We will be on a cruise with a stop in Santorini. Everybody is talking about cable car long lines.

It is my understanding, all tours, even those who pick you up off the tender, drop you off on the top to take the cable car. For those who can't walk down or use a donkey, and cannot stand for an hour in line, is there an alternative?

Is there a tour that does not drop you off at the top? Bus tour, or boat tour that can be taken from the tender point and back without going "upstairs"?

I guess, my question is, if not for cable car, what else is there to do

There is no road down to the dock for the tenders. If you are tendered ashore below the main village of Fira your options for getting up the cliff are the cable car or the steps. PLEASE DON'T RIDE THE POOR ABUSED DONKEYS! There's really nothing to do on the dock, so if you aren't inclined to make your way up the cliff you might as well stay aboard ship.

If you are tendered ashore at the new port of Athinios (unlikely) then you can grab a taxi, a bus or rent a car right there to get up the cliff and explore the island.

I honestly would hate for you not to see the views from 'on top', they are spectacular. I remember standing in line for the cable cars to go back down but I don't remember it taking an hour. We took a bus up so there has to be buses down, but I have no info on them. Sorry. I would suggest that you post your question on CruiseCritic, a lot of cruisers post there with a lot information.

Brother, I guess I've worded my question poorly. I am not looking for alternatives to go up, I am looking for something to do without going up.

CD: if there is a bus up, should be a bus down, you think Most likely not, they want you to shop in Fira. And yes, I posted on CruiseCritic.

If you're tendered ashore at Athinios (unlikely) there are a few souvenier shops and some restaurants on the wharf, but really not much at all of any interest. As I've already said, there's nothing much on the wharf below Fira.

Hi Dayenu,

There are two different ports: Athinos for ferries, and the old port at Fira used by most cruise ship tenders. Athinos has a road for cars, taxis, and buses, while the old port has a cable car and steps, but no road. Since there is no road at the old port, there will be no buses going up and down. So, your choices seem to be: stay aboard ship; take the tender to the old port and stand at the bottom of the cliff; climb the steps; or, take the cable car. ;-)

...Poor abused donkeys... What? They are mules and I cannot recall ever seeing mules in such top shape - some even seem to be heavy. They go to work every day - like many people - so what. I see donkeys and mules in many nations, and the Fira bunch are certainly healthy looking. They are nasty and miserable, but they are always nasty and miserable - it is their destiny.

Heimdall, thank you, I think I was confused by bus tours taking passengers - probably there are different tenders, those going on tours go to the new port, those going off on their own go to the old port. I wondered why a bus can pick people up, but cannot bring them back.

Just trying to be prepared and exploring all options!

merckxxx-please read here: http://www.express.co.uk/search/santorini

Dayenu, I think you still have misinformation. There are a FEW cruise ships (not many) who anchor by the New Port ... and their passengers, whether on the Ship excursion or not, can take a bus up a road to the top. The excursion folks will take a ship-hired bus, the do-it-yourselfers will get on the PUBLIC bus that goes to/from to the "new port", Athinos..

Heimdall is correct, According to what I have been told by cruise-takers, and what I have observed, looking down from above. Most other cruise ships, anchored out in the deep, seem to tender ALL their passenger onto the Old Port. HOwever, they seem to favor the people who sign up for the (expensive) ship excursion, and put them at the front so the first 2 or 3 tender-loads are excursion folks... and the other passengers have to wait behind.

This crucial kind of information is often not obtained by people who are lured by brochures and whose agents don't give them full information. Many of the cruises with very attractive prices have vaguely worded descriptions, and after you send in your money, you realize that a Santorini "visit" is actually a stop between 4 pm and 8 pm ... or a Patmos "visit" is 8 am to noon. IT's more of a 'drive-by' experience.

I would find out how many cruise ships are stopping there the day you are there. If there are many, you are certainly in for a long wait no matter what. You will also find the town very crowded and not so much fun. I think Santorini should only allow a certain amount of ships docked per day and that would probably solve lots of the long line problems.

I didn't realize that it was so difficult to get to Fira from cruise ships. I never saw those poor donkeys or a gondola. You should go up to Fira and then to Oia to see Santorini and it's views. Or, stay on board the ship. We arrived by ferry and had a driver waiting at the port for us. I hope you can figure out how to get to the top.It doesn't seem fair to cruise passengers to only offer those two ways to get up.

Oh, OK, so we can dock in the New Port with a bus to/from (that is highly unlikely as our schedule is 1 pm - 10 pm) or anchor with tenders to the Old Port with cable car.

Did I get it right this time? Please forgive me, never been to Greece!

I know about tenders taking off cruise ship tour people first, all ships do this, we are used to it, not a problem.

I think we will anchor as all ship tours end with "you will return to the ship by cable car"

Dayenu, you need to find out from your CRUISE adminstration where the ship will dock ... don't take it for granted unless the wording is specific; phone or e-mail and ask directly.

Dayenu, how fit are you? Are you able to climb stairs or walk up a slanted road? In the past, I've walked up the path the donkeys take. It didn't take all that long and was a nice little bit of exercise. In fact, two of us walked and we beat the others up.

Hmmm... I have a problem walking up, and the hubby is in pain walking down, we make a good pair Walking and donkeys are out.

Jan, I will call the cruise line closer to departure.

We were there last May and the lines were not long at all. When is your cruise?

May 14-21

Dayenu, the cruise line will know now which port they will use. Why not find out now?

Also, what DATE exactly are you scheduled to be at Santorini? Here's why: there is a link called Cruise Timetable -- it shows which ships are scheduled to be in a given port on a given date, all over the world. The sublink I'm giving you shows all the ships in Santorini on May 2010 -- and if you click May 2011 on the top band, in a few months it will show the ships expected on every day in May 2011 ... right now no ships are listed for 2011, but keep an eye on your date.
http://cruisett.com/ports.php?PortID=805&date=21

You could be in luck. May is not a busy time for Santorini. I really hope you go ahead and take the cable car up. I'd hate for you to miss those gorgeous views and also that incredible light, sounds (or lack of). A visit to Oia, the Red Beach, the Black Beach, a few wineries, Akrotiri (if it's open) are all fun things to do and well worth it.