Rhodes: Bay to Bay Swim Cruise with Greek Buffet and Wine

Three bays, one easygoing day at sea. The Romantika Dreams cruise pairs three one-hour swim stops with a Greek buffet, local white and rosé wine, music, and wide-open views along Rhodes’ east coast. I like the generous time in the water and the friendly, social mood onboard. The main consideration is simple: the boat anchors offshore, so reaching a beach or cave means swimming.

I also like the value. At $69, you get six hours on the water, lunch, wine, water, snorkeling masks, pool noodles, and life vests. The tradeoff is that cocktails, champagne, and other bar drinks cost extra, and the popular summer departures may feel livelier and less spacious than the quieter October trips.

Why this Rhodes boat trip works

• Three proper swim stops: You get about an hour at Kallithea, Afandou and Anthony Quinn Bay, not just a quick photo pause.
• Lunch is cooked onboard: The buffet includes Greek dishes, vegetarian choices, and options for vegan and gluten-free diets.
• Wine keeps the price strong: Local white and rosé wine are included, along with water.
• The boat offers room to spread out: Romantika Dreams has two comfortable decks, with seating for people who want sun, shade, music, or a quiet break.
• Swimming ability matters: The boat stays at anchor, and you must swim to shore rather than walk directly onto each beach.
• The ride gets more social later: Music, wine, and the crew’s upbeat service can turn the return trip into a small party, including Greek dancing.

Setting out from Mandraki Port at 10:15

Your meeting point is Mandraki Port, opposite the Nea Agora marketplace. Look for the crew in blue shorts and red-striped shirts. Boarding begins from 9:45am, which gives you time to find the boat, settle onto a deck, and avoid starting the day in a rush.

At 10:15am, Romantika Dreams leaves the old port and follows Rhodes’ east coast. This first stretch is more than a transfer to the swimming stops. You pass St. Nicholas Fortress, the Medieval Old City, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Fontana Grande, and Rams Rock.

I would treat the outward journey as a sightseeing cruise rather than a formal history tour. The supplied information points out the main sights, but the strongest part is seeing Rhodes from the water. Bring a hat and sunscreen, and keep a light layer handy. One June and July experience was breezy enough that a cardigan would have helped.

The boat has two decks, so you can choose your mood. The upper deck should suit anyone who wants open sun, views, music, and a livelier atmosphere. A lower or more sheltered area makes more sense if you want to stay out of the strongest breeze or simply rest between swims.

Kallithea Bay and its famous springs

The first stop is Kallithea Bay, where the boat anchors for about an hour. The bay is known for Kallithea Springs, a seaside monument tied to nature, architecture, and local history.

You can swim, snorkel, take photographs, or stay aboard and enjoy the deck. The boat provides masks, pool noodles, and life vests, but ask the crew for the snorkeling equipment. One useful onboard detail is that the masks are kept behind the bar, so they are easy to miss if nobody points them out.

This stop gives you a gentle start. You can test the water, learn how the boat handles the swim stops, and decide how much activity you want for the rest of the day. If you are nervous in deep water, a pool noodle can make a real difference. One person who feared deep water used one throughout the cruise and still joined the snorkeling.

The limitation is worth spelling out. Kallithea is not a dockside beach stop where you simply step ashore. The boat remains at anchor, so you need to swim from the vessel if you want to reach the shore or explore close to the rocks. If you prefer not to swim, you can still enjoy the scenery and music from the deck.

After three horn signals from the captain, the boat moves on. The horns are a practical little part of the day, telling you it is time to return onboard.

Cruising past Faliraki and Ladiko Bay

Between Kallithea and Afandou, Romantika Dreams passes Faliraki and Ladiko Bay. These are sightseeing stretches rather than full stops, so you will not have the same hour of free time there.

This section lets you watch the coast change as the boat heads farther south. Faliraki is a familiar resort area, while Ladiko Bay adds another scenic cove to the view. Keep your camera ready, but do not expect a long swim or shore visit at either place.

