Mykonos 6hrs sailing cruise: Delos Rhenia with lunch & transfer

The best part of this Mykonos cruise is the change of pace. You spend about five hours on the water, visit ancient Delos, then swim and snorkel off quiet Rhenia. It gives you archaeology, sea time, and a fresh lunch in one outing.

I especially like the small group of up to 14 people and the fact that lunch, wine, beer, snorkeling gear, and a SUP are included. The crew also keeps the day friendly and useful, with first mate Tina earning special praise for looking after a full boat and sharing information along the way.

The main catch is Delos. The €20 archaeological-site ticket is extra, and no tour guide is included, so you may see the ruins on your own unless you arrange a guide separately. The trip also depends on good weather, and strong wind can change the plan.

Key points to know before booking

• Two very different islands: Delos offers ancient ruins and Rhenia offers clear water, swimming, and a quiet beach stop.
• Lunch and drinks are included: Expect food prepared on board, plus wine and beer.
• A genuinely small boat group: The maximum is 14 people, so the outing feels more personal than a large party cruise.
• Tina may be your first mate: She has been praised for friendly service and keeping a busy boat running smoothly.
• Delos costs extra: Budget €20 per person for admission, and remember that a guide is not part of the package.
• About six hours door to door: The cruise begins at 9:00 am and returns to the Mathios Tavern meeting point.

Why this cruise makes sense in Mykonos

Mykonos is easy to enjoy from a café or beach chair, but its best day trips take you away from the island’s crowded center. This cruise links two nearby islands with very different personalities, so you get more than a standard swim stop.

Delos is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Cyclades. Rhenia, by contrast, is uninhabited and valued for its calm, blue water. Moving between the two by sailboat gives the day a natural rhythm: ruins first, water and lunch later, then an easy ride back to Mykonos.

The price is $181.02 per person. That is not a cheap beach transfer, but it covers fuel, the skipper, an assistant, lunch, wine, beer, snorkeling equipment, and a SUP. You are also paying for a small group rather than a crowded vessel with a much larger capacity.

The value improves if you would otherwise book separate transport to Delos, a boat trip, lunch, and water equipment. It is less attractive if you only want a short swim and do not care about Delos. In that case, a simpler beach outing may cost less.

Starting at Mathios Tavern at 9:00 am

The listed meeting point is Mathios Tavern in Mykonos, and the activity ends back there. A free transfer is available on request, but you must give the operator your exact pickup location by 10:00 pm on the evening before your booking.

That deadline matters. Do not assume the transfer will be arranged automatically. Send your location in time, and keep the meeting instructions handy on the morning of the cruise.

The start point is described as easy to find and close to public transportation. Confirmation arrives when you book, which helps if you are fitting this into a short Mykonos stay.

The total outing lasts about six hours, with roughly five hours spent sailing or at the island stops. That leaves much of the afternoon and evening open, a useful feature if you want to combine the cruise with dinner in Mykonos Town.

Sailing with up to 14 people

The small group is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip. The maximum is 14 people, and the boat has been described as spacious enough that the group does not feel packed in.

Group size can change the mood of a sailing day. With 14 or fewer people, you have a better chance to speak with the crew, find a comfortable place to sit, and enjoy the ride without the feel of a floating excursion bus. The social side can also work well for couples, families, and solo visitors who enjoy meeting people without joining a large crowd.

The boat has been praised for being clean and well equipped. The crew includes a fully licensed English-speaking skipper and a skipper’s assistant who helps with service and the practical work on board.

First mate Tina received especially warm praise for managing a boat of 13 people while making sure everyone had what they needed. The captain was also described as capable and willing to share information about the islands and notable sights.

Do not expect a formal lecture throughout the day. The supplied details confirm a skipper and assistant, not a dedicated historian or licensed guide. You get helpful commentary from the crew, but the archaeological visit is not a guided Delos tour.

Delos: ancient stones with one important extra cost

The first stop is Delos, where you have about one hour. This is the cultural heart of the cruise, and it gives the morning more substance than a simple ride around the islands.

Delos was a major sacred and commercial center in the ancient Cyclades. Today, you walk among exposed ruins and archaeological remains on an island that feels very different from modern Mykonos. Even a short visit can be worthwhile if you want to see temples, old streets, and the outlines of a once-important ancient settlement.

One hour is enough for a focused look, but it is not a long archaeological visit. You will need to use your time well, particularly if you want to see more than the main remains near the landing area.

The Delos admission ticket costs €20 per person and is not included in the cruise price. This is easy to miss when comparing packages, so add it to your budget before deciding that the $181.02 fare covers everything.

A tour guide is also not included. The skipper may provide background about the island, but you should not book this expecting a full guided archaeological tour. If detailed ancient history is your priority, arrange your own guide if that is possible for your date, or plan to explore using the information available at the site.

There is also a practical uncertainty: Delos can close. Set Sail Mykonos is not responsible for a closure, and if that happens, the boat will pass by the island without dropping you off. You should still receive the sailing portion and the Rhenia stop, but the archaeological visit will be lost.

Rhenia: the swimming stop

After Delos, the cruise heads to Rhenia, the uninhabited island next to Mykonos. The scheduled stop lasts about two hours, making it the part of the day where you can slow down.

