Rhodes: All-Inclusive Catamaran Cruise with Lunch and Drinks

The best part of this Rhodes cruise is simple: you spend much of the day anchored in clear water instead of rushing from one beach to the next. You can swim at Anthony Quinn Bay, Ladiko, and Kalithea Springs, with the power catamaran adding Afandou Beach and its caves.

I like the generous swim times, usually about an hour at each stop, and the relaxed all-inclusive setup. Lunch, wine, beer, soft drinks, snorkeling gear, noodles, and towels-free swimming support are all handled onboard. The main thing to consider is that you must swim from the boat to shore, so this is not a good fit if you have limited mobility or are not comfortable in open water.

Key points before you book

• Two boat styles: Choose a sailing catamaran for a quieter ride or a power catamaran for the extra Afandou Caves stop.
• Small group feel: The boat carries a maximum of 24 passengers plus crew, with space to sit in the sun or shade.
• Three or four swim stops: Sailing boats visit Anthony Quinn Bay, Ladiko Bay, and Kalithea Springs. Power boats also stop at Afandou.
• Food arrives onboard: Expect a breakfast tortilla snack, fresh fruit, and a Mediterranean buffet with chicken, salads, dips, olives, feta, and bread.
• Drinks keep flowing: Wine and beer are available from noon, along with juice, soft drinks, and bottled water.
• Good gear for beginners: Snorkels, life jackets, and floating pool noodles are provided, making the swim stops easy to enjoy.

What the $83 price really covers

At about $83 per person, this is not just a boat transfer with a quick photo stop. You are paying for six hours on the water, several swim sessions, a full buffet lunch, drinks, equipment, and a relatively small passenger limit.

That makes the price reasonable for a full day at sea, especially if you would otherwise pay separately for a boat ride, lunch, beach drinks, and snorkeling gear. The value is strongest for people who plan to use the swimming stops and enjoy the drinks and food onboard.

You should not book this expecting a private yacht charter. There can be up to 24 passengers, and the catamaran is shared. Still, the passenger limit keeps the experience more comfortable than the large excursion boats that pack people onto every available deck space.

The included meal is practical rather than fancy. You get grilled chicken, pasta salad, potato salad, Greek salad, green salad, tzatziki, hummus, aubergine salad, olives, feta, and fresh local bread. A breakfast tortilla snack comes earlier, and seasonal fruit is served later.

This is a good spread for a hot day. It includes enough variety for different tastes, though the main protein is chicken rather than fish. If you want a seafood-focused lunch, this may not be the right choice.

Meeting the catamaran at Mandraki Harbor

You meet the crew at the Catamaran Cruises Rhodes kiosk at Mandraki Harbor. The boats depart at 10:00 AM, so arrive early rather than trying to cut it close.

The departure point is easy to find, but the timing matters. If you miss the boat, the rebooking fee for another day is €25 per ticket. The crew has sometimes helped people who called ahead about delays, but you should not rely on that. Treat 10:00 AM as a firm departure time.

The crew speaks English, and the trip is run with regular announcements. Pay attention to the instructions for swim-stop times and the return schedule. It is easy to lose track of time when you are floating in a beautiful bay.

The boats have indoor toilets and an outdoor shower. The toilets are useful, but keeping a marine toilet clean with a full boat can be a challenge. If you care about spotless facilities, keep expectations sensible.

Sailing catamaran or power catamaran?

The sailing catamaran is the calmer choice. When conditions allow, the ride has a gentle, unhurried feel, and you spend more time enjoying the movement of the sea and the views along the east coast.

The sailing route includes Anthony Quinn Bay, Ladiko Bay, and Kalithea Springs. You get three major swim stops, generally around an hour each, along with the cruising time between them.

Choose the power catamaran if Afandou Beach and the caves are a priority. The powered boat visits Anthony Quinn Bay, Afandou, Kalithea Springs, and Ladiko Bay. The extra stop means more variety, but the day may feel a little more active and less leisurely.

Both boats offer room to sit and move around. If you want a preferred place, arriving early helps. Upper-deck seats are popular for sun and views, while lower areas can be more comfortable when the sun is strong.

