Rethymno: Sailing Catamaran Cruise with Meal & Drinks

The best part of this Rethymno cruise is the generous time spent at a clear-water bay, where you can swim, use a SUP board, snorkel, or simply stretch out on deck while lunch is prepared. I like the spacious catamaran and the genuinely useful mix of activities, especially for a group with different ideas of fun. I also like that the meal is cooked and served on board rather than reduced to a few packaged snacks.

The main drawback is shade. A catamaran has several places to sit and lie down, but not much cover in the hot summer sun. The bay can also be deep and beautiful without offering much marine life, so book this for swimming and a relaxed day at sea, not for serious snorkeling.

Key points before you book

• About 2.75 hours at the swimming stop: That is enough time to swim, paddle, snorkel, eat, and relax without rushing.
• Fresh Mediterranean lunch: Expect seafood and meat, salads, vegetables, bread, fruit, and desserts, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals available on request.
• Unlimited drinks: Beer, white wine, and soft drinks are included throughout the cruise.
• A clean, modern boat: The catamaran Karina has room to move around, several seating areas, music, WiFi, and family equipment.
• Rethymno Marina departure: You must arrange your own way to the marina unless you select an option with transfer service.
• Weather matters: Wind and rough water can change the destination or lead to rescheduling.

A relaxed day aboard the Karina

This is a six-and-a-half-hour sailing trip from Rethymno Marina, designed more as a floating day out than as a fast sightseeing ride. You spend roughly 105 minutes sailing in each direction, with the middle part of the day anchored near a scenic bay around Georgioupoli.

That timing is worth understanding before you pay $164 per person. You are not buying a short boat ride with a quick swim. You are paying for most of a day on a new, spacious catamaran, a prepared lunch, open drinks, water activities, and attentive crew service.

The pace is easy. You can sit in the sun and watch the coast, listen to music, share photos over WiFi, or join the water activities when the boat anchors. It works well when you want Crete to feel less like a checklist and more like a day spent enjoying the sea.

Boarding at Rethymno Marina

Plan to arrive at Rethymno Marina 15 minutes before departure. The crew, wearing DanEri T-shirts, meets you aboard the sailing catamaran Karina. A municipal parking lot is available at the marina, which is useful if you have a rental car.

The cruise begins with tea, coffee, and local snacks, followed by a safety briefing. That short introduction is practical, especially if you have never used a SUP board or are traveling with children.

The crew has Red Cross certification, and life jackets are provided. If the sea becomes choppy, the crew has supplied anti-seasickness tablets to people who needed them. You should still bring your usual medication if you are prone to motion sickness, since the return sail can feel different from the calm morning departure.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not part of the standard price. Transfer service is available only with the appropriate booking option and covers Rethymno, Perivolia, Platanes, Adelianos Campos, Pigianos Campos, Sfakaki, Skaleta, Georgioupoli, Kavros, Petres, and Gerani.

The first 105 minutes: sailing along Crete’s north coast

Once the boat leaves the marina, the journey becomes the main event. Depending on wind and sea conditions, the crew may raise the sails, giving you the satisfying sight of the boat moving under sail rather than only under engine power.

There is no packed sightseeing commentary described for this trip, so do not expect a history lecture or a string of formal coastal stops. The reward is the view itself: open water, the Cretan coast, and changing light across the sea.

You can use this first stretch to settle into the boat. Find a place that suits you, take photographs, and keep sunscreen close. The boat has music and WiFi, but I would treat WiFi as a convenience rather than the point of the day. The real pleasure is putting the phone away for a while.

The catamaran’s size helps here. It offers room to sit, lie down, and move around, and its broad design tends to make the ride feel less cramped than a small motorboat. Still, calm water is never guaranteed. If you are sensitive to motion, sit where the crew recommends and avoid arriving hungry.

The bay near Georgioupoli

The boat anchors at a picturesque bay near Georgioupoli for the longest stop, about two hours and 45 minutes. This is where the cruise earns its place among Rethymno’s more leisurely sea excursions.

The water is described as crystal clear and turquoise, making it ideal for a swim. You can use the supplied snorkeling and fishing gear, take a SUP board out, or float with the arm floaties and inflatable flamingo. A box of toys is available for children, so families have more options than simply sitting on deck.

The snorkeling is best approached with realistic expectations. You might see some fish, but the stop is primarily about swimming in attractive water. Several people have found the bay gorgeous but noted limited sea life, and the water can be quite deep. If you want coral, dramatic underwater rock formations, or a dedicated snorkeling site, this may feel modest.

That is not necessarily a weakness. I like that the stop gives you time rather than forcing everyone back aboard after 20 minutes. You can swim early, eat lunch, return to the water, and still have time to dry off before sailing back.

Lunch on board, with plenty to eat

While you are in the water, the crew prepares a Mediterranean meal. The food is one of the strongest reasons to consider this cruise, particularly if you see it as a full day rather than a simple boat transfer.

The meal includes a selection of seafood and meat, fresh vegetables, salads, fruit, bread, and desserts. Specific meals have included cheese, Greek salad, avocado salad, pasta with tomato sauce and prawns, grilled orange chicken, pita bread, and sweets. The exact menu can vary, but the general idea is a substantial spread with both land and sea choices.

The food is served after the water activities, so you can eat properly while the boat is anchored. That is more satisfying than trying to balance a snack in a moving boat. It also gives the middle of the day a natural rhythm: swim, eat, sit in the sun, then swim again.

