Wondering how to spend one day in Santorini cruise port? Read on to see if Royal Beach Club Santorini is the answer.
What Is the Ultimate Santorini Day Excursion?
Ultimate Santorini Day is a shore excursion for Royal Caribbean cruise passengers stopping in Santorini, Greece which combines two of the most popular and picturesque villages to visit — Oia and Fira — with an all-inclusive beach club experience on an exotic volcanic black sand beach into a seamless adventure.
Overview of Royal Beach Club Santorini
Royal Beach Club Santorini is part of the Ultimate Santorini Day Excursion on Royal Caribbean Group cruises.
Here’s a visual overview before we deep dive:
Location & How to Get There
Royal’s beach club is located on the southern coast of Santorini at Vlychada Beach (Paralia Vichada) leading to Eros Beach.
Access to the club is via pre-booked excursion (unless you’re a Greek resident) and shuttle service to the beach area included in that excursion.
Beach Layout and Amenities
As you can see in the map below, the private beach area looks to be around 20 lounger/umbrellas wide.
The beach is narrow and chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The loungers, umbrellas, and towels are included in your excursion.
Food and Drinks at the Beach Club
You’ll have access to food during your entire visit with a focus on Greek cuisine to immerse you in local culture. Fresh fruit, greek frozen yogurt, and classic hamburgers are also available.
From June 2026 food trucks will be available as well. I look forward to seeing what options they will be and how they will enhance the overall experience of this Ultimate Destination from Royal Caribbean.
Royal Beach Club Santorini Map
Here is a map of the Santorini Beach Club so you know exactly where to go during your visit!
Click the map to enlarge it.
Ultimate Santorini Day Price & What’s Included
Ultimate Santorini Day includes:
- Water Ferry
- Guided tour with free time in Oia
- Guided tour with free time in FIra
- Transportation to Royal Beach Club Santorini
- Admission to Royal Beach Club Santorini
- Welcome cocktail
- Complimentary house wine, draft beer, coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages (additional available for purchase)
- Hot & Cold Buffet featuring Greek Favorites
- Greek Food Food Trucks
- Bathrooms and private changing areas
- Free wifi
- Sun Loungers and Umbrellas
- Transportation back
Is the Ultimate Santorini Day Worth It?
I think this is a great excursion choice for Santorini.
You get a little sampler platter of Santorini with visits to the cute little villages of Fira and Oia where you can take the sweetest photos, meander down narrow alleys and see the famous whitewashed buildings sharply contrasted with cobalt blue. Grab some souvenirs or a local bite if you’d like.
Plus you get some beach time on a unique black volcanic sand beach offering stunning views into the water and the dramatic cliffs that frame the beach.
Not to mention the scenic views of the island on the ferry ride. Love a scenic mode of transportation. 👌🏼
Most folks will only be in Santorini once and aren’t looking for a DIY Santorini Day. With this excursion you won’t have to decide between visiting little towns or visiting the beach. You get a bit of everything without worrying about the details.
Bonus: You can avoid the 587-step Karavolades Stairs and the Santorini Cable Car which many find to be a headache with how long the lines can be, if you want to, by staying on the return bus back to where you will catch the ferry back to your ship.
But needless to say, you have to book this ahead… and on a really good sale. 🙃
-> Compare Santorini excursions
FAQs About Royal Beach Club Santorini & the Ultimate Santorini Day
How long is the Ultimate Santorini Day Excursion?
This is a full day excursion, around 8 hours long.
What order are the stops for the Ultimate Santorini Day?
The excursion has different starting times which means that the specific order of your itinerary will differ depending on the time and your ship. This way use of the Beach Club is staggered to prevent overcrowding.
You can see the order for current cruises here.
How much time do you get at Royal Beach Club?
You will spend 3.5 hours at Royal Beach Club Santorini to enjoy unlimited greek food, greek frozen yogurt, and stare out at the Aegean Sea from your lounger on the black-sand beach.
How much time do you get at Oia?
On the Ultimate Santorini Day excursion you will have 1 hour 30 minutes to explore Oia. This where you can find the famous scenes of white buildings with blue dome roofs that you see in photos of Greece all the time.
How much time do you get at Fira?
Fira is the capital city of Santorini and during your one day in Santorini you will have 1 hour and 15 minutes to explore, take in views of the caldera (volcanic crater), and snag some souvenirs.
