Rhodes: Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Buffet & Drinks

Sunset belongs on the water. This three-hour Rhodes cruise pairs a swim at Kalithea Bay with a Greek buffet, open-air sailing, and the changing colors of the Aegean. I especially like the small-group feel reported on several departures and the generous spread of food, with chicken, salads, dips, feta, olives, and fresh bread. The main consideration is that the catamaran anchors offshore, so reaching the bay itself means swimming from the boat.

The price of $58 is strong value if you want dinner and drinks included, not just a short boat ride. I also like that you can choose a sailing catamaran or a power catamaran, though the exact boat, route, and swimming stop can change with weather or seasonal demand.

Key points before you book

• Kalithea Bay is a swim stop, not a shore excursion: The boat anchors, and you enter the water directly from the catamaran.
• Dinner is a proper buffet: Expect grilled chicken, Greek and green salads, pasta salad, potato salad, hummus, tzatziki, aubergine salad, olives, feta, and local bread.
• Drinks are included throughout: Wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and bottled water are available without an extra charge.
• Small boats make a difference: Some departures carry around 14 to 16 people, leaving more room than larger sunset cruises.
• The sunset comes near the end: The boat returns toward Rhodes Town and pauses at a good viewing point before entering Mandraki Harbor.
• Arrive early: The boat leaves on time, and missing departure can mean a €25 rebooking fee per ticket.

Why this Rhodes cruise works so well

A sunset cruise can be either a memorable evening or three hours of sitting on a crowded boat while someone points a speaker at the sea. This one has a clearer rhythm: leave Mandraki Harbor, cruise along the east coast, stop for swimming at Kalithea Bay, eat dinner, and return toward Rhodes as the sun drops.

That sequence matters. The swim gives the early part of the trip some energy, while dinner and music make the return more relaxed. By the time the sunset arrives, you have already settled into the boat and met the crew.

The strongest feature is the balance between activity and ease. You can swim, snorkel, use a floating noodle, or simply stay aboard with a drink. You are not locked into a tightly managed program.

The cruise is also well suited to couples, families, and solo visitors. One solo passenger described feeling safe and comfortable, while parents praised the crew for being patient with babies and toddlers. At the same time, the atmosphere can become lively, with music and plenty of wine and beer, so this is not a silent sightseeing trip.

Meeting at Mandraki Harbor

The starting point is the Catamaran Cruises Rhodes desk in front of the Poseidon Submarine. Arrive 30 to 15 minutes before departure. I would use the earlier end of that window, since the boat leaves on schedule and the meeting area is near a busy harbor.

Listen carefully to the departure announcements. If you are unsure, ask a crew member rather than relying on your watch. The rebooking fee after a missed departure is €25 per ticket, which is an avoidable cost.

Once aboard, you choose a place on the catamaran. The boats have outdoor seating, an outdoor shower, indoor toilets, life jackets, and snorkeling equipment. The size varies by vessel, but several departures carried about 14 to 16 people. That is a useful detail if you dislike the packed feeling of large excursion boats.

The booking offers three catamaran options, including sailing and powered boats. The exact boat assigned may change. In April, May, and October, the operator may move passengers to another catamaran if one boat does not reach its minimum number of participants.

The cruise along Rhodes east coast

The first part of the journey takes about 45 minutes. From Mandraki Harbor, you leave the center of Rhodes behind and follow the eastern shoreline toward Kalithea.

A sailing catamaran gives you the pleasure of moving with the wind when conditions allow. A power catamaran offers a more direct ride. The experience is not identical on every boat, but both versions are designed around the same evening: sea time, swimming, dinner, and sunset.

This opening stretch is a chance to find your preferred spot. Some people want the front of the boat for the breeze. Others prefer a shaded or more protected area where they can keep an eye on children. If you are visiting as a couple, arriving early helps you find a comfortable place together.

Music is part of the mood. Several passengers particularly liked the Greek sounds and relaxed background music during the cruise. It is not a formal cultural performance, but it adds a local touch without turning the evening into a staged show.

