Santorini Island (Thira, Greece)

Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news

Rating:
Santorini Island cruise port

Region
Mediterranean - Black Sea

Local Time
2023-09-25 05:09

min: 76 °F (24 °C) / max: 78 °F (26 °C) 76°F
24.7°C
Wind: 276°/ 5.6 m/s  Gust: 7.9 m/sWind: 276°/ 5.6 m/s  Gust: 7.9 m/sMod. breeze
5.6 m/s
Min / Max Temperature78 °F / 26 °C
76 °F / 25 °C
  Port Map

Santorini Island (Greece) is among the most popular ports of call on Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean cruises. The island is in the Aegan Sea and is the southernmost of the Greek Cycladic Islands.

Santorini (aka Thera/Thira) covers a total area of approx 91 km2 (35 mi2) and has population around 15,000.

The island's largest town and principal port is Fira/Thira (locode GRJTR).

Santorini Island (Greece) cruise port

Santorini Island is essentially what remained after an enormous volcanic eruption which destroyed the earliest settlements on a formerly single isle, and created the geological caldera. A large central, rectangular lagoon, measuring about 12x7 km (7,5x4,3 mi), is surrounded via 300 m (980 ft) high, steep cliffs on 3 sides. The depth of the caldera is 400 m (1312 ft), which makes it impossible for any but the biggest ships to anchor anywhere in the bay. A fisherman's harbour is located at Vlychada, on the southwestern coast. The principal port on the island is Athinios. Fira is the capital, clinging to the top of the cliff that is looking down on the lagoon. 

Santorini is the most active volcanic centre in South Aegean Volcanic Arc, but what remains today is mainly a water-filled caldera. The island's volcanic arc is approx 500 km (310 mi) long and 20-40 km (12-25 mi) wide. The region became volcanically active about 3–4 million years ago, but volcanism on Thera started about 2 million years ago via the extrusion of dacitic lavas from vents around Akrotiri.

The island is the site of one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in recorded history: Minoan eruption (sometimes called Thera eruption), which occurred around 3,600 years ago at the height of Minoan civilization. The eruption left a huge caldera surrounded by volcanic ash deposits and may have led to the collapse of Minoan civilization on Crete, 110 km (70 mi) to the south, via a gigantic tsunami. Another theory holds that Thera eruption is the source of Atlantis' legend.

Island's primary industry is tourism. The other main source of wealth includes agriculture. In recent years, the island has been voted one of the most beautiful in the world. Santorini remains the home of a flourishing wine industry, which is based on the Assyrtiko grape variety. White varieties include Aidani and Athiri, whereas red ones include mandilaria and mavrotragano.

In October 2017, the Greek Government ordered the raising of the sunken cruise ship Sea Diamond. The vessel foundered (took on water and sank) in 2007, leaving 2 passengers missing and 1 presumed dead. The decision was made as the wreck posed a potential environmental risk and was deemed a hazard to shipping near the island. On April 5, 2007, the 143-m ship struck a volcanic reef. All of its 1600 passengers and crew were evacuated, except a 45-year-old male passenger (of French origin) and his teenage daughter, who probably drowned. The bodies were never found. For cruise ship accidents you can visit our CruiseMinus section.

Santorini is the most popular cruising destination of all Greek Isles. The busy season for the island is from July through August. Santorini is often described as paradise and is among the world’s most breathtaking places. The towns on the island are situated atop of high cliffs and are looking over the caldera of an ancient volcano.

The closest to the cruise port Thira/Fira international airport is approx 6 km from downtown.

Santorini is often included in Eastern Med itineraries operated by major cruise line brands like Costa, MSC, RCI-Royal Caribbean, NCL-Norwegian, HAL-Holland America, Celebrity, Princess, as well as the luxury travel brands Azamara, RSSC-Regent, Oceania, Seabourn, Windstar, SeaDream.

In 2017, Santorini self-imposed a daily cruise passenger limit of 12000. In 2018, this limit was further pushed down to 8000 per day.

The island's cruise port schedule for 2018 had a total of 439 ship calls (409 in 2017). For season 2019 were handled 592 ship calls with ~870,000 passengers.

Following the COVID crisis, in 2022 Santorini handled a total of 686 cruise ship calls, which number in 2023 increased to 753 (112 in June alone).

Santorini Island cruise terminal

Cruise ships to Santorini Island dock (anchor) at Thira - port town on the western coast. The cruise port is a tender port (doesn’t have passenger terminal). Cruise vessels anchor in the caldera and their passengers are tendered ashore to the Old Port in Fira (Skala) via local tender boats (called skunas). Cruise liners usually call on Santorini Island at 8 am and leave at 6 pm.

Santorini Island (Greece) cruise port map (printable)

Cruise ship tourists can reach town Fira by walking, by donkey or by cable car. Cable car and donkey rides are affordably priced. A cable car is available every 20 min. Donkey rides from the cruise tender dock take up to 30 min, almost the same as walking.