The route can change with weather conditions. The captain decides where the boat can safely anchor, so do not treat the advertised stops as guaranteed in every kind of weather.

Anthony Quinn Bay, clear water and fish

The first major stop is Anthony Quinn Bay, after roughly 70 minutes of cruising and sightseeing. The bay is known for its striking water and rocky setting, and it makes a strong opening stop.

You have about an hour to swim and snorkel. The crew provides masks and other equipment, and bread is thrown into the water so colorful fish gather nearby. That makes this a particularly easy place for first-time snorkelers to see fish without needing to swim far.

The boat stays at anchor. You do not walk straight from the catamaran onto a beach. Instead, you swim from the boat toward the shore or remain near the boat, using a noodle or life jacket if you prefer extra support.

For confident swimmers, this setup is part of the fun. For anyone who is nervous in open water, it is the main point to think about before booking. The crew offers equipment, but the tour is not built around ramps or easy shore access.

Afandou Beach and caves on the power route

The power catamaran makes an additional stop at Afandou Beach and the caves. This gives you a different setting from the tighter bays, with time for lunch, swimming, and snorkeling.

The caves are the special reason to choose the power option. They add a little exploration to a day that otherwise centers on swimming in sheltered coves.

The exact order of lunch and stops can vary. The schedule allows roughly an hour at Afandou, with another hour at Ladiko, and the meal is served onboard. You may eat while anchored, then swim, or swim before the buffet is ready.

If you want the fullest list of places, choose the power catamaran. If your priority is a slower sailing day with three strong swim stops, the sailing boat may suit you better.

Ladiko Bay, a quieter swimming hour

Ladiko Bay follows a short cruise from Anthony Quinn Bay. The water is clear, and the stop gives you another full hour for swimming and snorkeling.

The value here is the pace. You are not being hurried off the boat after ten minutes for a group photo. An hour lets you swim, try the snorkeling gear, sit on a noodle, or remain onboard and enjoy the view.

The bays can feel different depending on wind and sea conditions. Ladiko is described as a quieter area, but the captain may change the route if conditions make another location safer or more comfortable.

This is also a good point in the day for people who do not want to swim at every stop. You can relax on deck, take pictures, or have a drink. The trip is designed so you are free to use the boat as a floating terrace, not just as transport between beaches.

Kalithea Springs and the final swim

Kalithea Springs is the final major stop before the return to Mandraki Harbor. You usually get 45 to 60 minutes for swimming and snorkeling.

The area is especially appealing for a final swim because the setting changes again. The coast and nearby lagoon offer a different view from Anthony Quinn Bay and Ladiko. Families with children have found the stop easy to enjoy, and the floating equipment gives younger swimmers another option.

As with the other bays, the catamaran remains anchored offshore. You need to swim toward the shore or lagoon if you want to explore those areas. Keep an eye on the time, since the boat must leave for the return cruise.

The final ride back can take about 45 minutes, depending on the route and conditions. It gives you time to dry off, shower, finish a drink, and watch Rhodes from the water.

Food, drinks, and the all-inclusive rhythm

The food is one of the stronger parts of this cruise. The buffet is made for a warm day at sea, with familiar Greek flavors and enough cold salads, dips, bread, and vegetables to balance the chicken.

The crew serves a breakfast tortilla snack early in the day. Later, there is lunch and fresh seasonal fruit. The food is not a formal restaurant meal, but it is more substantial than the basic sandwiches found on many boat trips.

Drinks include bottled water, juice, soft drinks, wine, and beer. Wine and beer are available from noon. This works well with the unhurried format, especially during the lunch stop and the return cruise.

Alcohol is part of the package, but the crew can stop serving it if someone appears intoxicated. That is a sensible safety rule on a moving boat, and it helps keep the atmosphere family-friendly.

Tell the crew about dietary needs before or at the start of the trip. The staff has been able to take care of some special requests, but the listed buffet is the menu you should plan around.

