Rhodes: Sailing Catamaran Day Cruise with food and drinks

The best thing about this cruise is the private boat. You sail Rhodes’ east coast with only your own group aboard, stopping at three attractive swimming spots instead of joining a crowded harbor excursion. Between stops, you can stretch out on deck, watch the coast pass, and let the crew handle the day.

I like the quiet-bay approach and the easy food-and-drink setup. Lunch is included, soft drinks flow all day, and alcoholic drinks are served with the meal. The main consideration is the price: $1,850 for up to 11 people is good value for a full group, but costly for a small party. Anyone prone to seasickness should also think carefully before booking.

Key points at a glance

• Private sailing for up to 11 people: You share the catamaran only with your own group.
• Three swimming stops: The route includes Anthony Quinn Bay, Afandou, and Kallithea Springs.
• Lunch served at Afandou: You get a Greek meal during a 70-minute stop with time to swim.
• Drinks are simple and well covered: Soft drinks are unlimited all day, while alcoholic drinks are included at lunchtime.
• New Marina departure: You avoid the busier Mandraki harbor and can use free parking near the meeting point.
• Weather shapes the route: Swimming locations may change on the day if sea conditions require it.

A private start at Rhodes New Marina

The day begins outside the Naval Bar and Restaurant, on the marina side of New Marina Rhodes. This is about 1 kilometer from central Rhodes Town, so the departure point is close without placing you in the middle of the old harbor activity.

That location matters if you are driving. Free parking spaces are available close to the meeting point, which makes the start less stressful than hunting for a place near Mandraki. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to arrange your own way to the marina.

A private group changes the feel of the trip from the moment you board. You do not need to fit around strangers or negotiate deck space with a large crowd. The catamaran is designed for up to 11 people, and an eight-person group had enough seating for everyone during a July trip.

The crew speaks English and Greek. The supplied information does not give individual crew names, so you should not expect a named guide-led tour in the usual sightseeing sense. This is mainly a relaxed sailing and swimming day, with the crew handling the boat, food, drinks, and timing.

The first 75 minutes along Rhodes’ east coast

After leaving the marina, the boat spends about 75 minutes sailing toward Anthony Quinn Bay. This first stretch gives you time to settle in, find a comfortable place on deck, and get used to the movement of the boat.

The sailing is part of the experience, not just transport between stops. You are out on the east coast with the sea around you, rather than sitting on a bus and watching the island through a window. If you enjoy the quiet rhythm of being on the water, this opening section is a strong start.

You should bring a towel and beachwear, since the first stop is for swimming. Sunscreen is not listed among the required items, but a six-hour day on deck means sun protection is sensible. The information supplied does not specify shade, changing facilities, or onboard showers, so pack in a way that keeps your day comfortable without relying on those details.

Anthony Quinn Bay: a 50-minute swim

The first stop is Anthony Quinn Bay, with about 50 minutes for swimming. The bay is one of the better-known coastal stops around Rhodes, and the appeal here is the chance to get straight into clear water after the opening sail.

Fifty minutes is enough for a proper swim without turning the morning into a long beach stop. You can get in, cool off, return to the boat, and still have time to relax. The crew aims to use quieter parts of the bays, which can make a real difference at a popular location.

The quiet-bay plan is one of the strongest features of this outing, but it is not a promise that every stop will be empty. Anthony Quinn Bay is a well-known place, and conditions can affect where the boat anchors. The swimming locations can also change according to the weather on the day.

This is not a shore excursion with a long walk around the bay. The focus is water access and time aboard. If you want cafés, shops, or a guided look at the coast, you will not find much of that here. If you want a swim followed by a quiet deck, the format fits well.

Afandou combines lunch and another swim

From Anthony Quinn Bay, the catamaran sails for about 20 minutes to Afandou. This shorter crossing breaks up the day nicely and brings you to the main food stop.

Afandou receives about 70 minutes, making it the longest stop on the route. Lunch is served here, and you also have time to swim. The combination works well: you can cool off before eating, enjoy the meal, then return to the water or settle back on deck.

A Greek lunch is included, along with alcoholic drinks at lunchtime. Soft drinks are unlimited throughout the whole cruise. That arrangement is worth understanding before you book: the package is not an all-day alcoholic drinks plan. If you want wine, beer, or another alcoholic option, lunchtime is the included window.

Food is one of the parts that makes this more than a basic boat transfer. You do not need to leave the catamaran to search for a meal during the six-hour outing. Still, the supplied information does not give a menu, so anyone with strict dietary needs should ask the operator before paying.

The 70-minute stop also gives the day a useful middle section. You have had a long first sail and a swim, then get a proper pause before the final coastal leg. One group of eight specifically found the food and drinks enjoyable, and the available seating meant everyone could sit comfortably.

The final sail to Kallithea Springs

After Afandou, the catamaran sails for about 75 minutes toward Kallithea Springs. This is the longest sailing period after the first leg, so you may want to think of it as a chance to rest rather than another activity that needs filling.

The boat returns to the easy pattern that defines the day: sail, relax, swim, eat, then sail again. You can enjoy the sea air and views while the crew takes care of the route. The private format means you can talk with your own group, sit quietly, or simply stay in your preferred place on deck.

Kallithea Springs is the final swimming stop, with around 40 minutes in the water. It is shorter than the stops at Anthony Quinn Bay and Afandou, but it comes late in the day when a final swim can be welcome. You still get enough time for a refreshing dip without delaying the return to Rhodes.

