Mykonos: Delos and Rhenia Islands Cruise with BBQ Meal

History meets a lazy day at sea. This six-hour cruise links ancient Delos with the calm swimming waters of Rhenia, giving you a useful mix of Greek archaeology, open-sea views, snorkeling, and an onboard barbecue. I especially like the freshly prepared meat and vegetable lunch, plus the attentive crew who keep drinks moving and check that everyone is comfortable.

I also like that you can choose how much history you want. Pay extra for a professional guide, download your own audio guide, or simply walk among the ruins at your own pace. The main drawback is that the standard price does not include the Delos guide, entrance fee, or hotel transfer, so the advertised $147 can rise if you add all three.

The boat carries up to 30 or 40 people, depending on the vessel and weather. It is not a private island escape, but the boats have enough room to stretch out, sunbathe, and find a quieter corner. Just remember that everyone goes barefoot onboard, and the water stops may be too far from shore for a comfortable swim to land.

Key points to know before booking

• Delos gives the cruise real historical weight: You get time to walk through one of Greece’s most important ancient sites, not just view it from the water.
• Rhenia is the swimming stop: Expect clear water, snorkeling gear, swimming noodles, towels, and time to relax before lunch.
• The food earns strong praise: The Greek-style barbecue includes meat and vegetables, with generous portions and drinks served onboard.
• Drinks are included all day: Beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water are covered. Spirits and cocktails cost extra.
• A guide is optional: Add a professional Delos guide for €45 per adult or €40 per child, plus the €20 entrance fee per person.
• Transfers cost extra: Hotel pickup and return are available across Mykonos for €20 per person, or you can meet the boat at Ioannis Diakoftis pier.

Setting out from Agios Ioannis

The cruise begins near Agios Ioannis, with the exact meeting point depending on the option you book. You can arrange pickup from your accommodation for €20 per person, or make your own way to the pier at Ioannis Diakoftis.

The boat first spends about 45 minutes cruising from Mykonos. This is a gentle start, with coffee, tea, water, beer, wine, and soft drinks available. A safety video and briefing explain the basic rules before the boat reaches open water.

The boats used are gulets, traditional-style sailing vessels. Depending on the number of people and the weather, the operator may use an 89-foot boat for up to 40 people or a 72-foot boat for up to 30. That difference matters. A group of 30 on a larger boat should feel fairly spacious, while a full 40-person departure will have a more social, shared-excursion feel.

You will need to remove your shoes onboard for safety and hygiene. Wear comfortable shoes for getting to the pier and walking at Delos, but expect to leave them on the boat once the cruise begins. This is worth knowing before you arrive in sandals that are difficult to slip on and off.

Delos, where myth and stone meet

Delos is the intellectual center of the day. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is traditionally known as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. The ancient settlement dates back as far as 3500 BC, so even a short visit gives you a strong sense of Greece’s long past.

The boat makes a brief approach near Delos before allowing about an hour and a half for visiting the ruins. You can choose a guided walk, explore independently, or stay aboard and enjoy the surrounding bay if ancient stones are not your main interest.

I recommend visiting the site if you are comfortable walking in the sun. The ruins include streets, foundations, columns, and carved remains spread over an open archaeological area. There is no shaded museum experience here. You are out among the stones, with the sea and neighboring islands visible around you.

The optional professional guide costs €45 per adult or €40 per child. The entrance fee is an additional €20 per person and must be arranged in advance. That can make the history portion a noticeable extra cost, but a guide may help you understand what you are seeing rather than simply walking past broken columns.

If you prefer to save money, you can explore on your own. One useful approach is to download a guide before arriving, as one passenger did, so you have context while walking through the site. Bring a passport, identity card, or driving licence, since identification details are required for the booking and personal insurance.

Delos can be hot and exposed. Comfortable clothes, a jacket for the boat ride, and beachwear are all listed as useful items. I would also bring a hat if you have one, though it is not specifically listed among the required items. The supplied sunscreen is helpful, but you should still plan for strong sun during the ruins walk and the swimming stop.

A quieter hour near Delos

After the archaeological visit, the schedule allows roughly another hour around Delos for free time, swimming, snorkeling, and views. This creates a welcome change of pace. You can return to the boat, cool off in the water, or simply sit with a drink and watch the island from offshore.

The water is a major part of the appeal, but this is not a beach day in the usual sense. The boat anchors near the coast, and you enter the sea from the yacht. Some people may be able to swim toward shore, but the distance can feel too great for less confident swimmers.

The crew provides life vests, snorkeling equipment, swimming noodles, towels, and sunscreen. The noodles are especially useful if you want to float without working hard. Snorkeling conditions depend on the day, but the clear water makes looking below the surface part of the fun even if you are not an experienced swimmer.

If you do not want to swim, you are not left out. The deck offers sea views, drinks, and space to relax. The cruise works best when you see the water activities as optional rather than as a requirement.

Rhenia brings the best swimming and food

Rhenia is the main leisure stop, with about two hours set aside for cruising, swimming, snorkeling, and lunch. Compared with Delos, the mood is less about monuments and more about slowing down.

The crew prepares a barbecue onboard, with traditional Greek-style meat and vegetables. The food receives some of the warmest praise attached to this cruise, and the generous portions are a genuine part of the value. Several people found the meal better than expected, with enough to go around rather than a tiny snack disguised as lunch.

Drinks remain available throughout the stop. Beer, wine, water, coffee, tea, and soft drinks are included, while spirits and cocktails are not. This arrangement suits a long day in the sun, since you do not need to keep buying basic refreshments every time you want water or coffee.

