Mykonos: Catamaran Cruise With Meal and Drinks

Rhenia is the star of this cruise. After a van ride to Mykonos New Port, you sail across clear Aegean water, anchor in a quiet cove, and spend about two hours swimming, snorkeling, eating, and relaxing aboard a catamaran. The water is the sort of blue that makes you check your phone camera twice.

I especially like the hotel pickup and drop-off, which saves you from sorting out port transport, and the generous time at anchor for swimming. The included meal, snorkeling gear, beer, wine, and other drinks also make the $176 price easier to justify. The main drawback is that pickup is only from hotels, and one booking reported that pickup was not available from their hotel despite the tour description.

Key points

• Rhenia cove: Anchor for about two hours in clear turquoise water with time for swimming, snorkeling, photos, and lunch.
• Sunset option: The afternoon departure adds golden evening light over Mykonos Town and the island windmills.
• Food and drinks: Enjoy a traditional meal onboard, plus Mykonos wine, beer, and other included drinks.
• Small-group feel: Group sizes can be comfortable, with one party describing 18 people on a spacious boat and another finding plenty of room with only seven passengers.
• Helpful crew: Guides and crew members such as Antonis, Fanis, Dimitrii, Anesto, and Vog have been praised for friendly, attentive service.
• Practical planning: Bring a towel, jacket, sun hat, swimwear, and sunscreen. Towels are not supplied.

Why Rhenia makes this Mykonos cruise worthwhile

Mykonos is famous for white houses, windmills, nightlife, and a busy summer rhythm. This five-hour cruise gives you a different side of the island: open water, a slower pace, and a long stop away from the main shore.

The boat sails to nearby Rhenia, an island known here mainly for its peaceful coves and clear water. You will not spend the day rushing between several ports. Instead, the cruise builds around one good swimming stop, followed by a leisurely return along the Mykonos coast.

That matters. Many boat trips can feel like a checklist of photo stops. This one gives you time to settle into the water and the boat. You can swim, use the provided snorkeling equipment, take photos, or simply sit with a glass of wine while lunch is prepared.

The water is the main attraction. Several bookings describe it as intensely blue and especially clear. Conditions can change with the weather, of course, but Rhenia is the place to expect the best swimming of the day.

From hotel pickup to Mykonos New Port

Your day begins with pickup from your hotel in an air-conditioned minivan. The transfer to the port takes about 20 minutes, though the exact time depends on your hotel and other pickups.

This is a useful part of the package. Mykonos roads can be confusing, and getting to a port for a fixed departure is one less problem to solve. One booking described a private Mercedes transfer, while another noted only one additional stop before reaching the dock. The vehicle arrangement can vary, so do not assume every party receives a private van.

Pickup is offered only from hotels. You need to provide the hotel name and address, along with each participant’s full name, nationality, age, and passport or ID details for port regulations. Check your email carefully for the pickup time.

At the port, you receive a safety briefing and welcome refreshments before finding a place on the modern catamaran. The boat has room for sitting, viewing the coast, and moving around during the cruise, though the amount of personal space depends on the group size.

Sailing past Mykonos white houses and windmills

Once the catamaran leaves the port, the pace changes. You are no longer working through Mykonos traffic or weaving between crowded streets. Instead, you get wide views of the island, including its small white houses and familiar coastal shapes.

The sailing portion is as much about the mood as the sightseeing. The boat cuts through the Aegean, and the sea breeze gives you a welcome break from hot streets and stone walls. Keep your phone ready, but do not spend the entire trip behind it. The views are best enjoyed from the deck.

The return route includes views of Mykonos Town and some of the island’s picturesque windmills. If you choose the sunset departure, the light becomes the day’s final attraction. The sun drops toward the horizon as the catamaran returns, giving you warm colors over the water and a good chance for memorable photographs.

The route and timing can be affected by wind and sea conditions. One booking specifically praised the captain and co-captain for handling challenging but refreshing water. That is a useful reminder that this is a real boat outing, not a perfectly still floating restaurant.

