Santorini, Greece

Getting Ashore: Santorini Is Different!

Unlike many of our other cruise destinations, Norwegian Gem will not simply pull alongside a pier where we can walk directly into town. Instead, our ship is expected to anchor offshore in Santorini's spectacular volcanic caldera.

Passengers will use smaller boats, called tenders, to reach shore. Depending on Norwegian's arrangements and your booked excursions, your tender landing and onward transportation may differ.

For guests arriving at Fira's Old Port, there is another adventure ahead!

Fira, Santorini's capital, sits high above the water on the edge of the caldera. To reach the town from the Old Port, visitors generally have three options:

🚡 The Cable Car — Our Recommended Option

The Santorini Cable Car provides a scenic ride between the Old Port and Fira. The ride itself takes only a few minutes, offering magnificent views of the cliffs and sea. However, during busy cruise days, the line can be considerably longer than the ride!

🥾 The Stairway — For the Very Fit and Adventurous

A steep, winding stairway of nearly 600 steps connects the Old Port with Fira.

The route can be slippery, physically demanding, and shared with animals. It is not a casual stroll and is especially challenging in hot weather.

🐴 Donkey Rides — Not Recommended

Traditional donkey transportation is available, but animal welfare concerns and the challenging terrain make this an option we do not recommend.

CHOOSE YOUR SANTORINI DAY

Not everyone in our group needs to spend Santorini the same way.

Instead of trying to squeeze every attraction into one day, choose the version of Santorini that sounds most like you.

💙 Top Sights & Must Do Experiences

Morning ~ Oia — The Santorini You've Dreamed About

Recommended time: 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Head straight to Oia before crowds arrive.

If you've ever seen photographs of brilliant white buildings topped with blue domes against the sparkling Aegean Sea, chances are you've seen Oia.

Perched on Santorini's northern cliffs, this enchanting village is famous for its incredible views and romantic atmosphere.

Spend your time wandering its narrow pedestrian lanes, discovering charming boutiques, admiring traditional architecture, and capturing photographs you'll treasure for years.

Don't miss:

• The iconic blue-domed churches

• Spectacular caldera viewpoints

• Charming marble whitewashed pedestrian paths and stairways

• Boutique shops

Recommended visit: Approximately 2–3 hours, depending on transportation and crowds.

Good to Know: Oia is approximately 20–30 minutes from Fira by road under favorable conditions. Traffic, parking, and transportation waits may add time. There are also steep pathways and numerous steps throughout the village.

Late Morning ~ Santorini Winery Experience

Recommended time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Did you know Santorini has a winemaking tradition stretching back thousands of years?

The island's volcanic soil, dry climate, and unusual growing conditions produce wines unlike those found in many other parts of the world.

Santorini is especially famous for Assyrtiko, a crisp white wine known for its bright acidity and mineral character.

Highlights include:

🍷 Santo Wines: Famous for its panoramic caldera views and wine-tasting experiences.

🍷 Venetsanos Winery: A remarkable winery carved into the cliffside.

🍷 Gavalas Winery: Known for its traditional winemaking heritage and local varieties. An intimate wine tasting experience can be a wonderful way to experience another side of Santorini.

Planning Advice: Winery visits should be reserved in advance when possible. Confirm availability, transportation, tasting schedules, and return arrangements before committing.

Lunch ~ With a View

Recommended time: 12:45 PM – 2:00 PM

Where to Eat?

• Argo Restaurant, Fira: Known for its caldera cliffside dining setting.

• Oia Gefsis, Oia: Rooftop views! A possibility for dining while exploring Oia.

• Metaxi Mas, Exo Gonia: A well-known option for traditional Greek-inspired      cuisine.

Reservations, menus, operating hours, and transportation should be verified before your visit.

Afternoon ~ Red Beach or Black Beach

Recommended time: 2:15 PM – 4:00 PM

Choose your volcanic beach adventure:

🏖️ Red Beach

Santorini's Red Beach is famous for its dramatic reddish cliffs and volcanic scenery.

However, unstable cliffs and rockfall hazards have resulted in longstanding access restrictions.

🏖️ Kamari Beach

One of Santorini's most popular beach destinations, Kamari features dark volcanic sand, clear water, and a lively seaside promenade. Restaurants, cafés, and beach facilities make it an appealing choice for visitors who want to relax and enjoy the Aegean.

🏖️ Perissa Beach

Another famous black-sand beach, Perissa offers a beautiful shoreline, beachside restaurants, and opportunities for swimming and relaxation.

Planning Advice: A beach visit is best treated as an alternative to extensive village sightseeing, not something to squeeze into an already busy schedule.

Late Afternoon/Evening ~ Fira Shopping & Sunset

Recommended time: 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Enjoy sunset from Fira’s cliffside terraces!

Browse for:

• Santorini wine

• Lava stone jewelry

• Greek art

• Olive oil products

Also enjoy:

• Panoramic caldera views

• Greek cafés and traditional restaurants

• Museums and historic churches

• Beautiful whitewashed architecture

Fira is the lively capital of Santorini and an excellent place to spend part of your day.

