Rhodes: All-Inclusive Catamaran Cruise with Lunch and Drinks

The best part of this Rhodes catamaran cruise is the time spent in the water. The boat anchors in clear, sheltered bays, and you swim straight from the catamaran to see fish, rocky coves, and the famous shoreline. Anthony Quinn Bay and Kalithea Springs are the main visual treats.

I like the generous one-hour swim stops and the small capacity of up to 24 passengers, which gives you more room than a packed excursion boat. I also like the simple, useful extras: snorkels, pool noodles, life jackets, a breakfast snack, a buffet lunch, and drinks served through the afternoon. The main catch is that you must swim from the boat to shore, so this is not a good fit if you have limited mobility or do not feel comfortable entering open water.

Key points to know before booking

• Three or four swim stops: The sailing boat visits Anthony Quinn Bay, Ladiko Bay, and Kalithea Springs. The power catamaran also visits Afandou Beach and its caves.
• A real six-hour outing: You get roughly an hour at each main swimming stop, with cruising time between the bays.
• Food is better than basic boat fare: Expect grilled chicken, salads, Greek dips, olives, feta, fresh bread, fruit, and a breakfast tortilla snack.
• Drinks are included: Wine and beer are available from noon, along with juice, soft drinks, and bottled water.
• The boat stays offshore: You swim to the shore rather than walking onto each beach, and the route can change with weather.
• Arrive early for the 10 a.m. departure: Missing the boat can mean a €25 rebooking fee per ticket.

A six-hour cruise along Rhodes’ east coast

This is a relaxed day on the water, not a fast sightseeing run. You meet the crew at the Catamaran Cruises Rhodes kiosk in Mandraki Harbor, then settle into a sailing or power catamaran for the trip south along Rhodes’ east coast.

The boats carry no more than 24 passengers plus crew. That number matters. You still share the deck with other people, but the space does not feel like a large ferry. Several people specifically appreciated having room to sit, move around, and find a comfortable place even when the boat was full.

The day starts with a sightseeing cruise of about 70 minutes before the first swim. That opening stretch gives you time to settle in, watch the coast from the water, and have the breakfast tortilla snack. Bring a hat and sunscreen. Much of the appeal is being outside, and shade may be limited depending on where you sit.

You have three catamaran choices according to availability. The sailing option is the quieter, more leisurely choice when the wind is suitable. The power catamaran covers the same general coast but adds Afandou Beach and the caves. If seeing the caves matters most to you, choose the power boat rather than assuming every departure follows the same route.

Anthony Quinn Bay: the first clear-water stop

Anthony Quinn Bay is usually the first major stop, with about an hour for swimming and snorkeling. The bay is known for its rocky edges and clear water, making it a strong opening to the day.

The crew provides snorkeling equipment, and bread may be tossed into the water so colorful fish gather nearby. That makes this stop especially useful for first-time snorkelers and children who want to see fish without needing a long swim.

You do not walk onto the beach from the boat. The catamaran anchors offshore, and you enter the water from the back or side of the boat. If you want to reach the shore, you swim there. Pool noodles and life jackets help, but you should still be comfortable in the sea.

An hour is enough time for a proper swim, a look beneath the surface, and a break on deck. It also prevents the day from becoming a rush of short photo stops. I like that balance. You get to enjoy the bay rather than simply point a camera at it.

Afandou Caves on the power catamaran

The power catamaran adds Afandou Beach and the nearby caves. The supplied timing places lunch, swimming, and snorkeling around this part of the route, although the exact order can change with conditions and the captain’s decisions.

The caves give the power option a little extra variety. You are not only moving between similar swimming areas, but also seeing a different type of rocky coast. The stop is still water-based, so expect to explore from the boat rather than take a guided walk through the caves.

If you are comparing the two boats, the choice is fairly simple. Choose sailing if you prefer a gentler cruise and three substantial bay stops. Choose power if Afandou and the caves are important to you, or if you want four named coastal stops in one day.

Do not expect the power boat to guarantee every listed stop. The captain can change the route and swimming locations if wind or sea conditions make the planned route unsuitable.

Ladiko Bay: a quieter place to swim

Ladiko Bay follows Anthony Quinn Bay, with about another hour in the water. The setting is calmer and more enclosed, with clear water suited to snorkeling and floating.

This is a good point in the day to slow down. By now, you know how the boat works, where the equipment is kept, and how much time you have. You can swim, use a noodle, snorkel around the boat, or stay on deck with a drink.

The catamaran does not shuttle you to land, so the appeal here is the water and the view from offshore. That arrangement also means the stop works well for people who would rather avoid a crowded beach. You are enjoying the bay from the boat, with no need to find a place on the sand.

Lunch is served during the middle part of the cruise. Depending on the boat and the day’s timing, it may be linked with the Afandou or Ladiko stop. The buffet includes grilled chicken, pasta salad, potato salad, Greek salad, green salad, tzatziki, hummus, aubergine salad, olives, feta, and fresh local bread.

That is a generous spread for a boat trip. It also gives you several meat-free choices, though the main hot dish is chicken rather than fish. If you prefer seafood, this menu may feel limited. Dietary needs can sometimes be accommodated, but you should raise them with the provider before departure rather than rely on chance.

Kalithea Springs: the final swim

Kalithea Springs is the final major stop, usually lasting 45 to 60 minutes. The area is known for its rocky coves and attractive water, and the stop gives you another chance to swim after lunch.

Some people particularly like the lagoon that can be reached from the boat. As with the other stops, you need to swim from the catamaran. The water entry is part of the experience, but it is also the main physical demand of the day.

