SHORE EXCURSIONS

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Santorini! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as many of the stops will include wi-fi in real time. Selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Your tour will start with a scenic drive from the ship to the Aroma Avlis. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • Aroma Avlis
• The Blue Domes Churches of Oia
• Church Bells in Fira

Gain an understanding of how local craftsmen make traditional Greek musical instruments and take in the island’s natural beauty. Pyrgos is known for its 13th-century Venetian castle, the classic Cycladic design of its homes and the panoramic views from its hilltop location. It will be an ideal setting to pause for a cup of coffee and a Greek sweet. Megalochori is equally picturesque, as you will discover while meandering the village’s atmospheric cobbled streets lined with neoclassical houses. The intriguing Museum of Musical Instruments honors the history of the instruments that make Greek music so recognizable. You will learn how classic instruments such as the bouzouki and laouto are handmade and have the chance to play some of them. Afterwards, you will visit the family-owned Gavalas Winery, which has been producing traditional wines such as Katsano and Nykteri since the 19th century. There you will sample wines indicative of Santorini’s terroir and snacks that pair perfectly with them.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Pause for a snack and to revel in the village of Pyrgos’ classic Cycladic setting.
• Discover how some of the most recognizable Greek musical instruments are hand-crafted.
• Sample a selection of traditional wines and local delicacies at a family-owned winery.

Enjoy a lively Greek celebration with the food, wine and dances of Greece, together with great views of this scenic island. After tendering to the port of Athinios, you'll drive to Pyrgos village, one of the oldest settlements and the highest village on the island. Admire the Venetian fortress crowned by several churches and from the highest point of the island the views out over the caldera are majestic.

Head to the picturesque, village of Oia for more magnificent views of the caldera. With its cobblestone streets and beautiful old homes perched on the cliffside, you'll appreciate why the traditional Cycladic architecture is so appealing and a perfect complement to the natural beauty of the area. Here, you'll have free time to stroll and explore this charming village.

Visit one of Santorini's renowned Greek restaurants, where you'll enjoy traditional Greek food, wine, music and dances. Join in the lively celebration, dancing to 'Zorba the Greek' and breaking plates while the bouzouki plays its solo, Opa! After a buffet style meal, you'll continue to Fira town, the lovely capital of the island built on the rim of the caldera wall, before returning to your ship.

On this educational and enjoyable excursion, you’ll explore the fascinating excavations of Akrotiri, the most important prehistoric settlement of the Aegean and delight in the views of the caldera while tasting Santorini’s famous wines.

Visit Akrotiri, one of the 10 top Archeological sites in the world and learn about this prehistoric city of Santorini also known as, the Pompei of the Aegean. This unique Minoan settlement was destroyed by the Theran eruption of approximately 1627 BCE and the extensive excavation was started by Spyridon Marinatos in 1967.

This almost thirty five centuries old city still preserves many remains of its fine frescoes, everyday objects and artwork, as a result of the volcanic ash that protected them from the elements. At the time of the eruption, the city had reached great development and prosperity, with an elaborate drainage system and sophisticated multistoried buildings. Among other things, Akrotiri, has been suggested to be the inspiration for Plato’s story of Atlantis.

Stop at an impressive winery where you’ll have the opportunity to taste Santorini’s famous wines, enjoy the magnificent view and relax in its peaceful environment. Your final destination is Fira, the cosmopolitan capital and one of the most famous and picturesque places in Greece. Here you’ll have time to admire the white houses built on the slopes of the crater and explore the narrow paths before taking the cable car and the tender back to your ship.

Enjoy some of Santorini's highlights when you visit a well-known, quality winery and the beautiful village of Oia. You'll stop at one of the island's finest wineries where you'll taste some of the best wines in Santorini. Continue on to picturesque Oia, situated on top of an impressive cliff and enjoy the unrivaled, spectacular views of the Aegean.

This traditional village offers charming houses and quaint narrow streets that are ideal for a stroll. Blue domed churches, sunbathed verandas, plenty of shops, tavernas and cafes await your discovery. Many artists have fallen in love with this idyllic setting and their presence is obvious in the many art galleries.

