This day cruise turns Rhodes into a moving pool party. You get spacious, not-crowded boat comfort plus a real open bar and gourmet buffet, and the snorkeling gear makes the swim stops easy to enjoy. The one thing to plan around: the vibe can be lively, and the music may be louder than you want if you’re chasing quiet relaxation.

You’ll board from Mandraki Harbour and sail along Rhodes’ coastline with quick, scenic history moments—then settle in for swims at Kallithea Springs, Afandou, and Anthony Quinn Bay. Open-bar cocktails and beers arrive during the sail, and you also get safety gear like life jackets, plus float options so even non-experts can join in. The trade-off is timing and “holiday energy”: you should be ready for a fun, social atmosphere more than a silent retreat.

Key highlights at a glance

• Comfy seating on a limited-size boat (max 40 travelers) so you’re not squeezed
• Three swim bays: Kallithea Springs, Afandou Beach/caves, and Anthony Quinn Bay
• Snorkel kit plus water safety extras like pool noodles, floaters, and life jackets
• Open bar all day with cocktails, wine, beer, and soft drinks
• Greek gourmet buffet with vegan and gluten-free choices
• Beautiful departure and return views around Mandraki Harbour and medieval landmarks

A Half-Day “Swim Cruise” With Real Comfort and a Fun Captain

If you’re picturing a Rhodes day on the water, this one hits a sweet spot: you get sea time, you get swim stops, and you get comfort that doesn’t feel like you’re paying for a cramped cattle-car ride.

The boat is set up for lounging. You’ll have allocated seating on bean bags and sun benches, and the cruise is intentionally run with a restricted guest count (up to 40). That matters because Rhodes has a lot of boat options, and some are clearly busier than they look once you’re onboard. Here, the vibe stays more relaxed and personal.

Then there’s the human factor: the captain and crew bring high energy. In the best sense, it feels like a holiday playlist turned into a moving party without totally losing control. In at least one case, the captain’s dancing and crowd-involving moments became the highlight of the day. If you love that kind of atmosphere, you’ll have fun. If you’re hoping for quiet conversation the whole time, just know the music can run loud enough that you’ll struggle to chat across a table.

Mandraki Harbour Departure: Rhodes History Views From the Water

Your cruise starts at Mandraki Harbour, with the meeting point listed at Romantika Rhodes Day Cruise near the Mandraki Port area (opposite the Bank of Greece). You’ll be back here at the end too.

Leaving port, you cruise past Rhodes Old Town and its long sea-facing walls—an easy win for photos. The old town area is tied to Rhodes’ “why it matters” story, and the sea view makes it feel bigger than it does from streets.

You also get a pass by the Colossus of Rhodes area. The Colossus is legendary—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—and the tour route gives you a sense of where that monument would have stood at the port entrance.

On the way back in, the Mandraki area is still the star. You’ll see the Venetian-era twin columns with statues of Rhodian deer, plus the view of the Fortress of Agios Nikolaos and the medieval windmills on the far side of the harbor. This is the kind of background scenery that makes the cruise feel like more than “just” a swim day.

Kallithea Springs Stop: Natural Spring Water and a Refreshing Swim

One stop is built around Kallithea Springs, known for its natural springs and the sea-side setting where people have visited for centuries. You’ll have about an hour here.

The setting blends nature and human design: the buildings were designed by Italian architect Pietro Lombardi, with decorative work by Armando Burnaby (also Italian). The area was later tied to an international hydrological conference organized by Dr. Alberto Mocci, with more than 200 scientists attending. That’s a lot of credibility for a swim stop.

Practical point: the tour notes that admission from the sea is free. In plain terms, you can just enjoy the water without added entry hassle. Since you only have around an hour, I’d treat this as your “get in early” swim. If the sea is calm and you want clear-water photos, this is a good place to do it.

Afandou Beach and Caves: Pebble Shore, Long Views, and Time to Explore

Next up is Afandou Beach, where you get about another hour on the water. This is a beach-and-caves stop, and it feels different from Kallithea.

Afandou is known for a long stretch—around 6 kilometers—with pebble shoreline and clear water. It’s also described as being near a large golf course, so the coastline has a “resort” rhythm to it compared with smaller coves.

The tour also shares why this area is historically layered: coastal settlements here were attacked multiple times—by pirates, Persians, Arabs, and Turks across different centuries. After those repeated attacks, inhabitants moved inland, so the settlement became “invisible” from the sea. That’s tied to the meaning of Afandou/afando in Greek.

You get time to explore the area, including caves. This is where you’ll likely swap between swimming and wandering. You’ll return to the boat before or around lunch time, with the buffet service starting back onboard once everyone’s had enough water time.

Ladikos and the Anthony Quinn Bay Swim Stop

This cruise ends up feeling like two different kinds of swim days: one stop that’s more about easy swimming in protected water, and a last stop that leans into snorkeling and “see what’s under the surface.”

Ladikos area: why the bay has that name

Between the Afandou stop and the final bay, you’ll reach the area tied to Ladikos, described as being right behind Anthony Quinn Bay and known for caves. The name connects to olive-oil storage and shipping—this was a commercial point for loading and unloading olive oil, with cargo ships trading onward toward Egypt and the Middle East.

You also get a little “what’s left behind” detail: local fishermen have found clay containers around Ladikos tied to shipwrecks. In other words, even the sea floor has a paper trail.

Anthony Quinn Bay: deep water, fish, and snorkeling gear included

Then you reach Anthony Quinn Bay, and it’s a different mood. It’s described as a small bay with high rocks and deep water—perfect for snorkeling.

