Faliraki: Boat Trip to Anthony Quinn & The Caves with Drinks

Anthony Quinn Bay is the star of this three-hour Faliraki boat trip. The water is clear, the rocky coast is striking, and when the crew feeds the fish beside the glass underwater cabin, the view can turn into a moving wall of silver. You also get time to swim, snorkel, and enter the Traganou Caves.

I like the combination of real swimming time and easy underwater viewing. I also like the simple open bar, with cold beer, water, and soft drinks available throughout the cruise. The main drawback is the series of beach pickups, which can eat into sailing time, and the boat may not bring you right onto the beach at Anthony Quinn Bay.

The best parts of the cruise at a glance

• Fish feeding at Anthony Quinn Bay: Watch large schools gather below the glass cabin while the crew feeds them.
• Two proper swim stops: You get about 40 minutes at Anthony Quinn Bay and 25 minutes at Traganou Caves.
• A semi-submarine, not just a glass-bottom boat: The lower cabin gives you a closer look below the surface, with air conditioning mentioned as a welcome touch.
• Unlimited drinks included: Help yourself to ice-cold beer, water, and soft drinks from the onboard fridge.
• Family-friendly format: Children can enjoy the fish and underwater windows even if they do not want to swim.
• Friendly captains: Niko, Nikos, and Captain Mike are names associated with the operation, with a style that mixes safety instructions, local facts, and humor.

What this Faliraki cruise actually feels like

This is a relaxed coastal outing rather than a serious sailing expedition. You board a bright yellow semi-submarine from the beach and spend part of the trip above the water, part below it, and the rest swimming in two of Rhodes’ best-known spots.

The boat has an underwater cabin with large glass panels. You do not need to get wet to see fish, rocky seabeds, and the coast below the surface. That makes the cruise useful for mixed groups. One person can snorkel, another can sit below with the children, and someone else can stay on deck with a beer.

The trip is conducted in English. Captains such as Niko and Mike have been praised for keeping the mood light while still giving clear safety instructions. That balance matters on a swimming boat, especially for children and anyone who feels uneasy in open water.

The format suits a hot day in Rhodes. You get fresh air, sea views, two chances to swim, and cold drinks without committing to a full-day cruise. At $58 per person, the price is not the cheapest way to reach a bay, but the included drinks, underwater cabin, snorkeling equipment, and three-hour schedule make it a solid package for a half-day outing.

Finding the yellow boat from Faliraki beach

Pickup is from the red steps on the beach at one of several Faliraki stops. The named points include Amada Colossos, Esperides, Calypso Hotel, Apollo Hotel, and Faliraki Harbor. The exact boarding point matters, so choose the stop nearest your hotel and follow the instructions for the red beach steps.

Departure times are scheduled around 9:30, 12:30, and 3:30 from Amada Colossos. Esperides and Calypso Hotel are listed around ten minutes later, while Apollo Hotel and Faliraki Harbor follow at about 9:55, 12:55, and 3:55.

The beach pickup is part of the experience, but it also explains the main criticism of the trip. The boat makes several stops to collect and return people, so some of the three hours can be spent moving between pickup points. If you are staying at one of the named hotels, this is convenient. If you are boarding at the harbor, arrive with enough time to find the red steps.

Some departures use a small tender or speedboat to bring people from the beach to the semi-submarine. That can be a fun start, though it means you should be ready to board from the shoreline rather than expecting a large harbor platform.

Traganou Caves: a short swim with a real sense of place

Traganou Caves are made for a quick swim and a bit of exploration. The rock formations create openings you can swim into, giving this stop a different feel from the open bay.

You get about 25 minutes here. That is long enough to swim into the cave area, look around, and use a pool noodle if you prefer extra support. The crew provides snorkeling equipment, and pool noodles are recommended for the caves.

The cave stop is not a long guided exploration. It is a swim from the boat near the rock formations, so you should be comfortable getting into open sea water. The appeal is the setting: pale rock, clear water, and the chance to pass into the cave openings instead of simply looking at them from the deck.

The order of the two stops can vary in practice. The cruise is described with Traganou first and Anthony Quinn next, while several accounts of the trip place Anthony Quinn Bay first. Plan around the two stops rather than expecting a fixed sequence. You will receive both swimming breaks during the three-hour outing.

Anthony Quinn Bay and the fish-feeding show

Anthony Quinn Bay is the longer and more memorable stop. You have about 40 minutes for swimming and snorkeling in the clear water, with the rocky shoreline rising around the small bay.

The most unusual part is the fish feeding beside the underwater cabin. As food is put into the water, schools gather near the boat. From below, you may see a dense swirl of fish moving across the glass panels. It is a particularly good feature for children, non-swimmers, and anyone who wants to see marine life without wearing a mask.

The bay is also the better stop for snorkeling. The fish are the main attraction, but the rocky underwater setting adds interest. You can swim, float, or stay near the boat and watch from the lower cabin.

One practical point: the boat may remain offshore rather than taking you directly onto the beach. If you imagine stepping ashore at Anthony Quinn Bay for a walk or a café, this is not that kind of visit. You are there to swim, snorkel, and view the coast from the water.

The semi-submarine cabin is more than a gimmick

Rhodes has plenty of glass-bottom boat options, but this vessel’s lower cabin gives the experience more focus. You can sit below the waterline and watch fish pass close to the windows while the boat moves or pauses in the bays.

Several details make the cabin useful rather than decorative. It has large viewing windows, and air conditioning has been noted as a welcome relief in the Rhodes heat. You can also retreat below if the sun becomes too strong or if you would rather watch the sea than swim in it.

