Wow – I can’t consider it’s already Day 10 of our 12-night cruise. Today was our second to final port and it was great day within the the idyllic Greek island of Santorini.
Santorini is finest recognized for its charming village of Oia, positioned on the finish of the island and scattered with attractive blue-domed buildings on the cliffside. It’s definitely a bucket-list vacation spot for a lot of as a result of there’s no different place prefer it on this planet!
Although I’ve been to Santorini twice earlier than, this was the primary time that Angie and my mother and father have visited the island. We selected to do a shore tour by Royal Caribbean that visited the city of Fira, village of Oia and a neighborhood vineyard.
I do know that visiting Santorini could be logistically difficult. First, it requires tendering to the island from the ship. When you tender from the ship for unbiased exploring, it drops you off close to Fira. Once right here, you’re left to both take a cable automobile, stroll up a ton of stairs or trip a donkey.
You may also take the pace boat to Oia from the port of Fira, which is what I’ve carried out beforehand.
I used to be somewhat nervous about my mother and father having to take care of the cable automobile or donkey situation in Fira, so we thought the tour route could be finest. We booked an tour that had a bus trip to and from the port, which I felt could be probably the most satisfying expertise for everybody.
After the fiasco in Masada (attempting to take a cable automobile with 1000’s of individuals) and realizing there could be 5 ships in port immediately, I used to be hopeful the shore tour would alleviate a few of these logistical pains.
Breakfast Views and Tendering
Since our tour had a gathering time of 9:45am, Angie and I awakened and had breakfast within the Windjammer. We have been greeted by sweeping views of the island of Santorini as Odyssey of the Seas pulled into its anchoring spot.
We at all times take pleasure in breakfast within the Windjammer for its wide range and we couldn’t cease wanting on the island. Even should you select to remain on the ship for the port of Santorini, you would benefit from the lovely views all day.
I finished for a fast espresso within the Diamond Club earlier than assembly with our tour group within the Royal Theatre.
Within 20 minutes, our tour group was known as and we made our method to the tendering spot. I observed that the excursions used a young on the entrance of the ship whereas tenders for unbiased explorers (i.e. not on a RCL shore tour) concurrently left from the again of the ship.
The tender trip was pretty with views of the ship and island. It was a very nice vessel and took not more than 10 minutes. Our tender was delivered to the Athinios Port whereas the opposite tenders from the ship dropped off passengers on the port close to Fira with the cable automobile.
Parade and Shopping in Fira
We boarded a bus with the branding “Santorini Luxury Travel” – which was actually something however luxurious!
While we sat within the very again, there was a clanking noise from the overhead bin whereas the bus weaved its approach up the cliff on switchbacks. We couldn’t hear something our tour information mentioned as a result of the clanking was so loud behind the bus.
We arrived in Fira proper firstly of a neighborhood parade! Today was a nationwide vacation in Greece, so there have been flags all around the island. It was enjoyable to see the parade happenings whereas we walked round Fira for some free time.
Because of the parade, the bus needed to park additional away from the city than regular. We didn’t thoughts the strolling, however some with mobility points have been grumbling in regards to the inclined stroll
We took this hour of free time to do some purchasing and watch bits of the parade. I additionally loved somewhat gelato whereas wandering the streets. It was a pleasant method to begin our day!
Of course, all over the place you look, there are merely breathtaking views of the island and the Mediterranean Sea. You simply can’t assist however take photos round each nook whereas strolling round Fira.
The white buildings, the purple flowers and the deep blue ocean make for some actually lovely photos. We couldn’t assist however take some images with a backdrop that appears like a portray.
Winery Stop
After our free-time in Fira, we walked again right down to the bus and informed the bus driver to show up his microphone so these of us within the again may hear him discuss.
We have been a part of a line of tour buses made our method to the Santo Wines, which is a neighborhood vineyard on the island. Santorini is the oldest winery in Europe. This was a pleasant and scenic vineyard the place we may pattern 3 completely different wines. We all loved the dessert wine, which was very candy.
There was additionally a desk of snacks together with cheese and tomatoes. Lucky for us, Angie snagged a bunch of cheese cubes earlier than they ran out that we may take pleasure in with our wines.
As with all over the place on Santorini, the views have been gorgeous. As I sat there and drank my dessert wine overlooking the cliffside, I assumed to myself that I’m actually residing the dream! How does it get higher than this?
What a blessing it’s been to share these reminiscences with not solely my household, but additionally with everybody studying on Royal Caribbean Blog.
Although I may have spent all day on the vineyard, time was restricted and we have been shuffled again to the busses for our journey to the primary attraction: Oia!
Village of Oia
When you see photos of Santorini, you’re more than likely seeing photos of the attractive village of Oia with the blue domes overlooking the ocean. This is what you come to see in Santorini!