Dietary needs are handled if requested in advance. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and children’s meals are available. One passenger with a shellfish allergy received a separate pasta dish, but you should still state your needs clearly when booking rather than relying on a last-minute adjustment.

Unlimited beer, white wine, and soft drinks are included. Tea and coffee are available, along with local snacks at the start. The drinks make the price easier to justify for people who would otherwise buy lunch and several beverages separately, though the value is less compelling if you do not drink alcohol.

Crew service and the feel on board

The crew is central to this experience. The service is described as friendly, attentive, and caring, with regular drink refills and help for people who feel unwell. That matters on a six-and-a-half-hour outing, when a poorly managed boat can quickly become tiring.

The staff also pays attention to personal occasions. Birthday cakes and birthday songs have been arranged, adding a nice touch if your trip marks a special day. You should not book solely for this, but it shows the sort of warm hospitality DanEri Yachts aims to provide.

The boat is kept clean and well maintained, with different areas for sitting or lying down. The group can be as small as about 20 people on some departures, though you should confirm the exact capacity for your date. A smaller group makes the service feel more personal and gives you a better chance of using the water equipment.

Music plays during the cruise, creating a holiday atmosphere. The volume has occasionally felt too loud during lunch, so this is not a silent sailing retreat. The crew may allow passengers to play their own music later, but the atmosphere remains informal rather than refined.

What the $164 price really covers

At $164 per person, this is not a bargain outing. The cost makes more sense when you add up what is included: a modern catamaran, crew, a long sailing route, a substantial lunch, unlimited drinks, snorkeling gear, SUP boards, inflatables, WiFi, insurance, and nearly three hours at the bay.

For comparison within your own holiday budget, ask what you would spend on a restaurant lunch, drinks, a separate swimming trip, and equipment rental. If you want all those pieces in one day, the price is fair. If you mainly want to see the coast from a boat and do not care about lunch or drinks, a shorter and cheaper cruise may suit you better.

The cost also reflects comfort. You are not being taken out on a basic open boat with one narrow bench. You get room to spread out, a meal prepared on board, and a crew available for much of the day.

The value depends heavily on the weather. On a calm day, sailing, swimming, and dining on smooth water can feel worth the money. In rough conditions, the same price may feel high, especially if the route changes or seasickness limits your enjoyment.

Shade, sea conditions, and practical comfort

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a passport or ID card. A copy of the ID is accepted, and port authorities require each passenger’s full name, date of birth, ID or passport number, and nationality when you book.

Take sun protection seriously. There is limited shade on a catamaran, and the open deck can become intense during the hottest months. A hat and a cover-up are sensible additions, even though they are not listed as required items.

The cruise is not suitable for pregnant women. It may also be a poor choice if you strongly dislike open-water motion or need guaranteed calm conditions. The cruise can be rescheduled or canceled because of bad weather, and a rough sea may cause the destination to change.

That flexibility can work in your favor. On one rough-weather outing, the crew arranged free transfers and changed the destination rather than forcing the original plan. You should still keep a little room in your schedule in case the sea does not cooperate.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this outing to couples, families, and small groups who want one polished day on the water. It is especially good for people who like choices: swim, paddle, snorkel, eat, listen to music, or do nothing at all.

Families benefit from the children’s meal option, toys, arm floaties, and life jackets. The spacious layout also gives parents a little breathing room. Children still need close supervision around the water, of course, and the lack of shade may be tiring for very young ones.

Food-focused travelers will appreciate the fresh meal and broad selection. People who enjoy an occasional beer or glass of wine will find the all-inclusive drinks useful. The cruise is less suited to strict budget travelers, serious snorkelers, or anyone seeking a quiet, low-key sailing with no music.

Private groups are available. That could make the day more appealing for a celebration or family gathering, though you should compare the private price with the shared option before deciding.

Should you book the Rethymno catamaran cruise?

Book it if you want a comfortable, social day that combines sailing, swimming, a proper meal, and open drinks without having to organize each part yourself. The strongest features are the helpful crew, clean modern boat, long bay stop, and food that goes well beyond basic excursion fare.

Think twice if $164 is a stretch, if you need lots of shade, or if snorkeling is your main goal. The bay is beautiful, but underwater life may be limited, and the cruise is vulnerable to wind and waves.

For most people who want a special day at sea from Rethymno, I think the package is well put together. Choose a day with favorable weather if possible, arrive early, request dietary needs in advance, and bring more sun protection than you think you need.

FAQ

How long is the Rethymno catamaran cruise?

The cruise lasts about six and a half hours. The trip includes roughly 105 minutes of sailing to the bay, about two hours and 45 minutes there, and roughly 105 minutes sailing back.

Where does the cruise leave from?

Boarding takes place at Rethymno Marina. You should arrive 15 minutes before departure, and the cruise ends back at the meeting point.

Is hotel pickup included?

Standard hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Transfer service is available if you select the appropriate option, with service from listed areas around Rethymno and Georgioupoli.

What food and drinks are included?

The cruise includes a Mediterranean lunch with seafood, meat, vegetables, salads, bread, fruit, and dessert. Unlimited soft drinks, white wine, and beer are included, along with welcome tea, coffee, and local snacks.

Can I request a special meal?

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and children’s meal options are available upon request. Provide dietary information when booking.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a passport or ID card. A copy of the ID is accepted. The cruise can be changed, rescheduled, or canceled if weather conditions are unsafe.