Sailing Catamaran day cruise – Rhodes with lunch & drinks

The best part of this Rhodes cruise is the freedom to trade a fixed sightseeing schedule for quiet bays and open water. You can swim, linger, eat, and enjoy the coast without sharing the boat with a large group. I especially like the two planned swim stops, Kallithea Springs and Anthony Quinn Bay, plus the chance to taste Greek mezedes on board.

I also like the generous private capacity: up to 12 people can spread out on a catamaran, and one family of nine, including five children, found there was plenty of room. The main drawback is the price, $1,890.46 per group, which is strong value for a full group but costly for a small party. Hotel transfers are not included, so you must reach the New Marina yourself.

Key points to know before you book

• Private sailing for up to 12: You control the pace instead of following a large shared-group schedule.
• Two worthwhile swim stops: Plan on about 35 minutes near Kallithea Springs and 40 minutes at Anthony Quinn Bay.
• Lunch and drinks included: Greek mezedes and other dishes come with beer and wine at the meal, plus soft drinks and water all day.
• A skipper who can shape the day: Stefano is specifically named among the crew associated with this experience.
• A family-friendly boat setup: A group of nine, including five children, had plenty of room on board.
• Simple marina logistics: Meet at Rhodes New Marina at 9:30 am and return to the same point after roughly six hours.

A private catamaran day instead of a fixed group tour

Rhodes has plenty of organized boat trips, but a private catamaran gives you a different kind of day. You are not simply being carried from one scheduled stop to the next. Your group has the boat to itself, and the local skipper can help decide where to slow down, swim, and relax.

That matters most if your group has mixed interests. One person can sit with a drink and watch the coast, while others swim. Families can avoid the pressure of a crowded boat, and friends can settle into a slower rhythm than they might find on a standard excursion.

The cruise lasts about six hours and begins at 9:30 am. That gives you most of the day without turning the outing into a full-day commitment. You return to the same marina, which keeps the plan easy to understand and avoids the confusion of a one-way drop-off.

The boat accommodates up to 12 people. For a full group, the price works out to about $157.54 per person. That is not a bargain for one or two people, but it becomes more reasonable when divided among a large family or group of friends. You are paying for exclusive use, a skipper, food, drinks, and a flexible day on the water.

Leaving Rhodes New Marina at 9:30 am

Your starting point is Rhodes New Marina, listed at ΝΕΑ ΜΑΡΙΝΑ, Rhodes 851 00. Hotel transportation is not included, so you need to plan your own way to the marina and allow enough time to find the meeting point before the 9:30 am departure.

The marina start also shapes the day in a practical way. You board near Rhodes Town rather than spending part of the morning on a long pickup route. Since the activity ends back at the meeting point, you can make your onward plans from the same area.

The exact order and pace of the cruise can vary because this is a private activity. The main plan includes a cruise past Kallithea Springs, a swim near the bay, a stop at Anthony Quinn Bay, and time for lunch and drinks. Your skipper can provide local advice about where to relax and swim, though weather and sea conditions may affect the day.

You should think of this as a coastal outing, not a sightseeing tour packed with monuments. The pleasure comes from the boat, the water, the views, and the unhurried time between stops.

Kallithea Springs Bay: an early chance to swim

The first named stop is Kallithea Springs Bay. The boat cruises by the springs area, then allows about 35 minutes for a refreshing swim. Admission to Kallithea Springs is not included, so the experience here is based on the bay and the water rather than a paid visit to the springs complex.

This is a useful distinction. If you want to explore the architectural site or enter a ticketed area, you should not assume that is part of the cruise. The included stop is a swim break from the boat.

A 35-minute pause is long enough to get into the water, cool off, and spend a little time taking in the coast. It is not an extended beach visit. You will want to have your swimwear ready and keep the stop focused.

I like this kind of first break because it lets you settle into the day quickly. Instead of spending hours sitting aboard before the main activity, you have a clear chance to swim early. If anyone in your group prefers to stay dry, the catamaran gives them a place to rest while others use the water.

Anthony Quinn Bay and its clear water

The second named stop is Anthony Quinn Bay, one of the best-known coastal spots near Rhodes. The boat cruises toward the bay and drops anchor for about 40 minutes, giving you time to swim in the clear water.

The name brings a certain level of expectation. Anthony Quinn Bay is popular, so it may not feel completely secluded. The advantage of arriving by catamaran is that you can enjoy the setting from the water rather than needing to join the beach crowd. Still, you should not book this stop expecting guaranteed solitude.

The 40-minute swim period is slightly longer than the Kallithea stop. That gives you more time to enjoy the water, take in the rocky coast, and settle into the swim rather than rushing straight back on board. The stop is still timed, so keep an eye on the schedule and listen for instructions from the skipper.

The two bays create a good balance. Kallithea gives you an earlier, shorter water break, while Anthony Quinn Bay provides a longer stop at a famous setting. You get two different coastal views without filling the day with too many hurried stops.

Greek food, mezedes, beer, and wine on board

Food is one of the features that makes this more than a simple boat transfer. Lunch includes Greek mezedes and other dishes, with beer and wine served during the meal. Soft drinks and water are available all day.

Mezedes are small Greek-style dishes meant to be shared, so they fit a private group well. Rather than giving everyone an isolated meal, the format encourages your party to eat together while the boat is moving or resting. It also suits groups with different appetites, since you can sample several items instead of committing to one large plate.

The drinks arrangement is clear. Beer and wine are included at meal time, while soft drinks and water are available throughout the cruise. If you expect cocktails, spirits, or a full bar service, that is not stated as part of the package, so do not assume they are included.

A practical advantage is that you do not need to search for a restaurant during the six-hour outing. Lunch is handled on board, which preserves the relaxed flow of the day. You can swim, dry off, eat, and return to the views without losing time to a shore stop.

