A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar is a morning or sunset sail around the caldera with swim stops, a meal cooked on board and drinks served all trip long. Compare it with other tours in Greece through our homepage.
What follows tracks a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar from boarding at the marina to the last swim and the return.
What is a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar?
A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar is a boat trip around the Santorini caldera. The fare covers a meal made on board, drinks from an open bar and the crew who run the day.
A catamaran has two hulls of equal size, side by side. The wide gap between the hulls gives the boat stability, because it resists rolling and overturning. One listing also states that all its catamarans are fitted with toilets for guests on board.
The caldera is the drowned crater of a volcano, and the boat sails inside it. The meal and the unlimited drinks are bundled into one fare. Guests on a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar eat and drink on the boat itself.
The meal is cooked on the boat. One listing describes a barbecue meal on board, and another calls it a Greek barbecue feast. A third operator says its crew takes care of everything.
One operator lists swim stops, dinner, BBQ, open bar and transfers together in a single package. A second listing adds commentary in English and Greek. A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar is therefore sold as one booking with all of these extras.
Which ports and hotel pickups does the cruise use?
Cruises start from Vlychada Marina on the south coast or from Ammoudi Bay in Oia, in the north. A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar can include a hotel pickup in an air-conditioned minibus.
Vlychada Marina lies on the southern shores of the island. One operator starts both its day and sunset sailings there. A second operator names Vlychada Port as its starting point, and a third calls it the Port of Vlychada Marina.
Ammoudi Bay is in Oia, in the northernmost part of the island. At the port, the captain greets the group and gives a safety and itinerary briefing. Guests can be asked to remove their shoes before boarding. One cruise from Ammoudi ends at Vlychada Marina, and a transfer then takes guests back to their stay.
A cruise on another listing runs the other way and ends at Ammoudi Bay. A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar can therefore finish at a different port from where it began.
Hotel pickup belongs to the transfer option. A minibus with air conditioning collects the guests, and the booking asks for the name of the hotel. The pickup confirmation arrives one day before the cruise. After the cruise, guests are dropped back at their hotel.
One operator names hotels, Airbnb rentals and villas in its round-trip transfer. Guests in a rental home are collected from the address or the nearest accessible road. One listing asks for the Airbnb details on the checkout page.
Options without a transfer also exist, and those guests make their own way to the port. After booking, the voucher lists the meeting point, the time and the contact details of the operator. Check the voucher, since a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar can begin at either port.
What is the difference between the morning and the sunset sailing?
A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar comes as a morning sailing or a sunset sailing. One operator’s day cruise leaves at 10:30 and serves lunch on the way back. Its sunset cruise leaves at 3:30 in the afternoon and serves dinner before the sun goes down.
The morning sailing gives more time in the water. The first operator says the sea is warmer in the morning sun. It also says the beaches are quieter and the boat has fewer guests. The second operator calls morning departures calmer. One listing says the day cruise sails the sunset route in reverse.
The sunset sailing gives up swim time for the light. A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar at sunset still has a swim. The sun is the main focus. The first operator calls this the popular time, with a chance of more guests on board. The second says the boat feels fuller toward the end.
The meal comes at a different point of the day. The operator with the 10:30 start serves it on the way back to port on both sailings. The day cruise has lunch and then more time to swim and snorkel. The sunset cruise has dinner, another swim and then the sunset. Both sailings are sold with the open bar.
The photos look different too. The morning gives bright blue water and clear skies. The sunset gives golden light. The first operator picks the day cruise for sun lovers, families and active travelers. It picks the sunset cruise for couples and special occasions. Pick your sailing first, then book your Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar.
How long does a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar last?
A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar lasts about five hours. Two operators list five hours for the morning sailing and five hours for the sunset sailing. That time covers boarding, the sailing and the meal on board.
The sunset sailing changes length with the season. One operator says it lasts about 6 hours in June, when the daylight is longer. In October it lasts about 4.5 hours. A second operator says the tour length is not the same all season, because the sun sets at different hours.
The five hours are the time on the boat. Hotel pickup comes before it, and the ride back comes after it. Add the transfer time when you plan around a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar.
Start times differ a little between operators. One lists 10:00 for the day cruise and 15:00 for the sunset cruise. Another sunset cruise leaves at 3:00 pm and the page gives about 8:30 pm as its end. The same page says evening cruises start between 3:00 and 3:30 pm, depending on the season.
Longer boats exist. One luxury day trip is listed at five to six hours. Before you book a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, ask for the exact return time.
What is on the menu during a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar?
