Faliraki: Boat Trip to Anthony Quinn & The Caves with Drinks

Three hours, two swim stops, and a yellow submarine. This Faliraki cruise mixes easy sightseeing with time in the water, then adds a glass underwater cabin for fish watching. I especially like the close views of sea life at Anthony Quinn Bay and the open bar of cold beer, water, and soft drinks. The main drawback is that several beach pickups can eat into your time on the water.

The cruise suits families, couples, and anyone who wants a simple half-day outing rather than a full-day sailing trip. You should be comfortable boarding from the beach and swimming from the boat, though the underwater cabin gives non-swimmers something worthwhile to do. Captain Niko and Captain Mike are among the crew names praised for friendly, funny service, clear safety advice, and a relaxed atmosphere.

The best parts of this Faliraki cruise

• Fish feeding at Anthony Quinn Bay: Watch large schools gather beneath the glass cabin when the crew feeds them.
• Two proper swimming stops: You get about 40 minutes at Anthony Quinn Bay and 25 minutes at the Traganou Caves.
• A real underwater cabin: This offers more than a normal glass-bottom boat, with windows below deck and air conditioning.
• Swimming inside sea caves: At Traganou, you can use a pool noodle or swim into the rock formations.
• Unlimited drinks onboard: Beer, water, and soft drinks are available from the fridge throughout the trip.
• Useful for families: Children can watch fish below the boat, swim with supervision, or stay dry in the cabin.

What the yellow semi-submarine actually offers

This is not a submarine in the military sense, of course. It is a yellow boat with a lower cabin fitted with large glass windows below the waterline. You remain above the sea for most of the ride, but you can go downstairs and watch fish pass at eye level.

That distinction matters. The underwater cabin is a strong extra, but it is not the whole trip. The real appeal is the combination of coastline views, two swim stops, drinks, and a few minutes watching marine life from below.

The cabin has air conditioning, which can be a welcome break from the Rhodes sun. It also gives you an option if you do not want to swim, feel nervous in open water, or need a rest between stops. I would not book this solely for a long underwater viewing session, though. The boat moves between sites, and the best fish action comes at Anthony Quinn Bay when the crew feeds them.

The crew’s approach is another reason this outing scores so well. Safety instructions are taken seriously, and the captains keep up a running commentary about the places along the coast. The mood is friendly rather than formal. That works well when children are aboard, and it helps nervous swimmers feel less awkward about using the water.

Getting from Faliraki beach to the open sea

You do not simply walk to a large harbor and board. A tender boat collects you from the red steps on the beach at one of the Faliraki pickup points, then brings you to the yellow semi-submarine. This is worth knowing before you leave your hotel, especially if you are carrying towels, phones, or small children.

The listed pickup areas include the beaches near Amada Colossos, Esperides, Calypso Hotel, Apollo Hotel, and Faliraki Harbor. The published times are:

• Amada Colossos beach: 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., or 3:30 p.m.
• Esperides and Calypso Hotel beach: 9:40 a.m., 12:40 p.m., or 3:40 p.m.
• Apollo Hotel and Faliraki Harbor: 9:55 a.m., 12:55 p.m., or 3:55 p.m.

The exact boarding point is the red beach steps, not necessarily the hotel entrance. Find the stop nearest your accommodation and allow time to reach the sand. The tender transfer is part of the operation, not a private hotel shuttle.

There are several pickup and drop-off stops, so the cruise may feel longer on paper than the active sightseeing time. One hour can be used moving between stops and handling transfers, depending on the departure. That is the price of convenient beach access, but it is also the biggest practical limitation.

Anthony Quinn Bay: fish, snorkels, and bright water

Anthony Quinn Bay is the star of the trip. The boat stops here for about 40 minutes, giving you enough time to swim, snorkel, or simply float beside the boat. The bay is known for rocky shores and clear water, and its enclosed shape makes it especially attractive from the sea.

The most unusual moment comes when the crew feeds the fish. Head to the lower glass cabin and you may see schools gathering beneath the boat in a sudden silver rush. This is the part children tend to remember, but adults often find it just as entertaining. The fish are not a substitute for a full marine-life excursion, yet the feeding makes the underwater viewing much more active than looking through a quiet glass panel.

You can also get into the water here. Snorkeling equipment and pool noodles have been available on departures, although I would still confirm what is supplied when you book. Bring your own mask if you prefer a familiar fit.

The 40-minute stop is well judged. It gives confident swimmers time to explore without turning the outing into a long beach day. If you are nervous, you can stay near the boat, use a noodle, or remain in the lower cabin. The crew’s clear safety briefing is especially useful for families and first-time open-water swimmers.

One practical point: the boat may not take you right up to a beach. You normally swim from the boat rather than walk ashore, so pack for a boat-based stop, not a visit to a sandy beach. If you want to stroll, sunbathe on land, or buy something from shore, this is not that kind of excursion.

Traganou Caves: the more adventurous swim

The Traganou Caves provide the cruise’s most hands-on stop. You get roughly 25 minutes to swim around the rock formations, and you can actually enter the caves by water. The setting is less about fish feeding and more about moving through the natural shapes along the coast.

This stop is short, but that is sensible. Swimming into a cave, returning to the boat, and drying off does not require a full hour. A pool noodle can help if you want extra support, especially near the cave entrance or when swimming with children.

The caves are not a dry-land sightseeing stop. You do not get off to walk inside them. You approach from the water, so you need to be comfortable getting wet and climbing back aboard afterward. People who dislike swimming from boats may find Anthony Quinn Bay easier, while confident swimmers often prefer the caves.