The boat ride itself matters here. You are not being hurried from one bus stop to another. You have time to sit, talk, listen to the music, and watch the coast. This is where the cruise feels most different from a standard beach transfer.

Afandou Beach, Traganou Caves, and lunch

Afandou is the second major stop, with around an hour for swimming and exploring. The beach stretches for about four kilometres, and nearby Traganou Caves add a more rugged point of interest.

From the boat, you can swim, snorkel, jump from the lower or higher decks, or make your way toward the beach and caves if conditions allow. The information for the cruise specifically notes that you must swim to shore, so take that seriously if you are not a confident swimmer.

This is also where the crew prepares the Greek lunch buffet. You may build an appetite quickly after the first swim, and the timing makes sense. The food is prepared onboard and includes traditional Greek recipes, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices available. If you have a food restriction, tell the crew when you arrive rather than waiting until the buffet opens.

The exact dishes can vary. One autumn menu included bread rolls, roasted vegetables, Greek salad, and chicken and onion pasta. That gives you a better idea of the meal than simply calling it a Greek buffet. It is straightforward, filling boat food, not a formal restaurant lunch.

Wine is served throughout the cruise, with local white and rosé included. Water is also included. The bar sells cocktails and champagne at additional cost, and the product information does not list beer or soft drinks among the included items, so ask before ordering if those matter to you.

Afandou is probably the most flexible stop. You can spend the hour in the water, try to reach the caves, jump from the boat, or stay on deck while lunch comes together. The catch is that an hour goes quickly if you want to do all four.

Anthony Quinn Bay and the final swim

After lunch, the boat continues past large rock formations toward Anthony Quinn Bay. This famous little cove takes its name from actor Anthony Quinn, who fell in love with the area while filming The Guns of Navarone. He bought the land, though it was reclaimed by the Greek government in 1984.

The bay is the final swimming stop and often the most memorable. Its compact shape and rocky surroundings make it feel different from the wider Afandou shore. You can swim, snorkel, view marine life, use the water equipment, or relax with a drink from the bar.

Fish gather around the boat, especially if pieces of bread enter the water. That makes the snorkeling more entertaining, although you should follow the crew’s instructions and avoid treating the bay like a private feeding spot.

The boat may feel more festive here. With the main sightseeing finished, people settle into the music, wine, and last swim. Depending on the mood onboard, the return portion can include singing, dancing, and a lesson in the Greek Zorba dance.

Anthony Quinn Bay is also the stop where crowding matters most. The cove is small and well known, and the cruise may share the area with other boats. You get the beauty of the setting, but not necessarily a quiet, empty bay.

Food, wine, and the parea mood

Parea is the Greek idea of people coming together, talking, eating, and having a good time. That spirit is central to this trip. The crew keeps wine flowing, music plays through the sound system, and the open-deck layout makes it easy to chat with people nearby.

The service receives especially strong praise. The crew is described as friendly, attentive, and welcoming, with wine sometimes brought directly to seats. That matters on a swimming cruise because you do not want to spend every break standing in a queue at the bar.

The food is another high point. It is not just a packet lunch, and the onboard cooking gives the day a more local feel. You should still keep your expectations sensible. Menus vary, and the meal is designed for a large boat rather than a small gourmet group.

The included wine makes the $69 fare unusually attractive. Additional cocktails, champagne, and other bar purchases can raise the final cost, but you can enjoy the basic day without buying anything beyond the ticket. If you want beer, confirm the current arrangement before boarding because the included list specifically names white wine, rosé wine, and water.

How comfortable is Romantika Dreams?

The boat has two spacious decks and enough seating for people who want to sit out during the cruise. That is a real advantage because not everyone wants to swim at every stop. Some people prefer to read, talk, watch the coast, or enjoy lunch without climbing in and out of the water.

You should expect a social boat, not a private yacht. Music is part of the experience, and the atmosphere can become lively on the way back to Rhodes. If you want peace and quiet all day, this may not be your ideal outing.

