Catamaran Cruises in SantoriniSantorini Yachting Cruises: Sunset Dinner Catamaran
This Santorini Yachting Cruises listing is a 5-hour sunset catamaran that leaves the port of Vlychada every day at 3:00 PM with up to 20 guests on board. It sails the south coast past Red Beach, White Beach, Indian Rocks and the Venetian Akrotiri Lighthouse, swims at the hot springs and stops at Thirassia before a Greek dinner with drinks on the way back. The price is $125.98 per person and the listing holds a 4.9 rating from 429 reviews. This page breaks down what the fare covers, what the day looks like hour by hour, and who should book a different boat instead. For the full field, start with the Santorini catamaran cruise comparison. Compare it with the other Santorini catamaran cruises.
About This Tour
Santorini Yachting Cruises runs this shared sunset catamaran from Vlychada port on the island's south coast. The boat sails daily at 3:00 PM and returns to Vlychada at the end of a 5-hour loop through the caldera. The fare covers a Greek dinner on board, soda, bottled water and alcoholic drinks, WiFi, snorkel gear and towels. Transfers are not automatic: the listing asks you to call or email the operator to arrange them, and pickup time depends on your location.
The day runs swim stop by swim stop rather than on a fixed schedule. You swim at Red Beach, soak in the hot springs near Palea Kameni and stop at Thirassia, where dinner is served. The route passes the Venetian Akrotiri Lighthouse before the sail back into Vlychada at sunset. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure and the listing says weather cancellations are covered.
$125.98 per person on Viator, rated 4.9 from 429 reviews
5 hours, departing daily at 3:00 PM from Vlychada port
Look for the Santorini Yachting Cruises catamaran at Vlychada port 30 minutes before departure
Up to 20 guests, crew on board, the booking interface is in English
Shared catamaran with a Greek dinner on board, soda, bottled water and alcoholic beverages, plus WiFi, snorkel gear and towels
Gratuities are not included. Transfers are arranged by calling or emailing the operator after booking
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the listing says weather cancellations are covered
Check Dates and Availability
The cruise departs daily at 3:00 PM from Vlychada. Check live dates, guest counts and the pickup option on the booking page.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer The short version
This Santorini Yachting Cruises sunset cruise costs $125.98 per person, lasts 5 hours and leaves Vlychada daily at 3:00 PM with up to 20 guests. The fare includes a Greek dinner, soda, water and alcoholic drinks, WiFi, snorkel gear and towels. Gratuities are extra and you must call or email the operator to arrange hotel transfers.
Key takeaways
- See exactly what the fare covers in the price breakdown.
- Walk through the route stop by stop in the day on board.
- Travelers who want a sunset from Ammoudi below Oia should read the Santorini Day Tours small cruise instead.
- For a cheaper Vlychada sunset with a Greek BBQ, compare Volcano Yachting.
What the Price Actually Covers
The fare is $125.98 per person. Here is what the listing puts inside that figure, what it leaves out, and what you may spend on the day.
Included in the Fare
The listing includes private transportation, dinner and a Greek meal on board, soda, bottled water and alcoholic beverages, WiFi, snorkeling equipment and towels. Specialized infant seats are available.
Transfers need one extra step. The booking option name says pickup included, but the listing's own instructions tell you to call or email the operator to arrange the transfer, and pickup time depends on your location. Do that straight after booking so the driver knows where to collect you.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Greek dinner and meal | Yes | Served on board at the Thirassia stop |
| Soda and bottled water | Yes | Included |
| Alcoholic beverages | Yes | No age limit is stated in the listing |
| WiFi, snorkel gear, towels | Yes | Provided on the boat |
| Private transportation | Listed, arrange it | Call or email the operator after booking |
| Gratuities | No | Pay the crew directly if you wish |
| Infant seats | Yes | Specialized infant seats available |
The small chapel on Palea Kameni in the caldera. Photo: Norbert Nagel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing gives one fixed clock time, the 3:00 PM departure, and describes the rest as a sequence of stops. Here is that sequence in order.
