Santorini tender on the Silhouette

[SnorkelBoy]

So we get into port at 7am and i know that cruise excursions get first priority. we have a cooking class in Oia at 10 am.  so with the tender and the cable car (my wife can't go uphill for a few weeks) and from ones experienceit is even a likelyhood to make it.

 

Thanks

 

Dave

[PurpleTraveller]

A lot will depend on how many ships are in port and their arrival times. If you are the first ship to arrive your timings will be a lot better than if you are a later ship. As you are due to arrive at 7.00am if you get one of the first tenders for independent passengers the line for the cable car should not be too long.

 

Once at the top you will then have to get to Oia which takes about 25 to 30 minutes by taxi which would be the quickest way. There is the public bus but though it is cheaper it takes longer and it depends on when you get up to Fira.

 

I was on Infinity in June and our scheduled arrival was 8.00am however we arrived at 7.30am. At 7.40am the line to collect tender tickets at the Martini Bar went through the Casino and into the Photo Gallery. Line up early to get the earliest tender ticket possible. The first tender called for independent passengers was at 7.50am.

 

Ship excursion passengers tender to the Old Port where the cable car, stairs and donkeys are. Shore excursion passengers tender to the Athinios Ferry Port to get their buses so there are two seperate tender routes.

 

I have twice arrived in Santorini at 7.00am when on Princess ships (both times the first ship to arrive) and been on the first tender for independent passengers, not had a line for the cable car, got the cable car up to Fira, walked to the bus station, got the 8.30am bus and arrived in Oia at 9.15am so it is possible to be in Oia before 10.00am.

 

If the ship arrives at the scheduled time (or earlier), you get on an early tender, get on the cable car with a minimal wait and get a taxi quickly you should be able to make your cooking class but if there are any major delays it could be a bit tight. 

 

Edited 23 hours ago by PurpleTraveller

[alyssamma]

4 hours ago, SnorkelBoy said:

So we get into port at 7am and i know that cruise excursions get first priority. we have a cooking class in Oia at 10 am.  so with the tender and the cable car (my wife can't go uphill for a few weeks) and from ones experienceit is even a likelyhood to make it.

 

Thanks

 

Dave

@PurpleTraveller gave you excellent advice. I will add a few things...

 

1) Regardless of your wife's condition, don't take the stairs. It's a nightmare.

 

2) Check the port schedule to see who is there when you arrive. If it is just you, or you and another ship, you will probably be fine. I was just there in May and had zero problems. As a side note, Greece is starting to charge a tourist fee for ship passengers to Santorini and also is limiting the number of passengers there. 

 

3) There is another option. There is a boat (water taxi) that will take you directly to Oia from the bottom (i.e., before the cable car) of the port. You may want to Google this. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with that, but I'm sure someone who does will chime in.

 

Good luck!

[Miaminice]

Take the speed boat to Oia and skip the line for the cable car.

You turn left at the pier and you can’t miss the ticket booth.

 

Santorini implemented a new rule recently. If there are more than 8000 pax, they pause tender operations of all ships in the caldera. That might cause a wait.

 

Whatever you do get to the spot where they hand out tender tickets as early as possible to get an early number. If you are Elite or above, you don’t need a ticket but have priority.

 

[Coolcruise02]

4 hours ago, SnorkelBoy said:

So we get into port at 7am and i know that cruise excursions get first priority. we have a cooking class in Oia at 10 am.  so with the tender and the cable car (my wife can't go uphill for a few weeks) and from ones experienceit is even a likelyhood to make it.

 

Thanks

 

Dave

When are you going? The month is very important. July vs Oct

[Milhouse]

Got to say that some people can be pretty aggressive when queuing for tender tickets.  But what I found funny was that when we were tendering for Santorini on Connie last year, it didn't make a lot of difference, as long as you were generally in the same part of the queue. 

 

Some observations (YMMV of course):

The person in front of me wanted like 13 tender tix for her group so they could make an excursion.  However, they ended up getting a tender number after me because the person handing out tix only had four tix of tender ticket 11 so gave them 13 tix for tender ticket 12.  Whereas I only needed two so I was given tender ticket 11.

Interestingly, they called a set of tender tix at once (ie. Tender tix 10, 11, 12, and 13).

You also have to be ready to go.  We were on one of the early tenders off and I didn't see many of the people queuing early for tix with me (eg. The group of 13 was no were to be seen).  

 

(I'm just happy we finally have access to priority tendering now!)

[SnorkelBoy]

So thanks for all the answers.  We will be at Santorini on Oct 3 and there are 3 ships arriving at 7 and several others, though they are much smaller, later on.  If I take the speed boat to Oia as I understand it we still have to get up the hill by foot, is that correct. I read there is a bus but someone said it doesnt take you into Oia?? 

[SnorkelBoy]

16 hours ago, PurpleTraveller said:

A lot will depend on how many ships are in port and their arrival times. If you are the first ship to arrive your timings will be a lot better than if you are a later ship. As you are due to arrive at 7.00am if you get one of the first tenders for independent passengers the line for the cable car should not be too long.

 

Once at the top you will then have to get to Oia which takes about 25 to 30 minutes by taxi which would be the quickest way. There is the public bus but though it is cheaper it takes longer and it depends on when you get up to Fira.

 

I was on Infinity in June and our scheduled arrival was 8.00am however we arrived at 7.30am. At 7.40am the line to collect tender tickets at the Martini Bar went through the Casino and into the Photo Gallery. Line up early to get the earliest tender ticket possible. The first tender called for independent passengers was at 7.50am.

 

Ship excursion passengers tender to the Old Port where the cable car, stairs and donkeys are. Shore excursion passengers tender to the Athinios Ferry Port to get their buses so there are two seperate tender routes.

 

I have twice arrived in Santorini at 7.00am when on Princess ships (both times the first ship to arrive) and been on the first tender for independent passengers, not had a line for the cable car, got the cable car up to Fira, walked to the bus station, got the 8.30am bus and arrived in Oia at 9.15am so it is possible to be in Oia before 10.00am.

 

If the ship arrives at the scheduled time (or earlier), you get on an early tender, get on the cable car with a minimal wait and get a taxi quickly you should be able to make your cooking class but if there are any major delays it could be a bit tight. 

 

Thsi port is even further away but looks like I could get a taxi.  I'm going to find out when and where the tender tickets are given out and get there early 

[Jeremiah1212]

There are seven ships in port that day. I'm not sure if the timing is correct on the app I am looking at. None of them are huge ships but there are still seven. Keep in mind you will be far from the only one trying to snag early tickets so be patient. People get really silly. Last time we did this it was nearly 11am before we got off the ship then ended up walking the stairs to Fira. I would try to allow more time if it's possible.