Getting around Corfu Town and its surroundings

Corfu Town panorama

Corfu has for centuries been  under the strategic and commercial influence of Venice. In some way, strictly in cruise terms, it still is. Most of the cruise ships that stop in at Corfu embark at Venice, the cruise capital of the Eastern Mediterranean. A very large portion of cruise travelers speak Italian. Some of its monuments recall the passage of Italians and Venetians of the past.

The cruise port of Corfu offers enough convenience to travelers as they can walk in only 20-30 minutes to the Town. They can alternatively take a shuttle bus and then another one to the old part of the city, or get there by taxi, paying 8-10 euros per ride.

Having reached the town, you soon realize that you can easily spend your whole day there. Within short radius you can reach many sights, shopping and souvenir streets, cafes and restaurants. The 16th century fortress that dominates the city consists of many narrow streets. Around every corner you may find churches, old mansions and secret little squares.

The Spianada Square with Liston

The Spianada Square is the largest square in Greece. At its length you will see some of the most important monuments of the town such as the monument of the Ionian Islands union  with Greece. Liston is situated at the northern part of the western side of the square. The Town Hall Square, the Square of the Saints, the Ionian Academy and the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George are some interesting buildings situated within short distance.

Shore excursions: There is a vast variety of shore excursions on offer by all major cruise companies. However, for those who are first-timers in Corfu, excursions with short travel time are preferable. Trips to Paleokastritsa, Perama and Acchilleion Palace are always a must for sightseeing.

Achilleion Palace

However, groups of 3 or 4 people may find it cheaper and more convenient to reach these destinations by rented cars. There are plenty of beautiful beaches along the coast so nobody can guarantee that your appetite for swimming won't open.

Glyfada beach: Glyfada beach is situated 16 km away from Corfu Town, on the west coast of the island. It is one of the most popular beaches on Corfu due to its green surroundings and its long sandy terrain.Swimmers can find there every kind of shop, sun beds, umbrellas, water sports facilities etc. A taxi ride to Glyfada beach from the cruise port will cost you no more than 25 euros. As always on Greek islands, better arrange your return pick up time with the taxi driver.

Glyfada beach

Before you head back to your ship don't forget to taste two of the island's well known specialties: Pastitsada (beef cooked in a rich tomato sauce and served with spaghetti) and Sofrito (veal or beef escalopes sauted in a skillet and served with an accompanying sauce).

Spectacular rise in cruise ship arrivals all over Greece

More than 150.000 cruise travelers have visited the port of Piraeus between January and March 2011, marking a spectacular rise of 58,1% compared to last year’s data regarding the same period. 

Other major destinations like Rhodes, Santorini, Katakolon, Corfu have also received much more passengers than last year, with unofficial estimates ranging between 20% and 30% compared to the same trimester of 2010.

Estimates for the summer period are also very optimistic. The port of Piraeus is scheduled to receive more than 7 cruise ships (at least 20.000 passengers) in some days during the high season of July – August. Ports of Santorini, Rhodes and Mykonos will also have busy time and local authorities have been preparing to deal with it.

The Greek government has recently lowered taxes and fees for cruise ships, but the rise in cruise ship arrivals is also a product of the unrest in North African countries that redirected cruise routes to the north of the Mediterranean Sea.

This rise is going to give a very much needed bust to Greek tourism, the sole reliable industry in the country. It is estimated that the lowest spending per cruise traveler in Greek soil is 50 euros.

Source: "Imerisia", To Vima"

Going HoHo in Athens: Dos and Dont's for cruise travelers

The Athens Hop on Hop Off red line

This summer season Athens has effectively reorganized some of its tourist infrastructure. One serious change affecting cruise travelers is getting the Hop on - Hop Off bus lines from the Piraeus cruise terminal. In theory, that means you can hop on an open air bus in the morning, go to the center of Athens for sightseeing and return to Piraeus with one single ticket.

So, is this the best way to get to Athens? Well, that's not a simple answer. Several practical factors have to be taken into account: Traffic conditions in both Piraeus and Athens, travel cost and proximity of bus stops to the top attractions.

Traffic: The port of Piraeus is not far from the center of Athens, but that distance may appear longer in the morning due to heavy traffic in rush hours. For cruise travelers, time is valuable in Athens, as they need to get the most out of the city in only a few hours.

