Rethymno: Private Catamaran Cruise with Lunch and Drinks

Rethymno’s private catamaran cruise turns a day at sea into a floating Cretan lunch party, with a spacious boat, a swim stop at Ombros Gialos Bay, and plenty of time to simply stretch out in the sun. You sail along Crete’s coast rather than rush from one attraction to another, which is exactly the point.

I like the fresh onboard lunch, especially because it includes seafood, meat, vegetables, Cretan cheeses, and a homemade dessert. I also like the practical extras: snorkeling gear, SUP boards, fishing equipment, inflatables, music, WiFi, and drinks are all ready when you need them.

The main consideration is the price: $2,239 for a private group of up to 10 is a serious splurge. The boat’s weather-dependent schedule, lack of hotel pickup, and six and a half hours at sea also mean you should plan this day carefully.

Key points to know before you book

• A full private catamaran day: The advertised rate covers a private group of up to 10, with a crew focused on your party rather than a large shared crowd.
• Ombros Gialos Bay is the main event: Expect a long swim and water-sports stop in clear turquoise water, with snorkeling, SUP boards, fishing gear, and inflatables.
• Lunch is cooked on board: The Mediterranean meal includes seafood, meat, vegetables, Cretan cheeses, and a homemade summer dessert.
• Drinks keep coming: Unlimited soft drinks, local white wine, and beer are included, along with coffee and tea.
• Families have useful extras: Children’s meals, life jackets, arm floaties, toys, and WiFi make the boat easier for a mixed-age group.
• Weather controls the day: The cruise may be moved or canceled in poor conditions, and pregnant women are not permitted to join.

A private start at Rethymno Marina

Your day begins at Rethymno Marina, where a crew member wearing a DanEri logo shirt meets you 15 minutes before departure. The marina has convenient parking in its municipal car park, but hotel pickup is not included.

That small meeting window matters. Arrive early enough to find parking, gather your swim gear, and settle in without starting the day in a scramble. You’ll need to provide each passenger’s full name, date of birth, nationality, and passport or ID card number when booking, since the port authorities require those details for permission to sail.

The crew begins with a safety briefing, welcome refreshments, coffee, tea, and traditional Greek pies. This is a useful start rather than a rushed handoff. You can get your bearings, ask questions, and enjoy a small taste of Crete before the boat leaves the marina.

The host speaks English, and the crew members hold Red Cross certification. No individual crew names are provided, so I would not book this expecting a named celebrity skipper or a formal guided talk about the coast. The appeal is personal service, time on the water, and a relaxed private setting.

The 105-minute sail along Crete’s coast

Once underway, the catamaran gives you room to spread out. The trip toward the swimming stop takes about 105 minutes, so this is not a quick transfer disguised as a cruise. You’ll have a long stretch to watch the rugged shoreline, sparkling water, and open sky.

That sailing time can be the best part of the day if you enjoy being on the water. You can take a seat on deck, listen to music, chat with your group, or simply watch the coast slide by. Unlimited soft drinks, white wine, and beer are included, with coffee and tea also available.

The catamaran has onboard WiFi, which is handy for sending photos or keeping in touch. Still, I would treat it as a useful extra, not the reason to book. The real value comes from having a boat, crew, food, and water activities arranged for your own group.

Music is another nice personal touch. You can choose from the boat’s selection or play your own music, making the mood more flexible than on a standard group excursion. Keep the volume sensible, especially if your party includes different ages and tastes.

A private boat does not mean unlimited privacy from the sea itself. You’ll still be exposed to sun, wind, and motion for several hours. Bring sunscreen, a towel, swimwear, and a hat if you use one. The supplied information specifically lists sunscreen, swimwear, and a towel as essentials.

Ombros Gialos Bay and the long swimming stop

The boat spends about two hours and 15 minutes around the Georgioupoli area, with Ombros Gialos Bay described as the key place for swimming and water activities. The bay is known for clear turquoise water and calm surroundings, making it the natural center of the cruise.

You can use the onboard snorkeling equipment to look below the surface, or try the fishing gear if you prefer a slower activity. Stand-up paddleboards let you move along the shoreline, while arm floaties and inflatable equipment are available for easier, more playful time in the water.

The inflatable flamingo is a small detail, but it tells you what kind of day this is. The cruise is not built around a demanding sports program. It gives you choices, from swimming and snorkeling to floating with a drink and letting the afternoon pass.

Life jackets are provided, and the crew members are Red Cross certified. That is reassuring, particularly for families and mixed-age groups, though you should still pay attention during the safety briefing and follow crew instructions around the water.

The bay stop is also where you should set realistic expectations. This is a scenic swimming break, not a specialist snorkeling expedition. The information does not promise guided marine-life viewing, professional fishing instruction, or a particular species of fish. If you want serious underwater exploration, bring your own mask if you have a favorite fit, but the boat does provide snorkeling equipment.

The stop lasts long enough to avoid the usual rushed feeling. You are not expected to leap in, swim immediately, eat quickly, and leave. You can take your time, return to the deck, dry off, and go back into the water when you feel like it.

Lunch made on board with Cretan ingredients

Food is one of the strongest reasons to consider this cruise. The crew serves a freshly prepared Mediterranean lunch on board, using local ingredients and offering seafood, meat, and vegetable dishes.

The meal also includes Cretan cheeses and a homemade summer dessert. Those details matter because the lunch is not just fuel between activities. It gives the day a local flavor and makes good use of the relaxed time at anchor.

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals are available upon request. A special meal option is also available for children. Tell the operator about dietary needs when you book rather than waiting until you board, since the menu is prepared around the group.

