Mykonos: Delos and Rhenia Islands Cruise with BBQ Meal

Ancient Delos and a quiet swim stop at Rhenia make this six-hour Mykonos cruise more than a simple boat outing. You get Greek ruins, clear water, a cooked BBQ lunch, and a full day away from Mykonos town.

I like the mix of archaeology and open-water relaxation, and I like that beer, wine, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and water are included. The main drawback is that Delos requires more walking than some people expect, and the boat runs barefoot for safety and hygiene.

Key points to know before you book

• Delos gives the cruise real historical weight: You have about 90 minutes to walk among ruins linked with Apollo and Artemis.
• Rhenia is the easygoing half: Swim, snorkel, use a floating noodle, and eat a Greek BBQ from the boat.
• The food and crew are major strengths: Expect meat, vegetables, drinks, and attentive service throughout the day.
• Bare feet are required on board: Bring comfortable shoes for Delos, but leave them off while sailing.
• The price includes more than transport: At $147 per person, lunch, drinks, towels, gear, sunscreen, WiFi, and port fees are covered.
• Plan for extras: Hotel pickup costs €20 per person, while a Delos guide costs €45 per adult or €40 per child, plus a €20 entrance fee.

Why this Mykonos boat trip works so well

Mykonos is famous for whitewashed lanes, beach clubs, and late nights. This cruise gives you a different side of the island, one shaped by wind, open sea, old marble, and quiet coves.

The route combines three useful holiday ingredients. You get a major ancient site at Delos, time in the water around Rhenia, and a proper meal served on board. That balance matters. A full day devoted only to ruins can feel tiring in the Greek sun, while a pure swimming trip may leave you wishing for something more memorable. Here, each part breaks up the next.

The boat is a gulet, with either an 89-foot vessel carrying up to 40 people or a 72-foot vessel carrying up to 30. That is not a tiny private sailboat, but it is also not a huge ferry. A group of 34 people was described as comfortable, with room to sit out and catch the sun. Still, your exact boat and group size depend on the weather and the number of bookings.

The crew handles the navigation, safety briefing, drinks, meal, and swimming setup. I especially like the practical extras: towels, sunscreen, swimming noodles, life vests, snorkeling equipment, and WiFi. None of these changes the character of the cruise, but each one saves you from packing or buying something later.

Leaving Mykonos from Agios Ioannis

The cruise generally begins near Agios Ioannis, at the Ioannis Diakoftis pier. The exact meeting point depends on the option you book, so check your confirmation carefully rather than assuming a hotel pickup is included.

You can arrange round-trip transport from your Mykonos accommodation for €20 per person. This is useful if you are staying away from Agios Ioannis or do not want to organize a taxi early in the morning. It is an optional add-on, not part of the $147 base price.

Once aboard, expect a safety video and instructions from the crew. You will also be asked for passport, ID card, or driving licence details during booking for personal insurance. Bring a valid phone number that the operator can reach through internet messaging, since weather or transport information may be sent the evening before.

One practical point catches some people by surprise: everyone goes barefoot on the boat. Wear comfortable shoes for walking around Delos, but expect to remove them when you board. A light jacket is sensible too. Even a warm Greek morning can feel cool when the boat is moving.

The first 45 minutes: Mykonos from the water

The opening sail takes about 45 minutes. The crew serves beer, wine, coffee, tea, water, and soft drinks, so you can settle in without waiting for a meal.

This is a pleasant way to leave Mykonos behind. From the deck, you see the island and neighboring shores from a distance instead of from a crowded road or beach. The ride also gives the crew time to explain the day and lets you get comfortable with the boat.

Do not expect a quiet luxury yacht experience in the private charter sense. The vessel may carry up to 30 or 40 people, and the main appeal is the shared, social setting. If you like chatting with other people over lunch and on the way to the islands, that works in your favor. If you want total privacy, you should consider the private-group option instead.

Delos: ancient ruins with a short window

Delos is the intellectual center of the trip. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage site with roots reaching back to about 3500 BC. In Greek mythology, it is connected with the birth of Apollo and Artemis, and the ruins give you a chance to walk through a place that once held major religious and civic importance.

The boat makes a short approach and photo stop before you have free time on the island. Allow about 90 minutes for walking and sightseeing. That is enough to get a strong impression of Delos, but it is not enough for a slow, complete archaeological study.

You may walk among ancient buildings, columns, stone streets, and exposed foundations. The site is open and sunny, with little shade, so a hat, water, comfortable clothing, and sunscreen matter. The operator supplies sunscreen on board, but I would still bring your own if you have a preferred brand.

You have two choices here. You can explore independently, or you can arrange a professional guide in advance for €45 per adult or €40 per child. The entrance fee is an additional €20 per person. If you care about identifying buildings and understanding how the sanctuary developed, the guide can make the short visit more useful. If you prefer to set your own pace, download an audio guide before arriving. That approach worked well for one couple who wanted historical context without paying for the guide.

The biggest limitation is time. Delos deserves more than a quick circuit, especially if you enjoy ancient Greek sites. The upside is that the schedule prevents the archaeological stop from taking over the entire day. After the ruins, you return to the boat for about an hour of free time, swimming, or relaxing before continuing to Rhenia.

