Would like to visit Fira and Oia after being tendered from our ship. Have
read conflicting reports about the possibility of a water taxi from the cruise port below Fira to the new port below Oia BUT have read that the water taxi will not take you back to the cruise port. This makes no sense to me and I wonder if anyone has recent experience with this. I am trying to avoid the cable cars down due to the long wait in the hot sun. Does anyone know how long the wait is to take the cable car up? Thanks for your help.
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3148 posts
I don't know why there is no return by water taxi to the tender dock but I suspect it might be a dispute between the boatmen and the taxi company. Who knows, perhaps by the time you're there they will have found a solution.
How long the wait for the cable car is will depend on how many ships are debarking their independent, DIY passengers that day. I've read of waits over 1.5 hours. The cable cars can only take 36 passengers at a time.
If you sign up for one of the cruise ship's organized tours you will be tendered to a different dock where there is a road so tour buses can pick you up and return you after the tour.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
Or you can take taxi or walk. I felt sorry for cruise ship passengers standing in long line for the cable car both ways. Donkeys take longer but cannot take them all. From Firostefani where we were accommodated I saw 4 to 6 cruise ships down there every morning. Santorini is simply too small to comfortably take in all these crowds. But mornings and evenings were peaceful.
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3148 posts
Please don't ride the poor abused donkeys!
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3397 posts
YOu could take the water taxi to OIA and going back do the steps. You don't have to ride the donkeys to use the steps .... you can WALK down them, have done it several times. You just have to be aware of the donkeys, stick to the RH side, and Watch out for the donkey-doo!!
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Thanks so much. I have read many accounts of people falling on the way down or getting hurt by the donkeys forcing them over. Do not want to walk down or take The donkeys, so I guess it is the cable cars.