Rhodes Bay to Bay Swim Cruise-Greek Buffet w/wine included

The best part of this Rhodes boat trip is its variety. In six hours, you see the medieval harbor, pass the site of the Colossus, swim in three very different bays, and finish with a Greek buffet and wine on board. Kallithea Springs brings history and reddish spring water, while Anthony Quinn Bay offers clear, fish-filled water for snorkeling.

I like the generous swimming time and the easygoing setup. You get about an hour at Kallithea, an hour at Anthony Quinn Bay, and more than an hour at Afandou Beach, with cushioned seats, shaded areas, two bars, and clean facilities. The price is also strong at $71.38, though the meal is simple rather than restaurant-level, and the boat can carry up to 100 people.

Key points to know before booking

• Three swim stops: Kallithea Springs, Afandou Beach, and Anthony Quinn Bay each offer a different setting.
• Snorkeling included: Masks and snorkels, plus pool noodles and floaters, are available on board.
• Greek lunch and wine: The buffet includes vegetarian and gluten-free choices, with white and rosé wine included.
• Mandraki departure: The boat leaves at 10:15 a.m. from the old port, close enough for many cruise ship passengers to walk.
• Comfortable six-hour outing: Cushioned seating, shaded decks, showers, and a clean bathroom make this more than a basic ferry ride.
• Strong value: At $71.38 per person, the price covers the cruise, swim stops, lunch, soft drinks, water, and wine.

Starting at Mandraki Port with Rhodes history in view

Your day begins at 10:15 a.m. at Romantika Dreams Rhodes Day Cruise in Mandraki Port. This is a handy departure point in Rhodes Town, especially if you are arriving by cruise ship. The walk from the cruise port is about 15 minutes, according to the supplied directions, so you may not need to pay extra for a hotel transfer.

As the boat leaves, keep your camera ready. Mandraki is the historic gateway to Rhodes, and the first views include the medieval walls, the Old Town, and the castle. This is one of the most useful parts of the trip for anyone who wants a sea-level look at Rhodes before heading toward the swimming spots.

The route also passes the harbor entrance where the Colossus of Rhodes is believed to have stood. The Colossus was a huge statue of the sun god and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You will not see the statue itself, of course, but the location gives the harbor a strong sense of place.

One small weakness is that the sightseeing narration appears limited. If you want detailed explanations about the Colossus, the walls, or passing attractions, ask the crew rather than expecting a formal commentary. The cruise is built more around swimming, food, music, and relaxed time at sea than around guided history.

Kallithea Springs and the strange red water

After roughly 45 minutes at sea, the first stop is Kallithea Springs. The boat spends about an hour here, giving you time for a swim and a look at the spring area from the water.

Kallithea is known for reddish water emerging from rock formations in the Gulf of Kallithea. Ancient people believed the springs had healing qualities, and the site later became a carefully designed spa complex. Italian architect Pietro Lombardi created the buildings, while Armando Burnaby handled the decorative work with attention to the natural setting. A hydrological conference held here drew more than 200 scientists in the past.

You can enter from the sea without an admission charge, which makes this stop easy to enjoy even if you do not want a full land visit. I like the combination of a refreshing morning swim and a little local history. It is not just an anonymous patch of coast.

The limitation is time. One hour is enough for a swim and a quick look, but not for a slow visit to every part of the springs area. If you care more about the historic architecture than swimming, you may wish the boat stayed longer. For most people, the stop works best as a first taste of Rhodes water and scenery.

Bring sandals or secure footwear if you plan to explore rocky edges. The information provided describes the area as a rocky formation, so this is not the same experience as walking onto a broad sandy beach.

Afandou Beach, open water, and a long swimming break

Afandou Beach is the longest stop, lasting about one hour and 15 minutes. It takes around 45 minutes to reach from Kallithea, so this part of the cruise gives you a good stretch of open-water scenery between swims.

Afandou is known for a roughly six-kilometer pebble beach and clear water. The pebbles have been used in the sidewalks of Rhodes Old Town, a neat detail that connects the coast to the city you saw at the start of the day. The surrounding area also contains tombs and temple foundations.

The name Afandou means invisible in Greek. The coastal settlement was attacked several times, so residents moved inland behind the rocks, where the settlement could not easily be seen from the sea. It is a practical bit of history, and it explains why the modern town is not simply lined up along the shore.

At this stop, you can swim, look around the caves, or stay on deck and enjoy the view. The boat carries pool noodles and floaters, which are useful if you want to relax in the water without constantly swimming. You can also skip the water altogether and use the time for sunbathing or sitting in the shade.

The lunch buffet is served back on board after this stop. That timing makes sense. You get your longest swim first, then return to a prepared meal rather than trying to eat on a rocky beach. If pebbles bother your feet, the boat itself is the easier place to spend the break.

Anthony Quinn Bay and snorkeling with small fish

Anthony Quinn Bay is the most enclosed and dramatic swimming stop. It is a small cove surrounded by high rocks, with deep water and a more sheltered feel than Afandou. The trip from Afandou takes about 15 minutes, and the boat stays for roughly an hour.

This is the place to use the complimentary snorkeling equipment. The water is described as crystal clear, and small fish gather around the boat. You may see people feeding them bread, although it is better to treat this as a lighthearted part of the setup rather than a major wildlife encounter.

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 cove enough to seek an agreement to buy it, but the arrangement was never completed and later proved unenforceable. Locals continued using his name.

The bay is beautiful, but its small size and high rocks mean it can feel more concentrated than Afandou. Deep water also makes it less suited to anyone who wants to stand comfortably on the bottom. Life jackets, noodles, and floaters are available, but you should still be honest about your swimming ability.

