Key Aspects:
- Port authorities have required Celebrity Ascent to shorten her planned visit to Santorini on August 8, 2025, from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- The change was made due to an increase in port traffic in the small tender port, with three other cruise ships also expected to be present that day.
- Shore excursions booked through Celebrity Cruises will automatically be adjusted or refunded.
Guests onboard Celebrity Ascent have just learned that the final port call of the current cruise will now be three hours shorter than planned.
The current voyage, which is a 7-night sailing from Barcelona, Spain, to Athens, Greece, is saving Santorini for last as the grand finale of the trip on August 8, 2025.
For many cruise fans, making Santorini the final port call on a cruise akin to saving the best for last.
While the up to 3,950 passengers onboard will still get to visit the popular Greek island, their time in port will be cut short by three hours due to port congestion.
The 141,420-gross ton ship will now head back out to sea at 5 p.m. instead of the originally planned time of 8 p.m.
“Due to increased traffic conditions at the port in Santorini, Greece, local authorities have requested an adjustment to our departure schedule,” Celebrity Cruises notified guests.
“As a result, our time in Santorini will be updated, with our new departure time now set for 5:00 PM,” the notice continued.
The Edge-class ship has already called on Valletta, Malta, on August 4, and there are no expected changes to the additional planned stops at Mykonos Island, Greece, and Kusadasi, Turkey.
In light of the change, all shore excursions that were booked through Celebrity Cruises will automatically be adjusted to accommodate the new timing. Any tours that can’t be adjusted will be refunded.
Even with the shortened time in port, cruise guests will still be required to pay the new port tax in full that went into effect in Greece on August 1, 2025, which is set at €20 ($23.13 USD) per person from June through September.
How Bad is Port Congestion?
It’s currently the peak cruising season in the Mediterranean, and the Santorini Cruise Port will be just about at capacity on August 8.
In addition to Celebrity Ascent, NCL’s Norwegian Viva, Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, and Star Clippers’ Star Flyer will also be in the port that day.
As Santorini is already a small cruise port, port authorities may have staggered ship departures for both efficiency and safety.
Santorini is also a tender port, which means all four ships will need to be transporting guests two and from the shore using smaller vessels simultaneously, which can also add to the congestion and possible navigational hazards.
Strategically timing arrivals and departures can help ease traffic by isolating peak times for when cruise ship tendering operations will be most in demand.
Read Also: Cruise Ship Tendering – Top 6 Pro Tips
It’s unclear why Celebrity Ascent specifically had to adjust her schedule, or why the change wouldn’t have been made sooner, but the cruise line appreciated guests’ understanding.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and truly appreciate your understanding,” the cruise line wrote.
“While this change is beyond our control, please know that our commitment to your comfort and enjoyment remains unwavering.”
Celebrity Cruises also took this update as an opportunity to remind guests that the tender boats require at least some level of mobility, as guests must be able to handle a few steps and walk across the tender platform.
Guests who use full-time mobility scooters or non-collapsible wheelchairs will unfortunately not be able to venture ashore in Santorini or Mykonos, which is also a tender port.