Two hours at Rhenia for swimming and snorkeling

The catamaran anchors in a small cove off Rhenia. This is the heart of the trip, with roughly two hours for free time, swimming, snorkeling, photographs, and lunch.

The long stop is a real advantage. You are not pushed back onboard after a quick ten-minute swim. You can get comfortable in the water, return to the boat, dry off in the sun, and go back in if conditions suit you.

Snorkeling gear is included, so you do not need to pack your own mask and fins. Still, bring a towel. Towels are not provided, and you will want one after swimming. A sun hat, sunscreen, swimwear, and a light jacket also belong in your day bag.

The cove is best for people who want a relaxed water stop rather than a formal beach visit. You remain based on the boat, and the activity centers on swimming from the anchored catamaran. The available details do not promise a sandy beach stop or organized water sports, so book this for clear water and time afloat, not for a beach-club setup.

Some bookings mention stand-up paddleboarding in addition to snorkeling and swimming. Because the standard inclusions specifically list snorkeling gear but do not promise a paddleboard, treat that activity as dependent on the boat and departure.

Lunch, Mykonos wine, and the limits of the drinks menu

While you swim, the crew prepares a traditional meal onboard. The food has been described as simple but sufficient, while other bookings praised the meal as excellent and plentiful. That tells you what to expect: a generous, casual boat lunch rather than a fine-dining experience.

The meal is part of the value. You do not need to leave the cove to find a restaurant, and lunch arrives at the moment you are ready for a break from the water. Eating onboard also keeps the day flowing without another transfer or port stop.

Mykonos wine is available throughout the cruise, and beer and wine are listed during the Rhenia stop. Welcome refreshments and an aperitif are also part of the experience. The exact drink selection can vary, so do not expect a full bar.

One booking wished for a wider choice of drinks or the option to bring preferred beverages onboard. That is a fair consideration if you have particular drink preferences. The package is designed around included Greek wine and basic refreshments, not a large cocktail menu.

The crew is central to the meal and the atmosphere. Names praised in different departures include Captain Antonis, Fanis, Dimitrii, Anesto, and Vog. You may not meet all of them, since staffing changes by departure, but the recurring pattern is a friendly crew that handles navigation, food, and service.

Shared cruise or private catamaran?

You can choose between a shared group departure and a private tour. This changes the feel of the experience more than the route itself.

A shared cruise gives you a social setting. Music, drinks, and an easygoing group can make the trip feel like a small celebration. One party of eight described a lively atmosphere, while another group of 18 found the catamaran comfortable and not crowded.

Group size is worth asking about if you are sensitive to space. The catamaran can feel roomy with a moderate number of people, but the experience is not a private yacht charter unless you book the private option.

A private departure makes more sense for a family, birthday, couple, or group that wants control over the mood. It may also suit you if you prefer quiet time on the water. The supplied details do not state the private-tour capacity or a separate private price, so confirm those points before booking.

Children under three are not accepted, and the activity is not suitable for pregnant women. The swimming stop also means you should be comfortable around open water, even though the boat remains nearby and snorkeling gear is supplied.

Is $176 a fair price?

At $176 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the Aegean from Mykonos. The price makes more sense when you count what is bundled into the day: hotel pickup and return, the catamaran ride, crew, food, wine and drinks, snorkeling equipment, and port-related fees.

You are also paying for convenience. A cheaper boat outing might still require you to reach the port, buy lunch, rent equipment, and arrange your own ride home. Here, those pieces are handled together.

The value is strongest if you plan to swim and drink onboard. If you do not want alcohol, have little interest in snorkeling, or prefer exploring Rhenia on land, you may not use enough of the package to make the price feel worthwhile.

The sunset departure may offer the best return for your money because it combines the water stop with evening views of Mykonos Town and the windmills. The daylight departure may suit you better if swimming is your main goal and you prefer stronger light in the cove.