Rhenia: swimming, snorkeling, and lunch

Rhenia provides the day’s slower, more physical break. The boat spends about two hours in the area, giving you time to swim, use the complimentary snorkeling equipment, and eat lunch on board.

The water is the star here. You can climb in directly from the yacht and use a noodle if you want extra support. Snorkeling gear is included, though conditions and visibility can vary with the weather. This is a good stop for confident swimmers, but one comment from a past guest points out that the beaches may be too far away for some people to swim ashore. You do not need to reach land to enjoy the stop. The main activity is swimming around the boat.

The BBQ includes meat and vegetables, cooked and served on board. The meal earned unusually strong praise, with some people finding it better than the food at their hotel. It is not just a snack between swims. The timing gives you a real lunch without sending you back to shore or asking you to bring your own food.

Drinks continue through the meal and the rest of the cruise. Beer, wine, coffee, tea, water, and soft drinks are included. Spirits and cocktails are not included, so budget separately if those are important to you.

This part of the trip also shows the value of having a crew rather than simply renting a boat. Staff bring drinks, keep an eye on safety, and help the day run smoothly. The best comments about the experience focus on this steady attention, with crew members checking that people were comfortable and had what they needed.

Sailing back with room to unwind

The return to Mykonos takes about 90 minutes. After the ruins, swimming, and lunch, you can use the deck as a final rest stop. Have another drink, dry off, take photographs, or simply watch the islands recede.

The return journey is part of the experience, not dead time. You are still on the water, and the boat gives you a calm transition back to Mykonos. That said, six hours under the sun can feel long if you dislike boat travel or get seasick. The itinerary is flexible enough to include quiet deck time, but you should still bring a jacket and comfortable clothes.

Weather matters. If conditions are poor, the operator may change the route or cancel, with notice sent the evening before. The cruise may also use a different gulet depending on sea conditions and group size. That flexibility is sensible in the Cyclades, where wind can quickly affect a boat day.

What the $147 price really covers

At $147 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach the islands. But the price includes a lot: the cruise, BBQ lunch, unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water, snorkeling gear, towels, sunscreen, swimming noodles, WiFi, life vests, port fees, taxes, a skipper, and crew service.

The value is strongest if you plan to use the boat facilities and eat on board. Buying lunch, drinks, snorkeling equipment, and transport separately in Mykonos could quickly narrow the price difference. The cruise also removes the need to arrange transport between two islands.

Add-ons deserve careful attention. Hotel pickup and drop-off cost €20 per person. A guided Delos visit costs €45 per adult or €40 per child, with a separate €20 entrance fee per person. Those extras can make the day considerably more expensive, but they are optional.

The free cancellation period is up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That is useful when weather is uncertain, though you should still read the exact booking conditions attached to your date.

Who should book this cruise

I would recommend it to you if you want one day that mixes history, swimming, food, and scenery without planning each piece yourself. It suits couples, families with older children, solo visitors who enjoy a social boat, and anyone who wants a break from Mykonos beach clubs.

It is especially good for people who value comfort. Towels, drinks, sunscreen, snorkeling gear, and lunch are already arranged. The crew is also a strong part of the experience, not just a technical necessity.

You should think twice if you dislike group excursions, cannot manage a boat ladder into the water, or want several quiet hours at a deserted beach. Delos also requires walking in the sun, and the one-hour-plus archaeological stop may feel rushed if ancient sites are your main reason for going.

The trip welcomes different kinds of couples and groups. One same-sex couple on honeymoon felt fully included and comfortable, which is useful context if you want a friendly shared setting rather than a formal or exclusive one.

Should you book the Delos and Rhenia cruise?

Book it if you want the best all-around use of six hours on the Mykonos coast. Delos supplies the cultural focus, while Rhenia supplies the water time, and the BBQ and included drinks keep the day easy.

I would add the hotel transfer if your accommodation is inconveniently located, and I would pay for the Delos guide only if you want proper archaeological explanation. Otherwise, explore independently with a downloaded guide and spend the saved money on your Mykonos evening.

The strongest reasons to choose this cruise are the attentive crew, generous food and drinks, comfortable boat setup, and the unusual combination of ancient ruins with a swim stop. The main compromises are the group setting, barefoot rule, extra fees for Delos guidance and admission, and limited time at the archaeological site.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

The cruise generally departs from Agios Ioannis, at the Ioannis Diakoftis pier. The exact meeting point depends on the option booked.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Round-trip pickup and drop-off from Mykonos accommodation can be added for €20 per person. You arrange and pay for this service separately.

How long is the cruise?

The total experience lasts six hours. The schedule includes sailing from Mykonos, time at Delos, swimming and snorkeling, lunch at Rhenia, and the return sail.

Is a guide included at Delos?

No. You can explore Delos independently, or pre-book a professional guide for €45 per adult or €40 per child. The entrance fee is an additional €20 per person.

What food and drinks are included?

The onboard BBQ includes meat and vegetables. Beer, wine, water, soft drinks, coffee, and tea are included. Spirits and cocktails are not included.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable walking shoes for Delos, a jacket, comfortable clothes, and beachwear. Shoes cannot be worn on the boat, since all participants go barefoot on board.