Rhenia is known here for clear water and a quiet setting. You can swim, snorkel, and use the included stand-up paddleboard. The cruise also supplies snorkeling equipment, so you do not need to bring your own mask and fins unless you prefer your personal gear.

The stop is not built around a busy resort beach. That is the appeal. You get open water, time to float, and a less developed setting than the main beaches on Mykonos.

Bring your own beach towel. Towels are not included, and you should also pack swimwear, sun protection, and a dry change of clothes. The supplied information does not list other personal items, so it is sensible to keep your belongings compact and easy to store on a boat.

The sea conditions will affect how much you enjoy this part. On a calm day, two hours gives you a generous amount of time in the water. If the wind rises, swimming and paddleboarding may be less comfortable, and the crew may need to adjust the schedule.

Lunch, wine, beer, and time on deck

Lunch is served on board rather than at a restaurant. It has been described as freshly prepared, plentiful, and light Greek food, which suits the rhythm of a sailing day.

The meal is an important part of the price. You do not need to find a restaurant between Delos and Rhenia, and you can eat while enjoying the sea views. Wine and beer are included as well.

Alcohol is best treated as a relaxed meal option, not the main event. You still have swimming and snorkeling ahead, and the boat ride may feel less comfortable if you drink too much in the sun.

The crew has also been praised for kindness and practical care. In one memorable incident, the captain went into the water to retrieve sunglasses that had fallen overboard. That does not mean the crew can replace lost belongings, but it gives you a useful sense of the attentive tone reported aboard.

Occasional wildlife is possible, though never guaranteed. Dolphins were seen near the boat on one outing, a lucky bonus rather than a promised feature.

What the sailing time is really like

The cruise is not only a transfer between two stops. Much of the pleasure comes from being on the open water, looking back at Mykonos and across the nearby islands.

You will spend around five hours sailing and visiting the two stops, within a six-hour activity. That is enough time to feel that you had a full day at sea without giving up the entire afternoon.

The experience is also weather dependent. Mykonos can be windy, and sailing conditions may affect comfort, speed, and the time available at each stop. The operator requires good weather and offers a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes cancellation.

This is worth keeping in mind when planning tightly around a flight or ferry. A weather change is outside the operator’s control, but it can affect your wider schedule.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a mix of sea, scenery, and ancient sites. It suits couples looking for a relaxed day, families with older children, and friends who want an outing that includes food and drinks without paying for several separate activities.

One family outing included children aged 16, 13, and 9, and the trip was described as timely, friendly, and fun for the whole group. That suggests the cruise can work for children, though you should be comfortable with a boat day and open-water swimming.

It is also a good match for social visitors. A small group gives you the chance to chat with other people, but the boat is not so large that you lose contact with the crew.

I would hesitate if you want a long, detailed Delos tour. You get about an hour on the island, no dedicated guide, and an extra €20 admission fee. I would also think twice if you dislike wind, sun, or the movement of a sailing boat.

Practical costs and booking details

The listed price is $181.02 per person. Included are the skipper, assistant, fuel, lunch, wine, beer, snorkeling equipment, and SUP use. A free transfer is available on request, which can add real value if your accommodation is not close to the meeting point.

Not included are beach towels, the €20 Delos admission ticket, and a tour guide. Those exclusions are modest compared with the overall package, but they affect the final cost and the level of cultural explanation you receive.

The activity is booked by an average of 38 days in advance, so popular dates may fill ahead of time. Confirmation is provided at booking, and mobile tickets make the reservation easy to keep on your phone.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 9:00 am start for a full refund. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses local Mykonos time.

My verdict: a strong full-day value at sea

I would book this cruise if I wanted one Mykonos outing that covers several bases without feeling like a giant group excursion. The combination of Delos, Rhenia, lunch, drinks, and water equipment gives you a well-filled six hours, and the maximum group size keeps the experience personal.

Before booking, make three checks. Confirm your transfer location by 10:00 pm the night before, set aside €20 for Delos, and accept that the archaeological stop may be replaced by a sail past the island if it closes.

Choose it for the overall day, not only for Delos or only for swimming. If you want both ancient ruins and clear water, this is a sensible use of your Mykonos budget. If you want expert archaeological commentary or complete certainty about the schedule, look for a guided Delos excursion instead.

FAQ

How long does the Mykonos sailing cruise last?

The activity lasts approximately six hours. Around five hours are spent sailing and visiting Delos and Rhenia, with the rest of your day free afterward.

What time does the cruise start?

The listed start time is 9:00 am.

Where does the cruise begin and end?

It begins at Mathios Tavern in Mykonos and returns to the same meeting point at the end of the activity.

Is hotel pickup available?

Free transfer is available upon request. You must provide your exact pickup location by 10:00 pm on the day before your booking.

Is the Delos entrance ticket included?

No. Admission to the Delos archaeological site costs €20 per person and is paid separately.

Is a tour guide included at Delos?

No. A tour guide is not included, although the English-speaking skipper may provide information during the cruise.

What food and drinks are included?

Lunch is included on board, along with alcoholic beverages consisting of wine and beer.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. Free cancellation for other reasons is available up to 24 hours before the start time.