Cruise passengers heading to Santorini can once again walk the iconic Karavolades Stairs from the old port to the city of Fira. A private wall bordering the stepped pathway collapsed on July 27, forcing a temporary closure. The Port Authority reopened the route on August 3 after repairs confirmed the path was safe for pedestrian traffic.
During the week-long shutdown, cruise operations shifted to Athinios, Santorini's main ferry port, located about seven miles away. The change presented a logistical challenge: the famous Cable Car, the primary alternative route, couldn't handle the surge of cruise passengers alongside regular tourists. Shore excursions operated from Athinios instead, requiring a 25-minute bus or taxi ride from the tender docks. No port calls were cancelled during the disruption.
The closure arrived during Santorini's busiest season, which runs June through mid-September. The island welcomes over 1.2 million cruise passengers annually and currently caps daily arrivals at 8,000 passengers. Just two months before the wall collapse, the Municipal Port Fund had implemented strict capacity rules requiring 70 percent of passengers to disembark at the old Fira port and limiting Athinios to 30 percent. Those restrictions were temporarily waived during the closure but are now being enforced again.
Sixty ships are scheduled to call at Santorini for the remainder of August alone. Operators including MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Princess Cruises all include the Greek island on their Mediterranean itineraries. Passengers booked on those voyages can now plan to experience the traditional route from the tender dock to Fira's clifftop shops and restaurants without unexpected detours.
Originally reported by Cruise Hive, Catie Kovelman (August 8, 2026).
Are you the publisher and want this article removed? Email hello@cruiseshiptracking.com and we will remove it within 24 hours.