Santorini Island tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

  • Fira (Thira): the capital of the island is amazing place. The houses, the flowers, the sunsets – even they are impressive enough. All buildings are white with blue cupolas. The streets are narrow, the hotels are small, the cuisine in the restaurants is so tasty. The city is easily reached from Santorini cruise port tender dock – you need to climb 580 zig zag steps.
  • Museum of Prehistoric Fira: located near the bus station.
  • Folklore Museum: the museum is located on Kontochori. The building is a cave dwelling from the 19th century. Discover the typical household on the island. You can also find many local tools for wine-making or barrel-making. The Folklore Museum works from May to October. The admission is three euros.
  • Oia: eight miles from Santorini cruise port tender dock (direction north) is the most photographed village of the island. Everything here is breathtaking, especially dinner at sunset.
  • Naval Museum: the museum is located in Oia. It is open from April to November. The admission is three euros. The museum houses local ships models, equipment for navigation and more.

Port Santorini Island cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Santorini Island, Thira, Greece. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

DayShipArrivalDeparture
2 September, 2023
Saturday
Crystal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCrystal Symphony
2 September, 2023
Saturday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Jade13:0021:00
3 September, 2023
Sunday
Viking Cruises Cruises cruise lineViking Sea
3 September, 2023
Sunday
Azamara Cruises Cruises cruise lineAzamara Quest
3 September, 2023
Sunday
Princess Cruises Cruises cruise lineEnchanted Princess07:0019:00
3 September, 2023
Sunday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Olympia16:0021:00
4 September, 2023
Monday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Musica08:0018:00
5 September, 2023
Tuesday
Royal Caribbean Cruises cruise lineRhapsody Of The Seas08:0021:00
5 September, 2023
Tuesday
Celebrity Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelebrity Infinity08:0022:00
5 September, 2023
Tuesday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Breakaway13:0022:00
6 September, 2023
Wednesday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Armonia07:0018:00
6 September, 2023
Wednesday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey07:00
6 September, 2023
Wednesday
Windstar Cruises Cruises cruise lineWind Star08:0021:00
6 September, 2023
Wednesday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Splendida08:0018:00
6 September, 2023
Wednesday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Deliziosa08:0018:00
7 September, 2023
Thursday
Ponant Cruises Cruises cruise lineLe Lyrial
7 September, 2023
Thursday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Opera07:0019:00
7 September, 2023
Thursday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Pacifica08:0019:00
7 September, 2023
Thursday
Celebrity Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelebrity Constellation09:0020:00
7 September, 2023
Thursday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Olympia16:0021:00
8 September, 2023
Friday
Small Cruise Lines Cruises cruise lineSea Cloud
8 September, 2023
Friday
Royal Caribbean Cruises cruise lineEnchantment Of The Seas07:0020:00
8 September, 2023
Friday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Fortuna08:0019:00
9 September, 2023
Saturday
Royal Caribbean Cruises cruise lineOdyssey Of The Seas07:0019:00
9 September, 2023
Saturday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Jade08:0021:00
9 September, 2023
Saturday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Viva14:0022:00
10 September, 2023
Sunday
Small Cruise Lines Cruises cruise lineSea Cloud
10 September, 2023
Sunday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Olympia16:0021:00
11 September, 2023
Monday
Small Cruise Lines Cruises cruise lineSea Cloud
11 September, 2023
Monday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Musica08:0018:00
11 September, 2023
Monday
Virgin Voyages Cruises cruise lineResilient Lady09:0021:00
11 September, 2023
Monday
Oceania Cruises Cruises cruise lineOceania Nautica12:0021:00
12 September, 2023
Tuesday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Divina07:0016:00
12 September, 2023
Tuesday
Silversea Cruises Cruises cruise lineSilver Spirit08:0019:00
12 September, 2023
Tuesday
Royal Caribbean Cruises cruise lineRhapsody Of The Seas08:0021:00
12 September, 2023
Tuesday
Small Cruise Lines Cruises cruise lineCrown Iris12:0019:00
13 September, 2023
Wednesday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Armonia07:0018:00
13 September, 2023
Wednesday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey07:00
13 September, 2023
Wednesday
Windstar Cruises Cruises cruise lineWind Star08:0021:00
13 September, 2023
Wednesday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Deliziosa08:0018:00
14 September, 2023
Thursday
Star Clippers Cruises cruise lineStar Flyer
14 September, 2023
Thursday
Ponant Cruises Cruises cruise lineLe Lyrial
14 September, 2023
Thursday
Royal Caribbean Cruises cruise lineExplorer Of The Seas07:0020:00
14 September, 2023
Thursday
Celebrity Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelebrity Infinity07:0022:00
14 September, 2023