The food is paired with unlimited soft drinks, local white wine, and cold beer. Coffee and tea are also available. For a private group, that combination can make the price easier to justify, especially if you would otherwise pay separately for a boat, lunch, drinks, and water equipment.

Still, value depends heavily on your group size. At $2,239 for up to 10 people, the price works out to about $224 per person if the boat is full. For four people, it is about $560 each, before any optional transfer costs. A large family or group of friends gets much better value than a couple.

One dated account describes a party of 17 and praises the service, food, and whole day, but the stated booking terms here cover a private group of up to 10. If your party is larger, confirm the exact boat capacity and pricing before paying. Do not assume that a larger group is covered by the same rate.

The return sail and the rhythm of the afternoon

After lunch and swimming, the catamaran returns toward Rethymno, with about another 105 minutes on the water. This return leg is a chance to slow down. You can sip local wine, listen to music, dry off in the sun, and enjoy the coast from a different angle.

The six and a half hour duration is long enough to feel like a proper day out, but it may be too much for anyone who dislikes boats or becomes uncomfortable in the sun. There is no quick exit once the boat leaves the marina, so think honestly about your group’s tolerance for open-water time.

The crew’s role is important here. The experience promises attentive service, but you should not expect a formal sightseeing lecture throughout the return. This is more about comfort and shared time than a narrated coastal tour.

For a special occasion, the timing works well. You have a clear beginning at the marina, a main stop at the bay, a proper lunch, and a calm return. Birthdays, family reunions, and small celebrations can benefit from having the boat to yourselves, particularly because the music can be chosen by your group.

Who gets the best value from this cruise

I would consider this cruise first for a group that wants one polished day on the water without organizing separate meals, drinks, equipment rentals, and transport between stops. It is especially suited to families and friends who enjoy a flexible schedule and want both relaxation and a few active choices.

Families have useful support here. Children can use life jackets, arm floaties, inflatables, and the onboard toy box. The special children’s meal option also removes one common worry, although parents should still ask what the day’s specific menu will be.

Food-focused groups should pay attention too. Seafood, meat, vegetables, Cretan cheese, and a homemade dessert give the lunch more substance than a basic packed meal. The option to request vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free food makes the boat workable for varied diets when arranged ahead of time.

This is less suitable for a budget-conscious couple, a visitor looking for an intensive snorkeling trip, or anyone who wants hotel-to-hotel convenience. Transfers can be arranged for an extra fee, but they are not part of the base experience.

Pregnant women are not permitted to join. The cruise is also weather dependent, so keep some flexibility in your Crete schedule. Poor conditions can lead to rescheduling or cancellation.

Is $2,239 a fair price for a private boat?

The price looks high until you divide it among a full group. At the maximum advertised group size of 10, you are paying roughly $224 per person for 6.5 hours, including the private catamaran, crew, lunch, drinks, snorkeling equipment, fishing gear, SUP boards, inflatables, music, WiFi, and a swimming stop.

That is not cheap, but it is a broad package. You are paying for the boat itself and for the ability to shape the day around your own group. The drinks and lunch also remove several extra costs that can add up on a private charter.

The value drops sharply with a small party. Two people would be paying more than $1,100 each, which makes this difficult to recommend unless the private setting or a special celebration matters more than budget.

I also like that the price includes vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and children’s meal options upon request. These are practical inclusions, not luxury decoration. They make it easier for a mixed group to share one meal without arranging separate food.

The strongest praise attached to this experience centers on three things: the service, the food, and the overall day. Those are exactly the areas that justify a private charter. If your group mainly wants a cheap swim, you can find less expensive ways to reach the coast. If you want a comfortable, all-in-one day where someone else handles the details, the calculation is different.

Small practical details that matter

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a passport or ID card. A copy of the ID is accepted, but the passenger information must be supplied in advance for port clearance.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You can park at the marina’s municipal car park, or ask about a transfer for an additional fee.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and reserve-now, pay-later booking is available. These policies help if your Crete schedule is still moving, but they do not remove the need to watch the weather forecast.

The cruise is offered in English. It is a private group experience, with a crew member meeting you at the marina before departure.

Should you book the Rethymno catamaran cruise?

Book it if you can fill much of the boat and want a comfortable day that combines swimming, a proper Cretan meal, drinks, and time with your own group. The onboard lunch, long stop at Ombros Gialos Bay, and useful equipment give the day more substance than a simple boat ride.

Skip it if you are traveling as a couple on a tight budget, want hotel pickup included, or prefer an active, specialist snorkeling tour. Before booking, confirm the group size, dietary requests, transfer needs, and weather flexibility.

For a full private group, this is a polished way to spend a day on Crete’s coast. The best value comes when you treat it as a shared celebration or family day, not as the cheapest way to get in the water.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise start?

It starts at the Marina of Rethymno. A crew member wearing a DanEri logo shirt meets you there 15 minutes before departure.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise lasts 6.5 hours. This includes the sailing time to and from the swimming area and about 2.25 hours around the Georgioupoli and Ombros Gialos Bay area.

How many people can join the private cruise?

The advertised price is for a private group of up to 10 people. If your group is larger, confirm the available capacity and pricing before booking.

What food is included?

Lunch is a freshly prepared Mediterranean meal with seafood, meat, vegetables, Cretan cheeses, and a homemade summer dessert. Children’s meals are available, and vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options can be requested.

What drinks are included?

Unlimited soft drinks, local white wine, and beer are included. Coffee, tea, and welcome refreshments are also available.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. The boat provides snorkeling gear, fishing equipment, stand-up paddleboards, arm floaties, inflatables, and life jackets.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, but transfer services can be arranged for an additional fee.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The cruise depends on weather conditions. It may be rescheduled or canceled if conditions are unsuitable. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance, according to the booking terms.