Which port to stay on ship? (Greek Isles itinerary)

[Luckynana]

@bonsai3sBeautiful pictures!  Thanks for sharing!😉

[CanadaRob]

I’m voting Chania or Mykonos’s, also wouldn’t miss the Acropolis, Santorini (Oia) for the photo op is iconic.  

[Thisguylikestocruise]

1 hour ago, bonsai3s said:

We have been to all these ports many times…and  sailed on the Odyssey earlier this year…same itinerary. That said…

 

• Try not to miss any of the ports. So much to see and experience in Athens. Even if the only thing you do is walk up the Acropolis, and stand in front of the Parthenon…it would be memorable.

•  For Santorini, you as a suite passenger, will have the ability to be on the first tender. The suite concierge will escort you down to the tender.

 

•  If this is your first time visiting Rome, I hope you will consider staying a few days before or after your cruise…some of the sites are within walking distance…St. Peter’s Basilica, Castel D’Angelo, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain. Also the Spanish Steps and the Colosseum.

 

•  My humble idea: Get off the ship early in Mykonos. (Odyssey docked.) Directly across the street from the ship is the “Sea Bus”, 2€ person each way to town. Take a leisurely walk around town…visit the windmills…then head back to the ship. You could do this in 2 hours.  Note: The streets (small, winding, and narrow alleys) were originally designed to confuse attacking pirates…so part of the charm is getting lost.

St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome

Capri/Naples 

Windmills of Mykonos

The Library at Ephesus, Kusadasi

Acropolis, Athens 

Oia, Santorini 

Chania (Harbor)

Thanks everyone, very helpful tips. Great pictures @bonsai3s. Yes, my wife and I have been to Rome. Spent 2 weeks there for our honeymoon in 2011, including a trip to Capri. The plan is 4 nights in Rome pre cruise, for nostalgia. 5 nights in Florence post cruise.

 

After all these comments and looking at pictures of Acropolis, I think I'll get off at every port, and get back on the ship early in a couple places. I do enjoy ancient history. That's too bad Santorini is that congested, however I feel like I need to see it, as it might be my only opportunity. The ship is in Santorini 13 hours, 7am-8pm. Hopefully that's enough time to explore Oia and get good pictures.

 

On the "explore itinerary" tab when I booked it said Mykonos is tendered. You're saying it's not? That's good news, probably will explore on my own, without an excursion there. 

Edited December 5, 2022 by Thisguylikestocruise

[sgmn]

11 hours ago, Thisguylikestocruise said:

Surprised to see the Santorini comments. Would it being late September matter? Or is it always crazy busy there?

There are websites (just goggle) which tell you how many ships are in port with you. We've been three times. Last time just one other small-ish ship with us but have been there with six at anchor.

We love it. Get first tender off, or do a ships tour which gets you off first. Take the small boat over to Oia, before the crowds get there, with bus back to Fira included. Enjoy a lovely early lunch in one of the restaurants overlooking the bay and walk back down the cliff.  Unless you have mobility problems, the steps are shallow and wide and not difficult. 

Back on board by early afternoon and spend the rest of the day enjoying the views from the ship

 

Edited to say I see that @European_CruiseGirl has already posted how many ships in port 👍

Edited December 5, 2022 by sgmn

[sgmn]

11 hours ago, Bennyboats28 said:

Both Mykonos and Santorini can get seriously overcrowded depending on how many ships they have in port. 

 

For both of these ports the best thing would be to check on the day how many ships there are in. If there are more than two I would forget venturing ashore. 

Mykonos, we've taken a trip to nearby Delos. Book at a booth in the harbour Quay. Great for wondering around the ruins but no shade on hot days. Back in plenty of time to enjoy Mykonos and have my favourite Greek Salad in a taverna.  I've heard it's easy to do a beach day in Mykonos 

[sgmn]

5 hours ago, Thisguylikestocruise said:

 

On the "explore itinerary" tab when I booked it said Mykonos is tendered. You're saying it's not? That's good news, probably will explore on my own, without an excursion there. 

Both times we've been to Mykonos we've tendered. The tender boat takes you right into the port and centre of Mykonos. 