Check-in at Vlychada
Arrive at Vlychada port 30 minutes before departure and look for the Santorini Yachting Cruises catamaran. Vlychada sits on the island's low southern shore about 10 km from Fira and is a working fishing harbor that operates 24 hours. If you arranged a transfer, the driver's timing depends on your hotel, so keep the operator's contact details on your phone.
The catamaran departs at 3:00 PM.
| Phase | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes before departure | Vlychada port | Meet the catamaran 30 minutes before departure |
| 3:00 PM | South coast | Sail out past Red Beach, White Beach and Indian Rocks |
| After the first leg | Caldera | Swim stop, then the hot springs soak |
| Mid cruise | Thirassia | Stop and explore, Greek dinner and drinks served |
| Last stretch | Akrotiri Lighthouse and caldera rim | Sail past the lighthouse and watch the sunset |
| Evening | Vlychada | Return to the same port |
The Swim Stops and the Springs
The first swim stop is Red Beach on the south coast, named for the red volcanic cliffs above it. Land access to the beach itself is closed, so boats see it from the water and swim offshore, which is what this cruise does. The boat then enters the caldera and pauses at the hot springs near Palea Kameni, where you swim about 50 meters across open water from the boat to reach them. The spring water runs warmer than the sea and can reach about 35 degrees C, and the sulfur and iron that warm it turn the water murky brown or orange. Wear a dark swimsuit, because sulfur can permanently color fabric and jewelry.
After the springs the boat crosses to Thirassia, the island across the caldera, for more exploration and relaxation. This is the dinner stop, with the Greek meal and drinks served while you look back at the caldera cliffs, which drop more than 300 m at their highest point.
Sunset and the Sail Home
On the way back the route passes the Venetian Akrotiri Lighthouse, which is the stop name the listing uses. The boat then sails into the sunset on the run back to Vlychada, where the cruise ends. Sunset on Santorini ranges from about 17:05 in late December to 20:40 at the summer solstice, so the character of the last hour changes a lot through the year.
In winter the sun sets early, so bring an extra layer. The listing gives no swim durations and no return time.
Santorini Catamaran Cruise - Premium Santorini Boat Tours
Santorini Yachting Cruises shows its own premium catamaran cruise. Third-party video by Santorini Yachting Cruises. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
This listing suits most travelers, but a few groups should look elsewhere. Here is the honest list.
Travelers Who Need a Different Boat
The cruise is rated suitable for all physical fitness levels and takes guests from 0 to 99, with children priced at ages 3 to 10 and specialized infant seats available. Wheelchair access is not stated, so travelers with mobility needs should confirm with the operator before booking rather than assume a step-free boarding. If you want cocktails specifically, the listing includes alcoholic beverages but names no cocktail service, so Sunset Oia Luxury Open Bar, which pours a cocktail in its open bar, fits better.
If your priority is sailing from Ammoudi Bay below Oia so you can spend the evening in the town itself, the Santorini Day Tours small cruise ends at Ammoudi Pier. And if the budget is the deciding factor, Volcano Yachting's sunset cruise leaves the same port for $118 per person.
Weather, Timing and Transfers
This listing gives no fixed stop durations, so treat the itinerary as a sequence of stops rather than a timetable. Weather cancellations are covered and free cancellation runs to 24 hours before departure. Cruise-ship passengers should check the 3:00 PM departure and the missing return time against their ship's schedule, since ships anchor in the caldera and are served by tender boats.
The transfer arrangement by phone or email also adds friction that other listings with automatic pickup do not have, so confirm it early.
Oia sits on top of the red and black caldera cliff when seen from the sea. Photo: Μπισιώτη Αρετή, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
Vlychada port is the meeting point for everything here. Pair the cruise with a morning on the volcano or a few hours in Oia and the day fills up nicely.
Getting to Vlychada
The port sits on the south coast about 10 km from Fira and 6 to 7 km from the airport, with public transportation options listed as nearby. The listing asks you to be there 30 minutes before the 3:00 PM departure. Because transfers are arranged by calling or emailing the operator rather than added at checkout, give yourself margin and confirm the pickup the day before.
