Rhodes Exclusive Swim Cruise Cocktail Open bar & Gourmet Buffet

Rhodes looks best from the water. This six-hour cruise pairs three beautiful swimming stops with a Greek buffet, cocktails, beer, wine, and soft drinks. I like the comfortable beanbag and sun-bench seating, plus the generous supply of snorkels, floaters, noodles, and life jackets. The main drawback is the mood: loud music and dancing can replace quiet sea time.

At $107.63 per person, the cruise offers strong value if you will use the open bar and enjoy a social boat outing. I also like the small-group limit of 40 people, which helps avoid the packed-deck feeling found on many Rhodes boat trips. Captain Alexander’s dancing and playful energy are part of the show, but anyone seeking a peaceful sail should choose carefully.

Key points to know before booking

• Three swimming bays: Kallithea Springs, Afandou Beach, and Anthony Quinn Bay each offer a different setting, from historic bathing grounds to caves and clear water.
• Open bar included: Cocktails, wine, beer, water, soda, and nonalcoholic drinks are available throughout the cruise.
• Greek buffet onboard: Expect freshly prepared food with dishes such as seafood, pasta, salad, bread, chicken, and dessert, plus vegan and gluten-free choices.
• Comfortable seating: Bean bags, sun benches, and allocated seating make this more spacious than many standard boat excursions.
• Party atmosphere: Music, dancing, and the famously entertaining Captain Alexander give the cruise a lively edge.
• Bring strong sun protection: The boat offers shade in places, but you will spend much of the day exposed to Rhodes sunshine.

Setting out from Mandraki Harbour at 10 a.m.

The cruise begins at Romantika Rhodes Day Cruise in Mandraki Harbour, opposite the Bank of Greece. You meet at 10 a.m., and the boat returns to the same place after roughly six hours.

Mandraki is a fine starting point because the harbor itself is part of Rhodes’ story. In antiquity, it served as one of the island’s five ports and functioned as the naval harbor. The name comes from the Greek word mandri, connected with a small enclosed harbor.

As the boat leaves, you get a good view of Rhodes’ medieval walls and Old Town from the sea. This is one of the best photo moments of the day. The city walls look particularly impressive from offshore, where you can see their full scale rather than just one gate or tower at a time.

The cruise also passes the entrance to Mandraki, traditionally linked with the Colossus of Rhodes. The famous statue of the sun god was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but there is no proof that it actually straddled the harbor entrance. The boat presents the location as a historical viewpoint, not as a confirmed archaeological fact.

You will also see the Venetian-era columns topped by statues of a Rhodian stag and doe. Across the harbor is the Fortress of Agios Nikolaos, which began as a small church and later became a stronghold under the Knights of St. John. Three well-preserved medieval windmills complete the view.

These sights pass fairly quickly, so keep your camera ready. The cruise is primarily about swimming, food, and fun, not a formal history tour. If you sit on the upper deck, you may have a better view, but some commentary can be harder to hear there.

Kallithea Springs: a scenic first swim

The first stop is Kallithea Springs, where the boat pauses for about an hour. The stop gives you time to swim in the clear water and, if you wish, look toward the historic springs complex on shore.

Kallithea has been associated with healing waters since ancient times. Reddish water once rose from the rocky ground in the Gulf of Kallithea, drawing people who came for physical and mental relief. The buildings around the springs were designed by Italian architects Pietro Lombardi and Alberto Mocci, with decorative work by Armando Burnaby.

From the boat, the attraction is less about touring the architecture and more about the setting. You can swim in a protected area and enjoy the first taste of the Aegean water before lunch and the livelier parts of the cruise begin. Admission from the sea is free.

The crew provides snorkeling equipment, pool noodles, floaters, and life jackets. That matters if you are not a confident swimmer. You can stay close to the boat with a flotation aid rather than sitting out the stop entirely.

The one-hour limit keeps the day moving, but it also means you should organize yourself quickly. If you want to swim, snorkel, take photographs, and see the shore, you will not have time to linger over each activity.

Afandou Beach and the coast’s quieter history

The second stop is Afandou Beach, a long pebble shore stretching for roughly six kilometers. Its clear water and open setting feel quite different from the smaller, rock-framed bays later in the day.

You have more than an hour here, with time to swim, explore around the caves, and enjoy the coast from the water. The pebbles are part of the local story too. Stone from the Afandou area was used in the construction of sidewalks in Rhodes Old Town.

The name Afandou is linked to the Greek word afando, meaning invisible. After repeated attacks on coastal settlements by pirates, Persians, Arabs, and Turks, local residents moved inland behind the rocks, where their settlement could not easily be seen from the sea.

You do not need to be a history enthusiast to appreciate the point. The stop shows how the island’s geography shaped daily life. The sea offered trade and transport, but an exposed coastal settlement also made an easy target.

The boat opens the buffet after this stop, back onboard. This timing works well because you can swim first, then return hungry for lunch. The meal is part of what makes the price reasonable, especially if you would otherwise buy lunch, drinks, and a separate boat trip during the same day.

Lunch onboard: Greek food with an open bar

The buffet is described as Greek gourmet food, and the meal is one of the strongest parts of the experience. The exact menu can vary, but dishes served on this cruise have included shrimp pasta, mussels, chicken, salad, bread with tzatziki, spinach rice, a traditional dakos-style barley rusk dish, and a brownie-style dessert.

That is a more substantial spread than the usual sandwich and fruit found on basic swim boats. The food is prepared onboard by the chef, and vegan and gluten-free choices are included. If you have a strict allergy, you should still confirm details before booking, since the available information does not describe separate preparation areas.

