Santorini Port Imposes Visitor Limit: Only 500 Allowed at the Dock

Santorini (Greece) has enacted new policies to control the number of cruise ship tourists, capping the number of visitors at the dock to 500 at any one time. These regulations are intended to reduce overcrowding and enhance the tourist experience. Cruise ships such as the Sun Princess might face delays as the shuttle service is slowed down when the dock reaches its maximum capacity, causing longer waiting times for passengers to disembark or board their ship again.

Local water shuttles are mandated for all cruise passengers to access the island, which can lead to increased waiting times, particularly when several large ships are docked at the same time. Most tourists take the cable car up to the cliff-top town of Fira upon arrival. However, the high number of tourists can result in lengthy waits for the cable car. An alternative is to use the Karavolades Stairs to reach Fira, which can be a difficult ascent, particularly in hot weather due to its steep and slippery path.

The local port authorities have also banned cruise ships from setting up water stations at the dock. It is recommended that visitors bring their own water to remain hydrated, especially considering the potential for prolonged sun exposure during their visit.

During a recent stop at Santorini, Princess Cruises passengers aboard the Sun Princess ship were notified of the new regulations:

“Santorini Port Authorities have set a limit of 500 guests from all ships in the area waiting at the dock to board the cable car or shuttles returning to their vessels. Once this limit is reached, cruise ships will be asked to reduce their water shuttle operations until the queue at the dock has been reduced, which will result in delays for guests wishing to go ashore. During our stop in Santorini, we will be in port with 3 other large vessels, resulting in a high volume of guests. Please note that this can cause longer wait times and crowded conditions on the island.”