How to get off the ship and meet your private guide
Santorini is one of those cruise ports that feels exciting and a little overwhelming at the same time. Caldera cliffs, iconic villages, famous sunsets; but also tender boats, cable cars, crowds, and limited time.
Since you have booked a
private tour with Santoriginal Tours, understanding how the arrival process works helps everything feel much easier. This page is here to help you know what to expect, how to get ashore smoothly, and where to meet us once you arrive.
1. Things you should know before your port day in Santorini
🔸Santorini is a Tendering Port
Santorini works a little differently from many other cruise stops. Not only is it a tender port, but it is also served by two different cruise ports: Athinios Port, also called the New Port or Ferry Port; and the Old Port of Fira, also called Gialos or Skala. Because cruise ships cannot dock directly at either port, tender boats are used to bring everyone ashore.
That said, even though all cruise guests arrive by tender boat, this does not mean you can choose which port you get off at. The port you are sent to depends on certain procedures.
Those who have booked shore excursions through the cruise line are directed to Athinios Port. In that case, the cruise line arranges the whole process, including assembly times on board, tender timings, and bus meeting points.
As you are not on a cruise group tour and are coming ashore independently to meet us for your private tour, you usually need to sign up for tendering on board. On most cruise lines, this works either on a first come, first served basis or through a pre-registration system. These tenders will bring you to the Old Port of Fira, which is the cruise terminal, also known as the tender area.
Signing Up for a Tender as an individual passenger
This is one of the most important parts of your day in Santorini, because it affects what time you are actually able to leave the ship and meet us.
When you are not on a cruise-line shore excursion, you need to sign up for a tender ticket. The exact process depends again on your cruise line. Some ships ask you to do this through their app, while others ask you to line up and collect a ticket on the same morning. The important part is not to leave this until the last minute. It is always a good idea to check that with your cruise line helpdesk before your Santorini port day or even better before your Mediterranean cruise, so you know exactly how your ship handles tendering.
Your tender ticket will normally give you a tender time or group number which determines when you are called to leave the ship; the lower the number, the earlier you get off. Guests with priority status, concierge access, or certain packages may be called earlier.
Once your group is called, you will take the tender boat to shore. For the return to the ship, you normally do not need a tender ticket or a reserved tender time; but you do need to know the last tender time back to your ship.
Reaching Old Port of Fira
Once your tender group is called, you will leave the ship, board the tender, and head to Old Port of Fira. This part is usually straightforward, but on busy cruise days there can be short delays if the dock area becomes too crowded and tender traffic needs to slow down for a while.
From the moment your group is called, the full tender process usually takes around
20 minutes.
Coming up from the Old Port
Old Port is situated at the base of a steep cliff beneath Fira. It is a small port, pedestrian with no road access. Once you arrive at the Old Port, you have two ways to go up to Fira:
- the cable car
- the 600-step pathway
We always recommend taking the cable car even on busy days. It is the simplest, easiest, and least confusing option. The ride takes less than 5 minutes and brings you straight into the center of Fira. The main thing is to stay ahead of the longest lines, which we explain in the next sections.
🔸Where is our Private Tour Meeting Point?
Typically the designated meeting point is at the top of the cable car. So once you arrive at the Old Port, the plan is simple: take the cable car up, come out at the top, and right at the exit your guide will be waiting for you, holding a sign with your name.
As a general rule, we do not meet guests down at the Old Port, since guides do not normally go down and back up by cable car during pickups.
Are cable car tickets included in your tour price?
Cable car tickets are not included in the price of your tour. You can pay for them directly on the spot, either by card or cash. Fee is 10€ per person per way.
We can pick you up directly from the New Port
Sometimes, yes. If your cruise line is sending you to Athinios Port for a shuttle-style service, or another pre-arranged disembarkation, we can arrange to meet you there instead. This is not the standard setup for most independent passengers, so please confirm it with your cruise ship and our team in advance.
Athinios Port
- Commonly used for cruise line group shore excursions
- Buses, vans, and direct vehicle pickup can operate from here
- Sometimes used for cruise line shuttle services or special disembarkation arrangements
- On some smaller-ship or luxury cruise sailings, tendering to Athinios Port can be requested.
Old Port of Fira
- This is the common arrival point for individual cruise passengers disembarking on their own
- Located below Fira at the base of the cliff, accessed by stairs or cable car
- From here, you typically take the cable car up to meet your guide
- No road access is available at the tender pier itself
2. Tendering & Cable Car
🔸Why starting early matters
Santorini is not a port where you simply step off the ship, meet your guide and get straight into the car.
Starting early in Santorini matters because a cruise stop here has a few moving parts from the very beginning. You need time for the tender boat, time to come up from the Old Port, and time to reach the village centers, which are mostly pedestrian. So even before sightseeing begins, part of your morning is already spent on the logistics of getting ashore and getting into town.
