Hersonisos: Boat Cruise with Swim Stops and Lunch

Leave the pool behind for a few hours. This cruise from Hersonissos gives you a simple taste of Crete from the water, with two swim stops, snorkelling, a grilled lunch, fresh fruit, and music aboard a traditional wooden boat. It is less about sightseeing commentary and more about slowing down, swimming, eating, and enjoying the coast.

I like the easy four-hour length and the fact that the day includes real time in the water rather than hours spent only sailing. I also like the friendly, low-key service from Captain Panos, George, and Leftheris. The main drawback is that a boat built for up to 100 people may feel busy, especially if you are hoping for a quiet private sailing trip or a highly detailed tour of Crete.

Key points before you book

• Two swimming areas: The cruise stops at St. George Bay and the Stalis area for swimming and snorkelling.
• A 19-meter wooden boat: The vessel is newly built in a traditional style and can carry up to 100 people.
• Lunch is included: Expect a grilled meal with bread, salad, and fresh fruit for dessert. A vegetarian option is available.
• The mood is relaxed: Music plays onboard, and the crew aims for a friendly, informal atmosphere rather than a lecture-heavy cruise.
• Drinks cost extra: Bottled water, soft drinks, and other beverages are not included.
• Bring the basics: You need swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and an electronic or printed ticket.

Starting from Hersonissos Port

You meet the boat at Eleni Traditional Wooden Boat in the Port of Hersonissos, opposite the Hersonissos Port Authority and Hellenic Coast Guard Station at 125 Agias Paraskevis Street.

That location matters because hotel pickup is not included. You need to make your own way to the port and arrive with your ticket ready to show. The activity also returns to this same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup location at the end.

The boat is operated by ELENI Boat Trip, powered by Cretan Saili. At 19 meters, or about 62 feet, it is large enough to provide plenty of room but not so large that it feels like a ferry. It is described as a new-built traditional wooden boat, which gives the outing a more local feel than a standard motorboat.

Still, keep the capacity in mind. The boat can hold up to 100 people. That makes this a shared group outing, not a small yacht trip. You may find open space for sunbathing, but you should not expect a silent deck or personal attention at every moment.

What the four-hour schedule feels like

The cruise lasts four hours, which is a good fit for a day when you want time on the water without giving up the entire day. You get a proper change of pace from Hersonissos, then return in time for other plans.

The published plan includes two stops for swimming and snorkelling. The first is at St. George Bay, and the second is near Stalis. The route gives you more than one chance to get into the water, which is useful if the first stop feels brief or the sea conditions are not ideal for you.

The exact running order may vary. The standard description places the grilled meal around the first swimming stop, about an hour after sailing, followed by fruit at the Stalis stop. One reported version of the trip had a shorter first swim of about 20 minutes and a much longer second stop of roughly 1.5 hours, with lunch served during that later stop. I would treat the schedule as flexible rather than expecting the same minute-by-minute plan every day.

That flexibility is normal for a small coastal cruise. The crew may adjust the timing to suit conditions, swimming time, or the practical flow of serving lunch. You get the important parts, two swim stops and a meal, but the order may not be identical on every departure.

St. George Bay: your first chance to swim

St. George Bay is the first named swimming area. The water is described as clear, making it a good place to use the supplied snorkelling equipment and look below the surface.

The cruise provides masks, but not snorkel tubes because of Covid-related restrictions. That means you can see underwater, but you should bring your own snorkel if you want to swim with one. The equipment arrangement is worth knowing before you board, since the phrase snorkelling gear can otherwise sound like a full mask-and-snorkel set.

The first stop is also a chance to get comfortable with the boat. You can swim away from the vessel, snorkel near it, or simply float and enjoy the water. If you are not a strong swimmer, ask the crew about the safest way to enter and exit before getting in. The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and the provided information does not describe special access equipment.

Depending on the day, this first swim may be fairly short. If you want long, unhurried time in the sea, do not assume the first stop will provide it. The second stop may be the better opportunity for a longer swim.

Lunch onboard: grilled food with a view

A grilled meal is included in the price. The standard serving includes grilled food, bread, salad, and a fruit platter for dessert. The meal described in one account was marinated chicken breast with salad and bread, followed by watermelon. A vegetarian option is available, which is helpful if chicken is not suitable for you.

I like this kind of lunch for a boat outing because it keeps the day simple. You do not need to leave the water, find a beach restaurant, or rush back to the port. You eat onboard, with the sea around you and music playing in the background.

The food is practical rather than gourmet. With as many as 100 people aboard, the meal is designed for efficient group service. Portions have been described as ample, but expectations matter here. Book this for a fresh, filling lunch during a swim cruise, not for a special Cretan cooking class or a refined restaurant meal.

Bread and salad help make the meal more substantial, and fresh fruit is a pleasant finish in the heat. If you have specific dietary needs beyond the stated vegetarian option, the supplied information does not confirm what can be arranged. It is sensible to check before booking rather than assume.

Stalis: more time in the water

The second stop is in the Stalis area. This is described as another clear-water swimming and snorkelling location, and you may be able to swim toward the beach from the boat.

That detail changes the feel of the stop. Instead of only jumping in beside the vessel, you may get a more varied swim, moving between the boat and the shoreline. It also gives you time to settle into the day. The second stop has been described as lasting around 1.5 hours on one running of the cruise, though the exact timing can change.

A fruit platter is associated with this part of the trip in the standard description. Fresh fruit is a useful snack after swimming, especially in the strong Cretan sun. You can eat, listen to music, sunbathe, or return to the water instead of following a tightly managed sightseeing program.

