Santorini Boat Tour from Oia: Luxury Morning Catamaran Cruise with Greek Lunch & Open Bar
Luxury Morning Boat Tour from Oia: At a Glance
- Duration: about 5 hours on the water (4.5–5 hours), plus hotel transfers
- Small group: maximum 20 guests on a luxury catamaran (42–50 ft; boat size varies across our fleet)
- Route: starts at Ammoudi Bay below Oia and ends at Vlychada Marina. It is our longest daytime route around Santorini
- Swim stops: Red Beach and White Beach, a quiet bay, plus an optional dip in the volcano’s warm springs
- Food & drinks: full Greek BBQ lunch with an open bar of Greek wine, beer and soft drinks
- Transfers: hotel and Airbnb pickup and drop-off included, anywhere in Santorini
- Price: from €140 per person, with a full refund if you cancel 72+ hours before
Your Day on the Water
1. Hotel pickup and Ammoudi Bay, below Oia
We pick you up from your hotel or Airbnb and drive you to Ammoudi Bay, the small fishing harbor at the foot of Oia’s famous cliffs. Your catamaran, skipper and crew are waiting there.
2. Red Beach and White Beach: swim and snorkel
Sail along Santorini’s south coast to the red and white volcanic cliffs that make these two beaches famous. The boat anchors close by so you can swim and snorkel in clear Aegean water. Gear is provided.
3. The caldera and the volcano hot springs
Cruise through the caldera, the flooded crater of the volcano that shaped Santorini, to the volcanic islets in the middle of the lagoon. Jump in for an optional swim in the warm, sulfur-rich springs.
4. Greek lunch at anchor
The crew anchors in a quiet bay for one more swim while they prepare a generous Greek meal served family-style. Expect pan-fried fish fillets, BBQ chicken, grilled shrimp, Greek pasta, Greek salad and traditional spreads, with Greek wine, beer and soft drinks.
5. Vlychada Marina and drop-off
The cruise ends at Vlychada Marina on the south coast, and our shuttle takes you back to your hotel.
Why Guests Choose This Cruise
- Small group, not a party boat: 20 guests maximum on a modern catamaran with shaded and sun deck areas
- More of Santorini: the one-way Oia-to-Vlychada route covers more coastline than round-trip cruises
- A real meal: a full Greek lunch cooked on board, not a sandwich-and-chips snack
- No logistics: door-to-door transfers, towels, snorkel gear and the open bar are all included
- A trusted local operator: Santorini Day Tours has hosted more than 60,000 guests since 2012, with English-speaking support on WhatsApp
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a private or a shared boat tour?
It is a shared small-group cruise with a maximum of 20 guests, so there is plenty of deck space and the crew gets to know everyone. If you want the whole catamaran to yourselves, see our private Santorini boat tour.
Morning or sunset cruise: which should I book?
Book the morning cruise if swimming, snorkeling and the hot springs are your priority. The water is usually calmer and the light is great for photos. Book the luxury sunset cruise to Oia if the sunset view is the highlight you want. Many of our guests do both on different days.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. Round-trip transfers in air-conditioned shuttles are included from all Santorini hotels and Airbnbs. The drive to the port takes about 30–60 minutes depending on where you stay, and the shuttle may make other pickups on the way.
What food and drinks are included?
A full Greek meal served family-style: pan-fried fish fillets, BBQ chicken, grilled shrimp, Greek pasta, Greek salad and traditional spreads. The open bar serves Greek white wine, Greek beer, soft drinks and water throughout the cruise, served responsibly under Greek maritime rules. Spirits and cocktails are not served.
What should I bring?
A dark-colored swimsuit (the sulfur-rich hot springs can stain light fabrics), sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and your camera. Snorkel gear and beach towels are provided on board.
Do I have to swim? Is it good for families?
Swimming is optional. Many guests simply relax on deck, eat and take in the views. Families are welcome, and snorkel gear is provided for everyone who wants to get in the water.
Is there a restroom on the boat?
