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On this Princess Cruise Blog we visit the Mediterranean Port of Chania in Crete, Greece and share some things to do in Crete cruise port including souvenir ideas!
Starboard View of Souda Port Chania on the greek Isle of Crete
We mused that the "Welcome to Souda Port Chania" sign must have been there since Paul's day based on how worn and barely visible the words were.
Welcome To Souda Port Chania | Crete Cruise Port
View from Balcony 11221 Starboard, looking at Chania port toward the left, straight ahead, and to the right respectively. Crete Cruise Port FAQs
Is Chania a tender port?
It can be, but on our Mediterannean cruise we did not tender on Crete with Princess Cruise Lines. Check your cruise itinerary or contact your cruise line to confirm if you will be tendering or docking on Crete. Where do cruise ships dock in Crete? The majority of cruise ships will dock in Iraklion (Heraklion) port or Souda (Chania) when visiting Crete for the day. Where does Sun Princess dock in Chania, Greece? On our cruise, Sun Princess docked at Souda Port. Souda is the name of the port in Chania. Also note the blue dot on the map below to indicate where Sun Princess was docked in Crete. Cruise Travel TipCruise Travel Tip: On Sun Princess, there were large screens along the path to exit the ship on port days which featured contact information for the Port Agent. Make sure to snap a photo of the Port Agent Contact Information. It will usually be in your printed daily schedule as well. If you run into any trouble while in Port, including if you're running late, (ps. please don't run late getting back to the ship!) it will be essential to contact this number for help. It is well known that cruise ships will leave passengers who aren't back on board in time, so always get back to your ship with plenty of time if you are doing your own excursions. Still, 'unexpected events overtake us all' and if you find yourself in that situation, call the port agent right away and let them know. No guarantee the ship can wait or will wait, but you stand a better chance if you've communicated and they know what's going on. =) Our one day in chania cruise portShuttle Bus to Chania Town
Chania is a very walkable and cute port to visit, however you cannot quickly walk to Chania from Souda Port. It would be quite a long walk, something to the tune of 2 hours. Needless to say, we were very happy that Princess had a complimentary shuttle bus from Souda Port which dropped us off in Chania near the Municipal Garden of Chania.
A walk through chania, creteAfter getting off the shuttle I snapped a pic of this monument and area which was under construction. As it turns out this is the entrance to the Agora, the Municipal Market of Chania. It is currently being restored and while it was anticipated to reopen in summer 2024, the expectation is now at least spring of 2025. 
Chania's Agora, or Marketplace, is currently being renovated. A Spring 2025 re-opening is anticipated | Crete Travel Blog
As we walked along the perimeter of the Municipal Gardens of Chania to reach the coastal area, we met two of the loveliest elderly ladies at the cart. We learned via google translate, it was their custom every week on this day to be there. Modern day Anas to warm our hearts. Although we couldn't speak the same language we instantly felt the special bond that is such a treasure. Next we popped into a grocery store to take a peak around. Fully enjoyed this coffee grinder. Nothing like freshly ground coffee beans! 
A Rustic Coffee Grinder in a Grocery Store on the Greek Isle of Crete
Walking around Chania is enjoyable. From wide shopping and dining streets like this one .. 
A spacious walking street in Chania | What to do on Crete
... to narrow winding alleys, you'll enjoy exploring this Greek isle on your cruise!
A Narrow Street in Chania | Chania Cruise Port In One Day
Here's a cute hotel entrance framed by a blooming bougainvillea which provides shade like an umbrella from nature for anyone sitting at that little table. =) 
Charming Chania Hotel Bougainvillea in Bloom
Unique Greek Gift Ideas on Crete
Leather goods make a great souvenir from Crete. This leather shop called Baba Yank Handcraft Leather Workshop sold leather belts, leather purses and backpacks.
Do you see the green and yellow leather bags in the photo? This backpack style is called Vourgiali or Vourgia. According to their website, this style of bag is used by Cretan shepherds and farmers to store their daily meals. Vourgiali can also be found in Cyprus and the Dodecanese islands. This leather backpack would be a really cool souvenir from Crete - it's useful, it's unique, it supports a local artisan, and it has cultural significance and an interesting story. 
Greek Cruise Souvenir Ideas - Leather Goods
If leather isn't your thing. check out O Armenis for more unique souvenirs from Crete. 
Handmade Knives at O Armenis in Chania
O Armenis sells traditional cutlery and you can see how unique these handmade knives certainly are. 
O Armenis - Traditional Cretan Knives Since 1912 Workshop in Chania
The tall walking sticks / shepherds crooks caught my eye as well. I was curious how much they cost. These cool walking sticks were 80 euros, but I imagine they will be hard to pack in your checked luggage. lol 
Shopping in Chania, Crete | Mediterranean Cruise Travel Blog
The store Cream Of Hippocrates also looked to have some unique items. Bags made traditionally on a handloom, homemade creams, not to mention books and toys.
Walking past the next store, something immediately caught my eye - the colorful coin pouches inside the doorway. They looked Thai, without a doubt. This cute boutique, Wipa Silk Shop, has loads of cute dresses and accessories including many authentic Thai goods. It was a highlight of the day to chat with the owner, a kind Thai woman. Please stop in at Wipa when you are in Chania!
Another great souvenir from Greece would be handmade leather sandals. Typically the sandals will have the family name stamped in the footbed. I much prefer this dignified way to acknowledge the maker than the overly branded items popular today, which can be tacky. 
Diniakos Leather Sandals | Greek Cruise Souvenir Ideas
cretan Cats of chaniaIn the neighborhood were some adorable street cats and a comical, scruffy little dog. old venetian port of chaniaWe had made it to the Old Venetian Port of Chania. 
