Mykonos Catamaran Private Day Cruise, Full Lunch & Open-bar

A private catamaran, two quiet swimming coves, and a fresh Greek lunch cooked aboard: that is the heart of this Mykonos outing. You sail from Ornos Bay, usually toward Rhenia and the waters near Delos, with time for snorkeling before settling in for a long meal on the Aegean.

I especially like the fresh seafood lunch and the fact that your group has the boat to itself. The unlimited beer, white wine, water, and soft drinks also make the price easier to understand for a celebration or family charter. The main consideration is weather: strong wind can replace the island route with a south-coast cruise, and a few parties found that alternative less satisfying.

Key points to know before booking

• Rhenia is the star of the route: Expect clear water, quiet coves, and swimming from the catamaran rather than a conventional island walking tour.
• The meal is a major part of the experience: The chef prepares a generous Greek spread aboard, often including seafood, calamari, shrimp, chicken, feta dishes, salad, and tzatziki.
• The cruise is private: Only your own party participates, making it a good fit for birthdays, families, and groups of friends.
• The crew can shape your day: Captains and hosts such as Paris, George, Michael, and others have received praise for friendly service, though the experience may vary by crew.
• Bring your own towel: Snorkeling equipment, Wi-Fi, and a Bluetooth speaker are supplied, but beach towels are not.
• Wind changes the plan: On rougher days, the captain may stay along Mykonos’s south coast and spend more time in a sheltered cove.

Five hours on the Aegean, with Rhenia as the main prize

This is not a sightseeing cruise where you hop off at every island. Think of it as a private floating lunch party with sailing, swimming, and a little island scenery along the way.

You meet at Ornos Bay, on an unnamed road in Ornos. A hostess welcomes you at the dock, then a tender boat takes you out to the catamaran. After a safety briefing, the crew raises the sails for about an hour of sailing across the blue Aegean.

That first hour matters. You get the pleasure of moving under sail rather than spending the entire outing beside a running motor. The boat gives you a broad view of Mykonos and the surrounding water, while the open deck offers room to sit in the sun or shade.

The stated route includes Delos and Rhenia, but the detailed sailing plan places the focus on Rhenia’s coves. Do not book this expecting a full archaeological visit to Delos. The value lies in the water, the scenery, and the chance to swim away from the busiest beaches.

The first swim stop near Rhenia

The first stop is an unspoiled cove near Rhenia, selected for swimming and snorkeling. You step or jump from the catamaran into clear water, then use the supplied snorkeling equipment to look around below the surface.

The appeal is simple. You are not being herded onto a crowded beach with rows of umbrellas. You remain close to the boat, with the shore and pale coves providing the backdrop. Several families and groups describe having the water and beaches largely to themselves, though exact crowd levels depend on the day and season.

Bring a swimsuit under your clothes and expect to spend a fair amount of time wet. Beach towels are not included, so pack one for each person. You will also want sun protection, since Greek summer light is strong even when a breeze makes the air feel comfortable.

The water can be cool, especially in early October. One party found the weather breezy and chilly but still considered the scenery excellent. That is a useful warning: a boat day is not automatically a warm beach day, particularly outside the height of summer.

Lunch cooked aboard by the chef

After the first swim, the catamaran sails toward another attractive cove. Here, the crew serves the main meal, freshly prepared aboard by the chef. This is not a packet-lunch excursion. The meal is described as an eight-flavor spread, with fresh seafood included.

Specific dishes mentioned over time include calamari, shrimp, chicken with feta, Greek salad, feta preparations, and tzatziki made from a family recipe. The food has been such a strong part of the experience that some people considered it the best Greek meal of their holiday.

I would set your expectations at generous home-style Greek cooking rather than formal restaurant service. You eat on the boat, surrounded by water, with the cove nearby. That setting does much of the work. Ask in advance if anyone in your group has dietary needs, since the supplied information does not specify a full dietary menu.

The open bar includes unlimited beer, white wine, soft drinks, and bottled water. A welcome Prosecco is also provided at the start. This is useful for a relaxed afternoon, but you still need to pace yourself. The boat includes swimming after lunch, and alcohol plus sun can catch up with you quickly.

A final swim, then the sail back to Ornos

After lunch, there is time for another swim before the return trip. The final sail gives you a quieter stretch of the outing, especially if your group settles into the shade with a drink and lets the crew handle the boat.

One birthday group described the return as especially memorable at sunset. Sunset is not guaranteed on the regular five-hour schedule, but the timing of your departure and season can affect the light on the way back. The experience ends at the same meeting point in Ornos Bay.

The boat has Wi-Fi and a Bluetooth speaker, so your group can add its own soundtrack. Keep the music considerate. The best part of this cruise is often the natural sound of water, wind, and conversation.

What happens when the wind is strong

Mykonos is famous for wind, and that is the largest variable in this excursion. If conditions make the Rhenia route less comfortable, the captain may take you along the southern coast of Mykonos instead.

The alternative itinerary visits famous beaches and a more sheltered cove away from the main crowds. This is a sensible safety choice, and it can still provide swimming, views, lunch, and a pleasant day on the water.

But you should know what you are buying. If your dream is to sail to Rhenia and swim beside an uninhabited beach, a south-coast route may feel like a compromise. One dissatisfied party felt they spent too long sitting in a cove because of the wind. The company explained that the captain had chosen the sheltered route to avoid rough water and make the trip safer.

Ask about the forecast before departure if the route matters greatly to you. The company requires good weather and may cancel in poor conditions, offering another date or a full refund. That policy protects you from a genuinely bad day at sea, but normal wind does not necessarily mean cancellation. It may simply mean a different route.

