Rhodes Exclusive Swim Cruise Cocktail Open bar & Gourmet Buffet

Blue water, good food, and a dancing captain. This six-hour Rhodes cruise packs three swimming stops, a Greek buffet, and an open bar into one easy day on the Aegean. I especially like the limited group size of up to 40 people and the comfortable bean bags and sun benches, which help this boat feel less cramped than many coastal excursions.

I also like the range of included extras: snorkeling gear, floaters, pool noodles, life jackets, beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks, and water. The main point to consider is the mood. Music and dancing are part of the experience, and some passengers found the sound too loud for quiet conversation. This is a social boat day, not a silent retreat.

Five things to know before you book

• Three distinct swimming bays: Kallithea Springs, Afandou Beach, and Anthony Quinn Bay each offer a different setting.
• A real open bar: Cocktails, wine, beer, water, soft drinks, aperitifs, and snacks are included.
• Fresh Greek buffet: The meal includes Greek-style dishes, with vegan and gluten-free choices available.
• Comfortable seating: Bean bags and sun benches are allocated so you are not left hunting for a place to sit.
• The captain brings the party: Captain Alexander is known for dancing, music, and keeping the mood lively.
• Mandraki Harbor setting: The cruise starts and ends beside Rhodes Old Town, the medieval harbor, and the supposed site of the Colossus.

What this Rhodes cruise is really like

At $107.63 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get onto the water in Rhodes. It is also not simply a transport boat with a few swimming stops. Your fare covers a six-hour outing with food, unlimited drinks, seating, snorkeling equipment, and three coastal stops. Once you add up lunch and drinks alone, the price begins to make sense.

The strongest value comes from the combination. You can swim, take photos, eat a full meal, and order cocktails without reaching for your wallet each time. The boat also limits numbers to 40 people, a useful detail in a harbor where some smaller excursions can feel packed.

Still, you should book this for fun rather than solitude. The captain and crew create a festive atmosphere, and music may become loud when the group is in the mood. If you want a quiet sail with long stretches of calm conversation, this may not suit you. If you want a friendly day with swimming, food, drinks, and plenty of energy, it fits well.

The boat leaves Mandraki Harbor at 10:00 a.m. and returns to the same meeting point. Hotel pickup is not included in the basic price, though an optional transfer is available for an extra charge. The meeting point is Romantika Rhodes Day Cruise at Mandraki Port, opposite the Bank of Greece.

Leaving Mandraki Harbor beside medieval Rhodes

The start is one of the best parts for anyone who wants scenery before the swimming begins. As the boat leaves Mandraki Harbor, you get views toward the medieval Old Town of Rhodes, including the old defensive walls and the city rising behind the waterfront.

This is a good time to keep your camera ready. Rhodes Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the view from the sea gives you a different sense of its scale. From shore, you see gates, streets, and stone walls. From the boat, you see how strongly the medieval town was shaped by its position beside the water.

Mandraki itself was one of ancient Rhodes’ five ports. Its name is linked to the Greek word mandri, referring to a small enclosed harbor. Today, deer statues sit on columns at the harbor entrance, while the Fortress of Agios Nikolaos and three old windmills complete the view.

The harbor also carries the famous Colossus story. The huge statue of the sun god was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and local legend places it across the harbor entrance. There is no proof that the statue actually stood that way, but the cruise passes the traditional site and gives you a chance to picture the ancient port in its grandest form.

Kallithea Springs: the first swim stop

The first stop is Kallithea Springs, where the boat stays for about an hour. The area is known for reddish spring water rising from rock in the Gulf of Kallithea. People have valued the springs since ancient times, believing the water offered physical and mental cleansing.

The buildings add interest beyond the swim. Italian architects Pietro Lombardi and Alberto Mocci, along with decorative designer Armando Burnaby, helped shape the complex while respecting the natural setting. An international hydrological conference held here drew more than 200 scientists, giving the site a place in the history of European spa culture.

From the sea, admission is free. You can swim, look toward the spring buildings, or simply enjoy the clear water from the boat. The stop works well as a gentle start because you have time to get comfortable with the swimming equipment before the more dramatic bays later in the day.

You will find snorkeling gear, life jackets, pool noodles, and floaters on board. That makes the stop suitable even if you are not a confident swimmer. One practical point: an hour passes quickly once you allow time to get into the water, dry off, and return to the boat, so choose one main activity rather than trying to do everything.

Afandou Beach and the story behind its name

The second stop is Afandou Beach, a long pebble beach stretching for roughly six kilometers. The water is clear, and you have more than an hour to explore the area and its caves before lunch is served back on board.

Afandou feels different from Kallithea. Instead of a formal spring complex, you get a broad coastal setting with open water, pebbles, and caves. The beach is also known for its golf course and for the use of local pebbles in the sidewalks of Rhodes Old Town.

The name Afandou comes from afando, meaning invisible in Greek. The inland village was placed behind rocks so it could not easily be seen from the sea after repeated attacks by pirates, Persians, Arabs, and Turks. You do not need to spend your swim thinking about every historical detail, but the story helps explain why the modern settlement sits away from the coast.

This is the stop where you may want sturdy footwear if you plan to walk over the beach, though the tour information does not specify water shoes. The pebbles can be less comfortable than sand, but they also help keep the water clear.

After the stop, the crew opens the Greek buffet on board. Food examples include mussels, prawn pasta, chicken, salad, bread, tzatziki, and a brownie-style dessert. Other dishes have included Dakos, a Cretan barley rusk topped with tomato, cheese, oregano, capers, and olive oil, along with spinach rice. The exact menu may vary, but this is more substantial than a basic sandwich lunch.

