Santorini Old Port Pathway Reopens

Posted on 9 August, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Santorini Old Port Pathway Reopens

The stepped pathway that links the old port of Santorini with the town of Fira reopened in early August, according to Atlantea.

Serving as one of the main access pointsto the Greek island for cruise passengers, the Karavolades Stairs had been unavailable since late July.

As reported by Cruise Industry News at the time, local authorities closed the 558-step staircase due to the collapse of a wall of a private building.

Atlantea said that the incident caused a small landslide, which effectively blocked the passage of pedestrians and donkeys.

Santorini’s old port is the traditional gateway for cruise passengers visiting the island, serving as a starting point for most tours.

As the largest and most developed settlement on the island, Fira is located approximately 250 meters above the port and can be accessed via the Karavolades Stairs or a cable car system.

With the closure of the pathway, Santorini authorities suspended regulations that limit the number of cruise passengers arriving via Athinios Port.

Located on a different part of the island, the pier offers better infrastructure and can also be accessed via cars and buses.

Cruise lines were temporarily authorized to disembark more passengers in Athinios, facilitating organized shore excursions to other parts of Santorini.

With Karavolades reopening, the limitations were reinstated, capping the daily number of guests arriving at the new port at 30 percent.

The regulation entered into effect earlier this year due to what the Municipal Port Fund of Fira called civil protection measures.

Introduced after a seismic crisis that affected the island in early 2025, the measure is said to be aimed at keeping roads clear for potential emergencies.

Santorini is one of the main destinations for cruise ships in Greece, welcoming vessels from a wide range of cruise lines.

Royal Caribbean Informs Guests of New Greek Cruise Taxes

Posted on 12 August, 2025 by Spacejunkie2

Royal Caribbean Informs Guests of New Greek Cruise Taxes

Royal Caribbean International recently issued a statement informing guests about a new cruise tax that recently took effect in Greece.

The new seasonal fees were introduced in July and, according to the local government, are aimed at combating overtourism as well as improving the country’s tourism infrastructure.

“Beginning with sailings that depart on August 1, 2025, a seasonal cruise tax will be implemented across various ports in Greece, including iconic destinations like Mykonos and Santorini,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement.

“This initiative supports sustainable tourism and helps preserve the natural beauty and cultural heritage of these beloved destinations,” the company continued.

According to Royal Caribbean, guests who booked their sailings on or after September 20, 2024, have already paid for the fees, which were included within the taxes and fees section of their invoice.

The new taxes vary by destination being visited, as well as the time of the year.

For visits to Santorini and Mykonos taking place between June 1 and September 30, guests will pay 20 euros per person. During the same timeframe, each passenger will pay 5 euros when visiting other Greek ports.

Shoulder seasons will see passengers paying 12 euros for visits to Mykonos and Santorini that take place in October 2025, as well as between April 1 and May 31.

For other calls in Greece during the same timeframe, passengers will be required to pay 3 euros.

From November 1 to March 31, the fees decrease to 4 euros per person for visits to Mykonos and Santorini and to 1 euro per person for all other Greek destinations.

For guests who have already paid for the taxes along with their booking, Royal Caribbean will exchange the amounts at a monthly forecasted rate.

The company also said that for guests who choose to remain onboard and not go ashore in the Greek ports, the fee amounts will be automatically refunded to their onboard accounts at the end of the cruise.

Passengers who booked their cruises before September 20, 2024, will be required to pay the new taxes before disembarking in Greece.

Celestyal Journey Debuts in the Eastern Mediterranean

Posted on 5 September, 2023 by Spacejunkie2

The Celestyal Journey is now in service for Celestyal Cruises.

After a $21 million refit, the ship kicked off its inaugural season on Saturday.

Taking over the schedule of the Celestyal Crystal, the vessel set sail from Piraeus on a seven-night cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean.

Following Celestyal’s Idyllic Aegean itinerary, the maiden voyage includes visits to six destinations in Greece and Turkey, including Thessaloniki, Heraklion and Milos. The cruise also includes overnight visits to Santorini and Mykonos before returning to Piraeus.

Continuing its maiden season, the Celestyal Journey is scheduled to offer different itineraries during the fall, such as the “Steps of Paul” and the “Three Continents.”

While the first includes additional stops in Greece and Turkey, such as Kavala, Dikili and Istanbul, the second sails to the Holy Land, with visits to destinations in Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Israel, including Kusadasi, Rhodes, Limassol and Port Said.

Joining the Celestyal Olympia in Celestyal’s fleet, the Celestyal Journey was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. Part of Holland America’s S-Class, the ship first entered service in 1994 as the Ryndam.

After two decades of service, it was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia in 2015, becoming the Pacific Aria.

Five years later, in 2020, the vessel was sold to Seajets, remaining laid-up in Greece before being resold to Celestyal in February.

Following the recent refit, the 55,000-ton ship introduced several new features, including a selection of eight dining venues.

The Celestyal Journey also offers a total of eight bars and lounges, in addition to two lido decks, a two-deck theatre, a casino, a tennis court, a video arcade and a shopping area.

Other features include a full spa and wellness centre equipped with a gym, a beauty centre, saunas, a thermal suite, massage rooms and a relaxation room.