Read the guide to Vlychada Marina for the layout of the harbor. Cruise passengers arriving by ship tender to the Old Port or Athinios, and the Old Port climbs to Fira by a cable car charging €10 one way or nearly 600 steps on foot, so the transfer question matters even more for you.
What to Add Before or After
This cruise sees the volcano from the water but does not land on it. If you want the crater, book a separate volcano tour with a landing on Nea Kameni, where a gravel path leads to the crater rim. Swimmers who want more of the springs can read the guide to the Santorini hot springs.
The Thirasia page covers the island where this cruise stops.
The Itinerary Step by Step
Clock times come from the listing where stated. The rest are phases, because the crew adjusts stop lengths to the conditions.
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30 minutes before departure
Check-in at Vlychada
Be at the port 30 minutes before the 3:00 PM departure and look for the Santorini Yachting Cruises catamaran.
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3:00 PM
Departure
The catamaran leaves Vlychada daily at 3:00 PM and heads along the south coast into the Aegean.
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After departure
Red Beach swim
First swim stop at Red Beach, seen from the water because land access is closed, with snorkeling in the clear water.
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Mid cruise
Into the caldera and the hot springs
The boat enters the caldera and pauses at the hot springs, where you swim about 50 meters across open water to the warm, sulfur-rich water.
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Afternoon
Thirassia stop and dinner
Cross to the island of Thirassia for exploration and relaxation while the Greek meal and drinks are served on board.
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Evening
Akrotiri Lighthouse and sunset
The route passes the Venetian Akrotiri Lighthouse and the boat sails into the sunset on the way back.
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Last stretch
Return to Vlychada
The cruise ends where it started, at Vlychada port, after 5 hours on the water.
Where It Wins and Where It Does Not
A balanced look at this listing against the rest of the Vlychada fleet.
What we genuinely like
- A shared boat capped at 20 guests, against up to 50 to 55 on the big Ammoudi catamarans
- Thirassia is a listed stop, with the Greek dinner served there
- Alcoholic drinks are in the fare
- Snorkel gear, towels and WiFi included, so you pack less
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours and weather cancellations covered
- 4.9 rating across 429 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor
The honest downsides
- Transfers need a call or email to the operator rather than automatic pickup, so confirm early or drive yourself
- No cocktail service is named, unlike the open bar listings that pour one
- Gratuities are not included and the listing names no return time
- The listing names no return time, which matters for cruise-ship passengers working around a ship schedule
- The listing gives no swim durations
Who it's NOT for: Travelers who want cocktails and a guaranteed bar menu, or a departure from Ammoudi Bay below Oia, should book a different cruise.
Questions About This Cruise
How much does the Santorini Yachting Cruises sunset cruise cost?
The listed price is $125.98 per person for the 5-hour sunset departure, including the Greek dinner, drinks and snorkel gear. Gratuities are not included. You can compare it with the rest of the fleet in the Santorini catamaran cruise overview.
Where does this catamaran leave from and what time?
The cruise departs daily at 3:00 PM from Vlychada port on the south coast. Be at the port 30 minutes before departure. The Vlychada Marina guide covers the harbor and how to reach it.
Is hotel pickup included in this tour?
The booking option is named pickup included, but the listing asks you to call or email the operator to arrange transfers, and pickup time depends on your location. Arrange it right after booking.
Do you actually swim at Red Beach on this cruise?
The listing makes Red Beach the first swim stop, seen and swum from the water. Land access to the beach itself is closed because of rockfall danger, so boats view it offshore. The Red Beach guide explains the closure in detail.
Does the cruise include the hot springs and Thirassia?
Yes. The itinerary includes a sulfur-rich swim at the hot springs and a stop at Thirassia where the Greek dinner is served. The springs sit near Palea Kameni, which the Santorini hot springs page describes.
Is this a good sunset cruise for families with young children?
The age range runs from infants 0 to 2 through adults 11 to 99, with specialized infant seats available, and the cruise suits all fitness levels.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The listing says weather cancellations are covered, and free cancellation runs to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The Santorini caldera guide covers the route.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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