Vegan and gluten-free choices are available. If you have a serious allergy, it is sensible to confirm the arrangements when booking, since the supplied information does not describe separate preparation areas.

Ladikos and Anthony Quinn Bay

The final swimming area is Anthony Quinn Bay, reached near Ladikos. Ladikos takes its name from the old olive-oil trade. Ships once loaded local oil here for Egypt and the Middle East, and fishermen have found clay containers from shipwrecks in the area.

Anthony Quinn Bay is the most dramatic of the three stops. High rocks wrap around a small bay, and the water is deep, clear, and full of small fish. You can use the complimentary snorkeling equipment or watch the fish gather near the boat. Some passengers enjoy feeding them small pieces of bread, though you should follow the crew’s instructions rather than assume feeding is encouraged.

The bay is named for Mexican actor Anthony Quinn, who filmed The Guns of Navarone in Rhodes during the 1960s. He liked the area and tried to buy it, but the agreement was never completed. The name remained as a local tribute.

This stop is likely to be the highlight if you enjoy snorkeling. The water and rocky setting create a more memorable scene than the wider shoreline at Afandou. It is also where the boat’s playful side often appears. Crew members have served cold beers to people in the water, and some passengers have jumped from the upper deck.

Do not feel pressured to copy that. Life jackets and floaters are available, and you can swim at your own pace. If you are not comfortable in deep water, stay close to the boat and use a noodle or life jacket.

Food, cocktails, and the social atmosphere

The open bar is a major part of the price. You can order cocktails, wine, beer, signature drinks, water, soda, and other nonalcoholic beverages. Aperitifs and snacks are also included.

The cocktails are generally praised, though the selection is based on preset drinks rather than a full bar menu. One useful caution is that some drinks may be lighter than you expect. If you prefer a particular spirit or a stronger pour, your options may be limited.

The buffet is one of the cruise’s best features. The food is freshly prepared by the onboard chef and has a Greek and Mediterranean focus. The combination of seafood, pasta, salads, bread, sauces, and dessert gives you enough choice for a proper lunch after swimming.

Seating is another advantage. You are assigned a comfortable bean bag or sun bench, and the boat has two decks. Several passengers found there was enough room even when the cruise was fully booked. You can also ask the crew for a shady place, although shade availability may depend on the boat and the day.

Music plays throughout the trip. Captain Alexander is a big part of the entertainment, with dancing and playful interaction that can get people out of their seats. This energy has made the cruise a favorite for birthdays, couples, friends, and groups wanting a party on the water.

The tradeoff is simple: the music may be too loud for you. One passenger expected a peaceful boat ride and found conversation difficult. The crew describes the music as generally relaxed, but it can become more festive as the day develops. Pick a lower or quieter area if you want better conversation, and do not expect a meditation session.

Comfort, group size, and practical details

The maximum group size is 40 people, which is modest for a popular Rhodes boat trip. That limit matters because it gives you a better chance of having room to sit, move around, and get into the water without a crowd pressing at every rail.

The boat has clean toilets, comfortable seating, and equipment for swimming. Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The activity is close to public transportation, but hotel transfer is not part of the standard fare.

Bring plenty of sun protection. You will spend several hours exposed to sun and reflected light from the water, and the supplied information specifically recommends bringing lots of sunscreen. A towel, swimsuit, sunglasses, and a secure bag for small items are also sensible choices, though only the sunscreen point is explicitly stated in the tour information.

The cruise depends on good weather. If conditions force cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. Standard cancellation allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

The cruise receives a 4.8 rating from 1,230 reviews, with 96 percent of people recommending it. Those numbers fit the experience described here: the crew, food, boat space, swimming bays, and drinks are the main strengths. The loud music and limited cocktail choices are the main cautions.

Is this six-hour Rhodes cruise worth booking?

I would book this cruise if you want an easy, all-in-one day on the water. The three bays give you variety, Anthony Quinn Bay provides the strongest swimming setting, and the buffet and open bar remove the usual extra costs. The limited capacity and assigned seating also give it an advantage over crowded sightseeing boats.

You should choose something else if your priority is peace, long talks, or a quiet sail. The music and dancing are not occasional background details. They help define the cruise.

For couples, friends, solo visitors who enjoy meeting people, and anyone staying near Rhodes Town, this is a strong pick. Arrive ready to swim, eat, and join the fun, but keep your expectations clear: this is an upbeat coastal party with good scenery, not a private yacht charter.

FAQ

How long is the Rhodes swim cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately six hours.

What time does the cruise start?

The scheduled start time is 10:00 a.m.

Where does the cruise leave from?

It leaves from Romantika Rhodes Day Cruise at Mandraki Port, opposite the Bank of Greece in Rhodes.

Where does the cruise end?

The cruise returns to the same meeting point at Mandraki Harbor.

Which swimming stops are included?

The stops are Kallithea Springs, Afandou Beach, and Anthony Quinn Bay.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Greek gourmet buffet prepared by the onboard chef is included.

Are vegan and gluten-free food choices available?

Yes. Vegan and gluten-free choices are included.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The open bar includes cocktails, wine, beer, signature cocktails, water, soft drinks, aperitifs, and snacks.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, pool noodles, floaters, and life jackets are available on board.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel transfer is optional and costs extra.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

You will be offered another date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts.