Rhodes: Bay to Bay Swim Cruise with Greek Buffet and Wine

The best part of this Rhodes cruise is simple: you spend a full day moving from one beautiful bay to the next, with time to swim, snorkel, eat, and relax between stops. I especially like the one-hour swim breaks and the fact that the Greek lunch is prepared onboard, rather than being an afterthought.

I also like the spacious two-deck setup and the friendly social feel, known by the crew as parea, the Greek idea of enjoying good company. The main consideration is that the boat stays anchored offshore, so reaching the beach or caves means swimming. If you prefer a boat that pulls directly onto land, this is not that kind of trip.

What makes this cruise worth considering

• Three carefully chosen bays: Kallithea, Afandou, and Anthony Quinn Bay each offer a different setting for swimming and snorkeling.
• A full hour at each main stop: You have time to get in the water, use the free equipment, take photographs, or stay on deck.
• Homemade Greek buffet onboard: Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices are available, with local white and rosé wine included.
• Free water equipment: Snorkeling masks, pool noodles, and life vests are provided, though you need to ask the crew for masks.
• A sociable return cruise: Music, affordable bar drinks, and plenty of deck space can turn the ride back into an easygoing party.
• Strong value at $69: Six hours, lunch, wine, water, and three swimming stops make this a solid choice for a relaxed day on Rhodes.

Boarding at Mandraki Port and sailing past Rhodes Town

The day begins from Mandraki Port, opposite the Nea Agora marketplace. Look for the crew in blue shorts and red striped shirts. Boarding starts from 9:45 a.m., with departure at 10:15 a.m., and the boat returns at about 4:15 p.m.

That timing gives you a useful half-day-plus outing without taking over your entire evening. There is no hotel pickup included, although it can be arranged for an extra fee. If you are staying near Rhodes Town, meeting at the port keeps things straightforward.

Once Romantika Dreams leaves the harbor, you get a pleasant view of Rhodes from the water. The route passes St. Nicholas Fortress, the medieval old city, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Fontana Grande, and Rams Rock. These sights give the cruise more shape than a simple ride between swimming spots.

I would arrive early enough to settle into a good place on either deck. The boat is designed for relaxing rather than sitting in one fixed row, and the two spacious decks mean you can move around during the day. The upper deck is a natural choice for sun and views, while a lower position may suit you better when the breeze picks up.

Several people have found the boat breezy at times, even in warm weather. Pack a light cardigan or cover-up. The sun is strong on open water, so a hat and sunscreen are not optional extras.

Kallithea Springs: the first hour in the water

The first stop is Kallithea Bay, home to the famous Kallithea Springs. The springs are known for their seaside monument, where architecture, nature, and the area’s past meet beside the water.

This is a good opening stop because it lets you ease into the day. You can swim, snorkel, look for marine life, take photographs, or simply stay on deck while the crew keeps the music going. The stop lasts about an hour, long enough to make the water worthwhile without leaving you restless.

The boat remains at anchor. That detail matters. You do not step from a gangway onto the beach. You swim from the boat to shore if you want to explore the land, so bring a towel and consider using one of the pool noodles if you are not fully comfortable in open water.

The crew provides masks, but one practical tip is to ask for yours. They are kept behind the bar, so they may not be handed to you automatically. Life vests and floats are also available.

Kallithea is a good place to test your comfort level. If deep water makes you nervous, you can use a noodle or life vest and remain close to the boat. If you are a confident swimmer, you can spend the hour looking beneath the surface and moving toward the shore.

The east coast views toward Afandou

After Kallithea, Romantika Dreams passes Faliraki and Ladiko Bay on the way south. You see these places from the water rather than stopping for a full visit, so keep your expectations clear. This section is about the views, the breeze, and the change of scenery between swimming sessions.

Afandou Beach is a long stretch of coast, about four kilometers, with the Caves of Traganou nearby. The setting feels more open than the smaller bays, and the stop gives you several ways to spend your hour.

You can swim from the boat, snorkel, walk along the beach if you make the swim across, or explore around the rocks and caves. The boat also offers higher and lower places to jump into the water, though you should choose the option that suits your confidence and the conditions.

This is also when lunch preparation begins onboard. You can swim first and come back ready for food, or stay on deck and watch the buffet take shape. That small detail improves the flow of the day. You are not losing a separate sightseeing stop to eat, and the meal arrives after a morning of swimming has given you an appetite.

A Greek buffet served at sea

Lunch is one of the strongest parts of the experience. The food is prepared on the boat and includes traditional Greek recipes, with vegetarian dishes and choices for vegan and gluten-free diets. If you have a food restriction, tell the crew when you arrive.

The exact selection can vary. A typical spread described from one sailing included bread rolls, roasted vegetables, Greek salad, and chicken and onion pasta. That is not a formal restaurant meal, but it is more substantial than the usual basic sandwich served on an excursion.

Local white and rosé wine is included and served chilled. The advertised package also includes water. Some recent accounts describe beer and soft drinks being available during the day as well, but the clearest included drinks are wine and water, so confirm the details if beer matters to you.

The bar sells cocktails, champagne, and other drinks at additional cost. It is described as offering friendly prices, and it gives you another option if you want something beyond the included wine. Remember that the cruise is six hours in the sun. Drink water as well as wine, especially if you plan to swim at every stop.

The meal also helps create the social character of the cruise. You are eating on deck with the coastline around you, rather than being sent off to a restaurant. That shared setting is where the parea idea works best: people settle into the same relaxed rhythm, talk, and often become friendly with those around them.

Anthony Quinn Bay and the liveliest stop

After lunch, the boat heads toward Anthony Quinn Bay, named for the actor who developed an affection for the area while filming The Guns of Navarone. The land was later reclaimed by the Greek government in 1984.

The bay is smaller and more enclosed than Afandou, with striking rock formations around the water. It is the final swimming stop and often the most memorable one for snorkeling because fish gather in the clear shallows. If bread is offered or used in the water, fish may appear in large numbers, giving you a lively view beneath the surface.

Again, the boat anchors offshore. You can swim, snorkel, look toward the rocks, or remain on the deck with a drink. The hour gives you enough time to enjoy the bay without forcing you to choose between eating and swimming.

The final stop also tends to bring out the cruise’s playful side. Depending on the mood onboard, the crew may lead singing, dancing, or a Greek Zorba dance. You may prefer the quieter edge of the deck, but you will have room to choose your pace.

Anthony Quinn Bay can be busy in the wider Rhodes area, and a boat stop does not mean you have the place to yourself. The advantage is that you see it from the water and can enjoy the bay without arranging separate transport along the coast.

Music, decks, and the trip back to Mandraki

The return journey is not treated as dead time. Music plays through the boat’s sound system, and the atmosphere can shift from quiet cruising to a small party. That makes this trip a good fit if you want more than a silent sightseeing boat.

You can sit with your group, chat with new people, take in the coastline, or join the dancing. The crew’s service is one of the activity’s strongest features. They keep the mood friendly and attentive, and wine service may come directly to your seat rather than requiring a long wait at the bar.

Bring a waterproof phone pouch or camera if you want photographs from the water. It is easy to regret leaving your phone safely dry when you are swimming toward caves, beaches, and rocks. Do not risk an unprotected phone just for a picture.

The boat arrives back at Mandraki Port around 4:15 p.m. That leaves the evening open for Rhodes Town, dinner, or a walk around the old city.

What $69 includes, and what it does not

At $69 per person, this is good value if you plan to swim and eat onboard. You are paying for about six hours, three major swim stops, the cruise along Rhodes’ east coast, a Greek buffet, local wine, water, music, and the use of masks, noodles, and life vests.

The value is strongest for people who would otherwise pay separately for transport to several beaches, lunch, and drinks. The cruise also removes the need to plan how to reach Kallithea, Afandou, and Anthony Quinn Bay in one day.

The price does not include hotel transport, though pickup and drop-off can be arranged for an additional fee. Bar drinks beyond the included refreshments cost extra. If you want a quieter or more private boat outing, a shared cruise of this type may not be the right comparison.

The high overall rating of 4.8 from 187 ratings fits the experience described here: the most praised elements are the food, the helpful crew, the three swimming stops, the free equipment, and the amount of time at each bay. Repeat bookings also suggest that the format works well for people who want an easy day rather than a demanding water-sports program.

Who should book this Rhodes cruise?

I would recommend it to couples, friends, solo visitors, and families with confident swimmers who want to combine sightseeing with a social day at sea. Beginners can use the pool noodles and life vests, and you do not need to swim at every stop. Staying on deck is perfectly valid.

It is also a good choice if you want to meet people. The music, wine, buffet, and shared decks create a friendly setting, especially on the return ride.

You should think twice if you need direct beach access, dislike open-water swimming, or want a quiet luxury cruise. The boat remains offshore, and the atmosphere may become lively. People who prefer a private cove, a small group, or a tightly guided snorkeling lesson may want a different kind of outing.

The boat is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the shore experience still requires swimming because the boat anchors in each bay. Contact the provider before booking if you need help with water access or moving between the boat and shore.

Practical tips for a better day

• Arrive at Mandraki Port early enough to find the crew and settle on a deck.
• Ask for your snorkeling mask at the start. The equipment is kept behind the bar.
• Bring swimwear, a towel, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and a hat.
• Pack a light cardigan because the boat can feel breezy.
• Use a waterproof pouch for your phone or camera.
• Tell the crew about vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free needs when you arrive.
• Drink water throughout the day, especially if you are enjoying the included wine.
• If you are nervous in deep water, take a pool noodle or life vest before entering.
• Bring a little extra money for cocktails, champagne, or other bar drinks.

Should you book Romantika Dreams?

Book this cruise if you want three scenic swimming stops, a generous lunch, included local wine, and a friendly boat atmosphere for $69. The one-hour stops give you real time in the water, and the crew provides useful equipment for beginners as well as confident swimmers.

Skip it if you want to walk straight onto beaches, avoid open water, or spend the day in a quiet private setting. For most visitors looking for an easy, social, good-value day on Rhodes, the mix of bays, food, swimming, and music is hard to beat.

FAQ

Where does the Rhodes Bay to Bay Swim Cruise depart?

It departs from Mandraki Port, opposite the Nea Agora marketplace in Rhodes Town. The crew wears blue shorts and red striped shirts.

What time does the cruise start and finish?

Boarding begins from 9:45 a.m. The boat leaves at 10:15 a.m. and returns to Mandraki Port at about 4:15 p.m.

Which bays does the cruise visit?

The main swimming stops are Kallithea Bay, Afandou Beach near the Caves of Traganou, and Anthony Quinn Bay. The boat also passes Faliraki and Ladiko Bay.

Can I reach the beach from the boat?

The boat stays anchored in each bay. You need to swim to shore if you want to reach the beach or caves.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling masks, pool noodles, and life vests are provided. Masks are kept behind the bar, so ask the crew for one.

What food and drinks are included?

A Greek buffet, water, and local white and rosé wine are included. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices are available. Additional bar drinks cost extra.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included in the listed price, but they can be arranged for an additional fee.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.