A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar serves a barbecue meal on board. The menus list grilled chicken, pasta, Greek salad, tzatziki and stuffed vine leaves. Each operator writes its own list, so dishes change from boat to boat.
The main course is grilled meat. One operator lists BBQ chicken, shrimp and beef sausage with pasta in tomato sauce. A second lists BBQ chicken and grilled shrimp, plus Greek moussaka. A third serves a chicken skewer with pasta in red sauce. A fourth offers a full BBQ meal of chicken and pork.
The service differs too. One crew prepares its Greek BBQ on board with local ingredients. Another operator serves a traditional Greek buffet with a BBQ dinner. Roasted vegetables and bread sit on one list, and Greek finger food leads another.
Starters and sides on a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar come from the Greek kitchen. The lists name dolmadakia, which are stuffed vine leaves, with tzatziki and eggplant salad. Pita bread, Santorini fava, cheeses and anchovy meze appear on other menus. Greek salad is on three operators’ menus.
The meal is served at a stop along the route. On one operator’s Gold route, appetizers come at the first swim stop, Red Beach. Lunch comes at the third stop, Mesa Pigadia. On a luxury sunset route, dinner is served at Thirassia Island.
Dessert on a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar is light. One menu ends with Greek yogurt and spoon sweet, and another with Greek yogurt and sour cherry. Seafood marks the upgraded sailings. One operator calls its Platinum menu a premium seafood menu. Another adds seafood pasta to its luxury sunset menu.
Which drinks does the open bar pour?
A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar pours white wine, beer, soft drinks and water. Cocktails are not part of that list. Two operators describe the pour as unlimited.
Every list names white wine. One operator names white Santorinian wine, and another names Moschofilero white wine on its Gold cruise. Beer is not on every list. That Gold cruise pours wine, soft drinks and water. The same operator’s Platinum cruise adds beer. A third operator lists soft beverages, white wine and beer.
Soft drinks appear on every list, so guests who skip alcohol still have a drink in hand. Two operators also name water. One cruise opens with a welcome drink and a safety briefing. On that Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, the first glass comes at the very start.
Drinks and food come together. On one luxury sunset route, dinner and drinks are served on board at Thirassia Island. Cocktails are a separate item. One operator lists them as an exclusion, sold at an extra charge.
Read the inclusions on your tour page before you book. The open bar on a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar follows each operator’s own drinks list. Compare two or three tours first, because the lists differ.
Can vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free guests eat on board?
Yes, if you ask first. Tour pages for a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar list a vegetarian meal on request. Vegan options appear too. Gluten-free depends on the operator, so ask when you book.
One booking page for a private boat has a Notes field at checkout, where you type vegetarian or vegan. That boat lists pasta with Mediterranean sauce and mixed vegetables as its vegetarian and vegan plate. Another operator names a vegan Greek-style ratatouille on its menus for a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar.
Gluten-free changes from boat to boat. One half-day private cruise lists vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free meals on request. Another operator says its menu has gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes. It asks guests to contact it in advance. One sunset cruise states that it does not offer gluten-free meals on board at the moment.
Tell the operator early. One operator asks guests to share dietary needs when booking. It names a vegetarian moussaka and Halal-certified menus. Another operator asks for notice of dietary preferences or allergies in advance. Before you book a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, read the menu line on the tour page.
Which swim stops does a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar make?
Every tour page we read names Red Beach as a swim stop. On a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, the next stops differ by operator. Routes add White Beach, Mesa Pigadia or Thirasia Island.
Red Beach is the first stop on one private cruise. It lies close to the ancient site of Akrotiri. That operator calls snorkeling there highly recommended, because of the interesting rock formations on the sea floor. Another page says you can swim and snorkel at Red Beach.
White Beach is only reachable by boat. One operator describes swimming and snorkeling below its towering white cliffs. Routes differ, though. One private cruise lists White Beach as a pass-by, and another sails past White Beach and Mesa Pigadia. For a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, read the itinerary line before booking.
Mesa Pigadia follows White Beach on two routes. One operator calls it secluded and says it has stayed off the main tourist trail. That operator adds that it is an excellent place to pause and explore the colorful underwater world. Both routes offer snorkeling there.
Thirasia Island is where one operator serves dinner, with a barbecue and open bar. Its page calls the island a peaceful retreat. It lists swimming and snorkeling first, then the Greek dinner and drinks on board.
Swimming is optional. One operator says you can relax on board, enjoy the food and drinks, and watch the views. Its FAQ adds that guests who cannot swim can still join.