If you prefer constant narration, this may feel light on information. The host languages are English and Greek, and a live guide is included, but the emphasis is on hospitality and relaxation. One useful criticism is that there may not be much commentary about Crete itself. You will see the coast from a pleasant angle, but this is not the cruise to choose for detailed geography, archaeology, or local history.

The crew and onboard atmosphere

The crew includes Captain Panos, George, and Leftheris. Their approach is friendly and helpful without being overly forceful. That suits the format: you can join the social mood, or simply find a place to sit and enjoy the ride.

Music plays onboard, adding to the holiday feel. This is not a silent sailing boat, so think of it as a casual Greek day out with swimming, food, and background music. The mood has been described as chilled out, which is one of the strongest reasons to choose it over a more intense water activity.

You can sunbathe while the boat is moving or during the stops. Pack sunscreen and use it often. The supplied essentials are simple: swimwear, towel, and sunscreen. You should also bring any snorkel tube you want to use, since only masks are provided.

Bottled water, soft drinks, and other beverages cost extra. Reported drink prices were around €2.50 to €3, which is reasonable for a boat service, but you should still budget for them. Bottled water is not included, so do not assume the lunch price covers every drink you need.

Is $50.82 good value?

At $50.82 per person, this is a fair price for a four-hour shared cruise that includes the boat ride, two swimming stops, snorkelling masks, lunch, fruit, music, and a guide.

The value is strongest if you plan to swim. A large part of the experience is built around getting into the water, so you are paying for access to two coastal stops as well as the meal and boat time. If you only want to sit on deck and watch the coast, the price may feel less attractive.

The included lunch also helps. You are not paying for a boat ticket and then adding a restaurant meal afterward. Drinks are extra, but the reported €2.50 to €3 range keeps that cost fairly manageable.

A private trip is available if you want to plan around your own group. That could make sense for a special occasion or a group that wants more control over timing. The standard cruise, however, is the better value for solo travelers, couples, and families who are happy to share the boat.

The rating of 4.2 from 180 reviews suggests a generally positive experience with some limits. The strongest praise focuses on the relaxed pace, friendly crew, swimming, and fair value. The weaker points are the basic food and the limited amount of commentary about Crete. Those are useful tradeoffs to understand before you book.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want an easy half-day away from the hotel pool. It suits people who prefer swimming, sunbathing, and a casual lunch to a packed sightseeing program.

It is also a good choice for families and groups who want several hours together without planning every detail. The boat has enough capacity for a sizable crowd, and the meal removes the need to organize lunch during the outing.

Couples may like the simple rhythm: sail, swim, eat, swim again, and return to Hersonissos. The setting can feel special without requiring a full-day commitment.

You may want a different tour if you need quiet, personal service, detailed coastal commentary, or a small-boat atmosphere. This is a shared cruise with music and up to 100 people onboard. It is relaxed, but not necessarily intimate.

It is also a poor fit if swimming from a boat is difficult for you or if you have mobility impairments. The activity information specifically says it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and the core of the experience involves boarding a boat and entering the sea.

Practical advice for a smoother day

Arrive at the port with your electronic or printed ticket ready. Since transfers are not included, allow enough time to reach the meeting point at 125 Agias Paraskevis Street.

Wear swimwear under your clothes if you want to get into the water quickly. Bring a towel, sunscreen, and your own snorkel tube if that matters to you. A mask is provided, but the tube is not.

Keep some money available for drinks. Water and soft drinks are not part of the package, and you may want something cold after swimming.

Do not plan the day around a precise meal location or exact stop duration. The published trip description and reported running order differ slightly, so the crew may adjust the sequence. The key promise is the combination of two swimming stops, onboard food, and a four-hour return to Hersonissos.

The cruise allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now while paying later. Those terms make it easier to hold a place while your Crete plans take shape.

Should you book the Hersonissos boat trip?

Book it if you want a relaxed, good-value swim cruise with lunch and two chances to get into clear water. The four-hour format is long enough to feel worthwhile but short enough to fit neatly into a Hersonissos holiday.

Choose it for the swimming, the friendly crew, the wooden boat, and the easygoing mood. Do not choose it mainly for food quality or detailed information about Crete. The meal is filling and convenient, not fancy, and the commentary may be limited.

For most visitors who want a simple day on the sea without paying for a full private charter, $50.82 is a sensible price. Bring sunscreen, accept the shared-boat setting, and treat the schedule as flexible. That is the formula for enjoying this outing.

FAQ

Where does the boat cruise start?

It starts at Eleni Traditional Wooden Boat in the Port of Hersonissos, opposite the Hersonissos Port Authority and Hellenic Coast Guard Station at 125 Agias Paraskevis Street.

Where does the cruise finish?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point in the Port of Hersonissos.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts four hours.

How many swimming stops are included?

Two swimming stops are included, one at St. George Bay and one in the Stalis area.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

A snorkelling mask is provided. A snorkel tube is not provided because of Covid-related restrictions.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes a grilled meal with bread, salad, and a fruit platter for dessert. A vegetarian option is available.

Are drinks included?

No. Bottled water, soft drinks, and other beverages are not included.

Is hotel pickup available?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must reach the port meeting point yourself.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and your electronic or printed ticket. You may also want to bring your own snorkel tube.

Is the cruise accessible for people with mobility impairments?

The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

What languages are available?

The host or greeter speaks English and Greek.