The open bar includes signature cocktails, wine, beer, ouzo, water, soda, and other nonalcoholic drinks. Bottled water and chilled beer are easy choices between swims, while the cocktail menu adds a festive touch.

Do not expect every cocktail to be custom-made exactly to your preference. The bar offers a set selection, and one account found some drinks limited or light on alcohol. That is a fair trade for an included bar, but serious cocktail enthusiasts may find the menu less flexible than a dedicated bar.

The boat’s staff keeps drinks moving, and one memorable feature is the way cold beers can reach swimmers in the water at Anthony Quinn Bay. It is playful rather than refined, but it fits the tone of the day.

Anthony Quinn Bay: the most dramatic swim

Anthony Quinn Bay is the final major stop and likely the visual highlight. Unlike the long open stretch of Afandou, this is a compact cove surrounded by high rocks. The water is deep, clear, and filled with small fish.

Snorkeling gear is supplied, so you can look beneath the surface without bringing your own equipment. Bread attracts the fish near the boat, creating an easy underwater spectacle for first-time snorkelers and children who are comfortable in the water.

The bay takes its name from Mexican actor Anthony Quinn, who came to Rhodes while filming The Guns of Navarone in the 1960s. He liked the area and sought to buy it, but the agreement was never completed. The court later ruled that the arrangement was unenforceable, yet the local name remained.

Nearby Ladiko adds another layer to the coastal story. The bay was once a trading point for olive oil, and local fishermen found clay containers from shipwrecks connected with that trade. Ladiko now serves as a popular beach and a base for water activities.

Anthony Quinn Bay is beautiful, but it can feel busy because of its fame and small size. The boat’s restricted capacity helps, though this is not a private cove. If you want the clearest photographs, stay alert as the boat approaches and use the full hour well.

The boat, seating, and overall mood

Romantika is arranged for comfort, with bean bags and sun benches rather than rows of hard seats. Seating is allocated, and the maximum group size is 40 people. This setup is a major advantage because you do not have to spend the morning guarding a lounger or searching for a place to sit.

The boat has two decks, and the upper level offers more sun and open views. The lower level is closer to the bar and may be more practical when you want a drink, shade, or quick access to the facilities. Seating is spacious enough that the cruise can feel relaxed even when fully booked.

Music plays throughout the day. For many people, this is part of the fun, with dancing from the crew and a party atmosphere led by Captain Alexander. His dance routines, including playful performances inspired by pop stars, are repeatedly part of the entertainment.

For others, the music is the main weakness. On a lively day, it can be difficult to hold a conversation beside you. This is not the best choice for reading quietly, listening to the water, or having a calm anniversary outing.

The crew earns high marks for friendliness and attention. They help with seating, drinks, swimming equipment, and general safety. The toilets are reported to be clean, another small but important point during a six-hour excursion.

Is $107.63 good value?

The price makes sense if you see the cruise as a full half-day package rather than a simple boat ride. You receive transportation by sea, three swim stops, seating, a buffet lunch, an open bar, snorkeling equipment, flotation aids, and entertainment.

Buying those pieces separately would quickly add up. A standard boat trip may cost less at first glance, but you could then pay extra for lunch, drinks, equipment, and a better seat. Here, the restricted capacity and included food and beverages help explain the higher price.

The value drops if you do not drink alcohol or do not plan to eat much. It also drops if you want long shore visits, because the stops are designed around swimming from the boat rather than extended time on land.

Hotel transfer is not included. You need to reach Mandraki Harbour yourself, or arrange a transfer for an additional fee. Public transportation is nearby, but the meeting point can be a little difficult to find, so allow extra time.

Who will enjoy this Rhodes cruise most?

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a social day on the water with good food, frequent drinks, and several chances to swim. It works especially well for couples, friends, families with confident swimmers, and cruise-ship passengers looking for a full half-day excursion from the port area.

It is also a good option if you are not a strong swimmer. Life jackets and floaters let you enter the water with more confidence, and you can enjoy the scenery from the boat when you need a break.

You may want another type of outing if silence matters more than entertainment, or if you prefer lengthy visits to beaches and historical sites. The boat offers scenic history from the water, but it is not a guided Old Town tour or an archaeological excursion.

Weather matters too. The activity can be canceled in poor conditions, with a different date or a full refund offered. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure, but changes or cancellations inside that period are not accepted.

Should you book it?

I would book this cruise if I wanted to combine Rhodes swimming, Greek food, and an open bar without worrying about extra costs during the day. The clear water at Anthony Quinn Bay, the comfortable seating, and the warm crew make it more than a basic sightseeing boat.

Choose it with your eyes open: music and dancing are central to the mood, and the small bays may feel busy. If you want a lively, well-fed, well-served day at sea, it is a strong choice at $107.63. If you want peace and quiet, pick a smaller sailing focused on nature rather than cocktails and dancing.

FAQ

Where does the cruise begin and end?

The cruise begins and ends at Romantika Rhodes Day Cruise in Mandraki Port, opposite the Bank of Greece in Rhodes Town.

What time does the cruise start?

The scheduled start time is 10 a.m.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately six hours.

Which swimming stops are included?

The route includes Kallithea Springs, Afandou Beach, and Anthony Quinn Bay.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Greek buffet prepared by the onboard chef is included, with vegan and gluten-free choices available.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The open bar includes cocktails, signature cocktails, wine, beer, water, soda, and other nonalcoholic drinks.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, pool noodles, floaters, and life jackets are available for use.

How many people can join the cruise?

The activity has a maximum of 40 participants.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel transfer is optional and costs extra.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. For your own cancellation, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.