Rhodes: Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Buffet & Drinks

The best part of this Rhodes cruise is the timing: you get a swim in the late afternoon, dinner while the light softens, and a sunset viewed from open water. Kallithea Bay gives the trip a useful break from simply sitting on a boat, while the return sail frames Rhodes in warm evening light.

I like the small-group feel reported on several departures, with around 14 to 16 people on some boats. I also like the clear value: at $58, you get three hours, a full buffet, unlimited wine, beer, juice, soft drinks and water, plus snorkeling gear. The main consideration is that the boat anchors offshore, so reaching the swimming area means getting into the water. It is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Key points at a glance

• Kallithea Bay swim stop: The catamaran anchors for about 45 minutes, giving you time to swim, snorkel and explore rocky areas and nearby caves.
• A proper buffet, not just snacks: Expect grilled chicken, Greek and green salads, pasta and potato salads, hummus, tzatziki, aubergine salad, olives, feta and fresh local bread.
• Unlimited drinks included: Wine, beer, juice, soft drinks and bottled water are served during the cruise.
• Two boat styles: You can choose a sailing catamaran or a powered catamaran, with the exact boat dependent on your booking.
• Sunset from the sea: The return toward Rhodes Town is timed for a roughly 20-minute sunset viewing period.
• Arrive early: Check in at the Poseidon Submarine, Catamaran Cruises Rhodes desks 30 to 15 minutes before departure. The boats leave on time.

Leaving Mandraki Harbor in the late afternoon

The cruise begins at Mandraki Harbor, in front of the Poseidon Submarine and Catamaran Cruises Rhodes desks. You should arrive at least 30 minutes early if you want a calm start. The catamarans depart on time, and missing the boat can mean a €25 rebooking fee for another day.

Once aboard, you can settle into the open-air seating and watch Rhodes Town recede. The first sailing or powered section lasts about 45 minutes. This is not a sightseeing tour packed with spoken commentary, so the main pleasure is the sea air, the changing view of the east coast and the easy pace.

You choose between three catamaran options when booking. Some departures use a sailing boat, while others use a powered catamaran. The captain can change the route or swimming stop if the weather requires it, so treat the published plan as a good outline rather than a fixed promise.

The boats have indoor toilets, an outdoor shower and life jackets. Those basics matter more than they sound. After swimming, you can rinse off salt water, and you do not have to depend on shore facilities.

Forty-five minutes at Kallithea Bay

The main activity stop is Kallithea Bay, also described as Kallithea Springs Bay or Kallithea Beach. The boat drops anchor, and you have about 45 minutes for swimming and snorkeling.

This is a proper water stop, not a quick photo pause. Bring swimwear and be ready to enter directly from the catamaran. The boat does not take you to a beach, and reaching the shore requires swimming. If you are not a confident swimmer, staying close to the boat with a life jacket or pool noodle is the sensible choice.

Snorkeling equipment is included, along with floating pool noodles. The water can be around six meters deep at the swimming point, according to one detailed account, so the noodles are useful for relaxed floating as well as for anyone who prefers extra support.

You may see fish around the rocks. One passenger reported spotting a lionfish, although you should keep expectations sensible. This is a pleasant coastal swim with rocky underwater scenery, not a specialist snorkeling expedition. One account found the underwater life fairly limited apart from the rocks, while others enjoyed seeing plenty of fish and swimming near caves.

A small practical point: food may be set out while people are still swimming. If you want the first choice of dishes, do not stay in the water for the entire stop. You can usually return to the boat, dry off with the outdoor shower and eat while others finish snorkeling.

A generous Greek buffet on board

The meal is one of the strongest parts of the experience. It is simple Greek and Mediterranean fare, but the range is wide enough to make a satisfying dinner.

The buffet includes:

• Grilled chicken
• Pasta salad
• Potato salad
• Greek salad
• Green salad
• Tzatziki
• Hummus
• Aubergine salad
• Olives
• Feta
• Fresh baked local bread

This works particularly well for mixed groups. Meat eaters have grilled chicken, while vegetarians have salads, hummus, dips, aubergine salad, feta and bread. If you need a special diet beyond these listed choices, the supplied information does not confirm additional arrangements, so ask before booking.

The portions are described as plentiful, and the crew may continue offering food and drinks during the meal. The food is not presented as fine dining, but that is not really the point. You are eating outdoors on a moving boat, with Rhodes along the coast and the evening light changing around you. At this price, a full buffet is a meaningful part of the value.

Drinks include unlimited wine and beer, plus juice, soft drinks and bottled water. The crew serves the drinks, which keeps the meal relaxed. Alcohol is available only while you are drinking responsibly, and the crew can stop service if someone appears intoxicated.

Music, open water and the Rhodes sunset

After the swimming stop and dinner, the boat heads back toward Rhodes Town. The return section lasts about 45 minutes, followed by roughly 20 minutes set aside for sunset viewing.

This is where the cruise changes mood. Earlier, the focus is swimming and eating. On the way back, you can find a place on deck, listen to Greek-toned or relaxing music and watch the sun lower over the Aegean. The crew chooses a suitable position in the sea, so you are not trying to see the sunset from behind harbor buildings.

Music is part of the appeal. Several detailed accounts describe a good choice of background music, with some departures feeling romantic and quiet, and others more lively. The mood depends partly on the group aboard. A small boat can feel intimate, but a more energetic crowd may make it less peaceful.

You should also accept that other boats may be nearby. Kallithea is a popular stopping point, and the sunset route is shared by other cruises. The catamaran’s advantage is the space and the view from the water, not complete solitude.

