Cruise Port Guide · Mediterranean
Santorini, Greece
Santorini is the postcard island: whitewashed villages and blue domes spilling down volcanic cliffs above the caldera. Cruise ships anchor in the caldera and tender guests ashore, so how you get up the cliff (and how long the lines are) shapes your whole day. Sailing with Royal Caribbean? Their new private beach club comes with a tour of Oia and Fira.
Santorini at a glance
Our consultants who’ve been here
DeeAnn & Allison
“We skipped the crowded cable car and instead enjoyed a quick boat transfer to the new port.” – DeeAnn
Our top picks in Santorini
Our recommendations on what to see and do, based on our own experience in port.
Skip the cable car lines
Most ships tender guests to the old port below Fira, and the line for the cable car up the cliff can be long. DeeAnn’s group skipped it completely: a quick boat transfer took them around to the new port, where their guide was waiting with a van. More time touring, less time standing in line!
- Getting ashore
- Tender to the old port
- The problem
- Long cable car lines
- DeeAnn’s fix
- Boat transfer to the new port
- Then
- Your guide meets you there
A private island tour
With a personal guide, DeeAnn’s group visited all of Santorini’s iconic viewpoints and wandered the picture-perfect cobblestone lanes. Lunch was a highlight: a seaside meal at an old tomato factory turned chic beachfront restaurant and beach club, with the sound of the waves and fresh Mediterranean flavours.
- How DeeAnn went
- Private guide and van
- You’ll see
- The island’s best viewpoints
- Lunch
- A beach club by the sea
- Good for
- Seeing a lot in one day
Oia
Oia is the village on every Santorini postcard, with whitewashed houses, blue domes and those legendary caldera views. DeeAnn’s group wandered its picture-perfect streets, shopped and soaked in the views, then found hidden corners and quiet moments in the narrow lanes.
- Known for
- Caldera views and blue domes
- Good for
- Shopping and photos
- Wear
- Comfy shoes for the steps
- Busiest
- Midday and sunset
Royal Beach Club Santorini (Royal Caribbean)
Sailing with Royal Caribbean? Their new Royal Beach Club Santorini, Europe’s first Royal Beach Club, opened in April 2026 on a private stretch of volcanic black sand beach. The Ultimate Santorini Day combines the beach club with stops in Oia and Fira, with transportation included. At the club you get a Greek buffet (gyros, Greek salad and frozen yogurt), unlimited draft beer, house wine and soft drinks, a welcome cocktail, loungers, umbrellas, towels, changing cabanas, Wi-Fi and a DJ.
- Tour
- Beach club, Oia and Fira
- Included
- Transfers, Greek buffet, beer and wine
- Open
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Book
- In the Royal Caribbean app
Read DeeAnn’s 10-night Starry Nights in Greece & Croatia sailing on Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady: Santorini, Bodrum, Mykonos, Dubrovnik, Kotor and Corfu.
More ideas for your day in Santorini
Popular things to do that we book for clients.
Hunt for the blue domesSantorini’s blue-domed churches are the classic photo. Your guide will know the best spots to catch them with the caldera behind, without climbing over other people’s selfies.
Watch your all-aboard timeSantorini sunsets are famous, but your ship usually sails before then and the tender and cable car lines back down can be long. Leave plenty of time to get back to the ship.
Know before you go
- It’s a tender port: Ships anchor in the caldera, so plan extra time to get ashore and back.
- Book tours ahead: The best excursions sell out, and DeeAnn’s boat transfer saved her group a long line.
- Best months: May, June, September and October are DeeAnn’s picks: warm, with fewer crowds than mid-summer.
- Fly in a day early: If your cruise starts in Athens, arrive at least a day ahead so a delayed flight doesn’t cost you the ship.
- Bring your passport: Passport valid for at least six months past your return date (the safest rule of thumb).
Santorini FAQs
Quick answers for your day in port
Do cruise ships dock in Santorini?
No, ships anchor in the caldera and tender guests to the old port below Fira. From there you take the cable car up, or book a tour with a boat transfer to the new port like DeeAnn did.
How do I skip the cable car line in Santorini?
Book a shore excursion that includes a boat transfer to the new port, where your guide meets you.
What should I see in Santorini on a cruise?
Oia, the island’s iconic caldera viewpoints and the blue domes. DeeAnn’s group also had lunch at a beach club in an old tomato factory.
What is Royal Beach Club Santorini?
Royal Caribbean’s private beach club on a volcanic black sand beach in Santorini, opened in April 2026. The Ultimate Santorini Day tour combines the club with Oia and Fira, including transportation, a Greek buffet and unlimited draft beer, house wine and soft drinks. It’s also open to Celebrity and Silversea guests, booked through your cruise line’s app once you’re booked.
Do I need a passport for a Mediterranean cruise?
Canadians must travel with a valid passport, and we recommend it be valid for at least six months past your return date. Some destinations only require three months, but six months is the safest rule of thumb.
Does it cost more to book a Mediterranean cruise with a travel agent?
No, there’s no fee to book a cruise with Travitude Travel Group. You get a consultant who has actually sailed these ports and can help with pre-cruise hotels, private tours and transfers.
Start planning
Ready for a Greek Isles cruise?
We’ve been there, and we’d love to help you plan every port, from tours and transfers to pre-cruise nights in Athens, including Santorini.