Deciding Between Cruise Excursion or Private Tour

[envirochick]

Hello All,

 

While this information may be scattered throughout this forum in one form or another, I would appreciate your help.

 

Is there an very great advantage to booking an excursion in Santorini through your ship? 1st on the tender? Quicker access up the hill, or do you avoid the hill entirely on some island tours? Other positives?

 

For those who have been to the island before, would you recommend seeing both Fira and Oia if it's our first time there? Or were you more awed by something other than the towns?

 

Thanks,

 

envirochick

[TMLAalum]

We did spend the bucks for Celebrity's Oia-Winery-Fira excursion last June. The biggest plus was arriving in Oia before most other tourists. And we did get to see other parts of Santorini enroute.

 

However, we and most of our busload ditched the tour in Oia! We enjoyed having more time in this lovely village than the shipex allotted. From Oia we walked down to Ammoudi port, had lunch at Katina's, and then were met by a chartered boat which cruised for a couple hours before dropping us below Fira where it was a short walk to the ship's tenders.

 

It was a bit pricey to use a ship tour solely for transportation, but our day in Santorini was one of our most special.

[paul929207]

Most ships drop the passengers on their tours at the old port. From there passengers get on buses and go. Those on their own are tendered to the bottom of Fira. From there it is a walk/cable car/donkey to the top. We took the public bus from Fira to Oia. It was great and only about 1 1/2 Euros per person each way

[Chloe1500]

We also took a ship's excursion last fall to avoid the donkeys and cable car lineups. It was not expensive. Our ship anchored (I know, I know, not really anchored as some posters will no doubt correct me to say:)), and tenders took us to the Old Port while others were tendered to the New Port at Fira. Buses can get into the Old Port, and we traveled south to a hilltop winery for a tasting (which was a great way to start the day--wine and olives for breakfast) and amazing island views.

 

After the winery, the bus dropped us at Oia for time on our own. We did take the tour bus on to Fira after that and were given tickets to the cable cars. We had a late lunch there and by the time we got on the cable cars, there was no line to go down. It worked for us.

[envirochick]

That sounds like a great day! I'll certainly look into that particular excursion. What mode of transportation was used to get to Oia? Thanks.

 

 

We did spend the bucks for Celebrity's Oia-Winery-Fira excursion last June. The biggest plus was arriving in Oia before most other tourists. And we did get to see other parts of Santorini enroute.

 

However, we and most of our busload ditched the tour in Oia! We enjoyed having more time in this lovely village than the shipex allotted. From Oia we walked down to Ammoudi port, had lunch at Katina's, and then were met by a chartered boat which cruised for a couple hours before dropping us below Fira where it was a short walk to the ship's tenders.

 

It was a bit pricey to use a ship tour solely for transportation, but our day in Santorini was one of our most special.

[envirochick]

Did you catch the bus in Fira, and reached it via cable car or donkey? How long was the bus trip to Oia and was it easy to schedule the return trip (busses run many times a day)? Thanks so much!

 

 

 

Most ships drop the passengers on their tours at the old port. From there passengers get on buses and go. Those on their own are tendered to the bottom of Fira. From there it is a walk/cable car/donkey to the top. We took the public bus from Fira to Oia. It was great and only about 1 1/2 Euros per person each way

[envirochick]

Look like two votes for the Oia winery tour. X offer the Oia/winery tour on our dates for 75 p/p, which is average for a 3.5 hour tour. This one mentions nothing about potential drop off in Fira... Thanks.

 

 

 

We also took a ship's excursion last fall to avoid the donkeys and cable car lineups. It was not expensive. Our ship anchored (I know, I know, not really anchored as some posters will no doubt correct me to say:)), and tenders took us to the Old Port while others were tendered to the New Port at Fira. Buses can get into the Old Port, and we traveled south to a hilltop winery for a tasting (which was a great way to start the day--wine and olives for breakfast) and amazing island views.

 

After the winery, the bus dropped us at Oia for time on our own. We did take the tour bus on to Fira after that and were given tickets to the cable cars. We had a late lunch there and by the time we got on the cable cars, there was no line to go down. It worked for us.

[paul929207]

Did you catch the bus in Fira, and reached it via cable car or donkey? How long was the bus trip to Oia and was it easy to schedule the return trip (busses run many times a day)? Thanks so much!

Yes, we tool the Cable car to Fira. It was then about a 10 minute walk to the bus station. The bus to Oia took about 30 minutes. Scenery was beautiful. We wandered Oia and shopped until we decided to head back. We may have been lucky, but we just waited about 10 minutes for the bus to arrive.

[Banana Bread]

I have this booked too. There are two slot times 7:30 and 12. I am assuming 7:30 would be better? In my details for my pkg it shows drop off at the end at Fira.

[Adventures ahead]

Yes, we tool the Cable car to Fira. It was then about a 10 minute walk to the bus station. The bus to Oia took about 30 minutes. Scenery was beautiful. We wandered Oia and shopped until we decided to head back. We may have been lucky, but we just waited about 10 minutes for the bus to arrive.

 

We've also done this twice. Easy and inexpensive.

[Petoonya]

We did spend the bucks for Celebrity's Oia-Winery-Fira excursion last June. The biggest plus was arriving in Oia before most other tourists. And we did get to see other parts of Santorini enroute.

 

However, we and most of our busload ditched the tour in Oia! We enjoyed having more time in this lovely village than the shipex allotted. From Oia we walked down to Ammoudi port, had lunch at Katina's, and then were met by a chartered boat which cruised for a couple hours before dropping us below Fira where it was a short walk to the ship's tenders.