The crew makes a real difference

The company uses different captains, first mates, and chefs, so the tone of your day can vary. Names connected with particularly warm outings include Captain Paris, George, Captain Michael, Captain Alkis, Christos, Nadav, Kyrlos, Argus, and Mikey.

Several combinations received praise for attentive hosting, good humor, safe boat handling, and strong cooking. Paris and George, in particular, are associated with friendly service and lively group outings. George is also praised for preparing traditional food and entertaining a group with beatboxing.

That said, one party felt their crew was distant and did not offer enough help with drinks or the outdoor dining setup. This is worth noting because a private charter depends heavily on personal service. The same boat and meal can feel luxurious with an engaged crew and merely adequate with a passive one.

You can improve your odds by explaining what matters to your group at the start. If you want to eat outside, swim longer, hear island background, or have help with drinks, say so. The captain may offer choices about stops and timing, but do not assume every crew member will anticipate every preference.

Is the private format worth the high price?

At $796.48 per person, this is expensive. You are paying for a private boat, crew, sailing time, food, drinks, and the freedom to spend the day only with your own group. It is not priced like a basic shared beach transfer.

The value improves when several people split the charter and use everything included. A family celebrating a birthday, a group of friends, or a multigenerational party may find the cost easier to justify than booking separate meals, beach time, drinks, and a boat outing. Group discounts are available, though the exact saving is not provided.

The private format also removes a common problem with boat tours: being stuck with strangers who want a different kind of day. Your group can swim, eat, listen to music, and relax together. For a special occasion, that privacy may matter more than the exact route.

For a couple or solo visitor, the price is harder to defend unless you place a high value on having a private boat. The experience can still be wonderful, but a shared cruise may offer better value if privacy is not important to you.

Who will enjoy this Mykonos cruise most?

This outing suits people who want the sea to be the main event. It works particularly well for:

• Families with children and teenagers who enjoy swimming and snorkeling
• Groups celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, or a final day in Greece
• Friends who want a private setting with drinks and music
• Food-focused visitors who prefer a long Greek lunch to a quick snack
• People with limited time who want sailing, swimming, and scenery in one half-day

The boat has worked well for groups of six, eight, nine, and even 13 people, based on the group sizes described. The exact maximum capacity is not supplied, so confirm the number before booking if your party is large.

Children can participate when accompanied by an adult. The child rate applies only when sharing with four paying adults, an important detail for families comparing the total price.

The activity is described as suitable for most people, but you should be comfortable boarding from the dock by tender boat and swimming from the catamaran if you want to enjoy the central parts of the day. No specific accessibility information is provided, so ask the operator about mobility needs before paying.

Practical details that affect your day

The cruise lasts about five hours. Optional hotel pickup and drop-off may be available, but transportation to Ornos Bay is not included in the stated price. Plan that part carefully, especially if you are arriving from a cruise ship or staying far from Ornos.

One cruise-ship group was pleased with its transfer and found the journey to the catamaran straightforward. Still, do not assume every booking includes a transfer. Confirm the pickup arrangement and allow enough time to reach the dock.

At booking, you must provide each participant’s full name, passport number, year of birth, and country. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. The tour is offered in English and comes with a mobile ticket.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded. Since weather is a real factor in Mykonos, I would avoid waiting until the last minute to decide if your plans are uncertain.

What to pack for the catamaran

Keep your packing simple:

• Beach towel, since towels are not supplied
• Swimsuit and a dry change of clothes
• Sun protection and a hat that fits securely
• Waterproof protection for phones and small valuables
• Any medication you need during five hours on the water

Snorkeling equipment, bottled water, beer, white wine, soft drinks, Wi-Fi, and a Bluetooth speaker are included. The boat also provides a welcome Prosecco and the cooked lunch, so you do not need to bring a picnic.

Secure loose hats and small objects when the boat is under sail. One group even had the crew retrieve a hat blown into the sea, but that is not a service you should count on.

Should you book this private Mykonos catamaran?

Book it if you want a private half-day on the water and will value the combination of swimming, sailing, food, and your own group. The strongest reasons are the fresh lunch, the clear Rhenia coves, the open bar, and the freedom that comes with a private boat.

Think twice if you need a guaranteed Rhenia route, dislike wind, or expect formal five-star service from every crew member. The price is high, and the alternative south-coast itinerary may feel ordinary if your only goal is reaching the neighboring islands.

For a birthday, family finale, or group of friends splitting the cost, I find the outing easy to recommend, provided you pack a towel and accept that the captain must adjust for weather. For budget-conscious couples, compare the total cost carefully before booking.

FAQ

How long is the private catamaran cruise?

The experience lasts approximately five hours.

Where does the cruise start and finish?

You meet at Ornos Bay in Ornos, Greece. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Does the cruise visit Rhenia and Delos?

The experience is described as a cruise exploring Delos and Rhenia, with the detailed route centered on sailing and swimming near Rhenia. The exact route can change with wind and sea conditions.

What food and drinks are included?

You receive a welcome Prosecco, an eight-flavor lunch freshly prepared aboard with fresh seafood, and unlimited beer, white wine, sodas, and bottled water.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included. Beach towels are not included, so you should bring your own.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included in the stated price. Optional pickup may be available, but transportation to Ornos Bay is your responsibility unless separately arranged.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If the operator cancels because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. If wind changes the route but the cruise operates, the captain may take you along Mykonos’s south coast instead.