A Larnaca sunset cruise leaves Larnaca Marina in the evening, sails along the seafront, stops for a swim and turns back as the sun drops behind the bay. Look through more tours in Greece to fill the other days of your trip.
This page covers what the evening includes, the marina departure and the length of the trip, the semi-submarine and its underwater cabin, the swim stop at Mackenzie Beach, the planes that pass overhead, the seafront, the Zenobia wreck, the old town, other boat trips from the marina and who the cruise suits.
What does a Larnaca sunset cruise include?
A Larnaca sunset cruise with Yellow Semi-Submarine Larnaca includes music and an open bar. The bar serves unlimited beers, wine and soft drinks. The operator’s listing states that the open bar is included with the sail along the Larnaca coastline.
The drinks on offer are beers, wine and soft drinks. The listing calls them unlimited and ice cold, and they come from the bar on the boat. Its title also puts the unlimited wine and beers up front. Unlimited means the listing sets no cap on the number of drinks you take during the trip.
Music belongs to the evening as well. The listing’s description of the cruise names music first, and then it lists the drinks. The operator offers the sail on a semi-submarine. The listing says guests relax in the warm evening sun as the boat moves along the coast.
The same operator has a second listing for its Larnaca sunset cruise. That listing also names unlimited beers, wine and soft drinks among the inclusions. Its description adds a complimentary glass of champagne, fruit juice or water. Read both descriptions before you choose a date.
The cruise runs for a standard group of up to 100 people. The listing offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. That means you can cancel one day before the sail and get your money back in full. This is the cancellation rule for a Larnaca sunset cruise with this operator.
Where does the Larnaca sunset cruise leave from, and how long is it?
The Larnaca sunset cruise runs from the marina in Larnaka and lasts 1.5 hours, which is 90 minutes. The listing gives the operator’s address at the marina, and the boat sails back into Larnaca Marina at the end.
The listing sets out the route in order. First the boat sails along the Larnaca coastline and passes historical buildings. Next it stops at Mackenzie Beach for a swim. Guests then take photographs of the sunset, and the boat sails back along Finikoudes Beach to Larnaca Marina.
On the Larnaca sunset cruise, the sunset photographs come after the swim stop and before the return sail. The listing names the western horizon of Larnaca as the place to admire the sunset. It also lists sunset photographs among the things to do on the trip.
The operator’s second listing places the trip in Larnaca Bay. It mentions views of the historical coastline, gentle waves and the warm glow of the evening sun. It tells the route in the same order. The boat follows the coast, passes the historical buildings and stops at Mackenzie Beach. It then sails along Finikoudes Beach to Larnaca Marina.
That second listing adds that public transportation options are available nearby. The 90 minutes of the Larnaca sunset cruise cover the whole route. The clock starts at the marina and stops with the return to Larnaca Marina.
The listing shows the starting times once you check availability for a date. Pick a date first, then read the time it gives.
What is a semi-submarine, and what do you see from the underwater cabin?
A semi-submarine is a surface vessel that cannot dive but has a cabin below the waterline. The Larnaca sunset cruise sails on one. Its air-conditioned underwater cabin lets you watch the seabed and marine life at any time.
The name sounds like a true submarine, but the two differ. Wikipedia explains that a true submarine is a human-occupied pressure vessel under high external pressure. A semi-submarine only faces the pressure of other surface vessels of similar draft. Near the surface that pressure is low, so the viewing windows can be large.
The tour listing says the Larnaca sunset cruise sails along the Larnaca coastline on a semi-submarine. It names the activity provider as Yellow Semi-Submarine Larnaca. It also lists access to the underwater cabin, which is air-conditioned, among the inclusions.
What happens below deck? Wikipedia says passengers on a semi-submarine can climb from the submerged cabin up to the deck at any time. Its interior is open to the air, so it needs no special air supply.
On a Larnaca sunset cruise, the view through the windows is the seabed and marine life, as the listing says. It names no species, so treat any sighting as a bonus. Wikipedia says a semi-submarine is similar to a glass-bottom boat, but with deeper draft. Both carry tourists on sight-seeing trips in clear, calm water.
What is the swim stop at Mackenzie Beach like?
The swim stop on the Larnaca sunset cruise lasts 20 minutes at Mackenzie Beach. Visit Cyprus describes that beach as a 1 km strip. It has calm, clear, shallow water and fine sand in shades of brown and beige.
The stop is short. The listing says the 20 minutes let you cool off with a swim. The operator’s second listing says you can swim and snorkel, and that the use of snorkelling equipment is included. So the swim on a Larnaca sunset cruise is quick, but you can still snorkel.
Visit Cyprus spells the name Mckenzie and describes a beach with abundant greenery. It lists toilets, showers, changing rooms, sun beds and umbrellas, plus cafes, bars and restaurants along the strip. Lifeguards with first aid services are stationed there from June to October. These are facts about the beach itself. The Larnaca sunset cruise listing only promises the swim stop.
Wikipedia adds that Mackenzie Beach hosts a windsurfing centre together with an extreme sports centre. It says Larnaca attracts windsurfers from around the world, especially in autumn. Visit Cyprus also lists a wide array of water sports along the strip, children’s playgrounds and outdoor exercise equipment. The same page says the beach also offers disabled access.
Families and younger crowds visit by day, says Visit Cyprus, and it is a clubbing destination at night. Access is easy on foot, by bike, bus or car, and a large municipal car park serves the strip. The Larnaca sunset cruise swim stop sits beside a beach with a long list of facilities.
Why do planes pass so low over Mackenzie Beach?
Planes pass over Mackenzie Beach because the swim stop of the Larnaca sunset cruise lies near Larnaca International Airport. The operator’s listing offers a chance to view aircraft landings near the airport, but it gives no flying height.
Wikipedia’s article on the Skala quarter of Larnaca lists the Mackenzie Beach area inside that quarter. It adds that the quarter runs south to the town boundary near the airport. That fits the listing of the Larnaca sunset cruise, which pairs the swim stop with landing aircraft.
The airport does not stand in Larnaca itself. Wikipedia gives its location as Dromolaxia and Meneou. It puts the airport four kilometres southwest of Larnaca. Wikivoyage measures from the city centre instead and gives six kilometres to the west. It adds that a taxi to the city takes 15 minutes.
Wikipedia says the airport was built in a hurry after Nicosia International Airport closed. The site near the Larnaca Salt Lake had been an airfield and later a British military installation. At first the runway was too short for jet aircraft, and a runway extension came later.
Today Wikipedia calls it the main international airport of Cyprus and one of the busiest in the Middle East. Over 50 airlines serve it. Its infobox shows 9,914,092 passengers and 64,177 aircraft movements for one year. Landings at this airport are what the listing of the Larnaca sunset cruise invites guests to watch from the water.
What lines the Larnaca seafront, from Finikoudes to Larnaca Castle?
Palm trees line Finikoudes, the signature seafront promenade of Larnaca, and Larnaca Castle stands in the same Skala quarter. Both belong to the town whose coastline the Larnaca sunset cruise follows.
The listing says the Larnaca sunset cruise sails back along Finikoudes Beach before it reaches Larnaca Marina. Finikoudes is Greek for palm trees. The promenade follows Athenon Avenue, and palms line both sides of it. Wikivoyage spells it Phinikoudes and calls it particularly pleasant for a stroll in the evening.
One landmark of the promenade is a bust of Cimon, an Athenian general. Its pedestal carries the line “Even in death he was victorious”. Wikipedia says Cimon died at sea while he backed a revolt against Persian rule on Cyprus. He urged his officers to hide his death.
Wikipedia says much of the activity centres on the promenade during the major festivals. The biggest is Kataklysmos, the Festival of the Flood, held in early summer. It has grown to about three weeks, and the seafront is closed to traffic in the evenings. Check the dates before you plan a Larnaca sunset cruise in early summer.
Larnaca Castle was built to defend the southern coast and the harbour town. A small Byzantine fort stood near the harbour first. Under James I it grew into a stronger castle. Later the castle served as an artillery station, a prison and a museum. Its courtyard now holds an open-air theatre for 200 people.
The listing says guests of the Larnaca sunset cruise view historical buildings along the way, but it names no castle. So the castle is a fact about the town, not a stop on the route. Wikipedia names the seashore just south of the castle Skala.
What is the Zenobia wreck that lies off Larnaca?
The Zenobia was a Swedish-built roll-on roll-off ferry that capsized close to Larnaca. The wreck now lies about 42 metres down, and the Larnaca sunset cruise does not sail to it.
The ferry was 172.2 metres long. She left Malmö in Sweden on her first voyage, bound for Tartous in Syria. On the way to Athens the captain noticed steering problems, and the ship began to list to port.
Engineers at Larnaca found the cause. A software error made the pumping system push too much water into the side ballast tanks. The ferry was towed out of the harbour and anchored offshore, clear of the port.
She capsized and sank in Larnaca Bay at around half past two in the morning on 7 June. There were no casualties. The Times named the wreck among the top ten wreck dives in the world.
The wreck is a dive site, not a stop on the Larnaca sunset cruise. A simple dive along the starboard side, to 16 metres, suits newly qualified divers. The lower car deck and the engine room are only for very experienced divers.
Larnaca Napa Cruises, a separate operator, runs the Zenobia Diving Centre. Its website says the centre is open daily throughout the year and welcomes both beginners and experienced divers. The wreck is a different outing from a Larnaca sunset cruise.
What is Larnaca like, from the Church of Saint Lazarus to the Salt Lake?
Larnaca is built on the ruins of Kition, an ancient city-kingdom. The town behind the Larnaca sunset cruise holds the Church of Saint Lazarus. The Salt Lake lies to its west.
Phoenicians established Kition on the southern coast of Cyprus, where Larnaca stands today. Its massive walls can still be traced inside the modern town, the town that a Larnaca sunset cruise leaves from. Zeno of Citium, the Stoic philosopher, was born in Kition.
The Church of Saint Lazarus dates to the late ninth century. It stands on Ayios Lazaros Square, in the town where the Larnaca sunset cruise sets out. The church was built over the reputed second tomb of Lazarus of Bethany.
Eastern Orthodox tradition says Lazarus fled to Cyprus and became the first bishop of Kition. A tomb marked “Lazarus, four days dead, friend of Christ” was found in Larnaca. Emperor Leo VI moved the remains to Constantinople and built the church over the tomb in return.
West of town lies the Larnaca Salt Lake, a network of four salt lakes. Aliki is the largest, followed by Orphani, Soros and Spiro. Together they cover 2.2 square kilometres and form the second largest salt lake in Cyprus.
In winter the lake fills with water. Between 2,000 and 12,000 flamingos spend the cold months there, feeding on brine shrimp. In summer the water evaporates and leaves a crust of salt.
A local legend blames Lazarus for the salt. An old woman refused him food and drink, saying her vines had dried up. Lazarus cursed her with dry vines and a lake of salt for ever.
Hala Sultan Tekke, a mosque, stands on the west bank of the lake. It was built in stages around the tomb of Umm Haram. Professor George E. Bowen called it the third holiest place for Muslims in the world. Phoenician, Orthodox and Ottoman history all sit around the town behind the Larnaca sunset cruise.
Which other boat trips leave Larnaca Marina by day or by night?
Larnaca Napa Sea Cruises lists day cruises, sunset cruises and diving excursions that start from Larnaca Marina. A Larnaca sunset cruise is one trip on that list. The same operator also offers private boat charters by day or by night.
The operator says it has more than 30 years of experience in coastal cruising. Its About page describes a range of day, sunset and evening cruises. Its homepage adds a second set of day cruises, sunset cruises and diving excursions. Those start from Protaras Golden Coast Harbor.
An events page for Cyprus names Larnaca Napa Sea Cruises as the organiser of a Larnaca sunset cruise. It lists Athinon Avenue in Larnaca as the address. This is a different company from Yellow Semi-Submarine Larnaca, which runs the semi-submarine trip covered in this post.
Private charters are another way to spend an evening at sea. A shared Larnaca sunset cruise gives you a seat. A charter gives your group the boat. The operator says you can charter a boat by day or by night. You shape the date, the length and the destination. It names birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and hen or bachelor parties.
The charters page lists the Calypso for up to 20 guests. The Doremi takes up to 80. Both are based at Larnaca Marina. The Aerosa takes up to 150 guests and is based at the harbour in Protaras.
The operator says each vessel offers a different cruising experience. It adds that food on board is locally sourced where possible and freshly prepared by the onboard team.
Who is the Larnaca sunset cruise suited to, and what rules apply on board?
The listing for this Larnaca sunset cruise calls it a romantic escape. It says the trip suits all physical fitness levels. It does not recommend the trip for travellers with poor cardiovascular health. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.
The listing describes gentle waves, the warm glow of the evening sun and wonderful views of the historical coastline. A different operator, Larnaca Napa Sea Cruises, appears on an events page as the organiser of a sunset cruise. That page says the event is good for visitors, couples, groups and residents.
The know-before-you-book list on the listing holds the health warning and the fitness line side by side. Read both lines before you book a Larnaca sunset cruise. If the warning applies to you, ask the operator before you decide.
Families with babies have two lines to read. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Infants are also required to sit on an adult’s lap. So each infant on a Larnaca sunset cruise travels with an adult.
The listing adds that public transport options are available nearby. A guest without a car can plan the trip around those options.
Weather is the other rule to know. Larnaca Napa Sea Cruises says all of its cruises depend on the weather and on the captain’s decision. It says the route can change to protect the safety and enjoyment of all passengers.
It also says guests receive a full refund when it cancels a cruise because of the weather. Ask your own operator for the same rule before any Larnaca sunset cruise.
What else do travellers ask about a Larnaca sunset cruise?
How big is the city behind a Larnaca sunset cruise?
Larnaca lies on the southeast coast of Cyprus and is the capital of the Larnaca District. Wikipedia gives the district a population of 155,000. It ranks Larnaca as the third largest city in Cyprus, after Nicosia and Limassol.
The name is spelled Larnaca or Larnaka, and English calls its people Larnacans. Wikipedia lists the local time as UTC+2, and UTC+3 in summer.
What is the weather like in Larnaca?
Wikipedia calls the climate hot semi-arid, because the yearly rainfall is low and the summers are hot. Its climate table lists 394.4 hours of sunshine in July and 177.1 hours in December.
The same table shows 0.7 mm of rain in July and 95.4 mm in December. Over a whole year it adds up to 350.1 mm of rain and 3,348 hours of sunshine. Check your month before you pick a Larnaca sunset cruise.
Does a real port lie behind a Larnaca sunset cruise?
Yes. Wikipedia says Larnaca has a seaport and a marina, and that its port is the second largest in Cyprus. It also calls Larnaca Port the second busiest port of the Republic.
The city has a second name, Skala, from the Greek word for ladder. The name once meant the historic port, and today it names the area around it.
How do you get around Larnaca, and where can you go next?
Wikivoyage calls Larnaca a thin ribbon of a town and says you can walk around the larger part of it. Wikipedia says public transport in the city is served only by buses.
By law, taxis charge by the meter. Wikivoyage warns that a number of cab drivers will refuse the meter. Ask for it before you ride to your Larnaca sunset cruise.
For a trip out of town, Wikivoyage lists Lefkara, a small town 30 km away. The town is known for its lace and silverware, and Larnaca sells both.
Where can you eat after a Larnaca sunset cruise, and what else is on?
Wikipedia says the beaches of Larnaca are lined with nearly identical seafood restaurants that cater to tourists. It names fasolaki, French beans cooked in red wine with lamb, as one of the staple dishes.
Wikivoyage gives a simple tip for choosing. Walk along until you find a restaurant packed with Cypriots, not with tourists.
Wikipedia adds that Larnaca attracts windsurfers from around the world, especially in autumn. Kataklysmos, the Festival of the Flood, is celebrated in early summer with a series of cultural events.