Old Venetian Port Chania, Crete
We found more cats hanging around waiting for a fresh catch and this one looked quite distinguished. 
Striking Black Cat at Old Venetian Port Chania, Crete
There are plenty of restaurants to dine at along the Old Venetian Port where you'll have a view of the water and the Lighthouse of Chania. What's so special about Chania's Lighthouse? It's said to be the oldest lighthouse in the world so we thought it worth the walk down the long mole (the stone pier leading to the lighthouse), but not without first taking in the views. 
Chania's old lighthouse in the distance
Before walking down the pier, take a peak around the corner of this stone wall to see glimpses of the Chanion Gulf in the Sea of Crete. 
Chanion Sea | Greek Cruise Ports
Chania in one day on a cruise
The walk to the lighthouse starts out well. The walkway is spacious and affords views of the boats docked along the shore with the Venetian shipyards in the background. 
View of Chania from the walkway to the Lighthouse
The mountains made a majestic backdrop for the Venetian Shipyards at the Chania Marina. Originally they were to build and maintain Venetian galleys (a type of boat that relied mostly on oars and was used for warfare, trade, and piracy in the European seas. source). Later when the Ottomans invaded Crete, the Shipyards actually became storehouses for food.
Mountainous background to the Venetian Shipyards in Chania
Sadly at this point on the journey to the lighthouse, things took a turn. I have to say the walk to the Chania lighthouse is not for the faint of heart on a blisteringly hot day.
The old sea wall going out to the lighthouse has sort of an upper level and lower level. At one point we took stairs to the upper level, which was more narrow and because I started to feel uneasy we turned back in order to continue on the lower level a la Proverbs 22:3. Shortly thereafter my sandal proceeds to break in an irreparable way while we are on the middle of this long walk to the lighthouse in the blazing heat. We had no choice but to turn back and let me tell you it was an even longer walk back trying to hold onto my flipflop by scrunching up my toes while walking. Tired, overheated, frustrated, and hungry we hobbled our way to a place called Tostachi. Tostachi Restaurant Review | Chania Cruise Port Crete, Greece
Tostachi Restaurant Chania
Tostachi is a cute little restaurant serving bio (organic) foods made from the heart. 
Inside Tostachi Restaurant on Crete
Tostachi Chania Menu
To Stachi Main Menu
Greek Coffee
We started off with a greek coffee which is made in a pot called a Briki and is reminiscent of the Armenian coffee we had at Ararate Restaurant in Lisbon.
Greek Coffee at to Stachi in Chania
Cretan Spinach Pie
We ordered the Cretan spinach pie with "handmade phyllo pastry, wild seasonal greens & large variety of herbs."
Stelio's Salad
While we actually ordered a Greek Salad, in the end we seemed to have received Stelios's salad "with tomato, cucumber, onion, lettuce, rocket, herbs, coriander, avocado, olives, mizithra cheese & balsamic vinegar".
Kalitsounia with honey - Dessert
For dessert we decided to try the kalitsounia with honey. This is "handmade phyllo pastry with mizithra cheese with Cretan thyme honey & cinnamon"
By the way, if you're wondering what is mizithra?! It's a homemade traditional cheese made from goats milk. 
Cretan Dessert Kalitsounia with Honey at To Stachi restaurant
Fruit Plate
At the end they brought us this lovely fruit plate of fresh honeydew and strawberry with their compliments!
Fresh Fruit at To Stachi Restaurant
The best part of tostachi.
Chef Stelios, shown in photo wearing his apron, was the absolute highlight of our visit to Tostachi. He was passionate about all of the food he made, eager to explain each menu item, happy to take a video while he made our dessert and show it to us, and he just had a warmth and kindness about him that is rare to see these days.
Stelios touched our hearts!
The kind of guy who would repair a sandal for a total stranger :) and as if that wasn't enough, even provide extra wire in case the first fix didn't stay. What a legend! 
Thanks to Stelios, I was able to walk back to the cruise shuttle bus with ease!
walking back to the cruise shuttle bus
With a newly repaired sandal, we could start the walk back to the shuttle bus pickup point, remembering to factor in the 20 minute bus ride and then walking to the actual ship so we wouldn't miss all aboard!
View across from To Stachi Restaurant in Chania
Cool Buildings in Chania
For some reason this red building was so intriguing..
Architecture of Chania
We walked near the water and the views of the Chanion Gulf were so beautiful. 
Chanion Gulf
Once I saw these steps I knew I had to run down them real quick and dip my toe into the water - it was my last chance! When would I be on Crete again?! It was soooo refreshing on such a hot day. 
Where locals dip their toe in - Chania Cruise Port
Wouldn't you love to visit Crete and spend some time in these beautiful waters?!
Beautiful waters surround Crete
Sailing from crete on Sun princess
Once we got back on Sun Princess we grabbed a little strawberry-topped donut snack and returned to our balcony for the sail-away views of Crete.
The views...
Sun Princess leaving Souda Port, Chania
... were just ...
Outstanding views Starboard on Sun Princess Greek Isles Cruise
so so so good!
Balcony Views from Souda Bay on Sun Princess
We couldn't get enough
Sailing away from Crete on a Mediterranean Cruise
of the views through souda bay
Cannot get over the views of Crete in Souda Bay | Greek Isles Cruise Travel Blog
dinner and Dancing in the Piazza
To wrap up a roller coaster of a day we grabbed a most random dinner from The Eatery on Sun Princess consisting of asian food and a dessert plate of greek sweets like baklava.
In the Piazza, the band was bringing out some smooth moves from fellow cruisers.
Day 5 of this Mediterranean Cruise on Sun Princess is a Sea Day so get ready for more cruise food pics and let us know if you think the food on Princess Cruises is good!
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Oh, Hey!We're Justin and Marissa
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