The cruise is wheelchair accessible, but the swimming format still deserves a practical check before booking. The boat anchors offshore, and getting into the water or reaching the beach involves swimming. Contact the provider in advance if you need specific assistance beyond general access.

The boat returns to Mandraki Port at about 4:15pm, making the total outing roughly six hours. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, though they are available for an extra fee.

What to pack for the six-hour cruise

Bring swimwear, a towel, comfortable shoes, a hat, and sunscreen. You will want shoes that are easy to manage on a boat and useful around rocky areas.

A waterproof phone pouch or camera is a smart extra. One person wished they had brought protection for a phone after swimming toward the caves, beaches, and rocks. You may get good photographs from the deck, but underwater pictures require equipment you bring yourself.

I would also pack a light cardigan or thin jacket. The boat can feel breezy even on a sunny day, especially during the longer stretches between bays.

You do not need to bring snorkeling equipment unless you prefer your own. Masks, pool noodles, and life vests are provided. Ask behind the bar for a mask when you board.

Is $69 good value?

For six hours, three swim stops, lunch, wine, water, equipment, and coastal sightseeing, $69 is a strong price. The value improves if you plan to use the snorkeling gear and included drinks rather than treating the cruise only as transportation between beaches.

The fare also covers the parts that are easy to underestimate: the crew’s service, the onboard cooking, the music, the deck seating, and the time spent cruising between stops. You are buying a full day out, not simply access to three coves.

The price is less compelling if you do not swim and dislike group activities. You can stay on deck, but the core purpose is getting into the water at each bay. Extra drinks cost more, and the busiest dates may feel less relaxed than off-season departures.

The cruise has a 4.8 rating from 187 reviews, and the most consistent praise centers on the food, friendly crew, swim time, and value. That pattern is useful because those are the parts most likely to shape your day.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to couples, families with confident swimmers, solo visitors who enjoy meeting people, and anyone who wants several Rhodes bays in one outing. Beginners can use the pool noodles and life vests, while stronger swimmers can snorkel, jump from the boat, or swim toward shore.

It is also a good choice if you want a relaxed day rather than a packed sightseeing schedule. The timetable gives you one hour at each main bay, enough for a swim without forcing you to rush straight back aboard.

You may want another kind of outing if you need direct beach access, prefer a quiet boat, or do not feel comfortable swimming from an anchored vessel. The same applies if your main goal is an in-depth historical tour, since the cruise offers views and brief context rather than long guided visits.

Final verdict: book it for the water and the atmosphere

I would book this cruise if I wanted an affordable Rhodes day with three different coves, a proper lunch, and a friendly deck scene. The strongest reasons are the hour-long stops, the included wine, the useful snorkeling equipment, and the crew’s steady service.

Before booking, ask yourself one question: are you happy entering the water from the boat? If yes, Romantika Dreams offers very good value at $69. If not, you can still enjoy the views and food, but you will miss the main event.

FAQ

Where does the Rhodes Bay to Bay Swim Cruise depart?

It departs from Mandraki Port, opposite the Nea Agora marketplace. The crew wears blue shorts and red-striped shirts.

What time does the cruise leave and return?

Boarding begins at 9:45am, and the boat leaves at 10:15am. It returns to Mandraki Port at about 4:15pm.

Which bays does the cruise visit?

The main stops are Kallithea Bay, Afandou Beach near the Traganou Caves, and Anthony Quinn Bay. The boat also passes Faliraki and Ladiko Bay.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Greek buffet prepared onboard is included, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices available. Tell the crew about food restrictions when you arrive.

Are wine and snorkeling equipment included?

Local white wine, rosé wine, water, snorkeling masks, pool noodles, and life vests are included. Cocktails, champagne, and other additional bar drinks cost extra.

Do I need to swim to reach the beaches?

Yes. The boat remains at anchor in each bay, so you must swim to shore. You can also stay aboard and enjoy the deck, music, food, and views.