The place to buy tickets to Delos is right where the tender boat drops you off. Very easy to do a DIY day.

 

I believe with docking you have to walk or take a ferry boat to the centre of Mykonos 

Edited December 5, 2022 by sgmn

[bonsai3s]

6 hours ago, Luckynana said:

@bonsai3sBeautiful pictures!  Thanks for sharing!😉

Luckynana, you're welcome. 

[sgmn]

If you've been to the Acropolis and if it's very hot I would recommend the Acropolis Museum. It's very interesting and cool.

Also enjoyable is wondering around the Plaka shopping area nearby with yet another yummy Greek Salad at a taverna.

Easy to DIY, there is a bus in the port that goes to Athens centre or take the subway. Though last time we took the ships transport which dropped us off by the Plaka area and diy'ed from there 

Edited December 5, 2022 by sgmn

[LibertyBella]

Why would you ever want to go on a Greek islands cruise and NOT visit the islands?  Do you know anything about the history of each of the places you are visiting?  Of course, I am an archaeology aficionada, so I know exactly what I want to see and I would miss nothing!

 

When I was in Santorini, I specifically took a full day tour that included Akrotiri, the site that many say inspired the legend of Atlantis.  Yes, we stopped at Oia to take that iconic roofs photo. We also had time back in Thera to visit the small  prehistoric museum, shop and eat lunch.  All in all, a wonderful day!

 

Delos (I adore the lions) is always on my list when we go to Mykonos , and I like to enjoy lunch near the windmills.  Agreed that Ephesus should not be missed, nor should Pompeii, nor the Acropolis, etc.  I love visiting Greece so much that I am cruising there again this Summer!  I will also stay over a few days in Athens so I can go back again to Delphi, Mycenae, and hopefully visit Meteora.  

 

Of course, if ancient history is not your passion, there are always the beaches...

 

 

[bonsai3s]

5 hours ago, Thisguylikestocruise said:

Thanks everyone, very helpful tips. Great pictures @bonsai3s. Yes, my wife and I have been to Rome. Spent 2 weeks there for our honeymoon in 2011, including a trip to Capri. The plan is 4 nights in Rome pre cruise, for nostalgia. 5 nights in Florence post cruise.

 

After all these comments and looking at pictures of Acropolis, I think I'll get off at every port, and get back on the ship early in a couple places. I do enjoy ancient history. That's too bad Santorini is that congested, however I feel like I need to see it, as it might be my only opportunity. The ship is in Santorini 13 hours, 7am-8pm. Hopefully that's enough time to explore Oia and get good pictures.

 

On the "explore itinerary" tab when I booked it said Mykonos is tendered. You're saying it's not? That's good news, probably will explore on my own, without an excursion there. 

Sounds like a wonderful trip back to Italy...second, perhaps third honeymoon. 

 

* Santorini: 13 hours will be plenty of time to visit this magical island.

If I may share what we did: Our plan was to DIY to Oia (eee-yah)...Got on the first tender...took 10 minutes to the dock.

There were 3 options to get up to Fira...walk, ride the donkey, or take the cable car. We took the cable car, 6€/person...took 8 minutes to the top.

 

We walked about 12 minutes to the bus station (actually only a large open space for buses to park) and a nice man (turned out to be the conductor) loudly announced the bus to Oia. The conductor collected the money...1.60€ per person each way. Took about 30 minutes with 5 stops (bus only stopped twice as most were heading to Oia.)

 

We took the bus back before noon, and spent time walking up and down and around and around Fira. Note: At the dock, there's also an option to take a boat to the dock below Oia, bus up Oia, bus back to Fira, then the same 3 options get down to the tender...walk (be careeful not to step on donkey dung), donkey ride, or cable car.

 

* Mykonos...we did not tender. Just a guess, but the Odyssey arrived before the other ships and docked. Note: We observed at least 1 smaller ship anchored and using tenders.

 

* Sounds like you will be ok and comfortable around Italy...Safe travels and happy sailing.

[Bennyboats28]

1 hour ago, sgmn said:

Mykonos, we've taken a trip to nearby Delos. Book at a booth in the harbour Quay. Great for wondering around the ruins but no shade on hot days. Back in plenty of time to enjoy Mykonos and have my favourite Greek Salad in a taverna.  I've heard it's easy to do a beach day in Mykonos 

That's a good option for the OP. 

