Marella explorer Santorini tenders and excursions

[soggy1975]

We're on the explorer arriving in Santorini sun 30 June.

I'm trying to decide on whether to book a marella on shore excursion or DIY

The excursions havent been released yet but my research shows they normally offer ; megalichori/pyrgos/thira or boat to thermal springs/daphni

Neither of these appeal, will they add any other options? Ideally want to go to oia.

If we DIY,  do we have to queue for tender tickets, we'd want an early slot but suspect so would everyone else.

 

Thanks 

[dronnygirl]

There are 4 ships arriving that day, luckily Marella is due at 7am so should be the first. It's a tender port so I would advise getting off the ship as early as possible.  Marella will announce the time tender tickets will be issued and once you have a ticket you have to wait in the theatre to be called. I'd advise to get there early.  You should then be able to get the cable car without too long a queue (best if you can be at the front).  There are buses to Oia, they take around half an hour. It's also best to be at Oia early as it gets very, very busy. The restaurants are very expensive. 

We pre arranged a hire car in Fira and drove to Oia, had an early lunch then drove around the island which was lovely. We got back to Fira but saw that the queue for coming down the cablecar was 90 mins so we had to walk down the donkey track - not pleasant as it's very slippy with squashed donkey poo - and it took us half an hour.

If you book an excursion you usually get priority on the tenders and the buses take you up a track rather than the cablecar.

Other alternative is tender to shore and you can get a boat trip to Oia from the dock, then come back to Fira by bus.   Enjoy your day whatever you decide to do

[Pensioncruiser]

As dronnygirl has said the return can be horrendous so do allow plenty of time, but it is worth it 👍

[soggy1975]

Any idea how the tender ticket process works?

Do we just queue and 1st come 1st served on the day or is there a booking process in advance?

Defo looks like we'll be having an early start either way 

[dronnygirl]

1 hour ago, soggy1975 said:

Any idea how the tender ticket process works?

Do we just queue and 1st come 1st served on the day or is there a booking process in advance?

Defo looks like we'll be having an early start either way 

As mentioned above, there will be an announcement advising what time and where you can collect  tickets. If there are lots of excursions, you may have to wait quite a while as they have priority.  There is no booking in advance. Best to be ready early and take everything you need with you for going ashore as you will have to take the tender when they announce your ticket number.