OVERVIEW

Dine at a restaurant in the well-preserved medieval village of Pyrgos and enjoy spectacularly panoramic views of Santorini while riding a cable car from Fira Town. Once the capital of Santorini, Pyrgos perches on a hill at the foot of Mount Profitis Ilias. It offers a wonderfully laid-back ambiance for your multi-course lunch. The menu will likely include an entrée of slow-roasted lamb cooked in parchment, a classic dish served throughout the island. The mezes and other offerings will also be locally sourced, so you will come away from the meal with an excellent feel for Santorini’s cuisine. Not far away, you will board a cable car and begin a descent down the steep cliffs that lead straight to the old port. The ride takes about four minutes and the views will be breathtaking the entire time. Besides seeing your cruise ship below, you will gaze out over a number of idyllic islets.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Savor a traditional Greek meal in the medieval village of Pyrgos, the island’s first capital.
• Ride a cable car between the old port and Fira Town, Santorini’s present capital.
• Enjoy the ambiance of Pyrgos and the views of the sea from the cable car.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Ever think of taking a boat ride to an active volcano and hike its gravel terrain? Board your local boat “caique” from the old port of Santorini for a 15 minute trip up to Nea Kameni. En route, admire the volcanic shores with the peculiar shape formations of the black volcanic rocks and the white pumice. After disembarking, a steep and fast paced 30 minute, 3/4 mile hike on rocky and gravel terrain takes you to the crater of this still active volcano.

During your walk up an ascending path, you’ll have the opportunity to observe the lava fragments and the volcanic rock formations. Once you reach the crater, you’ll have time to relax and enjoy the view of Santorini and the amazing cliffs of the caldera. Board you boat and sail towards the thermal springs of Palea Kameni, with its green sulfur warm waters and temperatures that reach 37° C (98° F). Here you’ll have the opportunity to jump off the boat and swim to the springs, weather permitting.

Built high up on the ridge of red rocks, Oia offers breathtaking views of the blue Aegean and the caldera below. Take a stroll around the narrow streets with free time to visit the art galleries, antique shops and perhaps enjoy a cup of coffee in one of the cafés or pastry shops. Many artists have fallen in love with this idyllic setting and their presence is obvious in the many art galleries. This traditional village offers you spectacular photo opportunities of the famed blue domed churches and sundrenched verandas.

This tour is a great option for those who want to enjoy a taste of Greece and learn about this amazingly beautiful island in a small guided group. Relax during a scenic drive through quaint villages set against a backdrop of azure sea and sky. Visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri, considered one of the most important prehistoric settlements in the Mediterranean. Remarkably preserved, it offers a great insight into the island's ancient history. As your guide leads you through the ruins, you’ll discover remnants of a Bronze Age civilization decimated by a catastrophic eruption that left it buried for over 3,000 years.

Head to the picturesque town of Oia, once a major fishing harbor - it is now the calmest place on the island. Built high up on the ridge of red rocks it offers fantastic views of the blue Aegean. Stop at the famous village of Imerovigli and enjoy a Greek meal at a local restaurant with breathtaking views of the caldera and the volcano. Your tour concludes at the hilltop village of Fira, where you'll have the option of returning directly to your ship or remaining in town to shop or explore independently. From Fira, join the cable car and descend independently to the old port. You will be provided with a cable car ticket.

Following a short transfer by tender boat from your ship to the port of Athinios, you'll board the awaiting motorcoach that will transfer you to Perivolos Beach, located on the southern side of the island. On arrival at the beach, you'll have the opportunity to swim in the crystal waters of the Aegean Sea, relax under the always shining Greek sun or even entertain yourself with the variety of watersports (not included) available on the beach by local concessionaires. After a day of relaxation your coach returns you to the capital of the island, Fira where you’ll have free time to stroll through the city and admire the beautiful views of the caldera before taking the cable car down to the port to return by tender to your ship.