You can see why this would be a whole day excursion. You are basically getting to explore parts of the entire island from top to bottom!
What is the mode of transportation?
The water ferry (boat tender) will take you from your cruise ship to the shore, Athinios Ferry Port, to be exact . During your tour you will be transported by bus between the villages of Fira, Oia, and Royal Beach Club Santorini.
What drinks are included at Royal Beach Club Santorini?
Welcome cocktail, house wines, draft beers, non-alcoholic beverages, water.
What is the legal drinking age in Greece?
The legal age to drink alcohol is 18.
Does Royal Beach Club Santorini include Wifi?
Yes. Free wifi is included. It may not be the best for something like a live video call, for example, but for texting your loved ones back home or adding a “wish you were here” post to instagram, you should be good.
Which Royal Caribbean Ships go to Royal Beach Club Santorini?
At time of writing, the following Royal Caribbean Ships are scheduled to stop in Santorini and as a result, their passengers can purchase the Royal Beach Club excursion.
- Odyssey of the Seas
- Brilliance of the Seas
- Explorer of the Seas
How much does Royal Beach Club Santorini cost?
To be clear, Royal Beach Club Santorini is not a stand-alone beach club like Paradise Island in Nassau.
This is a full-day excursion and as such, it looks as if the regular price is a whopping $284 per guest.
But as you can see, you are wise to pre-book as you can get the Santorini Day excursion on sale.
For this July sailing, the current sale was 30% off making the cost $197.99 per guest.
How much is Ultimate Santorini Day with Royal Beach Club for kids?
The regular price is $199 per child, with a 30% off sale making the tour $138.99 per child.
Why is the afternoon more expensive?
Available departure times will vary based on ship. Early reports indicate that afternoon tours are more expensive.
Why?
Well we have to assume there is an advantage. For one, you won’t have to rush right off the ship. The water will be warmer at the beach club as it’s had more time to be kissed by the sun, for another.
This is anecdotal based on a video I saw mentioning the price difference and speculation on why. Without a sailing booked going to Santorini, I can’t see all the options for the excursion.
Can anyone visit Royal Beach Club Santorini?
No. Royal Beach Club Santorini is an exclusive beach club for passengers of Royal Caribbean Cruises as well as their sister brands Celebrity Cruises and SilverSea.
Local Greek Residents can also purchase tickets at the door subject to availability. This is similar to how Bahamians can visit Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, alongside cruise passengers.
Royal Beach Club Santorini is not open to any other cruise lines besides the two mentioned above which are part of the Royal Caribbean Group Brand.
What is the welcome drink at Royal Beach Club Santorini?
The welcome drink is a cocktail made with Mastiha, a sweet liqueur traditionally and exclusively produced in Greece, on the island of Chios.
Does Royal Caribbean’s Beach Club in Santorini have a pool?
There is no pool at Royal Caribbeans’ Santorini Beach Club.
When did Royal Beach Club Santorini Open?
Royal Beach Club Santorini officially opened on April 27, 2026 making it Royal Caribbean’s first private destination in Europe!
You can be sure it won’t be their last. 😉
Official marketing had announced a summer 2026 opening date, and I think we can all agree that April is not summer.
Early reports indicate that they are still tweaking things and some elements were not yet available such as the food trucks. My guess is that by Summer, the true busy season for Greece Cruises, they will have everything ready to go!
When will Royal Beach Club Santorini have food trucks?
Food trucks will be available starting June 2026. I would definitely want to experience them, so if I had a choice I would put off a cruise stopping in Santorini until June.
I have food allergies. Will Royal Beach Club Accommodate My Allergies?
With at least 48 hours notice given to the Shore Excursions desk, they will do their best to accommodate select dietary requests.
Does Royal Beach Club Santorini Accept Credit Cards?
Yes. For instance, if you would like to purchase alcoholic beverages not included in your day excursion, you must pay by credit card.
Important to Note: American Express is not accepted.
Please remember some cards have foreign transaction fees. I recommend one of these travel cards and always choose to pay in local currency (euro) to allow your credit card company to do the conversion to avoid additional fees.
What is the body of water called by Royal Beach Club Santorini? Is it an ocean?
You’ll be gazing out at the beautiful Aegean Sea while you’re at Royal Beach Club Santorini.
The Aegean Sea is not an ocean, it is an embayment of the Mediterranean Sea, nestled between the Greek and Anatolian (Turkish) peninsulas.
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