srnash

I can't answer your timing question, but if you want to see the Gallipoli area, it would be on the port side going towards Istanbul.

Hmmmm - maybe that's the way to get an earlier boarding time? Ours is at 5pm - way too late! Loving this post. Thank you so much VMax1700. We are looking forward to our cruise starting the day you disembark. And thanks to all for the tips about onboarding chocolate and wine. I'm going to plan for that!

I wish you well with your plan! I was told by our HAL CC that the first group for check in is scheduled for noon so they may not even be ready for you. I don't know how much they are keeping people to their assigned times or if they are even checking.

There are local tours from Chania to Knossos on Trip Advisor, but the shortest I saw was 9 hours. It takes 2 hours to go from Chania to Heraklion. I don't know how much time you have in Souda on your trip, but maybe rent a car? It's well worth seeing but quite a distance from Souda.

I have read that tests are available at the airport without an appointment. We plan to do that on arrival before our cruise in a couple of weeks to satisfy the 3 day rule (we are staying in Venice before the cruise). Also, there is a pharmacy in Venice nr St Mark's square that does them for a lower charge than the airport. You need an appointment, but I have seen people say they went to the pharmacy to set up an appointment and then returned for the test. The name is "Farmacia Lupo Coronato". It isn't open on Sundays. There may be a site at Piazzale Roma (where the people mover is located) but I am having trouble confirming this. I will come back and add if I find out anything more.