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By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com
Sailing the Greek Islands on a cruise ship is a magical dream for many travelers. And it can turn out that way. Or it can be series of unknowns, especially in the pre-trip planning stages. After all, where does one stay in Athens, for example, and what shall one do when you arrive in Santorini?
This is a post not about the actual cruise ship but important things to know while cruising in the Greek Islands. It provides useful information on the destinations, recommendations on things to do on shore and tips.
Things To Know Before Your Go About The Greek Islands
In Greece, there is no Santorini. It’s Thira, the original name of the island. “The Italians,” the Greeks say with a long face, “changed the name of our beautiful island.”
The word for cheers is yiamas and yassou means “to your health,” which can also be used as a hello or goodbye.
If you are going straight to your cruise ship from the airport, use the train put in for the Summer Olympics; it goes right there. If you are one to take a shared ride service or taxi be sure and say you want to go “to the ships” (Piraeus) rather than the port because, as I learned firsthand, you may wind up at the domestic airport terminal.
Don’t drink the retsina wine. This wine has been made on Santorini for centuries. And it’s terrible. Just wanted to warn you.
Where To Stay In Athens
While your instinct – and others in your group – will likely want to stay in the city of Athens and near the Acropolis, I suggest otherwise. Athens is hot and exhausting. It is filled with unattractive high-rises with a few ruins here and there. The area around the Acropolis, the Plaka, is all tourists who are trying to figure out which high-priced taverna to have dinner at while loud-speaking hosts try to lure you into their establishment.
I recommend staying instead around the port of Piraeus, which is where the cruse ships depart. A short 15-minute or so walk from there is a harbor, around which are nice restaurants and bars. This is a much more relaxed scene than at Plaka and around the Acropolis, which you can always visit in the daytime. There’s a beach on either side of the harbor, as well, Beach Fretida and Votsakia Beach. Hotels here are half the cost of what they are in the city and near the Acropolis.
My overall recommendation is to spend just one day in Athens at a time.
Things To Do In Mykonos
Most cruise ships just make port stops for a day or even half a day, often beginning in the morning and departing by mid afternoon. This doesn’t give people much of a chance to do much on Mykonos. There’s a small beach by the port but the best ones – PubClub.com’s favorite is Paradise Beach tho it doesn’t get roaring until about 4 p.m. – take 30 or more minutes to reach from the port. And that’s if you have transportation.
So I suggest spending your time in Mykonos Town, the island’s only “city.” There’s a lot of shopping. Every store has something with dolphins on it, especially jewelry, because to the Greeks, dolphins represent peace. There are also windmills and a breezy bar on the edge of the water called the Caprice Bar. The famous Skandinavian Bar doesn’t get going until about 11 p.m., so you’ll miss the party scene there but walk by for a look at it.
It is VERY important to note that when going into town on any island in Greece to know that they are built in a maze with streets running into other streets and no main street that goes from one side to the other. It’s easy to get lost and have no idea how to get back to your ship. The islands were designed this way to confuse pirates back in the day and it confuses modern-day travelers, too, especially ones trying to scurry back to a cruise ship before it departs for the next destination.
Things To Do In Santorini (Thira)
This is usually the longest cruise ship stay in any Greek Island. If your ship does not leave until evening then take in a sunset from the cliff. Everyone and their grandmother (yiayia in Greek in case you are wondering) will tell you go to Oia (pronounced E-ya). Yet I advise going instead to the Tropical Bar in Fira, which is just above the cruise ships. Oia is at the tip of the island and you’ll need some type of transportation to get there and back.
A fun thing to do when you have an afternoon in Thira is the rent a moped and cruise the island. It’s a big island and I actually recommend not going to the beaches – Kamari is the most popular with its volcanic black sand – and instead use this time to visit Oia. It’s a beautiful ride, tho be careful because careless and wild riders can run the danger of sliding over a cliff (seriously). Highly recommended is the little harbor below Oia called Amoudi; it’s a great place to go for a cool swim and have lunch at one of its tiny tavernas.
You can also go visit the (still active) volcano and swim in its hot springs. Cruise ships have this as part of a shore excursion but you could save a bundle by taking a boat from the old port (keep reading).
There is also shopping in Fira but please don’t tell me you’re going all the way to Santorini to spend your day going in an out of shops. There is a cool little town square on the other side of the town where you can grab a cold beer and walk around Fira.
A Very Important Fact About The Santorini Cruise Ship Port
The cruise ships are too big to get to the small dock at the small port – called the “old port” – so you are taken to the island on tenders. You’ll get off a small concrete walkway and will be looking up at the Caldera Cliffs. Straight above you is Fira.
And there are only three ways to get up to Fira:
1.) Walk. There are 600 wide steps to reach Fira, which can take 20-30 minutes. You’ll be avoiding the poo of the donkeys because that is another way to get to Fira
2.) Ride A Donkey to The Top. Yep. You can ride a donkey up and/or down the steps.
3.) Gondola. To the left is a small gondola to the top. It puts you about a 10-15 walk to the town of Fira.
In Conclusion
Now you’re all set for your cruise to the Greek Islands. The Greeks are great hosts and if you follow this guide the only regret you will have is that you didn’t have more time to spend on the islands.
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