Yes. The catamaran has a WC that also works as a changing room.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel more than 72 hours before departure for a 100% refund. Cancellations within 72 hours, or no-shows, are non-refundable, and changes are not possible within 72 hours of the start time.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Cruise from Oia’s Ammoudi Bay on a luxury catamaran, with no more than 20 guests on board
- Swim and snorkel at the famous Red and White Beaches
- Take a warm swim in the volcano’s sulfur springs in the middle of the caldera
- Enjoy a full Greek BBQ lunch with an open bar of Greek wine, beer and soft drinks
- Hotel and Airbnb pickup and drop-off included from anywhere in Santorini
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Round-trip hotel / Airbnb transfers in air-conditioned shuttles
- Professional Greek skipper and crew
- Full Greek meal: pan-fried fish fillets, BBQ chicken, grilled shrimp, Greek pasta, Greek salad and spreads
- Open bar: Greek white wine, Greek beer, soft drinks and water (no spirits or cocktails)
- Snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel and fins)
- Beach towels
- Restroom / changing room on board
NOT INCLUDED
- Gratuities (optional)
WATCH OUR VIDEO
The Route: From Oia to Vlychada
This is a one-way cruise along Santorini’s west and south coast. You board at Ammoudi Bay below Oia and finish at Vlychada Marina, with hotel pickup and drop-off at both ends. The cruise includes two swim stops of 20–30 minutes each, plus the optional hot springs swim, and is roughly 60–70% sightseeing and 30–40% swimming. Our shuttle picks up from hotels and Airbnbs anywhere on the island. Prefer the sunset? Our sunset cruise to Oia sails the same route in reverse and ends with the sunset under Oia’s cliffs.
GOOD TO KNOW
- This is a shared morning cruise onboard a modern catamaran yacht that can accommodate up to 20 guests total (plus crew members).
- The total duration of the tour is 4.5-5 hours approx, excluding hotel transfers.
- Drinks such as wine and beer are being offered complimentary by the crew while on board, under moderate consumption, and within the alcohol safety limits scheme, as per the Greek sea law for travelers on board organized sea excursions.
- The catamaran vessel that is used on this tour is motor-powered. Its sails might or might not be used/opened, subject to weather conditions, and the captain’s judgment. This is a gentle note for guests who are opting for a pure sailing experience onboard a non-motorized sailing boat.
- The alcoholic drinks served on board are white wine and beer.
- Please wear only dark-colored or black swimming suits, as the sulfurous waters at the Palea or Nea Kameni volcano (warm springs) may alter the color of your swimming suit.
- The size of the catamaran used for this trip varies from 42 to 50 feet, as we operate multiple catamarans in our fleet.
- Santorini Day Tours reserves the right to sub-charter additional vessels/operators for this trip, whereas the same offerings, boat size, and itinerary/stops will be applied/included as per the original description advertised.
- The port (Vlychada Marina or Ammoudi Bay) where this small-group modern catamaran cruise starts may be approximately a 30–60 minute drive from Santorini hotels and Airbnbs. The catamaran cruise shuttle may stop at various local hotels and Airbnbs before the start and end of the trip to pick up and drop off other guests along the way.
- Depending on weather conditions and the captain/skipper’s judgment the final itinerary may differ from the original in a continuous effort to offer the best possible service/experience on the water to all of our guests and/or for safety reasons.
- Beach towels are being provided onboard the catamaran cruise.
- The catamaran vessel has a WC that can be used both as a restroom and/or changing room.
Payment Information
Our online booking system accepts all major credit cards and PayPal, and the booking process is seamless – reserving any of our Santorini experiences should only take a moment.
If your transaction does not go through, you may try booking with a different card, pay via PayPal, or contact your bank or credit card issuer to describe the situation and ask them to release any restriction placed on your card or our website.
From our experience, we have noticed that overseas banks and credit card companies sometimes place additional security holds on international web transactions as an extra protection measure for the cardholder.
Again, if the problem persists please try using a different card or select the Pay with PayPal option on our website.
Even if you do not have a PayPal account, PayPal acts similarly to a credit card and pulls up a credit card processor to enter your card number.
Payments with PayPal seem to work well in such cases where credit cards fail.
CANCELLATION POLICY
- If you cancel more than 3 days (more than 72 hours) in advance of your scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee and a 100 percent refund will be processed back to the original form of payment.
- If you cancel within 72 hours of the scheduled departure or NO-SHOW, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
- In addition, no changes / reschedules are possible 72 hours or less before the tour start time.
For your convenience and to avoid any confusion, please make sure your travel arrangements align with the tour you have booked.
To read all our booking terms and conditions please click here: cancellation policy
RATES
- 2025 Tripadvisor Top-Rated Operator
- Best Price Guarantee, Book Directly with Tour Operator
- 98% excellent reviews on Tripadvisor and Google
- All major cards and payment methods accepted, no extra charge
- Live Support in English with WhatsApp
Book and pay securely