Another operator notes that boats in Greece cannot moor directly on the beach. Its crew picks swim spots as close to the beach as possible. That rule applies to any Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar.
How does the hot springs stop work?
On a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, the hot springs stop is a swim near Palea Kameni. The water is rich in sulfur and up to 4°C warmer than the open sea. The catamaran keeps 50 metres from the warm bay.
Palea Kameni has no good harbour, so the boat stays offshore. One operator says you can swim securely close to the volcano. Another operator lists the springs as the second of three swim stops on both of its routes. It also lists an onboard tour during the soak.
On one route of a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, the boat enters the caldera. Palea Kameni lies near the centre of the caldera. The boat then pauses at the hot springs. One morning cruise lists 30 minutes to swim and soak there before it sails south.
Swimming is a choice. One operator says guests are welcome to swim, snorkel or just relax onboard. Palea Kameni holds a small church and a herd of goats, and thin succulent plants cover the ground. The island covers 0.5 square kilometres.
Eruptions built Palea Kameni, and its name means “Old Burnt Island”. Ancient writers say it rose from the sea in 197 BCE. Strabo says flames burst out of the sea for four days. A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar keeps its distance and shows the island from the water.
Which caldera cliffs and villages can you see from the deck?
A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar shows you the caldera wall from the deck. The caldera is about 12 by 7 kilometres. The cliff is 300 metres high on three sides. Whitewashed villages line the top, and the island of Thirassia lies across the sea.
On a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, the cliff face shows layers of solidified lava. They are stacked one on top of the other. One operator says you see these cliffs from below, in their full layered scale. Another lists a caldera cliffs view, with an onboard tour while the boat sails by.
Here are the villages on the crest above a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar. Fira, the capital, has whitewashed houses on the edge of the caldera. Imerovigli lies north of Fira, built on the rim. Skaros Rock stands close by, with the ruins of a Venetian castle from the early 13th century.
Oia lies in the north-west corner of the island, 11 kilometres from Fira. The village runs for almost two kilometres along the northern rim, 70 to 100 metres above the sea. The village is known for its white and blue domed houses. Houses and restaurants are built into niches in the cliff.
Thirassia ranks second in size among the islands of the group, after Santorini itself. It covers 9.3 square kilometres and lies north-west of Nea Kameni. The eruption of about 3,600 years ago split it from the main island. From a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, Thirassia is the island on the outer ring.
Which catamaran classes run a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar?
Classic, Gold, Platinum, Premium and Luxury are the classes of a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar. The names change by operator. The higher classes add a stop at Thirassia Island and a fuller menu.
Vista Yachting sells two semi-private classes of the Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar. Gold is a 5-hour cruise with stops at Red Beach, the hot springs and Mesa Pigadia Beach. Platinum gives everything in Gold plus an exclusive stop at Thirassia Island. It also adds a premium seafood menu.
The open bar changes with the class. Vista Yachting lists Moschofilero white wine, soft drinks and water for Gold. For Platinum it lists unlimited white wine, beer and refreshments.
Santorini View lists a Classic cruise on a 45ft (13.7m) Lagoon 450 catamaran. The day cruise and the sunset cruise each last 5 hours. The route passes Red Beach, White Beach and Mesa Pigadia Beach.
Santorini Yachting Cruises runs its Luxury cruise on a Lagoon 450 catamaran. It says Luxury differs from its sunset cruise in the route and the menu. Luxury adds a stop at Thirasia Island, seafood pasta and extra drinks. Another listing sells a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar as Premium, with a Thirassia visit.
One operator sells semi-private Premium and Luxury sunset cruises. Its Luxury page lists cocktails with the drinks. Its Premium page lists soft beverages, white wine and beer.
A ticket seller lists Classic, Premium and Luxury as three separate cruises. Compare the stop list, not only the class name.
How large are the groups on board?
A shared Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar is a small-group trip. The listings checked cap the boat at 14 to 22 guests. One operator says its average booking is 10 to 15 passengers.
Santorini Yachting Cruises says its Lagoon 450 has a maximum capacity of 21 guests. Its average bookings range from 10 to 15 passengers. The operator says this gives the feel of a nearly private cruise, with space to move and sunbathe on deck.
Vista Yachting says its semi-private tours welcome a maximum of 20 guests. It calls 15 to 20 guests the sweet spot for interaction and food quality. One more semi-private listing caps its group at 15 guests.
A semi-private Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar shares the boat with a small group. It is not a whole-boat booking. One Luxury cruise is listed as max 20 people, semi-private, on a Lagoon from 42ft (12.8m) to 46ft (14m).