For confident swimmers, this is probably the most memorable stop. You can jump from the boat, snorkel over the fish, or simply float in the clear water. The boat provides a shower afterward, a useful touch when you have salt water and sunscreen to rinse away.

Ladiko and Faliraki from the sea

The boat passes Ladiko Bay after Anthony Quinn Bay. Ladiko sits behind Anthony Quinn Bay and is surrounded by caves. Its name is linked to the Greek word for oil, because the area once served as a loading and unloading point for olive oil shipped toward Egypt and the Middle East.

Local fishermen have found clay containers from shipwrecks in the area, adding another layer to this short sightseeing passage. You do not get a dedicated stop here, so think of Ladiko as a scenic bonus rather than a separate attraction.

On the return trip, the boat also passes Faliraki Beach. Faliraki is one of Rhodes’ best-known coastal towns, with popular beaches and a busy nightlife scene. Seeing it from the water gives you a quick contrast with the quieter coves and open coast visited earlier.

These passing views are pleasant, but the limited narration matters again. If you want to learn why a place is important, ask a crew member while the bay is in sight. The crew is described as friendly and attentive, and Chris, Stefanos, and Paris are among the names associated with the onboard service.

Greek buffet, wine, and the onboard atmosphere

The included lunch is a Greek buffet served on the boat. The meal can include chicken, pasta, salads, and vegetable dishes such as briam, a Greek-style baked vegetable dish. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are available, which makes the meal more useful for families and mixed groups.

I would set your expectations correctly. This is a practical buffet for a day at sea, not a destination meal. Some plates are described as delicious and generous, while the food may feel basic if you are expecting elaborate Greek cooking. The vegetable choices receive particular praise, and the gluten-free provision is a real advantage for anyone who needs it.

White and rosé wine are included throughout the cruise, along with bottled water, lemonade, and soda. Beer is not included, so check the bar prices if that matters to you. The boat has bars on different decks, including a shaded main deck with its own bar.

Music helps create a social, holiday mood, especially on the return journey. Some people will love the relaxed party atmosphere. If you want a quiet, silent sailing trip, this may not be your ideal choice.

The seating is one of the tour’s better practical features. Cushioned seats, covered shade, and sunny areas let you choose how much time you spend in direct sun. There is also space to walk around, and the bathroom is reported to be clean and comfortable. That matters on a six-hour cruise.

Is $71.38 a good price for six hours?

At $71.38 per person, I consider this a very good value if you plan to use the swim stops and included food and drinks. The price covers the boat ride, three swimming locations, snorkeling masks and snorkels, lunch, water, lemonade, wine, life jackets, floaters, pool noodles, and access to a shower.

You are also paying for the convenience of moving from bay to bay without arranging separate transport. A land-based beach day could require taxis, beach equipment, food, and drinks, while this package puts everything in one place.

The value is weaker if you do not like swimming, snorkeling, music, or sitting on a boat for several hours. You can enjoy the views from the deck, but the main purpose is clearly a swim cruise. The meal is included, but it should be judged as a simple buffet rather than a gourmet extra.

The maximum group size is 100 people. That is not a tiny private sailing, but the boat has been described as having plenty of room, comfortable seats, and enough space to find sun or shade. Conditions can vary by departure, so anyone wanting a very quiet or highly personal trip should keep the group size in mind.

Who will enjoy this Rhodes cruise most?

I would recommend this outing to families, couples, groups of friends, and cruise passengers who want an easy water day close to Rhodes Town. It also works for people who do not swim, since you can sunbathe, eat, listen to music, and enjoy the coast from the deck.

Families may appreciate the life jackets, floaters, noodles, food choices, and mix of activity levels. Confident swimmers will get the most from Anthony Quinn Bay, while less active participants can remain on board during the stops.

It is also a good fit if you want a social atmosphere rather than a formal sightseeing tour. The crew aims for a friendly mood, and the combination of music, wine, and shared buffet seating makes it easy to treat the cruise as a relaxed holiday day.

I would choose a different activity if your main goal is detailed archaeological information, a private boat, scuba training, or long beach time on sand. This is a shared cruise with short historical commentary and scheduled stops.

Book at least a day ahead if your dates are fixed. The trip depends on good weather, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. If poor weather cancels the cruise, you can accept another date or receive a full refund.

Should you book the Bay to Bay Swim Cruise?

Book it if you want three distinct swimming settings, an easy departure from Rhodes Town, and a package that includes lunch, wine, snorkeling equipment, and soft drinks. The strongest reasons are the clear water at Anthony Quinn Bay, the unusual setting at Kallithea Springs, and the long Afandou stop.

Go in knowing that the food is simple, the boat can hold up to 100 people, and the sightseeing information may be light. For $71.38, though, this is a well-rounded day at sea with clean facilities, comfortable seating, and plenty to do. If swimming and relaxed coastal views sound better than another hot day on city streets, I would book it.

FAQ

Where does the Rhodes Bay to Bay Swim Cruise depart?

It departs from Romantika Dreams Rhodes Day Cruise at Mandraki Port Nea Agora in Rhodes Town.

What time does the cruise start?

The scheduled start time is 10:15 a.m.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately six hours and returns to the original meeting point.

Which swimming locations are included?

The cruise stops at Kallithea Springs, Afandou Beach, and Anthony Quinn Bay. It also passes Ladiko Bay and Faliraki Beach.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Masks and snorkels are included, along with life jackets, floaters, and pool noodles.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Greek buffet lunch is included, with vegetarian and gluten-free choices available.

Are drinks included?

Bottled water, soda or lemonade, and white and rosé wine are included. Beer is not listed as an included drink.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel transfer is optional and costs extra. The standard meeting point is at Mandraki Port.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. If poor weather cancels the cruise, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.