The bus ride to the center is scheduled to last 30 minutes, but in case you come across lots of traffic your trip may be extended. The same goes for your return trip that has to start a little bit earlier in order to be sure that you will be back to your ship on time.

The red and yellow bus station

Cost: The Athens City Tour (yellow bus) costs 15 euros p.p. (8 euros for children) while the Athens Sightseeing Tour (red bus) costs 22 euros (9 euros for children). Supposedly you are a family of 4, it may cost you between 50-70 euros aller-retour, while a taxi may cost you 30-40 euros for the same trip. In addition, catching the 853 bus (to Piraeus metro station) and then metro line 1 (to central Athens) will cost you only 2,80 p.p. aller-retour. Compared to the low cost of the metro, the HoHo is not a saver at all.

Proximity to top attractions: Most of the  main sights of Athens are situated in a pedestrianized area, so the HoHo buses can't get close enough. Furthermore, antiquities and tourist attractions around Acropolis are within walking distance. You will probably not need any other transportation before you head back to the ship.

The yellow HoHo at Syntagma Square

A joyful, relaxing ride with no worries of planning ahead

In case you are not in a hurry to catch all the action in Athens, the HoHo offers a pleasant ride. It passes through Marina Zeas (Passalimani) and Mikrolimano, two picturesque little ports filled with yachts, cafes and taverns. You can hop off there for a promenade by the sea and then hop on again heading to Athens. 

Kids, who are not usually in a rush, would love to sit on the top deck and watch Piraeus and Athens from above, while grownups won't have to worry about searching for bus or metro tickets, changing metro lines, etc. 

Solo travelers, couples and families with children with no budget worries and no rush to reach Athens quickly are now offered a third alternative to get to Acropolis and  its surroundings. The HoHo bus fills a gap serving that special category of cruisers.

'Mariner of the Seas' at the port of Piraeus

On Saturday, May 14th, Royal Carribean's 'Mariner' made its stop at the port of Piraeus. It was a sunny day, the hottest so far in Athens. 

Cruisinggreece was there!

Away from the masses, close to nature: Kaiafas Lake and Beach

For cruise passengers who are not willing to follow the masses to the Ancient Olympia archaeological sites, Katakolon provides a really interesting alternative. This option combines both swimming in one of the best beaches of Peloponnese (long and sandy) and a marvelous natural landscape in the surroundings.

Kaiafas Lake and beach are situated approximately 40 km away from Katakolon (40-45 minutes drive) giving you the chance to combine swimming with hiking in one of the most unspoiled parts of southern Greece.

Although a big part of the scenery was destroyed by the disastrous fires of 2007, the place still preserves its uniqueness. Moreover, the Thermal Springs of Kaiafas offer a geological formation that includes a spring where tepid to warm water emanates from deep inside the earth’s crust and flows up to the surface.

Due to its proximity to the mountainous area, the sea and the forest, Lake Kaiafas attracts many nature lovers, especially in summertime.

It was formed by the great earthquakes of the 6th century AD, with landslides which dug out the lake and created the rocky formations rising from the “key” spot to the east. 

The nearby beach is vast and many kilometers long. It has crystal clear waters while a part of it is a well known nudist area.

You can make a deal with a taxi driver who can drive you there and bring you back to the cruise port. Of course, additional cost for waiting time is added (http://www.katakolon.org/katakolon-taxi).

Other ways to get there are by renting a car (http://www.katakolon.gr/car_rental/index.en.html) or by booking  a private taxi tour in advance :

http://www.taxikatakolon.gr/

http://www.taxikatakolon.gr/about_us.php

http://www.taxikatakolo.gr/

Piraeus planned to undertake a leading role in the Mediterranean

Piraeus aims at taking gradually one of the leading roles in the Mediterranean cruise market. Up to now, its strategic position on the map has not been capitalized from the Greek authorities. However, new planning is set to convince some of the major cruise companies to choose Piraeus as their home port for many of their itineraries in mare nostrum.

By 2014, the largest port of Greece will reach the capacity of six big cruise ships altogether, also upgrading its supportive infrastructure. The plan includes a mall for cruise visitors, a 5-star hotel and a conference center, along with a monorail which will transfer cruise visitors quickly to the metro going to Athens center. It will be funded by private companies, the E.U. and the Greek state.

“MSC”, “Carnival” and “Royal Carribean” have already expressed their interest to get their own exclusive docks in the port, acknowledging that such a move may give them a tactical advantage against their competitors.