The order of the two stops can vary in the way the route is described. The published trip details present Traganou first in one description, while the timed route commonly places Anthony Quinn Bay before the caves. Ask the crew at boarding which stop comes first that day. The total swimming time remains about 65 minutes.

Drinks are part of the value

The open bar is not a minor detail. Beer, water, and soft drinks are available from a large fridge, so you can help yourself during the cruise. After swimming in the Rhodes heat, a cold drink has real practical value.

Food is not included. Eat before boarding or bring an appropriate snack if permitted, but do not expect lunch to be served onboard. The experience is three hours, not a full-day meal cruise, so that omission is easy to manage.

For adults, the included beer makes the $58 price feel more reasonable. A similar boat outing with two swim stops and drinks can quickly cost more once you add refreshments. Families may value the soft drinks and water more than the beer, while children will probably care most about the fish, caves, and jumping into the sea.

The open bar should not be read as a party cruise. The boat’s main purpose is sightseeing and swimming. You get a relaxed drink in hand, not a nightclub at sea. That balance is one reason the trip works for mixed groups.

Is $58 a fair price?

At $58 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the Rhodes coast. You could spend less by taking a local bus to a beach and swimming from shore. That would not give you the underwater cabin, fish feeding, two boat-based swimming stops, or unlimited drinks.

The price becomes easier to justify if you want several elements in one outing:

• A three-hour cruise from Faliraki
• A lower glass cabin for viewing fish
• About 40 minutes at Anthony Quinn Bay
• About 25 minutes at Traganou Caves
• Beer, water, and soft drinks
• Beach pickup and return within the Faliraki area
• A crew-led safety briefing and commentary

I would call it good value for a family or couple who wants a ready-made coastal outing. It is less compelling for a serious snorkeler who wants long, quiet time at one reef, or for someone who prefers a small private boat. The semi-submarine carries a group, and multiple pickups can make the ride feel less direct.

The high rating of 4.8 from 386 ratings supports the idea that the package usually delivers what it promises. The praise is strongest for the crew, the fish viewing, the swim stops, and the drinks. The one recurring practical complaint is time spent collecting and returning people at several beach points.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would choose this cruise for families with children who need variety. A child can watch fish through the windows, drink something cold, swim at Anthony Quinn Bay, and enter the caves without having to spend three straight hours in the water.

It also works well for couples and mixed groups. One person can snorkel while another sits below deck and watches the fish. A nervous swimmer does not have to treat the whole trip as a test of courage, though anyone who wants to swim should listen carefully to the safety briefing.

The cruise is less suitable if you want a quiet sailing experience. The boat makes transfers, hosts a group, and includes an open bar. It is cheerful and social, not private and hushed.

You should also think about mobility and boarding. The tender picks you up from red beach steps, and the swimming stops take place from the boat. The supplied information does not describe special accessibility arrangements, so ask the operator before booking if you have concerns about beach boarding, ladders, or moving between decks.

Practical tips for a smoother outing

Arrive at the correct red steps early. Faliraki has several beach pickup points, and waiting at the hotel lobby will not help if the boat is collecting you from the sand.

Wear a swimsuit under your clothes and bring a towel. You will be boarding from the beach, swimming from the boat, and returning to the same general pickup area.

Keep your phone secure. The most interesting views are in the water, and you will not want to spend the whole cruise worrying about a wet bag. A waterproof phone pouch is useful, though it is not listed as part of the tour.

If you are a weak swimmer, take the crew’s instructions seriously and use a noodle if offered. You can still enjoy the trip from the underwater cabin, but the caves and bay are water-based stops.

Bring sun protection. The trip runs in the open Rhodes sun, and the included drinks help with refreshment but do not replace water, a hat, or sunscreen.

If you are visiting from a cruise ship, transport planning matters. Faliraki is not the cruise terminal, and one departure has arranged pickup and drop-off from the port area. Confirm this before relying on it, since the standard pickup information focuses on Faliraki beaches.

Should you book the Anthony Quinn Bay cruise?

Book it if you want a well-priced, family-friendly sea outing with swimming, fish viewing, cold drinks, and two famous coastal stops. The fish feeding at Anthony Quinn Bay gives the underwater cabin a real purpose, while the Traganou Caves add a short burst of adventure.

Think twice if you want a private boat, a long snorkeling session, or a direct route with no beach pickups. You may also prefer a shore-based beach day if getting into the sea from a boat is not appealing.

For most visitors staying in Faliraki, this is an easy way to see more of the coast without committing to a full-day cruise. I would book it for the combination of the 40-minute bay stop, the cave swim, and the open bar, while accepting that some of the three hours will be spent collecting and returning passengers.

FAQ

How long is the boat trip?

The experience lasts three hours.

What stops are included?

The cruise includes a swimming stop at Anthony Quinn Bay for about 40 minutes and a swimming stop at the Traganou Caves for about 25 minutes.

Can you swim inside the Traganou Caves?

Yes. The stop allows you to swim into the cave formations from the boat.

What drinks are included?

Beer, water, and soft drinks are included through the open bar.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included in the price.

Where do you board the boat?

You board from the red steps on the beach at one of the Faliraki pickup points. Pickup areas include beaches near Amada Colossos, Esperides, Calypso Hotel, Apollo Hotel, and Faliraki Harbor.

Is the trip suitable for people who do not want to swim?

Yes. You can watch the underwater scenery from the glass cabin, including fish beneath the boat. The main stops themselves are based around swimming, so non-swimmers should confirm their comfort with the crew.