What to pack for a comfortable five hours

Pack lightly, but bring the items that make an open-water trip pleasant:

• Swimsuit and towel
• Sunscreen and sun hat
• Light jacket for the ride back
• Phone or camera
• Any preferred personal drink, if permitted by the operator
• Dry clothes for after swimming

The jacket matters even in warm weather. A moving boat can feel cool once the sun drops, especially on a sunset sailing.

Use sunscreen before boarding and reapply after swimming. The open deck offers little escape from the sun, and the sea breeze can make the heat less obvious.

You should also keep valuables secure and avoid bringing more than you need. The supplied information does not specify storage arrangements, so a small bag is more practical than bulky luggage.

Who will enjoy this Rhenia sailing most?

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a full half-day on the water without planning every detail yourself. It suits couples, friends, families with older children, and groups looking for swimming, food, music, and a social atmosphere.

It is especially good for:

• People who want clear water and a real swimming stop
• Visitors staying at a Mykonos hotel who value included transport
• Couples who like a sunset setting
• Friends who want drinks and music on a boat
• Anyone who prefers one relaxed cove to a rushed schedule
• First-time visitors who want coastal views without arranging a private charter

It is less suitable if you dislike boats, need a quiet luxury setting, want a full restaurant meal, or expect a guided archaeological visit. A guided tour of Delos is not included, so you will need a separate excursion for that.

The cruise also depends on the weather. You might find the sea calm and glassy, or you might feel more movement on the return. The crew works around conditions, but no boat trip can promise a perfectly smooth ride.

Booking details worth checking before you pay

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Mykonos schedule is still moving around.

The experience lasts five hours, though the transfer to and from your hotel is part of the overall timing. The listed schedule includes a 20-minute van ride, a 15-minute welcome and safety briefing, about two hours at Rhenia, and roughly 1.5 hours of return cruising and sightseeing.

English is the operating language, and an English audio guide is included. The crew provides the practical welcome and onboard service, while the cruise itself is mainly about scenery, swimming, food, and relaxation rather than a long formal lecture.

Before booking, confirm three things: your hotel qualifies for pickup, the departure time fits your plans, and you understand the drink selection. The pickup issue is the one practical detail most likely to cause frustration if left unchecked.

Should you book the Mykonos catamaran cruise?

Book it if you want a well-organized day on clear water, with lunch and drinks already arranged. The strongest parts are the long Rhenia stop, the friendly crew, the comfortable catamaran, and the sunset option.

I would choose the sunset departure for a couple or group wanting atmosphere and photos. I would choose the daytime option if swimming and snorkeling matter more than golden-hour views.

Skip it if $176 feels too high for a boat day, if you want a full range of drinks, or if you are looking for a Delos history tour. For everyone else, this is a practical way to trade Mykonos crowds for open water, Greek food, and a few unhurried hours in the Aegean.

FAQ

How long does the Mykonos catamaran cruise last?

The cruise lasts five hours. The schedule includes hotel transfer time, a safety briefing, about two hours at Rhenia, and around 1.5 hours of return sailing and sightseeing.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Pickup is available only from hotels, so provide your hotel name and address when booking and check your email for the confirmed pickup time.

What happens at Rhenia Island?

The catamaran anchors in a small cove for swimming, snorkeling, photographs, free time, lunch, beer, and wine. The stop lasts about two hours.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes, snorkeling gear is included. You need to bring your own towel.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. Food and drinks are included, with a traditional meal, Mykonos wine, beer, and other refreshments listed as part of the experience.

Is there a sunset departure?

Yes. If you choose the sunset cruise, you can watch the sun set over the horizon while returning toward Mykonos, with views of Mykonos Town and the island windmills.

Can I book a private cruise?

Yes. You can choose between a shared group cruise and a private tour. Confirm the private option’s capacity and price before booking.

Is the tour suitable for young children?

Children under three are not permitted. The supplied information does not give a broader age restriction.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.