Luxury Day Cruises to Ithaca – swimming, snorkeling food and more !

The best part of this day is the chance to reach three beautiful Ithacan bays by boat, including Gidaki Beach, a pebbled cove known for clear blue-green water and thick greenery around the shore. You spend more time swimming and relaxing than rushing between sights, with lunch served aboard at Skinos Bay.

I like the small maximum of 10 people and the generous food and drink package. Snorkeling equipment and a stand-up paddleboard are included, too. The main drawback is that this is a coast-and-swim day, not a village tour. You will not spend time walking through an Ithacan town, and the $181.02 price may feel high if you do not plan to use the boat, meals, and water stops fully.

Key points to know before booking

• Three swim stops: Gidaki Beach, Skinos Bay, and Talaros Beach at Pera Pigadia Bay.
• A small boat group: The trip is limited to 10 people, which helps keep the day calm and personal.
• Food and drinks included: Expect traditional Greek food, snacks, fruit, bottled water, soft drinks, beer, and local wine.
• Snorkeling and SUP equipment provided: You can swim without bringing your own gear.
• A full eight-hour outing: Departure is at 9:00 a.m. from Agia Efimia, with arrival back after 5:00 p.m.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund.

A full day sailing from Agia Efimia

This cruise leaves from DodoniAgias Eyfimias in Agia Efimia at 9:00 a.m. You return to the same meeting point after 5:00 p.m., so plan on giving the experience most of your day.

The boat carries a maximum of 10 people. That number is important. You are not signing up for a crowded party boat with rows of strangers and limited room around the rail. The small capacity should make it easier to settle into the pace, ask the crew for help with equipment, and find a comfortable place to sit during the longer sailing stretches.

Vangelis and Evia are the hosts named most often in the tour information. Their role appears to go beyond simply steering the boat. They serve lunch, organize the swim stops, provide the snorkeling gear, and help you make use of the paddleboard.

The morning includes a long sail toward the eastern side of Ithaca. If the wind cooperates, the sailing itself becomes part of the pleasure. One booking noted that the boat still provided an interesting experience when there was little wind, but you should know that this may not be a fast, action-packed sailing trip. Some stretches are simply about sitting back and watching the sea.

Gidaki Beach starts the swimming

The first stop is Gidaki Beach, reached after the morning sail across to Ithaca. You get about 40 minutes here, enough for a proper swim and a look beneath the surface with the supplied snorkeling equipment.

Gidaki is a pebbled beach rather than a soft sand beach. Larger stones line the western side, while smaller pebbles are found toward the east. Water shoes could be useful for comfort, although they are not listed as provided, so bring your own if you prefer extra protection underfoot.

The bay is open enough for swimming from one side to the other. Its clear blue-green water is the star attraction, and the surrounding trees give the cove a natural, quiet feel. This is the kind of stop where the view works best from the water. Look back toward the shore and you see the pebbled edge, thick vegetation, and the rounded shape of the bay.

Snorkeling is included, but you should set realistic expectations. The trip promises equipment and clear water, not a guided marine-life lesson or a major reef site. You are using the mask and gear to look around at your own pace, then returning to the boat for a snack and drink.

The 40-minute stop is pleasant but not long. If you want a slow swim, time for photographs, and a full snorkeling session, you will need to keep an eye on the departure time. Gidaki is a highlight, but it is only the first of three water stops.

Lunch at pine-fringed Skinos Bay

After leaving Gidaki, the boat heads to Skinos Bay on the eastern side of Ithaca. The stop lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes, making it the longest pause of the day.

Skinos has a beach backed by pine trees, and the bay provides a calm setting for lunch aboard. The crew prepares and serves traditional Greek food on the boat, with soft drinks, beer, and local wine available. Snacks, fruit, and bottled water are also included.

This is one of the strongest parts of the package. A boat day can become expensive when you add a restaurant meal, drinks, and rental equipment. Here, those costs are built into the price. The meal also saves you from having to leave the water and search for a place to eat during the middle of the day.

The food received mixed feedback. One booking praised the meal and noted that a gluten-free option was available. Another found the lunch mediocre and too limited for the price paid. That contrast is useful: expect a straightforward boat lunch, not a restaurant meal with a long menu.

If you have dietary needs, contact the provider before departure and confirm what can be arranged. The available information specifically notes a gluten-free option, but it does not give a full list of alternatives.

You can eat, swim, and use the paddleboard during this stop, subject to the crew’s instructions and sea conditions. The longer pause gives you room to choose your pace. You can spend the whole time in the water, relax with a drink, or remain aboard and enjoy the view.

Talaros Beach and Pera Pigadia Bay

After lunch, the boat turns toward the southern coast of Ithaca for the final swim at Talaros Beach, also called Pera Pigadia Bay. This stop lasts about 40 minutes.

The water here is described as calm, warm, and smooth. That makes it a good final swim, especially after lunch when you may want an easy, unhurried stretch in the sea rather than a strenuous swim.