 

It was a bit pricey to use a ship tour solely for transportation, but our day in Santorini was one of our most special.

 

Yikes....you really don't want to "ditch the bus tour" without telling the driver or tour guide first. We've always rented a car in Santorini. But spoke with several people on our ship last week who said their tour buses waited for others 30-45 minutes and finally gave up. Doing so caused everyone else to miss a stop, and a lot of harsh words exchanged back later onboard.

If you are arriving early in the day renting a car is terrific.

[TMLAalum]

Yikes....you really don't want to "ditch the bus tour" without telling the driver or tour guide first. We've always rented a car in Santorini. But spoke with several people on our ship last week who said their tour buses waited for others 30-45 minutes and finally gave up. Doing so caused everyone else to miss a stop, and a lot of harsh words exchanged back later onboard.

If you are arriving early in the day renting a car is terrific.

 

Of course we told our guide that we wouldn't be returning to the bus after being dropped off in Oia!! Other pax not with our group returning to Fira port via boat also let her know they'd not be reboarding the bus.

 

Perhaps the word "ditched" was not the best word choice to describe what we did. In retrospect, I probably should have posted that we informed our guide we'd be staying in Oia, gave her our names, and enjoyed our time there with clear consciences.

[Petoonya]

Of course we told our guide that we wouldn't be returning to the bus after being dropped off in Oia!! Other pax not with our group returning to Fira port via boat also let her know they'd not be reboarding the bus.

 

Perhaps the word "ditched" was not the best word choice to describe what we did. In retrospect, I probably should have posted that we informed our guide we'd be staying in Oia, gave her our names, and enjoyed our time there with clear consciences.

 

 

Awesome!

Guess there are some here and there who are not as honorable as you.

Very best wishes to you.

[envirochick]

Great info!

 

 

We have not yet booked the X excursion to Oia, however we have investigated renting a car from Tony's to tour the island on our own and at our leisure. We'll be on the first tender group and have until 6:00 pm on the island. We'll also be the only ship in post that day. I've read some great posts from people who have rented transportation and did their own thing. This would be a less expensive means of transport than taking a tour and dumping out of it in Oia for $150.00. It looks as though one positive of the tour is a separate tender drop off point that allows you to bypass donkeys and cable cars, which can't be bypassed when renting a car.

 

 

 

 

 

Yikes....you really don't want to "ditch the bus tour" without telling the driver or tour guide first. We've always rented a car in Santorini. But spoke with several people on our ship last week who said their tour buses waited for others 30-45 minutes and finally gave up. Doing so caused everyone else to miss a stop, and a lot of harsh words exchanged back later onboard.

If you are arriving early in the day renting a car is terrific.

[Petoonya]

Great info!

 

 

We have not yet booked the X excursion to Oia, however we have investigated renting a car from Tony's to tour the island on our own and at our leisure. We'll be on the first tender group and have until 6:00 pm on the island. We'll also be the only ship in post that day. I've read some great posts from people who have rented transportation and did their own thing. This would be a less expensive means of transport than taking a tour and dumping out of it in Oia for $150.00. It looks as though one positive of the tour is a separate tender drop off point that allows you to bypass donkeys and cable cars, which can't be bypassed when renting a car.

 

We've rented a car twice now from Tony and it's been fantastic. We arrived in Oia at 8:30am before all the crowds. Being able to go at your own pace and see what you want makes the day. Be sure to go to Santo winery at the opposite end of the island. Tony's is about a 5 minute walk from where the cable car leaves you, and he sends a great map to find him. This time on May 7 we had a late model compact Toyota for 35EU. Be sure to bring your drivers license along and check your auto insurance for coverage. Tony and his wife are sweethearts. His wife gave us a hug and a piece of local chocolate when we returned the car :)

[Host Star]

We've rented a car twice now from Tony and it's been fantastic. We arrived in Oia at 8:30am before all the crowds. Being able to go at your own pace and see what you want makes the day. Be sure to go to Santo winery at the opposite end of the island. Tony's is about a 5 minute walk from where the cable car leaves you, and he sends a great map to find him. This time on May 7 we had a late model compact Toyota for 35EU. Be sure to bring your drivers license along and check your auto insurance for coverage. Tony and his wife are sweethearts. His wife gave us a hug and a piece of local chocolate when we returned the car :)

did you make arrangements prior to your cruise with Tony for the rental car?.. if so, do you have the email address, etc. for him... thanks

[envirochick]

Of all our ports, this is the one we really wanted to explore on our own in the hopes we'd come back, rent a flat and spend some time on the island one day. Thus, the car rental and self tour fits us best, even though there are many who are adamant this port is a hassle and a ship's excursion is the best route to take.

 

I do have a question regarding the time frame you list. How long was the line for the cable car and how long did it take from the time you disembarked the ship to get to Tony's? Did you have special disembarkation privileges? Did you go to Santo Winery also? Thanks.

 

 

We've rented a car twice now from Tony and it's been fantastic. We arrived in Oia at 8:30am before all the crowds. Being able to go at your own pace and see what you want makes the day. Be sure to go to Santo winery at the opposite end of the island. Tony's is about a 5 minute walk from where the cable car leaves you, and he sends a great map to find him. This time on May 7 we had a late model compact Toyota for 35EU. Be sure to bring your drivers license along and check your auto insurance for coverage. Tony and his wife are sweethearts. His wife gave us a hug and a piece of local chocolate when we returned the car :)