Mykonos: Delos and Rhenia Islands Cruise with BBQ Meal

The best part of this Mykonos cruise is the sharp change of scene. You leave the island’s busy beaches behind and spend the day moving between ancient Delos and the clear coves of Rhenia, with lunch served aboard a traditional gulet.

I like the easy mix of archaeology and sea time. I also like that the price includes a proper BBQ, drinks, towels, snorkeling gear, sunscreen, and a crew that keeps the day moving without making it feel rushed. The main catch is that the Delos guide and entrance fee cost extra, and the boat requires everyone to go barefoot.

• Delos gives the day real historical weight: Walk among ruins on an island linked with Apollo and Artemis.
• Rhenia is the swimming stop: Spend about two hours near the island with snorkeling gear, noodles, and lunch from the boat.
• The BBQ is part of the value: Meat, vegetables, and unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water are included.
• Boat size depends on the day: You may sail on an 89-foot gulet for up to 40 people or a 72-foot gulet for up to 30.
• The guide is optional: You can explore Delos independently, book a professional guide, or prepare with your own audio tour.
• Bare feet are required aboard: Bring sensible shoes for shore, but expect to remove them on the yacht.

Six Hours Between Mykonos, Delos, and Rhenia

This is a full half-day on the water, usually beginning at Agios Ioannis or another stated meeting point, depending on the option you book. Hotel pickup and return are available for €20 per person, which is useful if you do not want to arrange transport across Mykonos in the morning.

The cruise begins with about 45 minutes of sailing past Mykonos and its neighboring islands. This opening stretch gives you time to settle in, take in the sea views, and listen to the safety briefing. Beer, wine, coffee, tea, water, and soft drinks are available, so you do not need to wait for lunch to get comfortable.

The boats used are gulets, traditional-style sailing vessels. The operator may use an 89-foot boat carrying up to 40 people or a 72-foot boat carrying up to 30, depending on weather and group size. That range matters. A half-day cruise feels far more pleasant when you have room to sit, stretch out, and move between sun and shade.

You will need to leave your shoes on shore or at the yacht entrance. The barefoot rule is for safety and hygiene, not decoration. Wear comfortable footwear for walking around Delos, then expect to go without it aboard.

Delos: Ruins on the Birthplace of Apollo

Delos is the intellectual center of this outing. It is not just a pretty island viewed from the sea. It is an ancient archaeological site associated with Apollo and Artemis, with remains dating back to around 3500 BC. The island is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its ruins give the cruise a strong sense of place.

The stop lasts about an hour and a half. You can walk through the ancient remains, take photos, and explore on your own, or arrange a professional guide in advance. The guide costs €45 for an adult and €40 for a child. The entrance fee is an additional €20 per person, also arranged and paid in advance.

That extra cost is worth considering before you book. If ancient sites are important to you, a guide can help turn scattered stones and worn foundations into a readable story. If you prefer moving at your own pace, independent exploration may suit you better.

One useful option is to prepare your own audio guide before arriving. That lets you keep the cost down while giving context to the streets, temples, houses, and public spaces you see. You will have more freedom, but you must do the preparation yourself.

The walk can be hot and exposed. Bring comfortable clothes, beachwear, water-friendly layers, and a jacket for the boat ride. The included drinks help during the day, but sensible sun protection still matters. Sunscreen is provided, though I would not rely on that alone.

You will also see Delos from the water. There is a short cruise and photo stop before or around the island, followed by scenic sailing between the archaeological visit and the next swimming area. This lets you appreciate why the island has long mattered as a place of worship and settlement without spending the whole day on land.

A Flexible Hour Near Delos

After the main visit, the schedule allows about an hour for free time near Delos. Depending on the day’s conditions and the exact stop, you can relax on deck, swim, or use the snorkeling equipment.

This part helps balance the archaeology. Delos can feel intense in the sun, especially if you are walking among open ruins. A quiet spell on the yacht gives you a chance to cool down before the longer Rhenia stop.

The boat supplies snorkeling gear, swimming noodles, towels, life vests, and sunscreen. You can use the noodles simply to float rather than swim hard. That is a practical touch for anyone who wants sea time without treating the stop like a serious water-sports session.

The water is a major reason to choose this cruise, but the details are not the same as a beach day. You are swimming from the yacht, not walking onto a fully serviced beach with loungers and changing rooms. One of the swimming areas may feel too far from shore for a comfortable swim to land, so stay close to the boat if you are not a confident swimmer.

Rhenia: Swimming, Snorkeling, and Lunch Aboard

Rhenia is the longest stop, at about two hours. This is where the day shifts into a relaxed sea outing. The boat pauses near the island, and you can swim, snorkel, float with a noodle, or remain on deck with a drink.

The water is clear enough for simple underwater viewing with the supplied equipment. Do not expect a dedicated reef expedition or a formal marine-life program. The pleasure is more straightforward: cool water, open views, and a chance to spend time at sea after walking through Delos.

Lunch is prepared and served on board. The BBQ includes meat and vegetables, with drinks available throughout the meal. Beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water are included, while spirits and cocktails are not.

The food earns particular attention because it is more than a token snack. You get a freshly prepared Greek-style meat and vegetable meal, and there should be enough for the group. If you prefer to eat slowly, take your time and enjoy the view rather than treating lunch as a quick stop between activities.

