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Avoid Cable Car! Easy Santorini Highlights Tour for Cruise Ships

4.9 · 40 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor 100% of star-rated reviews are 4★ or 5★ Santorini Operated by Shore Excursions Company Free cancellation · up to 24 hours before Likely to sell out
Duration
5h
Group
Shared tour
Guide languages
English
Start & pickup
09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 15:30 · Hotel pickup only on 2 of 3 options (Ticket for Shared Tour, Shared Skip The Cable Car Tour)
Booking
mobile ticket
Guidekin's take

A boat transfer starts a small shared group tour to Oia, Megalochori and the black sand beach.

Water and minibus travel for up to eighteen guests are included; rough seas can require a cable car route instead. 4.93 from 40 reviews at €124 per person for 5h.

In our comparison: #10 of 15 in Shore Excursions, by rating weighted by review volume (see the comparison).

How we choose tours →Commissions never affect our verdicts.

Options and prices

3 options from the operator, described in its own words. Prices are the operator's from-prices per adult for a party of two. Click an option to book it on Viator. Guide languages on every option: English.

OptionWhat the operator saysFrom, per adult
Ticket for Shared TourThe page priceShared Tour: This is a ticket for a shared tour. Pick-up by Boat: Upon arrival by your ship’s tender to the Santorini harbor, we will pick you up by our boat, skipping the cable ca Return by Boat: At the end of the tour, we will return you to your tender pick-up point by boat, once again avoiding cable car lines. Included in tour price: This option already includes the private boat transfer in the price. There are no additional costs with this option. Book an early tender!: Please book an early tender directly with your cruise ship's staff to ensure timely arrival.€124
Shared Skip The Cable Car TourShared Tour Pick-up by Boat: Upon arrival by your ship’s tender to the Santorini harbor, we will pick you up by our boat, skipping the cable car. Return by Boat: At the end of the tour, we will return you to your tender pick-up point by boat, once again avoiding cable car lines. Included in tour price: This option already includes the private boat transfer in the price. There are no additional costs with this option. Book an early tender: Please book an early tender directly with your cruise ship's staff to ensure timely arrival.€141
Private with Shared Boat RidesSkip the cable car!: Private guided tour and shared boat transfers from the Old Port to the Athinios Port and back - bypass the cable car! Private tour&shared boat rides: The boat transfers are shared with other guests. The private tour starts at Athinios Port where you meet your guide & driver.€570 for 2+ people

Child prices by age band are shown at checkout. Option texts and prices come from the operator's listing; prices checked on Viator on 8 November 2026.

Included and not included

  • A complimentary bottle of water per person
  • Small group limited to 18 participants
  • Full refund if your ship cannot dock
  • Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned minibus
  • Port pick-up and drop off
  • Guaranteed return to ship on time
  • Professional local English-speaking tour guide
  • Transfers by boat to bypass the Cable Car
  • Food and Beverages are Excluded (except for the complimentary bottle of water)
  • Gratuities (Recommend 10% for guides, and 5% for bus drivers)

Reviews

4.9
40 ratings
Tripadvisor 39 · Viator 1

100% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4★ or 5★: 40 of 40

Star breakdown of all 40 ratings

5 stars
37 · 93%
4 stars
3 · 8%
3 stars
0 · 0%
2 stars
0 · 0%
1 star
0 · 0%

Latest reviews

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Ratings collected from Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.

Meeting point and route

Meeting point

Where
After disembarking from the tender, please wait at the tender drop-off point and do not enter the cable car. Look for our team holding ‘VEXPERIO’ signs. If you are late, please contact us. After the tour, we'll bring you back to the port by boat.
Departure
09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 15:30 daily; scheduled year-round (operator schedule, seats confirmed at checkout)
Return
This activity ends back at the meeting point
Pickup
Hotel pickup only on 2 of 3 options (Ticket for Shared Tour, Shared Skip The Cable Car Tour)
Operator
Shore Excursions Company; booking and payment are completed on Viator

Itinerary

About this tour, from the operator

Walking, children and accessibility

The operator's own notes, grouped by topic. Nothing here is added by Guidekin.

Walking and health

  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Children

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Accessibility

  • Please note that wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, electric scooters, and other mobility devices cannot be accommodated on shared tours. Tours on Santorini involve uneven surfaces, cobblestone pathways, and some sections with stairs. We kindly request that all participants carefully assess their physical ability to complete the tour prior to making a reservation. Refunds cannot be issued to guests who are unable to complete the tour due to accessibility limitations.

Good to know

  • Food not included Food and Beverages are Excluded (except…

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

  • 1+ days: Full refund
  • 0-1 days: No refund

Compared with other Shore Excursions

TourPriceDurationRatingGroup
This tour · #10 of 15€1245h4.93 (40)shared
One Day in Santorini from Cruise Ship: Ultimate Island Tour€1504h 30m5.0 (59)private
Santorini 4-Hour Private Tour including Wine Tasting, Shore Excursion€18030 min5.0 (55)private
Exclusive 3 Hour Caldera Private Tour for Cruise Ship Travelers€1053h 30m5.0 (53)private

Ranked #10 of 15 in Shore Excursions by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €90 to €650, median €180; typical length 5h. 13 of 15 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Compare all 15 Shore Excursions

From €124 per adult · Ticket for Shared Tour