The barbecue also gives the cruise a social rhythm. You swim, dry off, sit down for lunch, and chat with the people around you. The crew keeps an eye on safety and regularly checks if you need a drink or anything else. That attentive service is one of the strongest reasons to consider this particular cruise instead of choosing a simple boat transfer.

The water stop may not work equally well for everyone. If you are not a confident swimmer, ask about the safest way to enter and use the flotation equipment. The boat provides life vests, but you should still be honest about your swimming ability. You cannot assume that the Rhenia anchorage will let you walk straight onto a sandy beach.

The ride home is part of the experience

After Rhenia, the boat returns toward Mykonos over about an hour and a half. By this point, most people have had their main meal, spent time in the water, and visited Delos, so the final stretch becomes a relaxed ride back.

You can use the onboard WiFi, order another included drink, or simply sit on deck. The views are the point here. Mykonos and the neighboring islands look different from the water, and the return gives you time to enjoy them without a schedule of monuments or swimming activities.

The cruise finishes with drop-off options around Mykonos, depending on the package you select. If you arrange transport, confirm the pickup and return details by email and provide a working phone number. Weather can change the plan, and the operator may notify you the evening before if the route needs to be altered or canceled.

What the $147 price really includes

At $147 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach Delos. It is also more than a basic ferry or a simple archaeological excursion. The price makes more sense when you count the full day of services: a six-hour boat trip, crew, skipper, port fees, barbecue lunch, open bar of standard drinks, snorkeling equipment, towels, sunscreen, WiFi, safety gear, and the Rhenia swimming stop.

The meal matters. Buying lunch and drinks separately in Mykonos can add up quickly, especially for a family or couple. The included barbecue means you can budget more accurately before leaving.

The value becomes weaker if you do not care about swimming, snorkeling, or spending time on a shared boat. It also drops if you add every optional extra. Hotel transfer adds €20 per person. The Delos guide and entrance fee add another €65 per adult, or €60 per child, on top of the cruise price.

I would treat the guide as optional but worthwhile for anyone interested in ancient Greek culture. If your main goal is a day on the water, skip the guide and explore Delos independently. If you want the lowest possible cost, meeting at the pier and arranging your own visit is the sensible choice.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this experience to couples, families with older children, and friends who want one day that combines several sides of Mykonos. You get archaeology without giving up the sea, and you get a proper meal rather than relying on snacks.

It is also a good choice for people who prefer an easy, organized day. The crew handles navigation, food, drinks, equipment, and safety, so you do not need to plan separate transport to Delos and Rhenia.

The cruise may be less suitable if you dislike group activities or need a fully private setting. Even with room on the boat, you will share the deck, meal, and swimming areas with other people. A private group option is available, but the cost is not provided, so you would need to ask for the current price.

You should also think carefully about mobility and swimming comfort. The information provided does not give detailed accessibility guidance, and the day includes walking around ancient ruins, boarding a boat, and entering the water from the yacht. Contact the operator before booking if you have specific mobility needs.

The experience welcomes English and Greek speakers. It also received especially positive feedback for friendly service and an inclusive atmosphere, including from a same-sex couple on honeymoon who felt comfortable and included. That is a useful sign for anyone looking for a relaxed, respectful day out.

Practical tips for a smoother day

• Bring your passport, identity card, or driving licence. Identification details are required for insurance.
• Wear comfortable clothes and pack beachwear.
• Bring a light jacket for the boat ride, even on a warm day.
• Wear shoes to the pier and Delos, but expect to remove them onboard.
• Download an audio guide before visiting Delos if you are not paying for the professional guide.
• Confirm your meeting point, especially if you do not arrange hotel pickup.
• Provide a valid phone number so the operator can send weather or transport updates.
• Keep an eye on the weather forecast. The route can change, or the cruise can be canceled if conditions are unsuitable.
• Do not count on spirits or cocktails being included. Standard drinks are covered, but those are extra.
• If swimming from the boat makes you nervous, use the life vest or swimming noodle and tell the crew.

Should you book the Delos and Rhenia cruise?

I would book this if you want a full half-day away from Mykonos town, with excellent food, attentive service, and useful variety. The strongest parts are the barbecue, the clear swimming water around Rhenia, and the chance to see Delos without arranging separate transport.

I would skip it if you want a quiet private charter, a long archaeological visit, or an easy walk directly from boat to beach. For the best value, meet at the pier, explore Delos independently with a downloaded guide, and treat the included meal and drinks as the main financial advantage.

For many people, this is a smart way to spend one Mykonos day. You get ancient ruins, open water, a Greek lunch, and a friendly crew in one organized outing. Just budget for the extras before booking, and remember that the sea, not the beach, is the center of the swimming portion.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

The cruise departs from the Agios Ioannis area, with the exact meeting point depending on the option selected. You can meet the yacht at Ioannis Diakoftis pier or arrange hotel pickup.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Roundtrip pickup and drop-off from Mykonos accommodations are available for €20 per person. This is arranged separately and paid on the spot.

Is a guided visit to Delos included?

No. The standard cruise allows you to explore Delos independently. A professional guide can be reserved for €45 per adult or €40 per child, and the Delos entrance fee is €20 per person.

What food and drinks are included?

The cruise includes a barbecue lunch with meat and vegetables. Included drinks are beer, wine, soft drinks, water, coffee, and tea. Spirits and cocktails are not included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear, swimming noodles, towels, sunscreen, and life vests are provided for the swimming stops.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If weather conditions are unsuitable, the operator will contact you the evening before about a possible itinerary change or cancellation. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.