That is why we always recommend an early start. The later the morning moves, the more likely it is that small delays begin to build on each other; the tender takes longer, the cable car area gets busier, and the island itself feels more crowded. An early start usually means fewer lines, less waiting, and a calmer beginning to your private tour.
Our practical goal is for you to be among the first independent groups going ashore to Old Port of Fira. That is why we put together the tender advice below; to help you understand the process more easily and give yourself the best chance of getting off the ship early.
🔸How to secure an early tender
Getting one of the earlier independent tenders is one of the simplest ways to make your Santorini morning easier. Here is the best way to prepare for that on most cruise lines.
Signing up for a tender by cruise line
Tender procedures can change by cruise line, ship, and even by the day, so it is always best to follow the onboard instructions for your own sailing. Still, from what many of our guests have experienced over the years, the process in Santorini can be a little more flexible in practice than it first sounds. Even when cruise line excursions are being handled separately, independent passengers heading to Old Port may still see earlier movement than expected, and occasional last-minutes slots can open up when other guests do not show up. That is why it is worth being ready early and staying close to the assembly area, even if the first information you hear sounds later than you hoped.
Using your priority disembarkation
If your cruise line offers any kind of priority tender or priority disembarkation option, it is well worth checking before your Santorini port day.
Depending on the cruise line, this may be included through your cabin category, loyalty status, or a suite benefit. In some cases, it may also be available through a paid package or extra add-on. Because these options can change from one sailing to another, we recommend checking your cruise account, app, or Guest Services in advance to see what applies to your booking.
If you already have priority tendering included, we definitely suggest using it and confirming when the first tender will be available. Then our advice is simple: use it and let yourself be on the first tender.

Cruise lines that may offer earlier tender access
| Cruise line | What it’s called | Public price | What it may help with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean Paid add-on | The Key | Variable; priced per day, per person | Includes priority departure at tender ports |
| Norwegian Cruise Line Paid add-on | Priority Access | Priced per cabin, depending on cruise length | Priority-tender guests receive a stateroom letter with the time and meeting point for early tendering. |
| Celebrity Cruises Suite / loyalty | - | Not publicly listed as a stand-alone add-on | The Retreat Suites/Zenith Status include priority tender service subject to availability |
| Princess Cruises Suite / loyalty | - | Not publicly listed as a stand-alone add-on | Full Suites / Reserve Collection Suites: priority disembarkation at tender ports; Captain’s Circle Elite: priority boarding for ship-to-shore tender service |
| Azamara Suite / loyalty | - | Not publicly listed as a stand-alone add-on | Discoverer / Discoverer Plus / Discoverer Platinum: priority check-in at select ports; Suite guests: priority embarkation and debarkation |
| Oceania Cruises Loyalty | - | Not publicly listed as a stand-alone add-on | Priority Terminal Check-In for Platinum, Diamond, and President’s Circle Oceania Club members |
🔸Cable Car Lines
By now, you already understand the basic arrival process. The next question many guests have is whether the cable car will actually be a problem on the day.
The answer is usually no, as long as you start early. Yes, there can still be busy periods later in the morning and again in the afternoon on the way back down. But in real life, the cable car is often much more manageable than some older online reports make it sound.
It also helps to know that some of the older cable car stories people still read online were written before Santorini’s newer cruise-day controls were put in place. For 2025 and 2026, Santorini’s port authority put in place an 8,000-passenger daily limit and a system that adjusts cruise arrival and departure timing to ease the heaviest pressure points. So yes, there can still be busy periods, especially later in the morning and again in the afternoon; but the situation is not as unmanaged as some older articles make it sound.
🔸When it may make sense to avoid Old Port
Before looking into alternatives to the cable car, we recommend checking your date on the Santorini Cruise Ship Schedule Crowd Tool for 2026, or simply asking us to check it for you. If your port day is one of the busiest ones, or if your ship is arriving later than the quieter morning window, we can look at whether a different arrangement would make sense.
Generally speaking, these extra arrangements are only needed in a few specific cases. We do not suggest adding extra services or transfers unless there is a real reason to do so. But if your port day calls for it, here are two alternatives we might suggest:
- Water Taxi to Ammoudi Bay
- Water Taxi to New Port
🔸Shuttle services by cruise line
Some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, may also offer a shuttle service to Fira for guests exploring on their own. In that case, you would usually be brought from the ship to Athinios Port and then continue by bus up to Fira. These tickets are often arranged through the cruise ship, usually at an extra cost, and they can sell out quickly. If you decide to use this option, we can meet you either at Athinios Port or at the Fira bus parking area, and later make sure you get back there comfortably for your return shuttle to the ship. If it suits your timing better, you can also still return via the cable car.
If your cruise line offers this option, just let us know before your port day so we can see whether it is a good fit for your timing and confirm the right meeting plan with you.
