goingtobeijing

I will be on a cruise that visits Santorini in November. I have never been to the Greek Islands. I am debating whether to join the ships shore excursion. I prefer to sightsee by myself, however, the ship will be tendered, from 8 am to 4 pm, I will have priority disembarkation if I join the shore excursion.

If I don't join the excursion I'm concerned I may not get of the ship until 10.30 or 11 am, and I need to be back onboard by 3.30 pm. Therefore, I will have 4 and 1/2 or 5 hours to see Fira and Oia. Will this be enought time, or should I join the shore excursion?

Any tips/info would be appreciated.

NeoPatrick

I guess I'd want to know what they say the shore excursion is. If it's one of those organized tours where you spend two hours at a remote glass blowing factory or lace making studio, for example, I'd run. And I wouldn't care on Santorini about going to the beaches. How much time do they give you on your own? Do they take you to Fira and to Oia? Anywhere else?

goingtobeijing

NeoPatrick, thanks for the feedback. You make a very good point, a high pressure sales tactic is very common on shore excursions and wastes time.

The shore excursion I am looking at goes to Fira, Oia, the caldera and a Winery. Then has some free time in Fira, the tour description does not specify how much free time, i would assume it won't be very long. My concern is getting off the ship, I know I will get off rather late if I don't join a shore excursion and I would like to make the most of my visit to Santorini. I've never been, and realistically, I won't go back.

I would like to see Fira, Oia and the submerged caldera. I would also like a little time for shopping.

NeoPatrick

Ouch, there's that winery -- akin to lace and glass blowing, no doubt with the sales pitch at the end to buy some wines.

brotherleelove2004

Goingtobeijing-

See if you can determine if you are tendered ashore below Fira at the old port where you'd take the cable car up the cliff, or at the new port of Athinios. If it's Athinios then you can opt for a taxi or rental car picked up on the wharf to take you wherever you'd like to go first, then make your way back to the port within the time allotted. If you want a rental car Spiridakos Rent-A-Car has an office right there at Athinios and you can order the car ahead of time online to save as much time as possible.

http://www.greekhotel.com/cyclades/s...-car/home.html

If you're from the States or Canada you'll need an International Driving Permit. Pick one up at your local AAA or CAA office for around $25. No test required. Also, if you need to drive an automatic transmission you'll need to specify as most rentals have manual transmissions.

goingtobeijing

brotherleelove2004, thanks for the feedback.

From what I can tell the ship will be docked near Fira, because on the tour descriprion, it states that we will taken to Fira for some free time, and we will be provided with a cable car ticket.

I would rather explore Santorini independently. I am travelling solo and I do not want to rent a car.

How much would a taxi be from Fira to Oia? I have read that the bus is every hour, is it reliable?

How can I see the cladera if I travel by bus?

NeoPatrick

You see the caldera when you are docked at Fira -- you will be in the middle of it. And you'll get great views from anywhere in Fira or Oia. It's not anything in particular. It's the area of water to the side of the island, with a little ring of land on the other side.

Here's a view of the caldera:

http://tinyurl.com/62g4oa

pat

Patrick, what a great picture!

cathies

I think you can do it on your own. The cable car will take you straight to the top and virtually into the centre of Fira. You could spend a few hours wandering around enjoying the amazing view. Then catch a cab or get a local bus to Oia and spend another few hours there. Fira is jam packed with shops aimed at tourists and you may choose to avoid these, but it's a gorgeous little town and worth seeing. Oia is just as cute, but not aimed at the cruise ships so not so focused on retail. I think it will be easy to do this day trip independently.

Londonres

You might find this article helpful:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cr...ve-sights.html

brotherleelove2004

The bus system on Santorini is very good and it's reliable. There will be at least one bus per hour between Fira and Oia. In Fira the bus square is down below the Atlantis Hotel, the largest hotel overlooking the caldera (you can't miss it).

Timetables for the return bus to Fira are posted in the Oia bus square outside the Ecorama Holidays office.

PLEASE DON'T ride the poor abused donkeys up from the wharf, even if you get impatient with the cable car lines.

goingtobeijing

Thanks to everyone for their help.

Well, it looks like I am stuck with the ships shore excursion, since there will be a total of three large cruise ships in port on the same day. The other two ships arrive an hour before the ship I'm on, so I am assuming, even if I can get off on one of the first tenders there will be very long lines for the cable car. I wouldn't take the donkey even if you paid me, and I really don't think I'll enjoy a 45 to 50 min hike uphill.

Hopefully, the sales pitch at the winery won't waste much time.

cinquanta

I was in Santorini last June and went on the tour to the Santo Winery. They gave a brief tour of the small winery and a tasting afterwards. It was nice but you are not missing anything if you don't go.
If you really don't want to do the tour you can opt for a relaxing day in Fira. Plenty of shopping and restaurants. Oia is similar but is known for spectacular sunsets, which you will not be there for. Oia is only about 6-8 miles away but it is a very windy road, you may want to take a taxi if you want to see Oia.
If you stay in Fira there is an Archaeological Museum (not the one near the cable car) which has artifacts from Akrotiri.

Santori

You mentioned that you are going in November. I also plan to go in November, but not by cruise. By plane from Athens. Are the island tours going on daily in November for us independent travelers, or do they only go on cruise days in November? I want to go on the boat trip to Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni and perhaps Thirassia, and also to Ia.

In addition, is the island bus system still regular and frequent in November?

I read something about a submarine trip there. Does anyone know anything about that?

Santori

One more question. Do flights to Santorini from Athens in November need to be booked far in advance?

brotherleelove2004

Not necessarily, but right now Aegean Airlines has a special offer of 39 euro each way, all taxes included.

Santori

Wow! That's a great price! I'll probably book it tomorrow. Right now I'm checking out hotels to make sure the whole thing comes together. I wonder if Aegean might have a special fare from Athens to Cyprus one of these days..... I need to go there after Santorini.
Thanks!

brotherleelove2004

The 39 euro fare applies to all the islands, including Greek Cyprus. The airport is Larnaca.

Santori

That's great! I'll check it out today. I already booked the Santorini one from Athens, 128 USD RT. Thanks.

brotherleelove2004

Sorry, I have to make a correction. Those promo fares on Aegean are 49 euro, NOT 39 euro.