Crew service and the feel onboard

The crew is a major reason this trip works. Andreas, Hope, Dimitri, and the other staff are described as attentive, friendly, and willing to help with equipment, pictures, drinks, and family needs.

The service style is warm without making the day feel formal. You can ask for help with a life jacket, find a snorkel, or check the next departure time. The crew also gives safety instructions and points out what you need to know at each stop.

The boat is kept clean and has plenty of seating, though the toilet area may not always meet the same standard. That small weakness is worth noting because six hours at sea makes the facilities relevant.

The atmosphere suits couples, families, solo visitors, and groups of friends. Children have room to swim with support from noodles and life jackets, while solo passengers can settle into a seat and enjoy the water without needing to organize anything.

Who should book this Rhodes cruise?

You should book this if you want a relaxed day that combines scenery, swimming, food, and drinks without arranging each part yourself. It is especially good for a first visit to Rhodes when you want to see several famous bays in one outing.

It also suits first-time snorkelers. The crew supplies equipment, fish gather near the boat at Anthony Quinn Bay, and you can choose how active you want to be at each stop.

Families should note the open-water format. Children need to be comfortable in the sea and follow crew instructions. The noodles and life jackets help, but this is not a pool excursion.

I would also recommend it for solo visitors. The small passenger limit and friendly crew make it easy to enjoy the day without needing a travel companion.

Skip it if you want to spend the day walking onto beaches, exploring towns, or staying completely dry. You should also skip it if mobility limitations make boarding, moving around the boat, or swimming from the anchored catamaran difficult.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and allows you to reserve now and pay later. That adds useful flexibility, especially when your Rhodes plans depend on the weather.

What to bring for six hours at sea

Pack sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Apply sunscreen before boarding and keep reapplying, since the open deck gives you little natural shade.

Bring a dry change of clothes if you dislike sitting in wet swimwear during the return ride. The outdoor shower helps rinse off salt water, but it does not replace a full shower and changing area.

Arrive early at the Mandraki Harbor kiosk. The boat leaves at 10:00 AM, and missing it can cost €25 per ticket to rebook.

Most important, bring a willingness to swim from the boat. The catamaran does not pull up to shore at every stop, and that detail affects the whole experience more than the word luxury in the tour description.

Should you book it?

Book this Rhodes catamaran cruise if your ideal day means three or four beautiful bays, long swim stops, a generous Greek buffet, and drinks served while you watch the coast pass by. At $83, the combination is good value for a six-hour outing, particularly if you choose the power boat for Afandou Caves.

Choose the sailing catamaran for a quieter pace and three excellent stops. Choose the power catamaran for the extra location and a fuller route. Either way, arrive early, respect the weather-dependent route, and be ready to swim from the boat. If that sounds like your kind of Rhodes day, this is an easy tour to recommend.

FAQ

How long is the Rhodes catamaran cruise?

The cruise lasts six hours, including the coastal sightseeing, swim stops, lunch, and return to Mandraki Harbor.

Where does the cruise start?

You meet the crew at the Catamaran Cruises Rhodes kiosk at Mandraki Harbor.

What time does the boat depart?

The catamarans depart at 10:00 AM. You should arrive earlier so you have time to check in and board.

Which bays does the sailing catamaran visit?

The sailing catamaran stops at Anthony Quinn Bay, Ladiko Bay, and Kalithea Bay or Kalithea Springs, depending on the route and conditions.

Which places does the power catamaran visit?

The power catamaran visits Anthony Quinn Bay, Afandou Beach and its caves, Kalithea Springs, and Ladiko Bay.

Can I walk directly onto the beaches?

No. The catamaran stays at anchor in each bay, so you need to swim from the boat if you want to reach the shore.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, life jackets, and floating pool noodles are provided onboard.

What food and drinks are included?

The package includes a breakfast tortilla snack, seasonal fruit, a Mediterranean buffet with grilled chicken, salads, dips, olives, feta, and bread. It also includes bottled water, juice, soft drinks, wine, and beer. Wine and beer are available from noon.

Is the cruise suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The activity is not considered suitable for people with mobility impairments because the boat remains anchored offshore and swimming is needed to reach the shore.