This is where the complimentary snorkeling gear becomes central. You’re invited to use it right from the boat, and you can also use extra water float options like pool noodles and floaters. The tour even mentions a fun moment: if you have bread, you can throw it near the water and watch small fish gather around.

Anthony Quinn Bay also comes with the actor story. The bay is named after the famous Mexican actor Anthony Quinn, who reportedly fell in love with the location while filming The Guns of Navarone (spelled here as Cannons of Navarone in the tour description). He asked the Greek state if he could buy the bay, but the agreement never happened. Even without the purchase, the locals kept the name.

If you’re the kind of person who wants one “wow” swim stop on a Rhodes cruise, Anthony Quinn Bay is designed to be it.

The Gourmet Buffet and the Open Bar: What You Actually Get

On paper, an open bar and a buffet are common. On a boat, the real question is: does it feel like food and drinks, or like a rushed add-on?

Here, the food is presented as a Greek gourmet buffet freshly prepared by the chef, not a pre-packaged spread. You’ll also have vegan and gluten-free choices. And the tour includes aperitifs and snacks in addition to the main buffet.

From the food descriptions given, you can expect items like:

• shrimp pasta/spaghetti
• mussels
• chicken dishes
• salads
• bread with tzatziki
• a brownie-like dessert

There’s also a detail worth noting if you’re picky about texture: one mentioned item that felt too hard to bite through matches a classic Cretan concept called dakos, a barley rusk topped with tomato sauce, cheese, oregano, capers, and extra virgin olive oil. If you like your bread crisp, great. If you want something softer, just plan to eat more slowly and pair it with toppings and salad.

Drinks are genuinely part of the experience. The cruise lists an open-bar cocktail setup with wines, beer, signature cocktails, plus non-alcoholic options like sodas and water. You’ll also find the crew keeps drinks moving, with ice-cold beer on hand during the day.

Still, keep expectations realistic. One review noted cocktail choices felt somewhat limited to preset options and that some alcohol mixes tasted weaker than expected. So: if you’re a serious cocktail person with very specific tastes, you may want to lean toward beer and the basic cocktail menu rather than hoping for custom bar magic.

Snorkeling Gear, Floaters, and Safety: Easy Access for Different Swim Levels

A major value point here is not just that snorkeling gear is included—it’s that the day supports different comfort levels.

You get:

• snorkeling equipment
• pool noodles and floaters
• life jackets

So if you’re comfortable in water, you can snorkel at Anthony Quinn Bay. If you’re less confident, you still have ways to enjoy the swim without feeling exposed.

I also like that life jackets are part of the standard included gear. That changes the whole tone of a swim stop. It’s not just “go for it,” it’s more like “we’ll help you join safely.”

Pack the basics: sunscreen is a must, and wear something that works for beach-to-boat movement.

How Long It Takes and How to Make the Most of Your Day

This cruise is listed at about 6 hours, starting at 10:00 am. That length is long enough to matter—three swim opportunities plus a proper lunch—without turning your Rhodes day into a full-day logistics headache.

The itinerary is timed so you get multiple chances to be in the water:

• Kallithea Springs: about an hour for a morning swim and exploring the spring area
• Afandou: about an hour including caves exploration
• Anthony Quinn Bay: about an hour with snorkeling and deeper water fun

Along the route, you’ll also cruise past places like Faliraki Beach, which gives you a feel for Rhodes’ bigger tourist coastline before you reach the quieter swim coves.

My practical advice: arrive early enough that you’re not rushing on board. One review noted the boat can be a little hard to find, so give yourself a buffer near the Mandraki meeting point.

Who Should Book This Cruise (and Who Should Skip It)

This is a strong pick if you want:

• a not-overcrowded boat day with real seating comfort
• an itinerary built around swimming and snorkeling
• an all-in-one package with open bar and a chef-prepared buffet
• a social crew and an atmosphere that can turn into dancing and crowd energy

It’s not ideal if your priority is:

• quiet relaxation
• easy conversation over background music
• a totally subdued, low-stimulation day on the water

Music volume shows up as a potential drawback. If you know you hate loud audio, you might still enjoy the swimming, but you’ll likely want ear protection or to plan for time spent away from the loudest deck areas.

Book This or Pass? My Bottom-Line Take

For the price—$107.63 per person—you’re paying for the combination: limited boat capacity, multiple swim bays, snorkeling gear, and an open bar plus a buffet that’s described as gourmet and freshly prepared. If you compare that to the cost of separate boat tours, lunch add-ons, and paying for snorkeling equipment elsewhere, it often looks like good value.

I’d book it if you want your Rhodes “sea day” to feel like an event: comfortable seating, clear-water swims, and a crew that keeps momentum going. I’d think twice if your ideal vacation day is calm, quiet, and conversation-friendly for hours at a time.

Either way, this is the kind of cruise where the scenery and the water are the main characters—and the crew makes sure you stay engaged rather than bored.

FAQ

How long is the Rhodes Exclusive Swim Cruise?

The cruise runs for about 6 hours, starting at 10:00 am.

What’s included in the price?

The price includes the Greek gourmet buffet, open bar (cocktails, wine, beer), snacks and aperitifs, non-alcoholic drinks, snorkeling equipment, and safety/water items like pool noodles, floaters, and life jackets.

Do I get snorkeling gear and life jackets?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with pool noodles, floaters, and life jackets.

Where do I meet the cruise?

You meet at the Mandraki Port area near Romantika Rhodes Day Cruise, listed as Mandraki Harbour opposite the Bank of Greece in Rhodes.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Greek gourmet buffet lunch is included, with vegan and gluten-free options.

What is not included?

Hotel transfer is optional and is listed as an extra-cost item.