The boat returns to Mandraki Harbor after sunset. The whole experience lasts three hours, which is long enough to include a real swim and dinner without taking an entire evening.

Sailing catamaran or powered catamaran?

The choice between a sailing and powered catamaran is worth considering, but the core plan is similar. Both stop at Kallithea Bay, anchor offshore and return toward Rhodes for the sunset.

A sailing catamaran may appeal to you if the movement of the boat and the quieter feel of sailing matter most. A powered catamaran may suit you if you prefer a more direct ride. The supplied details do not promise a particular boat model for every departure, and the operator can move bookings between catamarans during April, May and October if one boat does not reach its minimum group size.

Some departures have been notably small, with around 14 to 16 people. That gives you more room to sit, move around and speak with the crew. Other departures may be fuller, so do not book solely on the assumption that every trip will be nearly private.

The boats are described as clean and well maintained, with seating areas that let you watch the view from different parts of the deck. The setup is comfortable rather than formal. Bring swimwear, and consider a cover-up for the breeze after sunset.

How the $58 price works out

At $58 per person, this is strong value if you plan to eat and drink on board. You are paying for three hours at sea, transport by catamaran, the Kallithea swimming stop, snorkeling equipment, a substantial buffet and unlimited drinks.

The comparison is not just with a short harbor cruise. A separate dinner, drinks and a boat trip could easily cost more, and this combines all three. The value is even clearer if you want wine or beer, since those are included rather than added one glass at a time.

There are two points to check before booking. First, an infant may be charged the full adult fare, depending on the booking terms. One family found the boat very accommodating with a baby but felt the infant pricing was less favorable than on other activities. Second, vegetarians have several listed options, but one person chose not to take the food option because they wanted more fish or vegetarian dishes. The buffet is varied, but it is not built around a dedicated vegetarian or seafood menu.

The free cancellation deadline is 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful when weather can affect a sea trip, but the captain still has the right to alter the route or swimming stop for safety.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend it most to couples, friends and families who want a relaxed evening with several elements in one booking. Couples get the sunset, music and open-water setting. Friends get swimming, drinks and a meal without needing to organize separate stops.

Families can use the service, and a young family found the crew attentive and welcoming. Still, you need to supervise children carefully around the water and accept that a toddler will not have much room to run. The boat is not suitable for wheelchair users, and anyone with limited mobility should ask detailed questions before booking because the swimming stop is from an anchored boat.

Solo visitors should not feel out of place. The crew is described as friendly and attentive, and the small-group format can make it easy to settle in. If you want a quiet boat with no music or alcohol, this may not be your best match. The experience is relaxed, but it is still a social dinner cruise.

You should also consider the season. April, May and October can bring changes between boats if participant numbers are low. The captain may also change the route in poor weather at any time. A sea-based sunset is always partly dependent on conditions, so keep a little flexibility in your plans.

Simple ways to have a better evening

Arrive early at the Poseidon Submarine, Catamaran Cruises Rhodes desks. The meeting point is in front of the desks, and arriving 30 to 15 minutes before departure gives you time to find the boat and hear any last-minute instructions.

Wear swimwear under your clothes. You can swim at Kallithea Bay, rinse off afterward and change your focus from water to dinner without much fuss. Bring a towel and a light layer if you have one, since the return ride after sunset can feel cooler than the afternoon.

Ask the crew about the departure and return timing if anything is unclear. The operator specifically asks passengers to listen to announcements, and this matters if several boats are leaving from the harbor.

If snorkeling is important to you, enter the water early in the stop, then return for food before the buffet has been open for long. You will have a better choice of dishes and still have time to swim again if conditions allow.

Finally, choose your seat with the sunset in mind. The deck gives you several viewing spots, but moving around before the final sunset position is easier than trying to squeeze through once everyone is taking photographs.

Should you book the Rhodes sunset catamaran?

Book it if you want a well-priced combination of swimming, dinner, drinks and sunset rather than a formal sailing lesson or a quiet sightseeing boat. The strongest reasons are the friendly crew, generous buffet, small-group feel on some departures and the chance to watch the sunset from open water.

Skip it if you cannot swim from an anchored boat, need wheelchair access, or want a serious snorkeling trip with extensive marine life. Also think twice if you want a completely private or silent evening.

For most visitors staying in Rhodes Town, this is a smart three-hour plan. It gives you a real swim, a full meal and a memorable sunset without taking up the whole day. At $58, the included food and drinks make the price especially convincing.

FAQ

Where does the Rhodes sunset catamaran cruise start?

It starts at Mandraki Harbor, in front of the Poseidon Submarine and Catamaran Cruises Rhodes desks.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive 30 to 15 minutes before the activity begins. The catamarans leave on time, and missing the departure may result in a €25 rebooking fee for another day.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts three hours.

Is dinner included?

Yes. The buffet includes grilled chicken, pasta salad, potato salad, Greek salad, green salad, tzatziki, hummus, aubergine salad, olives, feta and fresh baked local bread.

What drinks are included?

Unlimited wine, beer, juice, soft drinks and bottled water are included.

Can I swim and snorkel during the cruise?

Yes. The boat anchors at Kallithea Bay for about 45 minutes. Snorkeling equipment, floating pool noodles and life jackets are provided.

Do I need to swim to reach the shore?

Yes. The boat remains at anchor offshore, and reaching the shore requires swimming.

Can the route or swimming stop change?

Yes. The captain can change the route or swimming stop according to weather conditions.