I knew from expertise that Oia could be crowded with vacationers – each instances that I’ve been to Santorini (as soon as on a cruise and as soon as on a land-trip), it’s been tremendous congested in Oia. The alleys are small and everybody desires photos of the identical spots.
Our bus parked and we walked up the steps by the steering of our tour director. We have been greeted by probably the most breathtaking view of the island from either side, together with a view of our ship and the ocean under.
Everyone was awe-struck by the sweetness. It’s actually like nothing you’ve seen earlier than.
I had an surprising encounter with a bunch of vacationers proper as we entered Oia. I noticed two folks sporting Semester at Sea hoodies. Excitedly, I informed the group that I sailed with Semester at Sea in school 7 years in the past throughout Fall 2015.
Semester at Sea (a research overseas program that sails world wide on a ship whilst you take courses at sea) is a type of life-changing experiences that bonds folks collectively.
They mentioned they have been college students on the present voyage and the ship was docked in Athens! I informed the group how I additionally traveled to Santorini throughout my voyage; it was such a cool and nostalgic second that I by no means anticipated occurring. Such a small world!
After chatting for a bit, I met up with my household down the highway as they have been taking within the sights. We continued to wander the streets.
If we noticed a bunch of individuals congregating in a single place, we figured there could be a pleasant view worthwhile so we joined the crowds.
Along everybody else on the island, we took many photos with the views of the village within the distance. Some of the spots we discovered have been on cobblestone edges the place it will be simple to lose your footing and fall. We have been cautious to not step again too far, as all the pieces on Santorini is on the cliffside.
Santorini is sort of a postcard coming to life; you virtually can’t consider you’re seeing it particular person.
We solely had about 1.5 hours to wander round Oia and we had already shopped whereas in Fira. Instead, we used our time in Oia to take photos and stroll across the streets.
Everything is so quaint and charming, though flooded with folks all over the place you look. This was nonetheless fairly busy contemplating we have been visiting within the low season, though there have been 4 different ships in port immediately.
We ventured to a spot known as Lolita’s Gelato, which is the place my husband and I went on our honeymoon. Angie, dad and I loved a scoop of ice cream to prime off our time in Santorini. I informed the proprietor how I visited his shoppe a couple of years again and confirmed him photos – he was grateful for my return!
Santorini Sunset
Following our time in Oia, the bus drove us again to the Athinios Port. We had the choice of getting off in Fira and taking the cable automobile or donkey trip again down, however nobody on the bus opted for this.
The tender was ready for us on the port and promptly departed as soon as our bus unloaded and boarded the tender boat. I couldn’t consider it was really somewhat chilly throughout the trip again to the ship, so I sported my new Santorini hoodie.
We took much more photos of the island and ship because it anchored within the harbor. We have been grateful for a pleasant tour that alleviated the logistical points we have been nervous about. I might say it was definitely worth the cash to take this tour, particularly touring with my mother and father.
A number of folks shared tales in regards to the cable automobile being swamped with folks in a approach that could not be believed. We additionally heard from a pair who took donkeys down for $10 every, however the donkey chief compelled them to get off after solely making it about two-thirds of the way in which down. When the donkey chief compelled all of them to get off the saddles, one girl was caught and ended up falling into donkey poop.
Hearing tales like reassures our resolution that the tour was a good suggestion, though these do make nice tales!
Back onboard, we grabbed pizza at Sorrento’s and made our method to the highest deck to observe the sundown.
Santorini is known for its world-class sunsets; I informed my household that we would have liked to be late for dinner tonight as a result of the sunsets are merely unforgettable.
We grabbed a cocktail at Lime & Coconut from our favourite bartender, Dwayne (or Dwa as patty calls him), and snapped many photos of the gorgeous sundown. The solar peaked over a tiny island within the distance and lit up the ship and island with a heat golden hour.
It was a ravishing second that I’ll cherish. Of course, we took many photos as a result of the lighting and surroundings have been just too lovely to not seize the second in time.
Dinner Onboard
After our Santorini Sunset, we made our method to dinner in the primary eating room once more. Mom was happy to seek out her nightly escargot was improved after her informal dialog with the top waiter final evening.
The head waiter, Jayson, got here again to our desk tonight to make sure all the pieces was as much as requirements. Mom informed him how she observed the adjustments in her escargot and we thanked him for being so attentive.
We all loved our meals within the eating room tonight, together with our enjoyable conversations with the desk seated proper subsequent to us. It was good to benefit from the window views as Santorini began to mild up after the solar went down.
Following dinner, there was little leisure obtainable tonight, presumably as a result of we didn’t go away till 9pm tonight. It’s good Royal Caribbean has a late-night keep in Santorini to offer everybody with ample time to see the island and watch the sundown.
Tomorrow, we can be in our closing port of Chania, Crete. We are solely docked from 7am-2:30 tomorrow, so we hope to get off the ship by 10am to discover. We should not have any plans aside from strolling across the harbor.
Until tomorrow, blissful cruising!