cable car back down. If you wish to avoid the cable car all together, I wouldn’t even bother getting off. The dock area is nothing. Sent from my iPhone using Forums On Celebrity, for the ships excursion, the tender took us right to the other dock and then bus up to Oia. However, on the way back we did not have to take the cable car. They busses took us right back down to the water and then we took the ferry back to the boat. It was something new they were trying to alleviate the back ups at the cable car. Very stress free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forgetmenot2 Posted July 28, 2018 #77 Share Posted July 28, 2018 I found a tour that offers private tender therefore avoiding cable car line ups. That's what we plan on doing in Santorini May 3, 2018. https://www.katakolon-express.com/santorini/privatetour.htm Did someone use the company katakolon -express, and if yes, what was your experience? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hal2008 Posted July 28, 2018 #78 Share Posted July 28, 2018 Some points: a) In general, ship tours never make sense from value-for-money point of view. There are exceptions though. Excursion to far off location with known potential for delay might be a candidate for ship tour. Similarly, when time in port is limited, ability to get off the ship early could be worth the premium. On oyr ship time difference between first to get off the ship on ship tours vs first to get off without tender tickets (those who decided not to get up at 5 am to stand 75 minutes in line - yes, Never again Norwegian - was 2 hours 30 minutes. b) Look at other thread for details about pros/cons of boat to Ammoiudi pier (which seats below Oia), bus to Oia and chaotic return bus scenario and usual misreprenentations/outright lies of that particular operator c) Walking down steps. We did it. Will not do it again or recommend anyone doing it. DOnkey poop or occassional incoming donkeys are minor problems. Bigger risk is slipping on those occassionally encountered blackish stones (even on bone dry hot days). Bit too much risk. Better to stand in cable car lines. No one has ever reported missing cruise because their cable car line was too long. (if your ship is first to leave, just arrive that much early) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayside Cruiser Posted July 29, 2018 #79 Share Posted July 29, 2018 We were on this cruise late April/early May and booked a private tour from https://www.katakolon-express.com/. We were very happy with the tour and the guide. We had a private tender therefore did not have to wait in line for the cable car going up. The tour started with Oia which was great as we were there before other tours and it wasn't very crowded. With a private tour you can decide where you spend most time and Oia is definitely worth every minute. Sounds ideal. There are only 3 of us so will contact them to see if they can do this for us. Don’t really want to do a larger group as Oia is definitely a bucket list visit and we’d rather just work to our own timetable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmsoko Posted July 31, 2018 #80 Share Posted July 31, 2018 July 7 Venice-Rome Celebrity Constellation-On this cruise with my wife- Just arranged for semi private tour in Santorini to try to avoid crowds. Check out Greektraveling.com “The Oia experience with boat right off dock to Oia then walk around independently for a couple hours then mini bus tour to winery with tasting, pictures at vistas then back to Fira by our ship. Tour company well reviewed and price 88 Euro per person, We need minimum 6 people for tour to go. Sent from my iPad using Forums Is the website address correct? Was not able to locate them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharonK Posted July 31, 2018 #81 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Is the website address correct?Was not able to locate them It is greektravelling.com with 2 L’s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmsoko Posted July 31, 2018 #82 Share Posted July 31, 2018 It is greektravelling.com with 2 L’s Thx for quick response Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cachecara Posted July 31, 2018 #83 Share Posted July 31, 2018 The Oia experience via greektravelling.com does sound good. I would love to hear more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharonK Posted August 1, 2018 #84 Share Posted August 1, 2018 The Oia experience via greektravelling.com does sound good. I would love to hear more. We are booked on that tour in October but can’t tell you anymore than the website info at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMP1973 Posted August 1, 2018 #85 Share Posted August 1, 2018 Walking down 588 steps in Santorini... With 3 ships in port, there was over an hour wait so we elected to walk down...here is a video Bring water with you as it was quite warm, even in May. Enjoy Santorini! Thanks for the great video....gives me a good idea of what Santorini is like. Much appreciated! Jackie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budster Posted August 2, 2018 #86 Share Posted August 2, 2018 We just booked this cruise today. We had to cancel our cruise for November as I just had foot surgery. This itinerary looks so exciting. First time for Greece for us. Love all the planning! :D Ruth Ann & Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatteras51 Posted August 4, 2018 #87 Share Posted August 4, 2018 On Celebrity, for the ships excursion, the tender took us right to the other dock and then bus up to Oia. However, on the way back we did not have to take the cable car. They busses took us right back down to the water and then we took the ferry back to the boat. It was something new they were trying to alleviate the back ups at the cable car. Very stress free. Do you know what the excursion was called? I'm trying to find this on their website. I'm very interested in finding an excursion with a ferry back to the boat, instead of the cable car. I haven't booked yet, but this will definitely sway my decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peteymil Posted August 4, 2018 #88 Share Posted August 4, 2018 Do you know what the excursion was called? I'm trying to find this on their website. I'm very interested in finding an excursion with a ferry back to the boat, instead of the cable car. I haven't booked yet, but this will definitely sway my decision. It was the Oia on your own excursion. However it never said that we were going to take the ferry back to the boat, it was just a new option that they decided to try to see if it would alleviate problems of people getting back. At this point I would not think that it’s guaranteed that you would have that opportunity. It’s just a possibility that they would offer this like they did for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
konazo Posted August 4, 2018 #89 Share Posted August 4, 2018 Thanks for the great video....gives me a good idea of what Santorini is like. Much appreciated! Jackie Glad you enjoyed. Here is a video showing full day tour ... https://YouTube.be/vvaMzj6A3i0 Have a great cruise... Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
konazo Posted August 4, 2018 #90 Share Posted August 4, 2018 Glad you enjoyed. Here is a video showing full day tour ...https://YouTube.be/vvaMzj6A3i0 Have a great cruise... Sent from my iPad using Forums Oops... fat fingers ... should be https://YouTu.be/vvaMzj6A3i0 Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cachecara Posted August 9, 2018 #91 Share Posted August 9, 2018 Beautiful. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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