The boat model does not set the group size. A Luxury listing allows 21 guests on a Lagoon 450. A Platinum listing allows just 14 guests on the same model.
One ticket listing shows Classic, Premium and Luxury cruises side by side. Classic caps its group at 22 guests, while Premium and Luxury cap theirs at 20. Check the cap on the booking page before you pick a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar. It changes by operator and by class.
Does a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar suit children and families?
Yes. A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar accepts children, and operators keep life jackets for children on board. Rules differ by operator, so confirm the age rule of your own tour before you book.
The listings set clear rules. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Alcoholic drinks are refused to anyone under 18. One operator states that children are welcome, and a second asks for a parent to be present. A third cites certified crews and strict maritime safety rules.
Safety gear covers the swim stops. On a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, one operator gives everyone a life jacket for swimming. Another keeps special life jackets for children. Non-swimmers can ask for a life jacket too, and the crew asks guests to say how well they swim.
One booking site gives a condition: children who are used to the sea will love the catamaran ride. Swimming is optional, according to one operator. Guests can stay on board, enjoy the food and drinks, and watch the views without entering the water. The same operator calls its catamarans stable and says seasickness is rare.
Comforts matter on a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar when children are aboard. One booking site says all catamaran vessels are fitted with toilets. Another operator lists private changing areas and shaded seating on two large decks. A third offers an onboard cabin and a shower. A fourth plays kids’ movies during the cruise.
When is a private catamaran an option instead of a shared one?
A private catamaran is an option when your group wants the whole boat to itself. One operator calls a private cruise exclusively yours and fully customizable. A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar is sold both as a shared and as a private sailing.
A shared cruise puts you with other guests on a fixed itinerary. The same operator says both options use the same catamarans, crew and service level. The difference is privacy, flexibility and exclusivity. Shared sailings suit couples, friends and solo travelers. Listings also call a small-group shared boat semi-private.
A private group gets a say in the plan. One operator lets private guests choose their own route and enjoy a personalized menu. It says the itinerary of a private catamaran cruise can be adjusted to your preferences. A private Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar keeps the barbecue meal and local drinks.
Celebrations are the clearest reason to go private. Operators name birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoons, proposals, parties and weddings. One operator lists families next to those events. A listing offers a 10-hour private trip for friends and families who want to celebrate a special occasion.
Port pickups are another reason. One booking site cannot collect guests at the Old Port of Fira on its regular excursions. Private excursions can, if the operator is told in advance. So a private Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar can include that pickup.
Which months does the Santorini catamaran season run?
A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar runs daily from April to October, according to one operator. That operator lists no scheduled sailings outside those months. Other operators set the edges of the season a little differently.
Another operator’s calendar starts earlier. It lists a low season from 15 March and a second low season from 1 October to 15 November. The high season sits between them and ends on 30 September. Check the dates of your Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar before booking a late-autumn trip.
April and October are quieter and cooler, with more availability, says the first operator. Spring water is still cool, but the swim stops are uncrowded. A spring Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar trades warm water for empty decks. October brings fewer sailings, and the sea is brisk but swimmable.
The first operator calls late spring, June and September the balanced months, with warm sea, settled weather and manageable crowds. September keeps the summer sea warm while the crowds thin out week by week. July and August bring the hottest days and the busiest caldera.
One tour page marks mid-June to mid-September as the crowded weeks on the island. Sunset departures fill weeks ahead from June through September, one operator says. Another operator names late spring to October as the peak months for booking ahead.
Mornings are calmer on a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, because the meltemi wind blows mid-summer afternoons. Early summer and September give the steadiest sea. The caldera itself is sheltered water. A catamaran rides the rest of the swell more steadily than a single hull.
Which snorkel gear, towels and facilities are on board?
Operator listings for a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar name snorkel kits, towels and life jackets. They also name toilets and changing areas. One operator adds facilities for washing off sea water.
One operator describes the kit as a mask, snorkel and fins. Another lists snorkel and safety equipment, and a third calls its snorkel gear high quality. Swimming noodles and life jackets appear on one list, and floating devices appear on another.
One operator says towels are on board and must be returned to the crew. Another lists beach towels and bathrobes, and a third lists a blanket. A guest of one cruise wrote that floats, snorkels and towels were all available. Listings differ from tour to tour, so read the inclusions of the cruise you book.
One operator says all its boats have marine toilets and private changing areas. It also lists two large decks and shaded seating areas. Another listing says the toilets are for guests on board. That operator’s Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar gives every guest a private place to change.
