From Naxos: Schinoussa and Iraklia Sailing Cruise with BBQ

The most unusual part of this Naxos boat trip comes before lunch: the captain stops above a World War II Arado AR196 airplane wreck near Alimia, Iraklia, giving you time to take photos and snorkel over the sunken aircraft. I like that rare bit of history at sea, and I like the generous two-hour stop at Schinoussa, where swimming and a full BBQ lunch share the same break.

I also like the two-hour visit to Agios Georgios, Iraklia’s small capital, since it gets you off the boat and into an island village. The main drawback is the long day on open water. Strong north winds can make the crossing rough, and the boat may not sail if conditions or operations change, so keep your plans flexible.

Key points at a glance

• See an airplane wreck from the surface: Stop above an Arado AR196 from World War II near Alimia, with time for photos and snorkeling.
• Enjoy a full Greek BBQ lunch: Pork or chicken skewers come with salad, potatoes, pasta, spetzofai, vegetable rice, bread, fruit, wine, soft drinks, and water.
• Swim at Schinoussa beaches: The two-hour Tsigouri or Livadi stop gives you time for both the water and lunch.
• Walk through Agios Georgios: Spend about two hours in Iraklia’s picturesque capital village instead of staying aboard all day.
• Expect a full nine-hour outing: Departure is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. from Agia Anna, with return around 7 p.m.
• Plan for sea conditions: Sun, wind, and open water are part of the deal, and the activity is not suitable for non-swimmers or wheelchair users.

Why the airplane wreck makes this cruise different

Many island cruises promise pretty water and a few swim stops. This one has a more memorable centerpiece: an aircraft resting below the surface near Alimia, off Iraklia.

The wreck is an Arado AR196, a German floatplane used during World War II. You are not visiting a museum or walking through a formal historic site. Instead, the captain positions the boat above it, and you look down through the sea with a mask, camera, or phone case. Visibility will depend on weather and water conditions, so think of it as a chance to see a striking underwater relic, not a guaranteed close-up tour.

You get time to take photos and enter the water. This is one reason I would bring your own waterproof phone pouch if you have one. The boat provides masks, life jackets, loungers, sunbeds, and floating sea noodles, but personal equipment can make photography easier.

The wreck stop also breaks up the journey from Naxos. After roughly two hours of sailing along Naxos’s west coast, you reach a point of interest rather than simply waiting for the first beach. For anyone who enjoys military history, snorkeling, or unusual coastal sights, this is likely the strongest reason to choose this cruise.

Leaving Agia Anna at 9:30 a.m.

The meeting point is the taxi stand at Agia Anna, on the dock. Look for the boat marked NAVIGATOR. The scheduled departure is 9:30 a.m., and the return to Agia Anna is planned for about 7 p.m., making this a full-day outing rather than a short morning boat ride.

That timing matters if you are staying elsewhere on Naxos. The supplied meeting information does not include a transfer service, so you should arrange your own way to Agia Anna and allow enough time to find the boat. Bring your booking details, since full names and birth dates are requested.

Once aboard, you will spend part of the morning sailing beside Naxos’s west coast. The ride is part of the experience, but it also means you should prepare for sun and motion. Sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, swimwear, a towel, and beachwear are specifically recommended.

The boat has space for sunbathing and relaxing, though no group size is given. I would claim a comfortable spot early, then move around during the day rather than treating one lounger as your permanent base.

Alimia and the Arado AR196 wreck

The first major stop is near Alimia, on Iraklia. The captain stops above the wreck, and you get roughly 30 minutes for swimming and looking into the water.

This is not a stop for a long beach visit. It is a focused water stop with one unusual goal: seeing the remains of the aircraft below. If you enjoy snorkeling, this should be one of the day’s highlights. The clear Cycladic sea can make the wreck feel surprisingly close, but visibility is never fully under your control.

You should also keep your expectations practical. There is no stated underwater guide or specialist wreck briefing. The boat provides basic gear, and the crew manages the stop, but your experience will depend on your swimming comfort, the sea, and how well you can see from the surface.

Non-swimmers should skip this cruise. The activity is specifically not suitable for non-swimmers, and the wreck stop has no land-based alternative described. If you prefer to stay dry, the boat may still be enjoyable, but you would miss the most distinctive part of the day.

Two hours at Tsigouri or Livadi on Schinoussa

The next main stop is Schinoussa, with time at Tsigouri or Livadi beach. The stop lasts about two hours, and it combines a long swim break with lunch.

I like this format because you are not forced to choose between eating and enjoying the beach. You can start with a swim, return for food, then head back into the water. Or you can settle into a lounger and treat the stop as a relaxed lunch break.

The exact beach may depend on weather and sailing conditions. Both names are given as possible stops, so do not build your plans around one specific shoreline. The useful point is the amount of time: two hours is long enough to eat without rushing and still have a proper swim.

Schinoussa is a good contrast to the wreck stop. The morning has a clear point of interest and a short water break. Here, the pace opens up. You can enjoy the island from the water, listen to the onboard music, and let lunch become the center of the stop.

The beaches are described as places with plenty of fish, which is another reason to bring or use the provided mask. Water clarity can change with the weather, but snorkeling is clearly one of the better ways to use this stop.

What comes with the BBQ lunch

The lunch is more substantial than a simple sandwich or one skewer. The spread includes:

• Pork or chicken souvlaki
• Traditional Greek salad
• Oven potatoes
• Pasta
• Spetzofai
• Rice with vegetables
• Fresh bread
• Fresh fruit
• Water
• Coca-Cola, Sprite, orange juice, and wine during lunch

That selection works well for a mixed group. Meat eaters have souvlaki, while vegetable dishes, salad, pasta, potatoes, and rice offer several meat-free choices. The experience information also says there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, though you should not expect a separate special menu unless you confirm your needs before departure.