Talaros is presented as a small, quiet coastal stop rather than a place for a long shore visit. The focus remains on swimming from the boat and enjoying the bay. If you want to explore a town, browse shops, or see a named monument, this cruise will not provide that. Its appeal is the water and the coastal setting.

Once the group has finished at Pera Pigadia, the boat sails back to Agia Efimia. Arrival is expected after 5:00 p.m. The return gives you a final period to sit down, dry off, and watch the coast pass by.

What is included for the $181.02 price

At $181.02 per person, this is not a budget boat trip. The value depends on how much you want from a full day on the water.

Included are:

• Traditional Greek lunch
• Snacks and fruit
• Soft drinks and bottled water
• Beer and wine
• Snorkeling equipment
• Stand-up paddleboard use
• Restroom aboard
• Free Wi-Fi

The small group helps justify some of the cost. A maximum of 10 people gives the day a more private feel than a large excursion boat. The food and drinks also add real value, particularly if you plan to have several beverages and spend time using the equipment.

Still, the price will not suit everyone. If you mainly want a quick swim and a scenic boat ride, a cheaper half-day option may make more sense. You are paying for roughly eight hours, three separate swim locations, the meal, drinks, crew service, and access to gear.

The most important question is simple: will you use the day as a complete outing? If you plan to swim at every stop, eat aboard, have a drink, try the paddleboard, and enjoy the sailing time, the price is easier to defend. If you expect extensive sightseeing on land, the value drops because the cruise does not visit villages or spend meaningful time ashore.

The small group changes the mood

The 10-person limit is one of the most attractive details here. A small group does not guarantee silence, but it should reduce the usual problems of a large excursion: crowded swimming areas around the boat, slow boarding, and difficulty finding a place to sit.

It also makes the food service more manageable. Lunch on a small boat can feel relaxed when the crew is serving a limited number of people. Vangelis and Evia have room to help with snorkeling equipment and the SUP rather than trying to manage a large crowd.

The tradeoff is that this is still a shared experience. You are not renting the boat privately, and the pace is set for the whole group. If you want complete control over departure times, music, meals, or swimming locations, a private charter would be a better fit.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this day to couples, friends, and families who like being on the water and do not need a long list of land attractions. The repeated swim stops make it a strong choice for people who pack a swimsuit first and a sightseeing list second.

It also suits anyone who wants a simple way to see parts of Ithaca that are reached most easily by boat. The coves are the main event, and you can enjoy them without arranging separate transport or figuring out where to anchor.

Families should note that the trip is described as suitable for most participants, but no detailed child policy or swimming support information is provided. Children should be comfortable around open water, and parents should be ready to supervise them.

This is less suitable for anyone who dislikes long periods at sea, prefers sandy beaches, or wants to visit a village. The boat does not offer a walking tour of Ithaca, and one specific criticism was that the day never came close to a town or village. You should book it for the bays, not for cultural sightseeing.

Practical details that affect your day

The meeting point is DodoniAgias Eyfimias in Agia Efimia, and transportation to and from the port is not included. You need to arrange your own way there and back.

A mobile ticket is accepted, and the activity is offered in English. Confirmation is provided when you book. The tour is near public transportation, but no port transfer is included, so check your route before the morning of departure.

Bring swimwear, sun protection, and a towel. The supplied information confirms snorkeling gear, but it does not say that towels or water shoes are provided. A dry change of clothes may also be sensible after three swims.

The boat has a restroom, which matters on an eight-hour outing. Free Wi-Fi is also listed, though your best reason to join is the view rather than staying online.

The trip requires good weather. If conditions force a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted. The activity also needs a minimum number of people, so a failure to reach that number can result in a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

My verdict on the Ithaca day cruise

This is a polished choice for a swimming-focused day from Cephalonia to Ithaca. The three bays are the reason to go, and the combination of clear water, a small group, Greek food, drinks, snorkeling gear, and SUP use makes the day easy to enjoy.

I would book it if you want a relaxed full-day boat outing and are happy to trade town visits for quiet coves. I would skip it if $181.02 feels too steep for a meal and several swims, or if you want to walk around Ithaca.

For the best match, think of this as a floating beach day with a capable crew, not an all-purpose island tour. If that sounds like your ideal holiday day, the 4.9 rating and 95 percent recommendation fit the experience well.

FAQ

How long does the cruise last?

The experience lasts about eight hours. It starts at 9:00 a.m. in Agia Efimia and returns to the meeting point after 5:00 p.m.

Where does the cruise start and finish?

It starts at DodoniAgias Eyfimias in Agia Efimia, Cephalonia. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Which beaches and bays does the cruise visit?

The swimming stops are Gidaki Beach, Skinos Bay, and Talaros Beach at Pera Pigadia Bay on Ithaca.

Are lunch and drinks included?

Yes. The package includes traditional Greek lunch, snacks, fruit, soft drinks, bottled water, beer, and wine.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with use of a stand-up paddleboard.

How many people can join the cruise?

The activity has a maximum of 10 participants.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also receive a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins.