Know Before You Go: Taking a Cruise in Santorini

Different Santorini cruises offer plenty of different itineraries, but almost all of them sail around the caldera. Caldera highlights include Santorini Volcano on Nea Kameni island, the Santorini Hot Springs off Palea Kameni island, and Thirasia (Therasia), an inhabited island that feels like a land that time forgot.

Cruises from Vlychada sail past the colored beaches (White Beach and Red Beach), as well as Mesa Pigadia Beach, which is darker, although note that boats normally moor offshore rather than stopping at the beaches. Sunset cruises often sail beneath Oia for the sunset views.

You can take a Santorini boat trip at any time of year, but winter itineraries focus on sightseeing rather than swimming and snorkeling—although some allow you to take a dip in the Santorini Hot Springs if you wish.

Boats and sights alike can be very busy during the June–August peak season, when the weather is at its warmest, so booking a catamaran cruise ahead of time helps avoid disappointment. September is also a great month for boat trips once the crowds calm down a little but the sea is still warm enough for swimming, since sea temperatures are still on the chilly side in spring.

A common question when it comes to Santorini cruise booking advice is whether to take a sunset cruise or a daytime cruise. Daytime catamaran cruises usually include more swimming and/or snorkeling stops than sunset cruises, which tend to focus more on food and drink: Santorini sunset catamaran cruises normally include both dinner, often a barbecue on board, and an open bar, serving local white wine, beer, soft drinks, and mineral water. Most sunset cruises, even on caïques, will offer at least a glass of local white wine as a toast.

The two most popular Santorini cruise tour options are premium cruises by sailing catamaran (which generally, although not always, get booked with a small group), and value cruises on traditional caïque sailing boats, where group sizes tend to be larger. But you can also opt for fishing trips, glass-bottom boat cruises, and for private adventures by RIB, speedboat, catamaran, or motor yacht.

During summer, day cruises normally start in the morning and run through to mid-afternoon; sunset cruises start mid-afternoon and run through sunset until after dark. You can also charter your own boat, with or without a skipper.

Private Santorini cruise options span the gamut from indulgent catamarans with a full crew plus stand-up paddleboards, snorkeling gear, and an elaborate menu of food and drink to pilot-your-own boat rentals via fishing charters and RIB adventures.

Most craft offer a flexible itinerary plus the chance to control your own music—as well as indulge in the decadence of a boat just for your group. So it’s definitely worth exploring the option of your own craft, particularly if you’re a larger group who’d be taking up much of a catamaran anyway.

A comprehensive Santorini port guide would be a long document, but—let's keep it brief—most Santorini boat trips depart from one of three ports: Amoudi Bay, Vlychada, and Santorini Old Harbor. Amoudi Bay lies below the cliffs of Oia in the north of the island and you may see it called Oia. Vlychada is in the far south of the island. Santorini Old Harbor is in the middle of the island, below Fira, and you reach it by steps or by cable car—please don’t ride a donkey! Cruise ship passengers generally arrive by tender, either in Santorini Old Harbor or in the Port of Santorini (Athinios Port), the ferry port.

For the classic summer daytime Santorini cruise, swimwear, sunglasses, and a cover-up are the way to go. If you’re visiting the Santorini Hot Springs, wear dark swimwear, as the sulfur in the water can stain whites and pastels.

If you plan to hike Santorini Volcano, bring a refillable water bottle, cash for the entrance fee, and a pair of closed-toe shoes as the grit becomes very uncomfortable in flip-flops or sandals. If you’re taking a sunset cruise, or cruising during spring or fall, a change of clothes is a good idea, as damp outfits can get quite chilly.

For the classic daytime Santorini cruise during summer months, bring sunscreen and a towel (unless your cruise includes towels), and wear your swimwear under your top layer. For a sunset cruise, bring a dry change of clothes as temperatures can drop in the evenings. If you’re cruising in spring or fall, bring a layer, plus a change of clothes if you plan to swim—but still don’t forget the sunscreen. Note that most cruises which offer snorkeling include the use of snorkeling gear so you shouldn’t need to pack a mask.

It depends. Cruises to Santorini are usually accessible for wheelchair users, but boat trips from Santorini are usually not. The big cruise ships that moor off Santorini are usually well set up for travelers who use wheelchairs, offering accessible cabins, public spaces, and bathrooms. But the small boats that offer Santorini day cruises, sunset cruises, and caldera cruises usually require some mobility to board.

Sadly, crowds, steps, cobbles, and steep inclines make Santorini a difficult destination for wheelchair users in general, although private wheelchair accessible tours can open up the island to travelers with disabilities.

• What exactly is the Santorini caldera and how did it form? The Santorini caldera is the rim of a volcanic crater formed when the island of Thera blew apart around 3,500 years ago. The caldera cliffs run along the western edge of the island of Santorini and continue on the island of Thirasia.

• How many islands are there in Santorini? Besides Santorini itself, there are four other islands: unspoiled Thirasia; tiny Aspronisi; Palea Kameni, home to the Santorini Hot Springs; and Nea Kameni, home to the Santorini Volcano.

• Can I visit Oia on a Santorini sunset cruise? No, you can’t visit Oia on a Santorini sunset cruise because Oia is on top of a cliff. Some tours, however, pair a Santorini day cruise with a transfer to Oia to watch the sunset, and some cruises from Amoudi Bay, below Oia, describe themselves as leaving from Oia.

• Is the Santorini Volcano safe to visit? Yes, the Santorini Volcano is carefully monitored to ensure safety for visitors to the islands.