As with the other stops, Kallithea Springs is subject to weather and sea conditions. The advertised route is a useful guide, not an unchangeable contract. The crew may adjust the swimming points if conditions make another bay safer or more comfortable.

What the six-hour schedule feels like

The listed sections add up to about five and a half hours of sailing, swimming, lunch, and stops. The experience is sold as six hours, allowing room for boarding, anchoring, moving between exact swimming points, and returning to the marina.

That makes the pace fairly full without being rushed. You spend 75 minutes sailing at the start, 50 minutes swimming, 20 minutes moving to Afandou, 70 minutes for lunch and another swim, 75 minutes sailing onward, and 40 minutes at Kallithea Springs.

I like that the schedule does not try to cram in a long list of places. Three swimming stops give you variety, while the sailing stretches leave room for simply being on the water. The tradeoff is that you do not get hours at any single bay. This is a moving coastal day, not a single-beach outing.

If you prefer constant activity, the longer sailing periods may feel slow. If your ideal holiday day includes sun, swimming, food, and no complicated sightseeing plan, the pauses are exactly the point.

Food, drinks, and comfort aboard

The catamaran has seating for the group, and the available details indicate that an eight-person party had room for everyone. For a group of 11, the boat will be closer to full capacity, so the amount of personal space may feel different from an eight-person booking.

The private setup is still a major comfort advantage. You can spend the day with your own friends or family instead of adapting to a mixed group. It also makes the $1,850 cost easier to assess: at the full capacity of 11, the price works out to about $168 per person. For eight people, it is about $231 per person. With only four people, it is about $463 each.

Those figures include lunch, all fees and taxes, unlimited soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks at lunchtime. They do not include transport to the marina. For a full group that wants a private boat, the price can make sense, especially when you count the meal and drinks. For a couple or small family, a shared cruise may offer better value.

The catamaran was described as clean, with a place for everyone in an eight-person group. That is useful practical information, though you should still bring only what you need. A towel and beachwear are specifically required. Leave intoxication, drugs, and excessive alcohol consumption out of the plan, since those are not allowed.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would choose this trip for a group that values privacy more than the lowest possible price. Families, couples traveling with friends, and small celebrations can make good use of the private format, especially with eight to 11 people sharing the cost.

It also suits you if swimming is a main holiday goal. Each stop provides time in the water, and the crew looks for quieter parts of the bays. You do not need to plan separate meals, find a beach restaurant, or work out a complicated route along the coast.

The day is less suitable for anyone with limited mobility. It is not suitable for wheelchair users, and there is no promise of easy access into or out of the water. People prone to seasickness should also be cautious because the outing includes several long sailing sections.

This is not the right pick if you want a guided history tour of Rhodes. The focus is sailing, swimming, lunch, and relaxation. You will see the east coast from the water, but the schedule does not include historic sites or time ashore at Rhodes Town.

The practical value of a private booking

A private boat gives you control over the social side of the day, but it does not give you complete control over the sea. Weather can change the route, the swimming bays, and the timing. That flexibility is sensible for safety, but you should book this with an open mind about the exact stops.

The quiet-bay promise is best understood as an effort to avoid the busiest part of each location, not a guarantee of solitude. Popular Rhodes bays can still have other boats or swimmers. Even so, being able to look for a calmer anchorage is more useful than following a fixed plan at the most crowded point.

The New Marina departure is another quiet advantage. You are only about 1 kilometer from central Rhodes Town, parking is available nearby, and you avoid the chaos associated with Mandraki harbor. Since hotel transfers are not included, staying near town or having a car makes the meeting point easier to manage.

Cancellation is flexible enough for normal holiday planning: you can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if your schedule is still changing. Check the available starting time when booking, since the exact departure time is not fixed in the supplied details.

Should you book the Rhodes catamaran day cruise?

Book it if you can fill much of the 11-person capacity and want a private day built around swimming, food, and quiet time at sea. The strongest reasons are the private group format, three swimming stops, included lunch, and drinks without the usual need to organize every detail yourself.

Think twice if your group is small, your budget is tight, or you dislike long stretches on a moving boat. The $1,850 price is much easier to justify at eight to 11 people than at two or three. Also skip it if seasickness or limited mobility is a serious concern.

For the right group, this is a polished, low-effort way to spend a full day on Rhodes’ east coast. You get the sea, several good swimming opportunities, a Greek meal, and a clean private catamaran, with enough free time to make the outing feel restful rather than scheduled to death.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise leave from?

The meeting point is outside the Naval Bar and Restaurant, on the marina side of New Marina Rhodes. The New Marina is about 1 kilometer from central Rhodes Town.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to make your own way to New Marina Rhodes.

Is parking available near the meeting point?

Yes. A lot of free parking spaces are available close to the meeting point at New Marina Rhodes.

How long is the cruise?

The experience lasts six hours. The route includes sailing, three swimming stops, lunch, and the return to New Marina Rhodes.

How many people can join the private cruise?

The private catamaran can accommodate a group of up to 11 people.

What food and drinks are included?

Lunch is included. Alcoholic drinks are included at lunchtime only, while soft drinks are unlimited throughout the day.

Which swimming stops are planned?

The planned stops are Anthony Quinn Bay, Afandou, and Kallithea Springs. Swimming stops may change according to weather conditions on the day.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel and beachwear. The experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, or people prone to seasickness.