Source: “Ta Nea”

From the port of Souda to the Venetian harbor of Chania and its surrounding fabulous beaches

The Souda port is of great strategic importance in terms of commerce and geopolitics in the Mediterranean. However, that is none of your business as a cruise traveler. What matters is how you are going to get the most out of Chania, the second largest city of Crete and one of the top tourist destinations in Greece.

Latest uprisings in North Africa have put Chania on the cruise map and locals intend to keep this touristic flow as long as they can. So, don’t be surprised if you are welcomed there by the mayor or businessmen of the region. 

Getting from the Souda Port to the Old Town of Chania

What you really need if you intend to get ashore by your own is a quick way to get to the Old Town of Chania where all the action and fun is. There are two ways for independent visitors to do this. First, you can hop on a bus (number 13) leaving from the port with destination ''Old Town'' and get off at the stop “Agora”. It runs every 20 minutes and gets you to the town in no more than 20-25 minutes. Bear in mind that the prefecture of Chania may have arranged continuous buses to and from the town in order to better address the super flow of tourists getting out of those huge ships.

There will also be plenty of taxis that can get you to the Old Town quicker with only 10 euros. So, if you are in groups of 3-4 people that will be a convenient choice. 

The Old harbor of Chania

Of course, it is probable that you are well prepared about what you are going to meet in the Old Town. A picturesque Venetian harbor, arched doorways, narrow streets with souvenir shops and value shopping opportunities, great sea-side cafes and traditional Cretan cuisine.

Kalamaki beach

You can spend there your whole day or, in case you have more than 7 hours ashore, you can split your time between the Old Town and a beautiful beach nearby. Kalamaki beach (sandy) is a fine option due to its proximity to Chania and its good bus connection to the city. Buses to Kalamaki run every 40 minutes departing from 1866 Square. It will take you around 15 minutes to get there. Be sure to check timetables before leaving in order to arrange your return trip to the city and then to the cruise port.

Getting from the Souda Port directly to Kalamaki beach

People who ‘d like to get to Kalamaki directly from the cruise port skipping the Old Town may get off the bus (number 13) at “Agora” and then walk for 6-7 minutes towards 1866 Square to get the other bus to Kalamaki (number 21).

Of course, a taxi directly from Souda to Kalamaki beach will cost your 15-20 euros, saving you some precious time.

Shore excursions

''Royal Carribean'' has some interesting shore excursions to offer taking advantage of the beautiful scenery and traditional costumes of the region.

“Kournas, Arkadi Monastery & Rethymnon”, “Monastery Chrisopigi & Archeological Museum of Chania”, “Real Crete”, “Taste of Crete” are all very interesting packages, giving you a unique sight of the Cretan land, its rich history and its people.

“Chania on your own” and “Agioi Apostoli” beach are also offered in order to save you from the trouble of finding the way to the city on your own. As in most of cruise destinations, saving you from that trouble will cost you more than arranging your transportation yourself.

A smooth May for sightseeing and swimming

Greek cruise ports this month are going to be busier than every other May. Major destinations like Katakolon, Rhodes, Santorini and Mykonos will see a steady flow of ships docking in their ports in a period when the beaches around them become ready for swimmers.

In the next few weeks cruise guests will have the option of swimming along with the usual sightseeing tours in places like Rhodes, Limassol, Crete (Herakleion and Chania) and Mykonos.

The port of Souda near Chania is going to receive more cruise guests in May compared to last month’s successful opening with “Royal Carribean’s” voyager class ships in the leading role. It is a fact now that uprisings in North Africa and the rest of the Middle East gave Chania the chance to disclose its beauties, offering also practical and cheap ways to move around the region. 

“Costa” and “MSC” seem to be more attracted than other companies to the pearls of the Ionian and the Aegean Sea. “Royal Carribean” is also competing to get its own share of the Greek beauties.

Most of the major cruise companies will dock at least one of their ships in Greek port.

Last month was more rainy and windy than expected, but that is not going to happen in May. The temperatures will gradually rise, but they are projected to stay in affordable levels for sightseeing, giving also cruisers the permission to swim in some of the most famous beaches of the world.

Restaurants, bars and shops on the islands are open this time of year, which is less crowded than summer months. Keep in mind that Santorini and Mykonos may accept several cruise ship arrivals in some specific days of May, a fact that makes your effort to move around their ports more difficult.