🔸Picking you up from Athinios Port
Certain cruise lines, such as Azamara, Oceania, and Viking, may offer the option to tender to Athinios Port instead of Old Port. This is usually announced on board the evening before, and guests who would like to use that option are normally asked to let the cruise line know in advance.

If you decide to disembark at Athinios, just get in touch with us directly and we will adjust your pickup point and meeting plan accordingly.
🔸Additional information
If you do not manage to get one of the first tender groups, do not panic. It is still worth staying alert in case any earlier places open up from guests who do not show up. This way, you might still get an earlier slot and be on your way sooner than expected. Once you arrive at Old Port, simply head toward the cable car area without unnecessary delays.
Most importantly, please do not stress if your morning does not go exactly to plan. We only offer private tours, and we work with cruise guests every day, so both our team and your guide understand the tendering and cable car process well. Your guide will still be waiting for you and we will already know how to adjust smoothly on our side if there is any delay.
We also strongly recommend having mobile data and WhatsApp available during your time in Greece and keeping your phone on throughout the day. That makes it much easier for us to stay in touch quickly if there is any delay with your tender, cable car, meeting point, or return timing.
3. Meeting your Private Guide
In most cases, your meeting point is at the top exit of the cable car in Fira. Once you arrive at Old Port and come up by cable car, your guide will be waiting for you outside the upper station holding a sign with your name.
We do not usually meet guests at Old Port, as that would only add more pressure and confusion to the cable car area. Meeting at the top is normally the simplest and clearest option for everyone.
Once you meet your guide, you will walk together through Fira to the parking area to find your private vehicle and begin your tour. Please keep in mind that Fira is a pedestrian town, with steps, cobblestones, and uneven walking surfaces, so there is usually a short walk before getting into the vehicle.
If anyone in your group has mobility concerns, please let us know in advance. Fira can be challenging for walkers or rollators because of the steps and uneven ground, while a cane is often much easier to manage. Comfortable shoes are also a good idea.
If you need a baby seat or booster seat, please let us know before your port day so we can prepare it for you.
If you do not see your guide immediately or you arrive earlier, please stay near the cable car exit and contact us on WhatsApp or by phone rather than moving away from the area. That makes it much easier for us to find you quickly.
If we have arranged a different pickup point with you in advance, please follow those instructions instead of the standard cable car meeting plan.
🔸Returning to the ship
Your guide will always make sure you are back in the right area with enough time, but it is still important to keep the last tender and any return instructions from your cruise line in mind. If your cruise line provides a specific all-aboard time or return procedure, please make sure to follow that carefully.
Another helpful thing to keep in mind is that the earlier you get off the ship, the earlier we can start, and usually the earlier you will be back. That often helps you avoid the main cable car lines on the way down. If your ship has a later sailing, especially after 21:00, the return is usually much smoother and there is generally much less reason to worry about cable car lines.
Quick FAQ
Do not worry. If you do not manage to get one of the first groups, it is still worth staying alert in case earlier spots open up from guests who do not show up. Keep us updated on WhatsApp, come ashore as soon as you can, and we will already know how to adjust smoothly on our side.
Because you still need time for the tender boat and the cable car, and later starts usually mean more people and longer waits. Getting off early helps the whole day begin more smoothly and usually makes the return easier too. And if you do happen to be early, that is usually much better than losing time waiting in lines; you can always contact us in case we are able to pick you up a little earlier, or simply enjoy a short walk around Fira and take in the views from the top.
If there is any delay with your tender, the cable car, or getting to the meeting point, please message us on WhatsApp as soon as possible. We work with cruise guests every day, so we understand that delays can happen and we will already be expecting that possibility. The most important thing is simply to keep us updated so we know where you are.
Yes; in some cases we can arrange pickup from Athinios Port or from a cruise shuttle drop-off point instead of the standard cable car meeting point. This usually works with certain cruise line arrangements. Just let us know in advance, and we will check what makes the most sense for your timing.
If your ship is not using tender groups, the best approach is usually to be ready early and ask on board what time the first tender will start running. We recommend taking one of the earliest tenders possible and messaging us if anything seems different from the usual process. Smaller ships often feel simpler, but an early start is still the best way to keep the day smooth.
A few more helpful links before your Santorini port day
If you already booked your private tour with us and would like a little extra help before your stop, these are the most useful pages to check.
- Want to see how busy your port day may be? Check our Santorini Cruise Ship Schedule Crowd Tool before your stop.
- Wondering whether avoiding the cable car is actually worth it? Read our guide to cable car alternatives and when they may make sense.
- Would you like a few ideas for how your day can flow? See what you can do in one day in Santorini for a little extra inspiration before your tour.
Need to double-check anything with us directly? WhatsApp us or email us and we will be happy to help.