The crew also helps shape the experience. Eleni was specifically praised for checking that people had enough to drink, and the wider crew was repeatedly described as friendly, attentive, and happy to answer questions. That personal service is especially useful on a small boat, where the staff are close by for most of the trip.

Kalithea Bay: swimming from the boat

After roughly 45 minutes, the catamaran anchors at Kalithea Bay for about 45 minutes. This is the most active part of the evening.

You can enter the Aegean directly from the boat for swimming or snorkeling. Pool noodles, life jackets, and snorkeling equipment are provided. The water has been described as around six meters deep at the swimming point, so use a life jacket or noodle if you are not a confident swimmer.

The area is attractive, with rocks and small caves that you can swim toward. Fish can be seen in the water, and one passenger reported spotting a lionfish. Keep expectations sensible, though. The bay can be popular with several boats, and the underwater view may be more about clear water, rocks, and a few fish than a full reef experience.

There is an important practical point here: the boat does not bring you to shore. It stays at anchor, and reaching land requires swimming. This makes the stop easy for confident swimmers but unsuitable for anyone who cannot safely enter and exit the water from a boat.

Dinner may begin while some people are still snorkeling. If the swim is your priority, check with the crew about when the food is being served so you do not miss the dishes you want. You can also swim first and eat afterward, but the break is limited.

An outdoor shower is available after the swim. Use it before settling in for dinner, especially if you want to remove salt from your skin.

The buffet dinner and included drinks

The buffet is one of the best reasons this cruise offers good value at $58. You are not paying separately for a sunset, a meal, and drinks. They are bundled into one fairly simple evening price.

The spread includes:

• Grilled chicken
• Pasta salad
• Potato salad
• Greek salad
• Green salad
• Tzatziki
• Hummus
• Aubergine salad
• Olives
• Feta
• Fresh baked local bread

The food is not fine dining, and it does not need to be. After swimming and sitting in the sea air, a plate of chicken, bread, salads, feta, and dips is exactly the right kind of meal. Several people found the portions generous, and the crew continued offering food and drinks during the evening.

Vegetarians have several useful choices, including hummus, salads, pasta salad, aubergine salad, feta, olives, and bread. One passenger who chose not to take the food option felt there were not enough vegetarian or fish choices, so strict vegetarians and pescatarians may want to confirm the current menu before booking.

Wine and beer are unlimited, as are juice, soft drinks, and bottled water. The crew serves the drinks, which keeps the evening tidy and friendly. Alcohol service can stop if someone appears intoxicated, so the included drinks are best treated as part of dinner rather than a drinking contest.

For families, note that at least one family found the full adult price for an infant disappointing. The cruise itself was considered very accommodating for young children, but check the child pricing before paying.

Sunset over the Aegean near Rhodes Town

After the swimming stop and dinner, the catamaran spends about 45 minutes returning toward Rhodes. The sunset viewing portion lasts around 20 minutes near Rhodes Town, before the boat returns to the harbor.

This timing is smart. You are not sitting in the sun waiting for the evening to happen. The swim and meal fill the first half, then the return ride gives you a front-row view as the sky changes.

The captain chooses a good point at sea for the sunset, but the exact place depends on weather and sea conditions. The route and swimming stop can also change for safety. That flexibility is normal on a boat trip, though it means you should not expect every departure to follow the same path.

Find a place with a clear view before the sun reaches the horizon. The rear or side of the boat may give a wider view of Rhodes, while the front can offer more open sea. The crew may play slower or more romantic music at this stage, creating an easygoing end to the evening.

The sunset itself is the emotional payoff, but the wider view is just as valuable. From the water, Rhodes looks different from the usual streets, walls, and harbor viewpoints. You get the town from offshore, with the coast behind you and the Aegean opening ahead.

