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.
Your cruise line decides where your tender brings you ashore. Most independent passengers arrive at Fira Old Port, while some excursions and shuttle arrangements use Athinios. Booking a cruise-line excursion does not automatically guarantee arrival at Athinios or a day without the cable car.
If you are coming ashore independently to meet us, check how your ship assigns tender tickets or groups. Follow its instructions and let us know if your confirmed arrival port or time differs from your booking’s meeting plan.
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 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.
Tendering to 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. So waiting times onboard might be longer.
From the moment your group is called, the full tender process usually takes around
20 minutes.
Once you reach Fira Old Port
Fira Old Port is a small pedestrian port with no road access. From here, follow the instructions for your booked arrangement: take the cable car to meet your guide in Fira, using the Fast Lane if you have Priority Access, or meet our team at the Old Port if you have arranged a private water taxi.
We usually recommend taking the cable car because is the simplest, easiest, and least confusing option. The ride takes less than 5 minutes and brings you straight into the center of Fira.
🔸Where is our Private Tour Meeting Point?
🚡 Private tour starting in Fira
Typically the designated meeting point is in Fira. So once you arrive at the Old Port, go straight to the teleferic entrance, ride the gondola lift and meet us right at Santorini Cable Car Upper Station's exit. Your guide will be waiting for you, holding a sign with your name.
Regular cable-car tickets are not included. They can be purchased at the station or through the
official cable-car e-ticket store.
🎟️ Private tour with Cable Car Priority Access
If you have purchased the Blue Priority Ticket, use the Fast Lane signs and instructions from the Cable Car staff and skip the standard quueu. Your guide then meets you again at the exit of the Santorini Cable Car Upper Station holding a sing with your name.
If you have booked Priority only for the return, your arrival follows your usual meeting plan.
Cable Car Fast Lane Priority Ticket
is a separate paid add-on. If you have booked it, check which direction is included and follow the ticket instructions provided. This can only be purchased as part of your private tour package by an authorized travel agency like Santoriginal Tours.
🚤 Private Tour with water taxi option
Meet our team at the pinned location you have received on your email to find the meeting point in Fira Old Port. Your private boat normally takes you to Athinios, where your vehicle and local guide meet you for sightseeing.
With a one-way water taxi, you normally finish in Fira and arrange your cable-car descent separately. A round-trip water taxi bypasses the cable car in both directions.
Is a pick up from the New Port possible?
Yes. If your cruise line confirms that you will arrive at Athinios, let us know in advance so we can arrange your vehicle meeting point there. Availability depends on your sailing’s arrangements, so please confirm with the ship before changing your arrival plan. This is not the standard setup for most independent passengers, so please confirm it with your cruise ship and our team in advance. It works with Viking Cruises, Azamara Cruises or Oceania Cruises coming to Santorini.
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
🔸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.
An early tender can give you more time ashore and help avoid the main arrival rush. Aim for the tender window recommended for your booking, allowing time to reach your confirmed meeting point.
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.
🔸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.
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.
3. Cable Car
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.
Early morning is normally the best window to come up to Fira before the main arrival rush. Some quieter periods may appear again around noon, after the first wave has passed, as long as another cruise ship is not arriving in the afternoon.
If your meeting point is in Fira, your cable-car journey is part of the arrival plan. Standard tickets use the regular passenger queue; separately purchased Priority tickets use the dedicated Fast Lane.
An ordinary e-ticket does not give Priority Access. Read our Cable Car Priority Access guide for the difference.
🔸Standard cable-car queue estimates
These estimates describe the standard passenger queue, based on our guests’ experiences. They are not guaranteed waits and do not apply to the Priority Lane. Overlapping ship arrivals, tender flow and operating conditions can change the picture.
4. What to do on busy days
If you are concerned about your arrival route, check your date on our
Cruise Crowd Planning Tool and contact us before changing arrangements. Depending on your day, regular cable-car access, Fast Lane Priority or a private water taxi may make the most sense.
🔸Shuttle services by cruise line
Some sailings offer shuttle or transfer services for independent guests. Check the exact arrival port, drop-off point and return arrangements with your cruise line.
Before purchasing a shuttle to connect with your private tour, send us its details so we can confirm a suitable meeting point.
🔸Boat alternatives from Old Port
A shared shuttle toward Oia and a private water taxi are different arrangements. For our private water-taxi options, the boat and onward vehicle are coordinated together.
See the
Water Taxi Guide for one-way and round-trip details, or the
Cable Car Guide to compare the alternatives.
🔸Additional information
Fira and Oia especially have pedestrian lanes, slopes and uneven surfaces, so some walking is usually involved between your vehicle and the sights.
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 do not see your guide immediately or you arrive earlier, stay at your confirmed meeting point and contact us. Keep your phone on, with mobile data and WhatsApp available.
We coordinate our meeting time around your assigned tender time, so please let us know as soon as you receive it. If tendering or cable-car queues delay you, your private guide will wait and we’ll adjust the plan together.
If you have booked a private water taxi, the boat has a fixed departure time,
with only around 15 minutes of flexibility on your arrival.
Please plan your tender accordingly and message us straight away if your assigned tender time will not get you to Old Port in time.
🔸Returning to the ship
Your return route depends on your booking. Tours finishing in Fira use the cable car to reach Old Port, with standard or separately booked Priority access. Round-trip water-taxi bookings return through the agreed road-access port by boat to Old Port.
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 spaces become available from guests who do not show up. Send us your assigned tender time on WhatsApp, come ashore as soon as you can, and we will coordinate the meeting from our side.
Because 11:00 is your meeting time ashore, not the time to start leaving the ship. For a regular private tour, we coordinate the meeting around the tender time assigned by your ship, and your guide will wait if tendering or the cable car delays you.
If you have booked a private water taxi, your meeting time at Old Port is fixed, with approximately 15 minutes of flexibility either side. Please choose a tender that gets you ashore in time and keep us updated on WhatsApp.
If tendering or the cable car delays you, please message us on WhatsApp as soon as possible. For a regular private tour, your guide will wait and we will adjust the plan around your arrival.
A private water taxi has a fixed departure time, with approximately 15 minutes of flexibility either side. If you think you may miss that window, contact us immediately so we can check what is still possible.
Yes, if your cruise line confirms that you will arrive at Athinios or provides a specific shuttle drop-off point, we can arrange an appropriate meeting location. Please send us the confirmed details in advance so we can coordinate your vehicle and guide.
Booking a cruise-line excursion does not automatically guarantee arrival at Athinios, so please check the exact arrangements for your sailing before changing your meeting plan.
Some smaller cruise ships do not issue numbered tender groups. Ask onboard when independent tendering begins, follow the crew’s instructions and allow enough time to reach your confirmed meeting point. Let us know when you expect to come ashore so we can coordinate your meeting time.
A few optional checks before your Santorini port day
Your confirmed booking and meeting instructions on this page are the ones to follow. You do not need to read every guide below—simply choose what is relevant to your plans.
- Want to see how busy your date may be? Check the Santorini Cruise Schedule and Crowd Tool for the ships expected in port.
- Would you prefer to use the cable-car Fast Lane? See how Cable Car Priority Access works. It can be booked through Santoriginal Tours as an add-on to your private tour for €66 per person, per direction, including agency handling, subject to availability.
- Considering avoiding the cable car on one or both journeys? Compare our private water-taxi arrangements, including one-way and round-trip options. Ask us whether it would genuinely suit your ship timing and group before adding it.
Would you like us to check which option, if any, is worth adding to your day? WhatsApp us or email us before changing your arrival or meeting arrangement.