 

One thing to bear in mind in Mykonos is that it can get seriously windy on most days. This should not be much of a problem if the oydessy is in the mykonos Dock. If the ship is tendering however and it gets very windy it would be touch and go whether they can run  a safe tendering operation. 

[Bobal]

7 hours ago, Thisguylikestocruise said:

 

On the "explore itinerary" tab when I booked it said Mykonos is tendered. You're saying it's not? That's good news, probably will explore on my own, without an excursion there. 

 

Generally the first ship in gets to dock and later ones are tendered. You often won't know until the night before or even the day of which one it us.

 

There are pros and cons to this since the dock is a bus ride or a long walk from the town whereas tenders drop you right in town.  You should also be aware that sometimes due to winds tenders are unable to make it. We missed a call there once because of this and headed off to overnight in Athens, which the crew loved

Edited December 5, 2022 by Bobal

[CruiseDad-NYC]

I have been to all of the ports you listed except for EPHESUS. The photos taglovestocruise posted are perfect examples of why I would select Santorini to stay on board if you are looking for a port to pass on.  It's a shame, because it really is beautiful, but the crowds make it a real challenge. With as many ships as are going to be there when you are, it is going to look like those photos.  There is also going to be a long line (e.g., an hour + ) to ride the gondola down.  We walked down (my wife and I plus 2 teenage boys).  There is donkey dung and the stones are slippery.  You have to be pretty healthy and fit to do it.  It was a semi-minor annoyance for us, but older and less mobile people had a hard time and were unhappy and some got hurt.

 

If you decide to get off here, I would do a ship's tour (or other tour) that picks you up at the dock where the tender drops you off to see if you can avoid the gondola right.  We were on the first one up at 7:30 am or so.  But, coming back was a different story.  Sorry to be negative about what would be an incredible port if it weren't so crowded.

Edited December 5, 2022 by CruiseDad-NYC

[ggat]

My wife and I have been to Ephesus three times.  Don't know if he is still around, but Levant has done a wonderful job each time.  Absolutely fabulous excursion.  Gary and Susan G from Houston

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, ggat said:

Gary and Susan G from Houston

Welcome to CC.

[ldubs]

If I had to skip one I would skip Mykonos.  It is pretty but I prefer the other places for wandering around.   

[Rjh8842]

I actually did not find Santorini crowded when I went the November before covid. But I also did things a little differently. We got off the ship first thing  in the morning and took the lift out of port.  Then walked to the local bus to go to Akrotiri. Before catching the bus we noticed a fish spa near the bus station that would open later in the day. I always wanted to try it but they are not legal where I live. So we went to Akrotiri then the fish spa and since we still had plenty of time we then took the bus to Oia explored a bit and then took the bus back. The only thing I would not recommend doing that we did was walking back down to the ship. I am a huge walker. I spend about 2 hours a day just walking my dogs. But I would would not take that walk down again. It was very steep, slippery and covered in feces. 

[sgmn]

43 minutes ago, Rjh8842 said:

I spend about 2 hours a day just walking my dogs. But I would would not take that walk down again. It was very steep, slippery and covered in feces. 

Just goes to show, different people, different experiences. 

We've walked down twice. We're in our mid 60s, not particularly fit though I also walk our dog every day, I also have a dodgy knee,  but, taking it slow  managed it without problems. I thought the steps were wide and shallow. Yes there is donkey droppings but easy to avoid.

I will say there was one lady who was in difficulties, so I guess know your own limitations, do some research and make an informed choice.

There's lots of info on the CC Greece port pages about Santorini. 

 

On our last trip we were all set to walk down after lunch but on passing the vernacular lift there was no queue so took the lift down

 

[dani negreanu]

May be worth to mention that not all ships arrive and leave at the same time.

 

Nevertheless, we splurged for a DIY ship sponsored tour, which left us very early in the morning in Oia.

[Homosassa]

On 12/4/2022 at 8:13 PM, taglovestocruise said:

Sometimes a little crowded

Yup! Looks like the wood cut I referenced in Post #7.