--- title: Avoid Cable Car! Easy Santorini Highlights Tour for Cruise Ships lang: en type: tour city: Santorini country: Greece price: 124 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.93 reviews: 40 duration_minutes: 300 languages: [en] free_cancellation: "true" rank_in_category: 10 of 15 (Shore Excursions) schedule_checked: 2026-11-08 data_updated: 2026-11-08 canonical: https://guidekin.com/greece/santorini/tours/avoid-cable-car-easy-santorini-highlights-tour-for-cruise-ships/ --- # Avoid Cable Car! Easy Santorini Highlights Tour for Cruise Ships **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 (table below). ## Overview Stress-Free Santorini for Cruise Passengers Skip the stairs, long lines, and crowded cable cars. This small-group tour is designed for cruise guests who want a smoother, easier way to explore Santorini. Start with a direct boat transfer from your ship, then travel in comfort by air-conditioned minibus to top spots like Oia, Megalochori, and the black sand beach. Enjoy stunning views, relaxed pacing, and insights from a top-rated local guide. ✔️ Timed for cruise schedules ✔️ Small groups — no rush ✔️ On-time return guaranteed No chaos. No stress. Just an unforgettable Santorini experience made simple. ## Before you book - Pickup differs by option: Hotel pickup only on 2 of 3 options (Ticket for Shared Tour, Shared… - 8 start times: between 09:00 and 15:30 - Food not included: Food and Beverages are Excluded (except… **Pickup:** Hotel pickup only on 2 of 3 options (Ticket for Shared Tour, Shared Skip The Cable Car Tour) ## Key facts - Price: from €124 per person for the Ticket for Shared Tour option; other options up to €570 - Duration: 5h - Rating: 4.93/5 from 40 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Likely to sell out - Operator: Shore Excursions Company - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: English - Start times: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 15:30 - Booking: mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-11-08 ## Reviews 4.93 from 40 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 100% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 40 of 40. - 5 stars: 37 (93%) - 4 stars: 3 (8%) - 3 stars: 0 (0%) - 2 stars: 0 (0%) - 1 star: 0 (0%) ## Tour options Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page. | Option | Price | Guide languages | Details | |---|---|---|---| | Ticket for Shared Tour | €124 / person | English | Shared 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. | | Shared Skip The Cable Car Tour | €141 / person | English | 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 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. | | Private with Shared Boat Rides | €570 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Skip 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. | ## What's 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 ## Not included - Food and Beverages are Excluded (except for the complimentary bottle of water) - Gratuities (Recommend 10% for guides, and 5% for bus drivers) ## Itinerary 1. **Athinios Port Santorini** (30m) - Explore Santorini Like a VIP — No Lines, No Hassle Want to experience Santorini without wasting precious time in long lines? Our Skip the Cable Car Santorini Tour is the ultimate luxury experience, designed exclusively for cruise ship passengers. Forget the heat, the crowds,... 2. **Finikia** (30m) - Air-Conditioned Comfort & Your First Scenic Stop After your private boat docks at the designated pick-up point, step into a cool, air-conditioned bus and begin your journey through Santorini in comfort. Your first stop? The famous blue dome in the tranquil Finikia area — a... 3. **Oia** (1h) - Next Stop: Oia – The Crown Jewel of Santorini Prepare to be enchanted as we arrive in Oia, Santorini’s most iconic village and a shining symbol of the Greek Isles. Perched above the sparkling Aegean Sea, Oia is a picture-perfect haven of whitewashed homes, blue-domed... 4. **Nikolaou Nomikou** (pass by, no stop) - Marvel at the Iconic Blue Domes Capture breathtaking shots of Santorini’s world-famous blue domes — a true postcard-perfect moment you’ll never forget! 5. **Megalochori - Traditional Village** (30m) - Step Back in Time – Discover the Hidden Gem of Megalochori Next, escape the ordinary and journey into Megalochori — one of Santorini’s best-kept secrets and a village steeped in timeless beauty. Wander through cobblestone pathways, vine-draped courtyards, and beneath graceful... 6. **Perivolos Beach** (1h) - ️Last Stop: Relax at the Iconic Black Sand Beach But wait — we’re not done yet! End your Santorini journey on a high note with a visit to one of the island’s most extraordinary natural wonders: the legendary black sand beach of Perivolos. Kick off your sandals and feel the... 7. **Santorini Old Harbor** (30m) - Return in Comfort — No Lines, No Stress After a day of unforgettable memories, return to the port by private boat — skipping the cable car lines completely. Just sit back and relax as you’re transported directly to your cruise ship’s tender. It’s the perfect ending to your... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 15:30 - Schedule last checked: 2026-11-08 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point 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. Ends: back at the meeting point ## Good to know - Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap - Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries - Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health - Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness - In the event of exceptionally rough sea conditions preventing boat transfers, we reserve the right to operate the regular tour route instead. In such cases, a refund of €10 per person will be provided for each cable car ride required in place of the boat transfer. - The tour start time will be adjusted to your ship’s docking schedule to minimize waiting and accommodate possible disembarkation delays. You’ll receive the final meeting time in the Meeting Instructions about one week before the tour. - 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. ## Compared with other Shore Excursions | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #10 of 15** | €124 | 5h | 4.93 (40) | shared | | [One Day in Santorini from Cruise Ship: Ultimate Island Tour](/greece/santorini/tours/one-day-in-santorini-from-cruise-ship-ultimate-island-tour/?format=md) | €150 | 4h 30m | 5.0 (59) | private | | [Santorini 4-Hour Private Tour including Wine Tasting, Shore Excursion](/greece/santorini/tours/santorini-4-hour-private-tour-including-wine-tasting-shore-excursion/?format=md) | €180 | 30 min | 5.0 (55) | private | | [Exclusive 3 Hour Caldera Private Tour for Cruise Ship Travelers](/greece/santorini/tours/exclusive-3-hour-caldera-private-tour-for-cruise-ship-travelers/?format=md) | €105 | 3h 30m | 5.0 (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. Full list: https://guidekin.com/greece/santorini/santorini-shore-excursions/?format=md ## More in Santorini - All Santorini tours: https://guidekin.com/greece/santorini/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/greece/santorini/tours/avoid-cable-car-easy-santorini-highlights-tour-for-cruise-ships/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/greece/santorini/?format=md