Whenever I think of Santorini, this is the picture that comes to mind, and will forever be etched in my memory. But how did we get here? Let me tell you how the day started. This one’s a doozie!
Santorini is a volcanic island in the Aegean Sea. It is known for the white buildings overlooking the coast, some dotted with blue domes. For cruise ship passengers, getting there is a journey. As cruise ships aren’t able to dock at the ancient port, passengers are tendered to the base of the volcano. At any given time, you could have 3-5 ships unloading thousands of passengers simultaneously. So if you don’t have a preferred departure with your cruise line (in this case Norwegian Guests booked in the Haven), this is your first wait. At the base of the volcano, you have three ways to get up: walk, donkey ride, or cable car. The walk uphill is challenging. And riding the donkeys just aren’t a pleasant experience in my opinion. This is why most people opt for the cable car. And the wait is extremally long, approximately 90 minutes! And did it mention how warm it is in the Mediterranean in the summer yet?!
Cable car tickets cannot be purchased in advance. There is a ticket office that only accepts cash. It’s a nominal fee of EUR 6 per person, EUR 3 for children.
Eventually you make it to the top, where you are free to explore Fira, or meet your driver guide, which is what we did. We booked a private, full-day tour of the city that showcased the Best of Santorini. We could not have asked for a better guide, who customized the day based on our interests. We made a loop around the island with stops in the well known villages of Fira and Oia. By the way, if you are interested in staying on the island for amazing views of the sunset, dinner reservations in either of the these two villages is what you’ll want to secure in advance.
Next we were whisked away to the countryside where we saw a number of windmills. According to our guide, while they played an important role many years ago, now they are decorative, but well maintained to pay respect to the past. We also saw the creative way grape vines are molded to preserve water and withstand strong winds. This basket method is unique to Santorini. I did not get a photo of one, but you can see examples here.
We made a stop at the Prophet Elias Monastery in Thira, which sits at the highest point on Santorini. It provides sweeping views of the island. The monastery is small, but active, and was built in 1712. The monks have a small gift shop where they sell rosaries and olive oil they press themselves. Naturally we had to bring a little olive oil back home with us.
The Santorini Lighthouse (or Akrotiri Lighthouse) is still operational, but it is not open to the public. The site offers gorgeous views of the sea and the Caldera, so is still worth a visit.
We ended the day at a beach club, which definitely gave Tulum vibes. These are popular with tourists as good beach access is a bit of a challenge, and there were quite a few to choose from. With a full restaurant and bar, you can easily spend a day here.
I was mesmerized by the black sand beach.
Following the beach club, our driver guide returned us to our meeting location. We did a little shopping, and a little more exploring before deciding to head back to the ship. Around 5:00 PM, the line for the cable car was snaked through the entire old town. We literally could not find the end! Our son decided to walk down, and our daughter somehow convinced the FamTrav husband and me to ride the donkey down with her. I kid you not, I lasted all of 5 minutes. The smell was foul, and the ride down was so bumpy I got nauseous. Without a care in the world for the EUR 10 I just paid for my ticket, I was helped down and walked the 5,000,001 steps down in the heat. But not before our daughter got this glamor shot! 🤣
Back on the ship, we showered (some of us longer than others), had dinner, and checked out a few activities on the ship before retiring for the night. Cable car line and donkey smell aside, I remember going to bed thinking how full my heart was being able to experience this with my three favorite people.
Mykonos: Delos in 3D and an afternoon in Mykonos
Zakynthos: Shipwreck Beach & Blue Caves
Kotor : Blue Cave, Mamula Island, Submarine Tunnel, Lady of the Rocks
Venice: The Port That Almost Didn’t Make It
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