Wine is served with lunch, along with soft drinks and water. Since the boat returns around 7 p.m., the food is useful rather than decorative. You are spending most of the day away from Naxos restaurants, so a filling meal adds real value to the $94 price.

The cruise does not list breakfast or snacks outside the lunch service. I would eat something before leaving if you need a morning meal, and I would bring only what you can carry comfortably. The provided food and drinks cover the main midday break.

A two-hour visit to Agios Georgios, Iraklia

After Schinoussa, the boat heads to Agios Georgios on Iraklia for about two hours. This is a welcome change of pace. You are no longer sitting on the boat or standing in swimwear on a beach. You can walk through the village, take photos, and get a feel for Iraklia as a lived-in island rather than just a swimming stop.

Agios Georgios is described as picturesque, and its small scale is part of the appeal. The visit is not presented as a guided history walk, so you should treat it as free time. Wander at your own pace, find a quiet view, or simply stretch your legs before the final stretch of sailing.

The village stop also helps the day feel more balanced. A cruise made up only of water stops can become tiring, especially under strong sun. Two hours on land gives you a break from salt water and boat motion.

Weather can affect the final part of the route. If conditions allow, the last stop is Gerolimionas on Schinoussa, where you can take one more swim before returning to Agia Anna. It is a pleasant idea, but I would regard it as weather-dependent rather than guaranteed.

Rough water, music, and comfort aboard

The open Aegean is not always calm. One particularly windy outing had north winds reported at nearly 40 kilometers per hour, yet the boat still made the route and a passenger prone to seasickness managed well. That is encouraging, but it is not a promise that every sailing will feel smooth.

If you are prone to motion sickness, sit where the boat moves least, keep your eyes on the horizon, and bring any remedy you normally use. The supplied information does not mention seasickness medication, so plan ahead.

The atmosphere can be social and relaxed. Greek music plays aboard, and the boat offers sunbeds, loungers, masks, life jackets, and flotation noodles. Families can make good use of the equipment, especially during the swimming stops. One family outing even included a crew member helping retrieve a child’s sunglasses after they fell overboard, a small example of the kind of practical assistance you may need on a boat day.

The experience is not designed for wheelchair users, and it is not suitable for people with certain pre-existing medical conditions. High-heeled shoes, pets, and nudity are not allowed. Those rules are simple, but they fit the setting: wear secure, flat footwear and practical beach clothes.

Is $94 a fair price?

At $94 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day around Naxos. It is also more than a simple ferry ticket, but the comparison is not quite fair.

The price includes a nine-hour cruise, a wreck stop, several swim opportunities, a substantial BBQ lunch, wine and soft drinks with lunch, water, and use of basic swimming equipment. You also visit two smaller Cycladic islands, with time in an actual village rather than remaining at sea.

I see the value most clearly if you would otherwise need to arrange separate boat transport, meals, and beach time. The boat handles the route, and you get a varied day without planning every crossing yourself.

The value drops if you dislike long boat rides, do not swim, or mainly want a quiet hour on one beach. You will spend much of the day sailing, and the schedule depends on weather. The 4.4 rating from 74 bookings suggests a generally strong experience, but the lower scores point to a real concern: communication can fail if a sailing is canceled. Confirm the departure before making a long trip to Agia Anna, especially if you have come from another part of Naxos.

The free-cancellation policy allows cancellation up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help reduce the risk, but they do not remove the need to check the sailing status.

Who should book this Naxos boat trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want several types of experience in one day: a historic wreck, snorkeling, beaches, a Greek lunch, and a village walk. It suits couples, families with children who enjoy swimming, and anyone who wants to see more of the Small Cyclades without arranging separate transport.

It is especially good for people who enjoy variety. You will not spend nine hours doing one thing. The day moves from Naxos’s coast to Alimia, Schinoussa, Iraklia, and possibly Gerolimionas, with different kinds of stops along the way.

I would hesitate if you are a weak swimmer, have a medical condition that makes a long boat outing unsuitable, use a wheelchair, or strongly dislike wind and motion. I would also think twice if you need a tightly managed schedule. The route can change with weather, and one booking described the journey plan as needing better organization.

Should you book the Schinoussa and Iraklia cruise?

Book it if the airplane wreck catches your interest and you like an active day with plenty of food, swimming, and island scenery. The combination of the Arado AR196, two hours at Schinoussa, a hearty BBQ, and time in Agios Georgios gives the $94 price solid value.

Skip it if your ideal holiday day means staying on land, avoiding open water, or choosing your own beach for hours. For everyone else, pack sun protection, a towel, secure footwear, and a waterproof phone case. Then confirm the boat is sailing before you head to Agia Anna and look for NAVIGATOR at the dock.

FAQ

Where does the cruise leave from?

The meeting point is the taxi stand at Agia Anna, on the dock. Look for the boat named NAVIGATOR.

What time does the cruise depart and return?

Departure is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., with return to Agia Anna planned for about 7 p.m. The total duration is nine hours.

Will I see the World War II airplane wreck?

The boat stops above an Arado AR196 airplane wreck near Alimia, Iraklia. You have time to take photos and enter the water to look at it, although visibility and access depend on sea conditions.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The BBQ includes pork or chicken souvlaki, Greek salad, oven potatoes, pasta, spetzofai, vegetable rice, bread, and fresh fruit. Water, wine, Coca-Cola, Sprite, and orange juice are served during lunch.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and beachwear. The boat provides masks, life jackets, sunbeds, loungers, and flotation noodles.

Is the cruise suitable for everyone?

No. It is not suitable for wheelchair users, non-swimmers, or people with pre-existing medical conditions. High-heeled shoes, pets, and nudity are not allowed.