The cruise starts with a safety briefing, says one operator. The crew speak Greek and English on the tours that list it, and one operator lists onboard music. Another lists insurance cover for its guests. Facilities differ between boats, so compare listings before you choose a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar.
Where does the boat stop to watch the sunset near Oia?
A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar from Ammoudi Bay watches the sunset near the cliffs of Oia. Ammoudi Bay lies below the town of Oia, so the boat starts and ends the evening in one place.
The exact spot depends on the operator. One Ammoudi operator serves dinner first. Then the boat sails past the Old Port of Fira, the church of Eftapedes and the bay of Armeni. The sunset comes minutes after that, and the boat docks at Ammoudi.
Another Ammoudi cruise plans the evening differently. Red Beach is its last stop. After that the boat sails to Oia, and guests watch the sunset there. This kind of Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar saves the sunset for the end.
Boats from Vlychada Port, in the south, do it another way. One operator sails back to Vlychada Marina and shows the sunset on that last leg. The cruise ends there, not at Oia.
On land, sunset viewing is a popular attraction in Oia. Each evening it becomes a special event at the Sunset Serenade point. On a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, the view comes from the water. One operator notes that routes and times shift with the weather and the sunset time. Confirm the return port before you book.
What happens when wind or weather cancels the sailing?
Unsafe weather can cancel a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar. Then guests get a full refund or a new date. Booking pages for the cruise state this rule, and one of them calls it a weather guarantee.
The authorities can also stop a sailing. One booking page says guests get a full refund or a later date if the authorities prohibit the activity. The later date depends on availability.
Bad weather does not always cancel the trip. A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar can change course instead. One listing says the route and ports of call change if leaving the caldera becomes unsafe.
The same listing says the tour can be altered or postponed for bad weather or mechanical concerns. Another operator picks the cooking beach, Mesa Pigadia or Red Beach, by the weather and the wind.
The main summer wind is the meltemi, the dry north wind of the Aegean. It blows from late spring to mid-September and can reach force 7 or 8 on the Beaufort scale. It is strongest in the afternoon.
The meltemi rises in clear weather without warning, and not every yacht can sail in it. Santorini lies in the southern Aegean. A Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar sails in the same sea.
Before a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, check the forecast. One operator points guests to the Windy weather site for the day. Another operator reports small waves, especially inside the caldera, where boats stop to swim. If you cancel yourself, the pages for this cruise give free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
How do you pack for and reserve a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar?
Bring swimwear under your clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and a camera. To book a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar, reserve online. Give every guest’s full name, and keep the emailed voucher and a photo ID with you.
Pick your clothes with the water in mind. Choose dark swimwear, because iron and sulfur from the hot springs can stain light-coloured fabric. A white swimsuit is not recommended at the springs. Pack warm, dry clothes for after the swim. For a sunset sailing, add a light jacket for the cooler evening air.
The booking form asks for each passenger’s full name, as it shows on the passport or ID card. After you pay, the operator emails a voucher with the meeting point, the time and the supplier’s contact details. Keep it on your phone or on paper.
Carry your passport or ID, or a copy, because the Port Authority can run a check on the boat. A photo on your mobile is enough on a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar. At the starting point, show the voucher with a valid photo ID. Check the final voucher for the starting point and any special instructions.
Book as early as you can. One operator advises early reservations, because demand is high in the peak months. One booking site lets you reserve now and pay closer to the sailing date, which keeps your plans flexible.
Which questions do people ask before a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar?
Is there a toilet on a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar?
Yes. One operator says all its vessels have marine toilets and private changing areas. Another listing says every catamaran it sells is fitted with toilets. The first operator also describes two large decks with shaded seating.
Do you keep your shoes on when you board?
Think about your footwear before you board a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar. One booking page warns that guests can be asked to remove their shoes before embarkation. Slip-on sandals keep boarding quick.
Which language does the crew speak?
Vista Yachting lists English-speaking staff on its boats. Another listing names commentary in English and Greek, and a third lists an English-speaking host. If you need another language, ask the operator before you pay. Then the answer is in writing for your trip on a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar.
Are tips included on a Santorini catamaran cruise with food and open bar?
No. Vista Yachting notes that tips are not included on its Gold and Platinum cruises. Any tip for the crew is your own choice on the day.
What if you get seasick?
Vista Yachting says its catamarans are stable and designed for comfort, and it calls seasickness rare. Its Gold and Platinum cruises also start with a drink and a safety briefing. It says safety comes first, with strict maritime safety rules and certified crews.