Cruising Greece

Friday, 6 May 2011

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.

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

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.

Friday, 29 April 2011

Adjustments for the May 11th general strike

The General Syndicate of Greek Workers has announced a strike for May 11^th. On that day most parts of the public sector will be out of service, while the private sector will probably be intact. That means passengers of “Costa Victoria” (docking in Athens on May 11^th) wishing to go ashore by themselves can use Metro Line 1 only rom 10:00 to 16:00. However, taxis usually don’t take part in general strikes. So, they will probably be available to carry passengers from the cruise port to the center of the city and vice versa.

Passengers of “Costa Victoria” should also be aware that some streets around the center of Athens (Syntagma Square) will remain closed in midday during the scheduled protest (10:00-14:00). They can ask taxi drivers to avoid Leoforos Amalias and Syntagma Square by leaving them near the Acropolis Museum in the Koukaki area. That’s the best way to reach the main tourist area of Athens by taxi.

Cruise guests of “Costa Victoria” should also acknowledge that there is a strong possibility that archaeological sites will remain closed on May 11^th. Announcements have not been made yet, but employees of the Ministry of Culture usually take part in general strikes.

Closure of the archaeological sites may also cause some inconvenience to other cruise guests. Passengers of “Louis Majesty” in Rhodes, “MSC Musica” and “Louis Cristal” in Santorini and “Oceania Nautica” in Volos, planning to go ashore, should contact their companies for further info 2-3 days before.

Alternatively, they may stay in touch with our blog as updated information on who is going on strike on May 11^th will be added constantly as soon as relevant announcements are made.

Feel free to contact us in case you need suggestions on how to avoid inconvenience on May 11^th.

Wednesday, 20 April 2011

“Ms Nieuw Amsterdam” crossing the Aegean

One of the newest and most luxurious cruise ships of the World, “Nieuw Amsterdam”, is about to dock at many Greek cruise ports during its Mediterranean itinerary. “HollandAmerica’s” flagship, launched on Venice last July, will visit among other destinations Corfu, Katakolon and Nafplion during the last days of April. It will be back to Greece in the beginning of May to bring its 2100 guests to Piraeus, Mykonos, Santorini and Argostoli (Kefallonia).

One of its favorite ports of call during May is, of course, the magnificent island of Santorini. Guests will get the chance to wander around the volcanic terrain, taste the local delicacies and enjoy the unique spectacular views.

While Santorini always remains a classic in cruise itineraries, Nafplion will travel cruisers back to antiquity with visits to Mycenae and Epidavrus, whereas Kefallonia will give an alternative pinch of amazing exotic sceneries.

It is, after all, variety that matters in sophisticated cruise itineraries.

Sunday, 17 April 2011

Wine hopping in Santorini

Let’s say you have already been to Santorini, given that this island is among the top 10 worldwide destinations for summer vacation. Santorini is well known for its unique volcanic terrain. However, oenophiles are aware that this exceptional terrain also provides some unique wine tastes not similar to any other place in the Mediterranean and the whole World.

Under such conditions cruisers who‘d like to have a different, sommelier-like adventure during their stay in Santorini are advised to take a wine tour. Some of the famous wineries of Santorini are situated near the port of Athinios and the town of Fira, making wineries hopping easier.

Some cruise companies offer exclusive wine tours; most of them, however, only include a quick visit to one of the wineries for a complimentary glass, as part of their shore excursions. That’s not at all the winerie hopping you were looking for!

Just five miles away of Fira, heading southwards, you will reach Megalochori. There, the “Boutaris Winery” offers most of the local varieties, along with guided tours (Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00). In August, visitors may have the chance to watch the wine production procedure live, since it is harvesting time.

In Pyrgos Kallistis, one miles away to the east of Megalochori, you will find “Santo Wines”, a winery which produces among others the varieties of Vinsanto, Assyrtiko, Nychteri, Νama. It is open from March till November (10:00 to 20:00), also offering guided tours.

Moving a mile from Pyrgos to the northeast, on the road to Kamari, you will reach Exo Gonia, where “Art Space Exhibition” by “Argyros Art Space Argyros Canava” is housed in an old Santorinian cave-house wine cellar and old wine distillery. Visitors will have the chance to combine contemporary art with wine making history and, of course, wine tasting (open daily from 11:00 to sunset).

Another wine museum is situated in Vothon, 2 miles away from Exo Gonia towards Fira. “Koutsogiannopoulos Winery” offers many of the local varieties along with a tour to the secrets of Santorini’s winemaking throughout history (April till October from 12:00 to 20:00).