The clearest views are likely to come during the fish feeding at Anthony Quinn Bay. Away from the feeding area, underwater visibility depends on the light, water conditions, and where the boat stops. Do not book this as a full marine-life expedition. Think of the cabin as an enjoyable extra that gives you a different view of the two bays.

It also makes the trip work for families with different comfort levels. A child can watch fish through the windows before deciding to swim. An adult who is nervous about the sea can still take part without entering the water, though the main purpose of the cruise remains swimming.

Unlimited drinks and what you should bring

The open bar includes unlimited ice-cold beer, water, and soft drinks. You help yourself from the onboard fridge, so there is no need to buy each drink separately during the cruise.

This adds real value on a hot afternoon. A single drink on a boat is not much of a benefit, but free refills over three hours can make a noticeable difference, especially for a family or group. Beer is available for adults, while water and soft drinks cover non-drinkers and children.

Food is not included. Eat before boarding or plan a meal before or after the cruise. The boat is designed around swimming and drinks, not lunch service.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and something dry to wear afterward. A waterproof phone pouch is sensible if you want pictures from the swim stops. The crew provides snorkeling equipment, and pool noodles are available for the cave stop, but you may still prefer to bring your own mask if you want a familiar fit.

Timing, comfort, and the beach pickup trade-off

Three hours is a good length for this activity. You get enough time to settle into the boat, enjoy the underwater cabin, swim at both locations, and have a drink without losing an entire day.

The stated swim periods are generous for a short cruise: 40 minutes at Anthony Quinn Bay and 25 minutes at Traganou Caves. That is better than a trip that races into a bay, allows ten minutes in the water, and immediately sounds the bell.

The trade-off is transport between pickup points. If the boat is collecting people from several beaches, the sailing portion may feel shorter than the full three-hour headline suggests. One account estimated that a significant part of the trip could be spent transporting people between stops.

For the smoothest experience, board at the first convenient pickup point if you have a choice. If you are staying farther along the beach, the included pickup is convenient, but expect some extra movement before the cruise reaches the bays.

Weather can affect comfort. The crew has handled rain and kept people as dry as possible, but this is still an outdoor sea trip. On rough or wet days, the underwater cabin provides a useful sheltered space, though swimming conditions may be less inviting.

Is it good for families, couples, and non-swimmers?

I would recommend this most strongly to families and mixed groups. Children get the excitement of a yellow boat, fish at the windows, cave openings, and swimming stops. Adults get cold drinks and scenic coastal views without needing to plan several separate activities.

It also works well for couples who want a short escape from the hotel pool. Anthony Quinn Bay supplies the scenery, while the drinks and lower cabin keep the day easygoing rather than demanding.

Non-swimmers can still enjoy the underwater cabin, but you should understand the emphasis. This is not a sightseeing-only cruise. The two main stops are built around getting into the sea, and the best part of the trip is seeing the bays from the water.

People who want a quiet, small-group sailing trip may find the atmosphere too social. The captain and crew are active hosts, offering facts, jokes, safety advice, and help with pictures. That is a plus for most families, but less appealing if you want silence and privacy.

What the $58 price includes

At $58 per person, the value depends on how much you use the full package. The price includes:

• Three hours on the semi-submarine
• The underwater glass cabin
• A 40-minute swim stop at Anthony Quinn Bay
• A 25-minute swim stop at Traganou Caves
• Snorkeling equipment
• Unlimited beer, water, and soft drinks
• Beach pickup and return at the listed Faliraki points

Food is extra. You should also factor in your transport if you are not near one of the Faliraki beach pickup locations, although one account notes that the company arranged transport back to the cruise port.

The strongest value comes from the combination of drinks and two proper swimming stops. If you only want to see Anthony Quinn Bay from a boat, a shorter sightseeing trip may cost less. If you want swimming, fish viewing, refreshments, and cave access in one outing, this package makes more sense.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later booking add useful flexibility. Check the available start times before committing, especially if your hotel plans or cruise-port transfer leave you with a tight schedule.

Should you book the Anthony Quinn and Caves cruise?

Book it if you want an easy, social half-day on the water with two swim stops, a genuinely fun underwater cabin, and drinks included. It is especially well suited to families, couples, and groups with both confident swimmers and people who prefer to watch from below deck.

Think twice if you dislike beach pickups, want a quiet private boat, or expect to walk ashore at Anthony Quinn Bay. The boat may remain offshore, and part of the schedule can go toward collecting and returning passengers.

For most people staying in Faliraki, I think the package earns its price. The fish feeding, cave swim, air-conditioned underwater cabin, and friendly crew give it more character than a basic glass-bottom ride. Choose a morning departure for a cooler start, or an afternoon sailing if you want a relaxed break from the beach day.

FAQ

How long is the semi-submarine cruise?

The activity lasts three hours, including the coastal sailing, the underwater cabin viewing, and both swimming stops.

How long do you swim at Anthony Quinn Bay?

The scheduled swimming stop at Anthony Quinn Bay lasts about 40 minutes.

How long is the Traganou Caves stop?

You have about 25 minutes to swim near and into the cave formations.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited beer, water, and soft drinks are included. Food is not included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, and pool noodles are available for use at the caves.

Where do you board the boat?

You board from the red steps on the beach at one of the Faliraki pickup points, including Amada Colossos, Esperides, Calypso Hotel, Apollo Hotel, and Faliraki Harbor.

Is the tour suitable if I do not want to swim?

Yes, you can watch the underwater world through the glass cabin without entering the sea. However, the two main stops are designed for swimming and snorkeling.