Virgin Voyages Adjusts Itinerary as Santorini Cable Car Nears Reopening
Virgin Voyages has updated a Greek Island Glow itinerary, hoping the island’s cable car will reopen following early 2025 earthquake damage.
Virgin Voyages has made a small but meaningful adjustment to an upcoming Greek Island Glow sailing on 11 May 2025. The change affects the visit to Santorini, as the island works to bring its popular cable car back into service following an extended closure.
Santorini Cable Car Set to Reopen
The cable car in Santorini, which connects the Old Port to the town of Fira at the top of the caldera, has been out of service since early 2025 due to a series of earthquakes that impacted its infrastructure. This lift is the primary and most efficient way for visitors arriving by sea to ascend the steep cliffside without relying on a lengthy walk or alternative transport.
Santorini is one of the few Virgin Voyages ports that requires a tender. Sailors are brought ashore at the base of the cliff and usually board the cable car to access Fira. When the cable car is unavailable, the ship tends to use Athinios Port instead, which is further away and requires a longer shuttle ride. For those that don’t want to use the cable car a long strenuous walk is required up the cliff!
With signs that the cable car may soon be operational again, Virgin Voyages has taken steps to optimize the experience for its May 11 sailing.
Updated Itinerary for May 11, 2025 Sailing
To allow for the possible use of the cable car, the Santorini stop has been moved later in the week and shifts the sea day earlier.
- Day 1 (Sunday, May 11): Piraeus (Athens), Greece
- Day 2 (Monday, May 12): At Sea
- Day 3 (Tuesday, May 13): Rhodes, Greece
- Day 4 (Wednesday, May 14): Bodrum, Turkey
- Day 5 (Thursday, May 15): Santorini, Greece (New Date)
- Day 6 (Friday, May 16): Mykonos, Greece
- Day 7 (Saturday, May 17): Mykonos, Greece
- Day 8 (Sunday, May 18): Piraeus (Athens), Greece
This change is only for this sailing. No other itineraries are affected at this time.
Tendering Operations
As always, tendering is required in Santorini. Sailors planning to disembark before 12pm must book their tender times while on board. A full guide to the tender process is available here:
Shore Things and Updated Guidance
Virgin Voyages shared the following update with booked guests:
“We’ve moved your Santorini visit to May 15 in anticipation that the cable car may be operating, which should help make your tender process smoother and provide easier access to Fira’s stunning views, though this remains subject to local conditions and final confirmation.”
If the cable car reopens as hoped, those without a Shore Thing will be able to ride it directly up to Fira. If it remains closed, Sailors will tender to Athinios Port and use shuttle transfers in both directions, which will be coordinated by the crew.
Shore Things booked through Virgin Voyages will be automatically updated to the new Santorini date. Sailors with plans through independent vendors are advised to reschedule accordingly.
Santorini Still Rebounding
As the island continues its recovery and infrastructure improvements ahead of the busy summer months, sailors should be flexible with Santorini plans as the island tries to get up to full speed ahead of the peak tourism season.
This itinerary change appears to be a proactive step by Virgin Voyages to ensure the best possible sailor experience, balancing operational logistics with ongoing recovery efforts on the island.
