Wow – I can’t consider it’s already Day 10 of our 12-night cruise. Right now was our second to final port and it was great day within the the idyllic Greek island of Santorini.
Santorini is greatest identified for its charming village of Oia, situated on the finish of the island and scattered with beautiful blue-domed buildings on the cliffside. It’s actually a bucket-list vacation spot for a lot of as a result of there’s no different place prefer it on the earth!
Though I’ve been to Santorini twice earlier than, this was the primary time that Angie and my dad and mom have visited the island. We selected to do a shore tour by way of Royal Caribbean that visited the city of Fira, village of Oia and an area vineyard.
I do know that visiting Santorini might be logistically difficult. First, it requires tendering to the island from the ship. Once you tender from the ship for impartial exploring, it drops you off close to Fira. As soon as right here, you might be left to both take a cable automobile, stroll up a ton of stairs or journey a donkey.
It’s also possible to take the velocity boat to Oia from the port of Fira, which is what I’ve achieved beforehand.
I used to be a bit of fearful about my dad and mom having to take care of the cable automobile or donkey situation in Fira, so we thought the tour route could be greatest. We booked an tour that had a bus journey to and from the port, which I felt could be essentially the most pleasing expertise for everybody.
After the fiasco in Masada (making an attempt to take a cable automobile with hundreds of individuals) and understanding there could be 5 ships in port as we speak, 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 wakened 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 get pleasure from breakfast within the Windjammer for its wide range and we couldn’t cease wanting on the island. Even for those who select to remain on the ship for the port of Santorini, you possibly can benefit from the stunning views all day.
I finished for a fast espresso within the Diamond Membership earlier than assembly with our tour group within the Royal Theatre.
Inside 20 minutes, our tour group was known as and we made our approach to the tendering spot. I seen that the excursions used a young on the entrance of the ship whereas tenders for impartial explorers (i.e. not on a RCL shore tour) concurrently left from the again of the ship.
The tender journey was beautiful 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 Buying in Fira
We boarded a bus with the branding “Santorini Luxurious Journey” – which was truthfully something however luxurious!
Whereas we sat within the very again, there was a clanking noise from the overhead bin whereas the bus weaved its manner up the cliff on switchbacks. We couldn’t hear something our tour information stated as a result of the clanking was so loud in the back of the bus.
We arrived in Fira proper initially of an area parade! Right now 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.
Due to 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 buying and watch bits of the parade. I additionally loved a bit of gelato whereas wandering the streets. It was a pleasant approach to begin our day!
After all, in every single place you look, there are merely breathtaking views of the island and the Mediterranean Sea. You simply can’t assist however take footage round each nook whereas strolling round Fira.
The white buildings, the purple flowers and the deep blue ocean make for some actually stunning footage. We couldn’t assist however take some photographs with a backdrop that appears like a portray.
Vineyard Cease
After our free-time in Fira, we walked again right down to the bus and advised the bus driver to show up his microphone so these of us within the again may hear him speak.
We have been a part of a line of tour buses made our approach to the Santo Wines, which is an area vineyard on the island. Santorini is the oldest winery in Europe. This was a pleasant and scenic vineyard the place we may pattern 3 totally different wines. All of us loved the dessert wine, which was very candy.
There was additionally a desk of snacks together with cheese and tomatoes. Fortunate for us, Angie snagged a bunch of cheese cubes earlier than they ran out that we may get pleasure from with our wines.
As with in every single place on Santorini, the views have been beautiful. 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 in addition with everybody studying on Royal Caribbean Weblog.
Though 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
Once you see footage of Santorini, you might be more than likely seeing footage of the attractive village of Oia with the blue domes overlooking the ocean. That 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 footage 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 essentially the most breathtaking view of the island from either side, together with a view of our ship and the ocean under.
Everybody was awe-struck by the sweetness. It’s actually like nothing you’ve seen earlier than.
I had an sudden encounter with a gaggle of vacationers proper as we entered Oia. I noticed two individuals sporting Semester at Sea hoodies. Excitedly, I advised the group that I sailed with Semester at Sea in school 7 years in the past throughout Fall 2015.
Semester at Sea (a examine overseas program that sails world wide on a ship whilst you take courses at sea) is a kind of life-changing experiences that bonds individuals collectively.
They stated they have been college students on the present voyage and the ship was docked in Athens! I advised 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 taking place. Such a small world!
After chatting for a bit, I met up with my household down the street 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.
Alongside everybody else on the island, we took many footage with the views of the village within the distance. Among the spots we discovered have been on cobblestone edges the place it might 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. As a substitute, we used our time in Oia to take footage and stroll across the streets.
All the pieces is so quaint and charming, though flooded with individuals in every single 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 as we speak.
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 advised the proprietor how I visited his shoppe a number of years again and confirmed him footage – he was grateful for my return!
Santorini Sundown
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 journey 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 a bit of chilly through the journey again to the ship, so I sported my new Santorini hoodie.
We took much more footage 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 fearful about. I’d say it was well worth the cash to take this tour, particularly touring with my dad and mom.
A number of individuals shared tales in regards to the cable automobile being swamped with individuals in a manner that could not be believed. We additionally heard from a pair who took donkeys down for $10 every, however the donkey chief pressured them to get off after solely making it about two-thirds of the way in which down. When the donkey chief pressured all of them to get off the saddles, one woman was caught and ended up falling into donkey poop.
Listening to tales like reassures our resolution that the tour was a good suggestion, though these do make nice tales!
Again onboard, we grabbed pizza at Sorrento’s and made our approach to the highest deck to observe the sundown.
Santorini is legendary for its world-class sunsets; I advised 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 footage of the beautiful 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 phenomenal second that I’ll cherish. After all, we took many footage as a result of the lighting and surroundings have been just too stunning to not seize the second in time.
Dinner Onboard
After our Santorini Sundown, we made our approach to dinner in the primary eating room once more. Mother was happy to seek out her nightly escargot was improved after her informal dialog with the top waiter final night time.
The top waiter, Jayson, got here again to our desk tonight to make sure all the pieces was as much as requirements. Mother advised him how she seen the adjustments in her escargot and we thanked him for being so attentive.
All of us 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 gentle up after the solar went down.
Following dinner, there was little leisure obtainable tonight, presumably as a result of we didn’t depart till 9pm tonight. It’s good Royal Caribbean has a late-night keep in Santorini to supply everybody with ample time to see the island and watch the sundown.
Tomorrow, we will probably be in our ultimate port of Chania, Crete. We’re 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 apart from strolling across the harbor.
Till tomorrow, completely satisfied cruising!