Kalithea is a fitting last stop because you can choose your own pace. Swim toward the cove, snorkel near the boat, float with a noodle, or stay aboard and enjoy the view. Afterward, the boat heads back toward Mandraki Harbor, with roughly 45 minutes of cruising before arrival.

The final ride is a useful wind-down. You have had three or four water stops, a full lunch, and several hours outdoors. Keep some water nearby even though bottled water is provided, and save sunscreen for the ride back.

Sailing or power catamaran?

The two versions are similar but not identical.

The sailing catamaran visits Anthony Quinn Bay, Ladiko Bay, and Kalithea Bay. It is the better match if you want a laid-back boat ride and three long swim stops. The sailing option has been described as calm and comfortable, with enough deck space to sit near the front or on the upper level.

The power catamaran adds Afandou Beach and the caves. It may suit you if you want more variety or are keen to see the caves. The route includes four named locations, although the day’s exact pattern depends on weather and the captain.

Neither option is a private charter. The maximum is 24 passengers plus crew, and the atmosphere is social. Still, the group size is modest enough that the boat does not have the feel of a huge party vessel.

If you want a silent sailing day, unlimited alcohol and a shared boat may not be ideal. If you want a friendly, easygoing outing with swimming, food, and music-free time on the sea, this format makes good sense.

Food, drinks, and the practical comforts

The all-inclusive setup is one of the strongest reasons to consider this cruise. From noon, you can have unlimited Greek wine and beer. Juice, soft drinks, and bottled water are also available, and drinks are kept flowing through much of the trip.

There is a breakfast tortilla snack early in the day and a cup of fresh seasonal fruit later. These small touches matter because six hours in the sun can leave you hungry between meals.

Lunch is a buffet rather than a plated meal. That lets you choose how much you want and go back for more. The menu leans toward familiar Mediterranean flavors: chicken, salads, dips, olives, feta, and bread. It is not a fine-dining experience, but it is substantial and well suited to a day of swimming.

The boat has an outdoor shower, indoor toilets, snorkeling equipment, floating pool noodles, and life jackets. The shower is handy after salt water, though the toilet area may not always be as clean as the rest of the boat. That is a fair but important limitation to keep in mind.

The crew is a major part of the experience. Andreas is frequently singled out for being helpful, while Hope is noted for her hospitality. Crew members assist with equipment, explain the stops, serve food and drinks, and can take photos for you. The service is attentive without requiring you to pay for each small extra.

Alcohol is included, but the crew can stop serving anyone who appears intoxicated. That is sensible on a boat where people are swimming and moving around wet decks.

Is $83 good value?

At $83 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Rhodes from the water, but it offers a solid amount for the price. You receive six hours aboard a small catamaran, several swim stops, snorkeling equipment, a breakfast snack, a full buffet lunch, fruit, and unlimited drinks.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay separately for a boat ride, lunch, drinks, and beach access. You also avoid the effort of arranging transport between several east-coast bays. The cruise puts the best-known stops into one day without asking you to keep repacking your beach bag.

It is less valuable if you do not swim, do not drink, or prefer to spend the day on land. You would still receive the views and lunch, but much of the schedule is built around entering the water.

The high satisfaction rating of 4.8 from more than 2,000 bookings supports the idea that the package delivers what it promises. Still, a strong average cannot remove the practical limits: you must reach the boat by 10 a.m., the route can change, and the boat stays at anchor rather than taking you onto each beach.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to couples, families with confident swimmers, solo visitors, and small groups looking for an easy day on the coast. Children have enjoyed the calm swim stops, and the crew is used to helping beginners with noodles, jackets, and snorkels.

It also works well for a solo day. The group setting makes it easy to be around other people without booking a private boat, and you can spend as much time swimming or sitting on deck as you like.

You should think twice if you have a mobility impairment, cannot swim from a boat, or want a land-based tour of the bays. The catamaran has toilets and an outdoor shower, but the information provided specifically says the experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Arrive before the 10 a.m. departure. If you miss the boat, the rebooking fee is €25 per ticket, so this is not the morning to cut things close.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. In April, May, and October, a boat with too few participants may be combined with another departure, with notification sent if that happens.

Should you book the Rhodes catamaran cruise?

Book it if you want a full day built around swimming, clear water, Greek food, and easy service. The long stops, small passenger limit, and included equipment give you more than a quick coastal sail. I especially like the choice between a quieter sailing route and a power route that adds Afandou Caves.

Skip it if you prefer walking onto beaches, need step-free access, or want a quiet private cruise. For most visitors who are comfortable in the water, $83 is a fair price for six hours of sightseeing, lunch, drinks, and three or four memorable swim stops.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise begin?

Meet the crew at the Catamaran Cruises Rhodes kiosk at Mandraki Harbor.

What time does the catamaran leave?

The catamarans depart at 10 a.m. You should arrive earlier so you are ready for boarding.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts six hours, including the coastal sightseeing sections, swimming stops, lunch, and the return to Mandraki Harbor.

Which bays does the sailing catamaran visit?

The sailing catamaran stops at Anthony Quinn Bay, Ladiko Bay, and Kalithea Bay, subject to weather and the captain’s decision.

Which extra location does the power catamaran visit?

The power catamaran adds Afandou Beach and the Afandou Caves to the route.

Can I swim to the beaches from the boat?

The boats remain anchored in the bays. To reach the shore, you need to swim from the catamaran.

What food and drinks are included?

The cruise includes a breakfast tortilla snack, seasonal fruit, a Mediterranean buffet lunch, unlimited wine and beer from noon, plus juice, soft drinks, and bottled water.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, floating pool noodles, and life jackets are provided. The boat also has an outdoor shower and indoor toilets.