The town's dramatic position above the caldera provides breathtaking views of the sea, neighboring islands, and cruise ships anchored far below.

Here you'll find winding streets filled with shops, cafés, restaurants, jewelry stores, and art galleries.

🦩Mingo's Tip: For guests who prefer a relaxed day without traveling all over Santorini, Fira is a destination in its own right.

🍽️ TASTE SANTORINI

Greek cuisine is delicious throughout the country, but Santorini has several specialties that make dining here particularly memorable.

Look for opportunities to try:

Tomatokeftedes — Santorini Tomato Fritters

These flavorful little fritters are made with Santorini's famous small tomatoes, herbs, and seasonings. Crispy on the outside and tender inside, they're a wonderful introduction to local island cuisine.

Santorini Fava

Despite the name, this traditional dish is generally prepared from yellow split peas rather than fava beans. The result is a smooth, savory purée often served with olive oil, onions, and capers. It's a delicious accompaniment to fresh bread.

Saganaki

A popular Greek appetizer featuring cheese that is pan-fried until golden and delicious.

Spanakopita

A classic Greek pastry filled with spinach, herbs, and feta cheese, wrapped in flaky phyllo dough.

Baklava

For something sweet, try this famous dessert made with layers of phyllo pastry, nuts, and syrup or honey.

Assyrtiko Wine

Don't miss the opportunity to sample Santorini's signature white wine. Its crisp flavor pairs beautifully with seafood and many traditional Greek dishes.

Use this as an idea, not a fixed timetable. Tender queues, transportation and crowds can change how much you can comfortably fit in.

1. Morning: Get ashore as ship procedures permit, then consider Oia or a guided island excursion.
2. Midday: Choose one main experience: a winery, lunch with a caldera view, or more village sightseeing.
3. Afternoon: Explore Fira, enjoy the views, and allow time for shopping or a café stop.
4. Return: Begin heading toward your assigned tender landing well before Norwegian's official last-tender deadline. Allow generous time for the cable car and other queues.
5. Evening: If the ship's instructions and timing permit, enjoy the evening light from a safe location or from onboard Norwegian Gem.

Do not rely on the sample times from the original newsletter as an official excursion itinerary or boarding schedule.

Did You Know?

Fascinating Santorini Facts

Could Santorini Be the Lost City of Atlantis?

What if the legendary lost civilization of Atlantis wasn't entirely a myth? What if it was right here in Santorini?

More than 3,500 years ago, Santorini—then known as Thera—was home to a thriving Bronze Age civilization. But around the 17th or 16th century BC, a catastrophic volcanic eruption devastated the island, burying settlements beneath volcanic ash and dramatically reshaping its landscape.

Centuries later, the Greek philosopher Plato described the mysterious civilization of Atlantis, an advanced island society supposedly destroyed by earthquakes and floods before disappearing beneath the sea.

The similarities have intrigued historians, archaeologists, and explorers for generations!  Some researchers have suggested that Santorini's devastating eruption and the destruction of its ancient settlements may have inspired the Atlantis legend.

Although no one has proven that Atlantis actually existed—or that Santorini was its location—the connection remains one of the Mediterranean's most fascinating historical mysteries.

Some Santorini Homes Are Built Into the Cliffs.

Traditional cave houses, known locally as yposkafa, were constructed within the island's volcanic landscape. Their design helps provide protection from temperature extremes.

Santorini Grows Grapes in an Unusual Way.

Rather than growing upward on tall trellises, many traditional grapevines are trained into low, basket-shaped formations called kouloura.

This technique helps protect the grapes from strong winds and harsh growing conditions.

Santorini Has More Than One Name.

The island is also known as Thira or Thera. You'll see variations of these names on maps, transportation signs, and travel information.

✅ Know Before You Go: Santorini Travel Tips

Wear comfortable shoes. Santorini's picturesque villages are full of steep streets, stairs, and uneven surfaces. Good walking shoes are far more practical than sandals with slippery soles.

Bring sunscreen and water. The Mediterranean sun can be intense, even in September. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and reusable water bottle are excellent companions.

Be realistic about accessibility. Santorini can be challenging for travelers with limited mobility. The steep terrain, tender arrangements, stairs, and transportation limitations deserve special consideration. Contact Norwegian in advance about accessibility requirements.

Consider a prearranged excursion. Your team at Our Family Travel can help with this! Organized tours can simplify transportation and help you make better use of your available time. Always confirm the excursion's tender and return arrangements.

Carry some euros. Credit cards are widely accepted in tourist areas, but a little cash is useful for smaller purchases and local transportation.

Respect private property. Many of the beautiful whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches are private homes or places of worship. Do not climb onto rooftops, cross barriers, or enter restricted areas for photographs.

Stay connected. Download an offline map before leaving the ship. If you plan to use your phone throughout the day, make sure you have an appropriate international roaming or eSIM arrangement.

Watch your time! Keep your watch or phone on the ship's designated time and follow Norwegian's official last-tender instructions. Do not assume the scheduled departure time is the all-aboard time.