Santorini: when your ship stops here

Ride up to Fira on the cliff top, see the white village of Oia, and the Bronze Age town of Akrotiri.

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026, each with its source. No prices on this page.

Santorini is a Greek island in the southern Aegean Sea, the southernmost of the Cyclades. Its main towns sit high on the rim of the caldera, the sea-filled crater of a volcano. Cruise ships anchor off Skala, the old port below Fira, and local boats carry passengers ashore; some may be landed at Athinios, the newer port, instead.

Sources: Wikipedia: Santorini; Cruise Industry News, 8 August 2026: Santorini old port pathway reopens

Top 3 things to do

1. 1. Up to Fira, on the cliff top

   From Skala you go up to Fira by cable car, on foot up the Karavolades Stairs (558 steps), or on a mule or donkey. Fira is the island's main town.

   Tip: The cable car often has long lines in the busy summer season. Start back down early, well before all aboard.

   Sources: Wikipedia: Santorini; Cruise Industry News, 8 August 2026: Santorini old port pathway reopens; To Vima, 30 July 2026: Santorini footpath closure disrupts visitor access

2. 2. Oia, the village on the cliffs

   A village on the northwest edge of the island, about 11 km (7 miles) from Fira, with whitewashed houses, blue domed churches, and homes built into the cliffs.

   Tip: Its narrow paths get crowded in summer, most of all at sunset. Go early in the day.

   Source: Wikipedia: Oia, Greece

3. 3. Akrotiri, the town under the ash

   A Bronze Age town buried by the island's great eruption about 3,600 years ago. The ash kept its wall paintings so well that it is often compared with Pompeii. Digging began in 1967, and the ruins are under a roof.

   Tip: The roof keeps off the sun, so it is a good choice on a hot day.

   Sources: Wikipedia: Akrotiri (prehistoric city); Wikipedia: Santorini

What to skip

• A donkey ride up the cliff

  Animal welfare groups have criticized how the donkeys and mules are kept, including too little water and rest. In 2018 Greece's agriculture ministry set rules for their care and barred riders over 100 kg (about 220 pounds). The cable car and the stairs are the other ways up.

  Sources: Wikipedia: Santorini; GTP Headlines, 10 October 2018: Circular foresees weight limits for Santorini donkey rides

Before you go ashore

You do not have to book a tour: you are free to go ashore on your own. Royal Caribbean sets the all aboard time about 30 minutes before the ship sails, posts it near the gangway, and says the ship does not wait for guests touring on their own.

Source: Royal Caribbean FAQ: Do I need to book a shore excursion?

Back-to-backs that stop in Santorini

Back-to-back cruises from these home ports have a stop in Santorini, from the Royal Caribbean sailings we track:

• Back-to-back cruises from Athens 68 back-to-backs with a stop in Santorini
• Back-to-back cruises from Rome 63 back-to-backs with a stop in Santorini
• Back-to-back cruises from Ravenna 55 back-to-backs with a stop in Santorini
• Back-to-back cruises from Barcelona 20 back-to-backs with a stop in Santorini
• Back-to-back cruises from Cape Liberty 2 back-to-backs with a stop in Santorini
• Back-to-back cruises from San Juan 1 back-to-back with a stop in Santorini

Sources

• Wikipedia: Santorini
• Wikipedia: Oia, Greece
• Wikipedia: Akrotiri (prehistoric city)
• Cruise Industry News, 8 August 2026: Santorini old port pathway reopens
• To Vima, 30 July 2026: Santorini footpath closure disrupts visitor access
• GTP Headlines, 10 October 2018: Circular foresees weight limits for Santorini donkey rides
• Royal Caribbean FAQ: Do I need to book a shore excursion?