The meal also adds real value to the $147 price. A six-hour boat outing with port fees, a professional skipper, crew assistance, gear, towels, and unlimited standard drinks can become expensive once you add meals and equipment separately. Here, most of the day’s basic costs are already covered.

The main limitation is menu flexibility. The information provided specifies meat and vegetables, but it does not list vegetarian, vegan, allergy, or religious-diet arrangements. If that matters to you, ask the operator before booking rather than assuming the BBQ can be changed.

Why the Crew and Boat Matter

The crew includes a professional skipper and support staff. Their role is practical: navigation, safety, food service, drinks, and help with the equipment. A safety video and instructions are provided, and life vests are available.

The most useful sign of good service is not a speech or a show. It is regular attention during the day. The crew is expected to check that you are comfortable, offer drinks, and help keep the swimming and boarding routine orderly.

The boat’s size gives you a fair amount of breathing room, but this is still a shared cruise unless you choose the private-group option. A group of 30 to 40 people can feel social and friendly, yet it will not offer the quiet of a private charter. If you want space for yourself, board early when possible and use both the deck and indoor areas rather than settling in one spot.

WiFi is listed as available aboard, though the point of the trip is plainly the sea, not screen time. Keep your phone charged for photos, but bring a jacket for the return sailing. Wind can make the ride feel cooler than the sunny shore.

Is $147 a Fair Price?

At $147 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the islands. It is also not simply a boat transfer. The price covers a six-hour cruise, BBQ lunch, unlimited standard drinks, snorkeling equipment, towels, sunscreen, WiFi, safety equipment, a skipper, crew, taxes, and port fees.

That package makes the price reasonable for someone who wants a complete day without arranging separate transport, lunch, and beach equipment. The combination of Delos and Rhenia is also more varied than a simple swimming cruise.

The value drops if you plan to skip the archaeological stop, avoid the BBQ, or do not care about a staffed boat. You will also need to budget extra for the Delos entrance fee and optional guide. Hotel transport adds €20 per person, so check the meeting point before assuming transfers are included.

For two people, the base cost is $294 before optional transfers, Delos admission, and guiding. That is a meaningful day-trip expense, but the included food and drinks help keep the final cost predictable.

A strong rating of 4.8 from 1,130 ratings and a transport score with 87 percent perfect ratings point to a well-run operation. Those numbers should not replace your own judgment, but they fit the practical strengths of the trip: food, attentive service, comfortable sailing, and a clear mix of activities.

Who Will Enjoy This Cruise Most?

You should consider this cruise if you want to see Delos but also want a swim day. It suits couples, families with older children, solo visitors who enjoy meeting people on a shared boat, and anyone who would rather have lunch and equipment handled in one package.

It is especially good for first-time visitors to Mykonos who want one outing beyond the main island. The schedule gives you ancient ruins, open water, swimming, and a Greek meal without requiring several separate bookings.

It may not suit you if you dislike group outings, cannot manage a walk over uneven archaeological ground, or want a quiet, private sailing experience. The barefoot rule may also be inconvenient if you prefer to keep shoes on aboard.

The cruise is not described as wheelchair accessible, and the information does not explain the terrain at Delos or boarding arrangements for reduced mobility. Ask the operator directly if accessibility affects your decision.

Weather is important. If conditions are unsuitable, the operator may change the route or cancel, with notice given the evening before. That is worth remembering when planning your only free day in Mykonos.

Practical Tips Before You Go

Bring a passport or ID card, or the required driving licence details, since identification information is needed for personal insurance. You should also provide a valid phone number that works through internet communication so the crew can send transport or cruise updates.

Pack comfortable clothing, beachwear, a jacket, and shoes for walking on Delos. On the yacht, however, everyone goes barefoot. A small bag with dry clothes can be useful after swimming, though the provided towels cover the basic need.

Do not assume cocktails or spirits are included. Standard drinks are covered, but alcoholic extras are not. If you want the optional Delos guide, arrange it before the cruise, along with the entrance fee.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the starting time and meeting point carefully because these depend on the option selected.

Should You Book the Delos and Rhenia Cruise?

I would book this if you want one well-organized day that combines Greek archaeology and swimming. The strongest reasons are the included BBQ and drinks, the helpful equipment, the attractive route, and the chance to see Delos without giving up most of the day to ruins.

Book the guided version if Delos is a main reason for your trip and you want the site explained. Choose the self-guided option if you are comfortable preparing your own audio tour and would rather keep the cost lower.

Skip it if you want a private yacht, a dedicated beach day, or complete control over the schedule. For everyone else, the $147 price is fair when you use the lunch, drinks, gear, and six hours on the water. Add the transfer if convenience matters, and budget separately for Delos admission and guiding.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

The cruise departs from the Agios Ioannis area, with the exact meeting point depending on the option booked. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available for €20 per person.

How long does the cruise last?

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

Is a guide included at Delos?

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

What food and drinks are included?

The cruise includes a BBQ lunch with meat and vegetables. Unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water are included. Spirits and cocktails cost extra.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear, swimming noodles, towels, sunscreen, and life vests are provided for use during the swimming stops.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If conditions are not suitable, the operator may change the itinerary or cancel the cruise. You should receive information about possible changes or cancellation the evening before.