Romantika Snorkeling Gourmet Buffet Cruise: Caique Day with Open Bar from Rhodes

Romantika Day Cruise

Boat Tour with Snorkeling, Gourmet Buffet & Open Bar

★ 4.7 (629) · from $81

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Prices and timetables checked 17 October 2026. This page contains affiliate links.

The romantika snorkeling gourmet buffet cruise is a six-hour day on a traditional wooden caique from Mandraki to three bays, with a chef-cooked lunch and an open bar included in the 81 USD fare (about €72). Romantika Day Cruise assigns every guest a seat, so the boat is never oversold, and it sails at 10:00 and returns around 16:00.

The detail that changes the decision is the review sample. Every review I could read dates from July and August 2026, so the listing shows no evidence yet about spring or autumn sailings, and it states no season. Ask Romantika which dates are running before you plan a shoulder-season day around it.

What is the romantika snorkeling gourmet buffet cruise and what do you do?

It is a swimming and snorkelling cruise with a restaurant attached: three anchor stops, each about an hour, and a meal and drinks served between them. The caique style is the draw, with cushioned decks, music and, depending on the mood, the crew teaching the Zorba dance.

• Kalithea Springs: the first stop after about 45 minutes of sailing, with an aperitif and a swim beside the seaside monument the listing describes.
• Afandou Beach: lunch stop beside a 4 km beach and the Traganou Caves, per the listing.
• Anthony Quinn Bay: the final swim, with dessert and signature cocktails made with ouzo and mastic liqueur.
• The captain calls guests back with three horn blasts, so stay within earshot.

Anthony Quinn Bay is named after the actor who filmed The Guns of Navarone nearby, the listing says.

Where do you board and what happens first?

Look for the wooden Romantika in Mandraki port, facing the Bank of Greece. The crew wear blue shorts and red-striped shirts, which helps you spot them among the other boats.

I did not find a public fare for the bus to the old port, so I do not quote one. The walking route to the pier link shows the minutes from your hotel.

What is the route, stop by stop?

The route heads south along the east coast: 45 minutes to Kalithea, 55 minutes on to Afandou, 20 more minutes to Anthony Quinn Bay, then one hour home. The itinerary panel prints the first leg as "45 hours", a typo; the description says 45 minutes, and I trust that.

Kallithea Springs, Afandou Beach and Anthony Quinn Bay are the three pins to save. Walking times do not apply, since you swim ashore.

What is on board and what is included?

This is the food-led trip: a Greek buffet, an aperitif, dessert and an open bar with wine, beer, ouzo-based cocktails and soft drinks are all part of the fare. The chef on board cooks with local produce, and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free plates are listed.

Dietary needs matter on a menu built around a chef's daily picks. Vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free guests are covered in the listing, but the seafood the chef may serve is not described dish by dish, so ask about shellfish if you have an allergy. The aperitif and the signature cocktails use ouzo and mastic spirits, which are sweet and strong.

Hotel transfer is priced separately and depends on distance. Dress code is not stated: bring swimwear, a towel, a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes, as the listing suggests.

Is the romantika snorkeling gourmet buffet cruise worth it versus the other swimming boats?

It is worth the price if the meal and the open bar are the point; at 81 USD it is the dearest of the Rhodes swimming cruises I compare here. The Poseidon Submarine catamaran costs 14 USD less and caps the group at 24.

My pick: Romantika for an occasion day with food and music, Poseidon for fewer people and less show. The snorkelling tours page and the Rhodes boat tours hub list more.

How do you get the most from the open bar and the buffet?

The romantika snorkeling gourmet buffet format front-loads swimming and puts the food in the middle, so pace yourself. Swimming after several cocktails is the real safety issue on an anchor-and-swim day.

1. Eat at Afandou: lunch is served at the second stop, so a light breakfast is enough.
2. Swim first, drink second: do the Kalithea snorkel before the aperitif and the wine.
3. Hydrate: the open bar includes water and soft drinks, so alternate.
4. Tell the crew about allergies or diets early: the chef lists vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free plates.
5. Keep a dry towel for the last stop: Anthony Quinn Bay is the longest free-time block.

The listing does not state a drinking age or a limit on cocktails. For a day that mixes alcohol and open water, I would ask the operator how the crew handles it.

When is the best time to go?

June to September gives the hottest, driest days, and the sea was 24.8 °C on 17 October 2026. The listing states no season, and the reviews I read run only from July to August.

The listing says the boat stays at anchor at each stop, so wind matters. Check the forecast with the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS); the Hellenic Coast Guard (hcg.gr) can halt sailings in strong winds.

7 million+ passengers used Rhodes Diagoras Airport in 2025, 2.5% more than in 2024, which is why morning boats fill fast.

What do passengers say?

For the Romantika cruise, the sample I read is positive-only (10 five-star reviews from July and August), so the review summary gives no complaint list. The sub-scores are guide 4.7, transport 4.8 and value 4.6.

• Food: called delicious or exceeding expectations by several reviewers.
• Crew: friendly and welcoming, mentioned in most reviews.
• Swimming: three bays with an hour each, as promised.
• Atmosphere: not crowded; clean, new-looking boat.

With no negative reviews in the sample, the romantika snorkeling gourmet buffet score needs care: I treat the 4.7 rating as the better guide: it is a score from 629+ reviews, lower than the 4.8 of the catamaran and the RIB.

The positive tilt is useful in one way: it tells you the crew and the food are consistent in peak summer. It tells you nothing about a windy day, a half-empty boat or an October sailing, so keep your booking flexible, compare the cancellation date with the forecast and use the free cancellation window if the forecast turns.

Who should skip this cruise?

Skip it if you want a quiet day, since music and dancing are part of the pitch. Skip it too if you need a guide who speaks a language other than English, because the listing names only English. Travellers who prefer a short outing should read the Adventure RIB trip page.

Not a swimmer? Pick a pier-landing trip from the island hopping page instead.

How do you book the romantika snorkeling gourmet buffet cruise?

Frequently asked questions

Sources: GetYourGuide listing 119554, Hellenic National Meteorological Service, Hellenic Coast Guard, Fraport Greece, Open-Meteo, Nager.Date, Frankfurter APIs.