Thursday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Pacifica08:0019:00
14 September, 2023
Thursday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Olympia16:0021:00
15 September, 2023
Friday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Breakaway13:0022:00
16 September, 2023
Saturday
Windstar Cruises Cruises cruise lineWind Surf09:0021:00
16 September, 2023
Saturday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Jade10:0021:00
16 September, 2023
Saturday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Viva14:0022:00
17 September, 2023
Sunday
Marella Cruises Cruises cruise lineMarella Explorer07:0018:00
17 September, 2023
Sunday
Celebrity Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelebrity Reflection08:0022:00
17 September, 2023
Sunday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Olympia16:0021:00
18 September, 2023
Monday
SeaDream Yacht Club Cruises cruise lineSeaDream II
18 September, 2023
Monday
Royal Caribbean Cruises cruise lineOdyssey Of The Seas07:0019:00
18 September, 2023
Monday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Musica08:0018:00
18 September, 2023
Monday
Virgin Voyages Cruises cruise lineResilient Lady09:0021:00
19 September, 2023
Tuesday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Divina07:0016:00
19 September, 2023
Tuesday
Celebrity Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelebrity Constellation09:0022:00
20 September, 2023
Wednesday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Armonia07:0018:00
20 September, 2023
Wednesday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey07:00
20 September, 2023
Wednesday
Windstar Cruises Cruises cruise lineWind Star08:0021:00
20 September, 2023
Wednesday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Deliziosa08:0018:00
20 September, 2023
Wednesday
AIDA Cruises Cruises cruise lineAIDAblu08:0019:00
21 September, 2023
Thursday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Opera07:0019:00
21 September, 2023
Thursday
Celebrity Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelebrity Infinity07:0022:00
21 September, 2023
Thursday
Silversea Cruises Cruises cruise lineSilver Spirit08:0020:00
21 September, 2023
Thursday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Pacifica08:0019:00
21 September, 2023
Thursday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Olympia16:0021:00
23 September, 2023
Saturday
P&O Cruises Cruises cruise lineAzura
23 September, 2023
Saturday
Oceania Cruises Cruises cruise lineOceania Nautica07:0023:00
23 September, 2023
Saturday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Jade13:0021:00
24 September, 2023
Sunday
Princess Cruises Cruises cruise lineEnchanted Princess07:0019:00
24 September, 2023
Sunday
Carnival Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineCarnival Pride08:0017:00
24 September, 2023
Sunday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Olympia16:0021:00
25 September, 2023
Monday
Royal Caribbean Cruises cruise lineRhapsody Of The Seas07:0019:00
25 September, 2023
Monday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Musica08:0018:00
25 September, 2023
Monday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Breakaway13:0022:00
26 September, 2023
Tuesday
P&O Cruises Cruises cruise lineAzura
26 September, 2023
Tuesday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Divina07:0016:00
26 September, 2023
Tuesday
Celebrity Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelebrity Infinity07:0019:00
26 September, 2023
Tuesday
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Cruises cruise lineSeven Seas Voyager08:0021:00
26 September, 2023
Tuesday
Oceania Cruises Cruises cruise lineOceania Nautica08:0022:00
27 September, 2023
Wednesday
Azamara Cruises Cruises cruise lineAzamara Quest
27 September, 2023
Wednesday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Armonia07:0018:00
27 September, 2023
Wednesday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Journey07:00
27 September, 2023
Wednesday
Celebrity Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelebrity Constellation07:0020:00
27 September, 2023
Wednesday
Windstar Cruises Cruises cruise lineWind Star08:0021:00
27 September, 2023
Wednesday
Windstar Cruises Cruises cruise lineStar Legend08:0021:00
27 September, 2023
Wednesday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Deliziosa08:0018:00
28 September, 2023
Thursday
SeaDream Yacht Club Cruises cruise lineSeaDream II
28 September, 2023
Thursday
MSC Cruises Cruises cruise lineMSC Opera07:0019:00
28 September, 2023
Thursday
Royal Caribbean Cruises cruise lineExplorer Of The Seas07:0020:00
28 September, 2023
Thursday
Costa Cruises Cruises cruise lineCosta Pacifica08:0019:00
28 September, 2023
Thursday
Celestyal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCelestyal Olympia16:0021:00
29 September, 2023
Friday
Holland America Cruises cruise linems Nieuw Statendam07:0023:00
29 September, 2023
Friday
Royal Caribbean Cruises cruise lineOdyssey Of The Seas07:0019:00
29 September, 2023
Friday
Small Cruise Lines Cruises cruise lineCFC Renaissance07:0017:00
29 September, 2023
Friday
Seabourn Cruises Cruises cruise lineSeabourn Encore08:0023:00
30 September, 2023
Saturday
Crystal Cruises Cruises cruise lineCrystal Symphony
30 September, 2023
Saturday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Jade08:0021:00
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