The food is part of the value calculation. For a large group, the combination of private boating, lunch, and drinks makes the price easier to justify. For two people, the same inclusions may not offset the high private-group cost.

Room for families and larger groups

The catamaran is particularly appealing for families and groups of friends who want to stay together. A party of nine, including five children, had plenty of room on board. That is useful evidence for families considering whether a private boat will feel cramped.

With up to 12 people, the experience works best when the group already knows one another and wants a shared day. You can talk, eat, swim, and rest without having to fit into a stranger’s schedule. A private boat also gives parents more control over the pace, although children still need to follow the skipper’s safety instructions around the water.

The format may be less attractive if you are traveling alone or as a couple. The total price remains $1,890.46 whether the group is small or full, so the cost per person rises sharply with fewer participants. You may find a shared cruise more economical in that situation.

For a group of 10 to 12, however, the arithmetic changes. A private boat can become a practical way to turn a special occasion, family outing, or friends’ day into a single experience rather than coordinating several separate activities.

What the skipper adds to the day

A local skipper is included, and the tour is designed around local advice about swimming and relaxing. Stefano is the crew member specifically named in the available information. You may find that the skipper’s role is most valuable between the formal stops, when a private itinerary allows the group to ask about the best place to pause.

The skipper also manages the practical parts of the cruise, including anchoring and keeping the day on schedule. That lets you focus on the water instead of trying to organize the boat yourself.

Because the cruise depends on good weather, the skipper’s judgment matters. Sea conditions can influence how long you stay in a particular bay or whether the planned route is suitable. The activity provider can offer another date or a full refund if poor weather forces cancellation.

You should not expect a guided history tour of Rhodes. The emphasis is on the coast and the water. If you want detailed archaeology or city commentary, reserve a separate walking tour. If you want local direction on where to swim and how to enjoy a day at sea, this setup is a better fit.

Six hours at sea: the rhythm of the outing

The six-hour duration gives the cruise enough time to feel like a proper day out, while remaining manageable for people who do not want to spend from morning until evening on a boat. The planned swim time totals about 75 minutes, with the rest used for cruising, lunch, drinks, and relaxing on board.

That balance is important. A short boat trip can feel rushed, especially when boarding and anchoring take up part of the schedule. Here, you have time to settle in and enjoy the route between Kallithea Springs and Anthony Quinn Bay.

The cruise is not built around constant activity. You may spend stretches simply watching the Rhodes coastline, talking with your group, or enjoying a drink. That is a strength if you want a calm day, but a drawback if you need a packed schedule.

I would pack swimwear, sun protection, and anything you personally need for six hours outdoors. The provided information confirms water and soft drinks all day, but it does not specify towels, snorkeling equipment, or other personal gear, so you should not count on those items being supplied.

Price, value, and who gets the best deal

At $1,890.46 per group of up to 12, this is a premium outing. The price is easiest to defend when the boat is close to full. Twelve people pay about $157.54 each, and that covers the private catamaran, skipper, lunch, beer and wine with the meal, soft drinks, water, and taxes and fees.

A group of six would pay about $315.08 each. For two people, the cost per person becomes much higher. The experience does not become less enjoyable with a small group, but the financial value changes.

I would compare the price with what your group wants from the day. If you value privacy, a flexible pace, a spacious boat, and food served on board, the package can make sense. If your main goal is simply to swim at Anthony Quinn Bay for a short time, a lower-cost shared excursion may be more suitable.

The strongest value is for a family or friend group that would otherwise book several activities together. The private setting also removes the social compromises of a large boat. You are not paying only for transport between two bays. You are paying for control over the day and time together on the water.

Booking, weather, and practical limits

Confirmation is received at booking, and mobile tickets are accepted. The activity is private, so only your group participates. Most people can take part, according to the supplied booking information, but no detailed accessibility information is provided.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 9:30 am start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

Weather is the main condition to keep in mind. If poor weather cancels the cruise, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. Since the experience is built around swimming and sailing, it is sensible to keep some flexibility in your Rhodes plans.

You should also remember the two practical omissions: hotel transfers are not included, and admission to Kallithea Springs is not included. The cruise itself remains the main event, so plan on meeting at the marina and enjoying the bay from the water.

Should you book this Rhodes catamaran cruise?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the cost and want a private day with swimming, Greek food, drinks, and a relaxed pace. It is especially well suited to families and friends who value room on board and do not want a crowded group excursion.

I would be more cautious if you are traveling as a couple, watching your budget, or hoping for a fully secluded coastline. Anthony Quinn Bay is a famous stop, and the price is hard to justify for a very small party.

For the right group, this is a simple and appealing Rhodes day: two coastal swim stops, a local skipper, lunch on the boat, and no need to hurry from one attraction to the next. Fill the catamaran, meet at the New Marina on time, and let the day’s value come from the privacy and shared time on the water.

FAQ

How long is the catamaran cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately six hours.

Where does the cruise begin and end?

It begins at Rhodes New Marina, ΝΕΑ ΜΑΡΙΝΑ, Rhodes 851 00, Greece, and ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the cruise start?

The stated start time is 9:30 am.

How many people can join the private cruise?

The private catamaran can accommodate a group of up to 12 people.

Which swimming stops are included?

The cruise passes Kallithea Springs Bay, where you have about 35 minutes for a swim, and continues to Anthony Quinn Bay, where you have about 40 minutes to swim.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes Greek mezedes and other dishes.

Which drinks are included?

Beer and wine are served during the meal. Soft drinks and water are available throughout the day.

Is transportation from my hotel included?

No. Transfers to and from hotels are not included. You must reach Rhodes New Marina independently.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.