Boat comfort, group size, and atmosphere

The catamarans are described as clean, modern, and well maintained. There are enough places to sit that you are not forced to remain in one position for three hours. Toilets and the outdoor shower are practical additions, especially after swimming.

Small capacity is a major advantage. Departures with around 14 to 16 people feel more like a shared evening than a standard coach-style excursion. The crew can bring drinks directly to you, answer questions, and keep an eye on swimmers.

That said, capacity is not guaranteed for every sailing. You may get a different catamaran or a fuller boat, particularly during busy periods. The experience is still designed around comfort, but do not assume every date will feel equally intimate.

The mood depends partly on the group. Most people come for a relaxed evening, but music, alcohol, and a sunset can also create a livelier atmosphere. If you want a quiet, private cruise, this is not the right product. If you like light conversation, music, and a social boat without a huge crowd, it should fit well.

Wheelchair users cannot take this activity. The boat-to-water swimming setup, onboard access, and need to move around the catamaran make it unsuitable for wheelchair access.

Is $58 good value?

At $58 per person, the price is competitive for a three-hour cruise that includes dinner, unlimited drinks, snorkeling gear, and a sunset stop. You are also paying for the boat, crew, harbor departure, swimming break, and the convenience of having the whole evening arranged.

The value is strongest for anyone who would otherwise pay separately for dinner and drinks. It is also good for couples who want a simple evening plan without arranging transport between restaurants and a sunset viewpoint.

The value is weaker if you do not drink, do not want dinner, or mainly want a serious snorkeling trip. The food is a buffet, not a restaurant meal, and the swimming area may be shared with other boats. This is an evening cruise with a swim, not a specialist marine excursion.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Rhodes schedule depends on weather, but the captain still has the final say on route changes.

How to make the most of the evening

Bring swimwear, since the swimming stop is a central part of the experience. You may also want a dry change of clothes, although only swimwear is specifically required.

Arrive early enough to hear the departure instructions and choose your preferred seating area. Ask when dinner will be served, especially if you plan to spend the whole swimming break in the water.

Take the snorkeling equipment before the bay gets busy. If you are not a strong swimmer, use a noodle or life jacket and remain close to the boat. Do not assume you can simply walk ashore, because the catamaran stays anchored offshore.

Keep your phone ready for the return journey, but do not spend the whole sunset filming it. The open sea, music, and changing light are the point of the evening. A few photographs are plenty.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it most strongly to couples, families with children who are comfortable around water, solo visitors who enjoy a friendly group setting, and anyone wanting an easy sunset plan with dinner included.

It is less suitable for wheelchair users, non-swimmers who do not want to enter the water from a boat, strict pescatarians seeking a fish-based meal, or people wanting a quiet private sailing.

Book it if you want a relaxed, social evening with a good meal, open water, and a well-timed sunset. Skip it if your main goal is a long shore visit or serious snorkeling. For most visitors, the combination of a small catamaran, Kalithea Bay, unlimited drinks, and sunset views makes this one of Rhodes’s better-value evening outings.

FAQ

How long is the Rhodes sunset catamaran cruise?

The cruise lasts three hours.

Where does the cruise start?

It starts at the Catamaran Cruises Rhodes desk in front of the Poseidon Submarine at Mandraki Harbor.

How early should I arrive?

You should arrive 30 to 15 minutes before the activity starts. The catamaran departs on time.

Is swimming included?

Yes. The catamaran anchors at Kalithea Bay for a swimming and snorkeling stop of about 45 minutes.

Can I reach the shore at Kalithea Bay?

No shore transfer is provided. The boat stays anchored, so reaching the shore requires swimming.

What food is included?

The buffet includes grilled chicken, pasta salad, potato salad, Greek salad, green salad, tzatziki, hummus, aubergine salad, olives, feta, and fresh baked local bread.

Which drinks are included?

Unlimited wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and bottled water are included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, floating pool noodles, and life jackets are provided.

Can the route change?

Yes. The captain can change the route or swimming stop according to weather conditions.