Spiridakos Sailing Catamaran: 5-Hour BBQ Cruise in 4 Tiers
Quick answer
The Spiridakos sailing catamaran costs from $85 per person (about €76) for five hours with a BBQ buffet, snorkeling gear, white wine and soft drinks.
Transfers, shrimp, beer and cocktails depend on the tier, and GetYourGuide rates it 4.8/5 from 1,793 reviews.
SPIRIDAKOS PLEASURE YACHTS P.Y.M.C.
Sailing Catamaran Cruise with BBQ and Drinks
4.8 (1,793) · from $85
The Spiridakos sailing catamaran trip is a five-hour small-group cruise sold in four tiers, from a no-transfer "Joy" ticket at $85 (about €76) up to a "Luxury" tier with cocktails, and it is rated 4.8/5 from 1,793 reviews on GetYourGuide.
The detail that changes the decision is how the tiers differ. Hotel transfers, shrimp, beef sausage, beer and cocktails are not in every option, and the headline $85 price is for the cheapest one. Before you pay, check which tier you picked, because the listing prints all four inclusion lists in a single block.
See how the Spiridakos catamaran fits among the boat tours in Santorini, or return to the Harbour Advisor home page. It belongs to both my catamaran page and my sailing page.
| Operator | Spiridakos Pleasure Yachts (activity provider on GetYourGuide) |
|---|---|
| Boat | Catamaran with a sundeck, lounge, fridge, WC and cabins; small-group format |
| Price | $85 per person for the entry option, shown as reduced from $112 (about €76 at 1 USD = 0.88865 EUR) |
| Duration | 5 hours on the schedule, plus about 1 hour by van each way on transfer options |
| Departure time | Chosen in the booking calendar; the listing mentions a 9 am pickup in one review and gives no fixed times |
| Meeting point | Vlychada Port, next to the ATM (30 minutes before departure on the Joy option) |
| Route | Red Beach, White Beach, Akrotiri lighthouse, Palea Kameni hot springs, the volcano, Mesa Pigadia beach |
| Food and drink | BBQ buffet: chicken, tomato pasta, salad and stuffed vine leaves; white wine and soft drinks |
| Languages | English and Greek |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before the start, full refund |
| Rating | 4.8/5 from 1,793 reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the Spiridakos sailing catamaran trip and what do you see?
It is a hosted five-hour cruise on a large catamaran with a sundeck, a lounge and cabins, visiting the south-coast beaches, the lighthouse, the hot springs and the volcano.
Spiridakos sells the same boat in several versions, which is why this one product sits on both my catamaran and sailing pages. The listing calls it a luxury catamaran, but I would read that as marketing: it gives no sail area or guest cap, so I cannot say how much of the day is under sail.
| Stop | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel van | Transfer to the marina (transfer options only) | 1 hour |
| Vlychada Port | Safety briefing | 15 minutes |
| Red Beach | Swimming | 30 minutes |
| White Beach | Sightseeing | 15 minutes |
| Akrotiri lighthouse | Sightseeing | 15 minutes |
| Palea Kameni | Swimming | 30 minutes |
| Santorini volcano | Sightseeing | 15 minutes |
| Mesa Pigadia | Swimming and BBQ | 1.5 hours |
| Hotel van | Drop-off at your hotel (transfer options only) | 1 hour |
Add the boat stops and you get 3.5 hours, which means the vans take about 36 percent of the product's 5.5-hour clock on the transfer options. The Spiridakos catamaran is therefore a long half-day, not a short sail.
Where does the Spiridakos sailing catamaran leave from?
It leaves from Vlychada Port, where you meet the crew next to the ATM 30 minutes before departure, unless your option includes the hotel van.
The listing adds a twist for the luxury tier: the morning cruise sails from Ammoudi and finishes at Vlychada, and the sunset cruise runs in the opposite direction. The Spiridakos office in Fira is the base for cruise-ship guests.
| If you are... | Do this | Source |
|---|---|---|
| On a Joy (no transfer) ticket | Arrive at Vlychada Port 30 minutes early, next to the ATM | GetYourGuide listing |
| On a transfer option | Be ready at your hotel or close to it; the van comes an hour or more before the cruise | GetYourGuide listing |
| A cruise-ship guest | Ride the cable car up from the Old Port to the Fira office, arriving an hour or more before sailing; the crew cannot meet tenders at the old port | GetYourGuide listing |
| Taking the bus | KTEL Santorini serves Vlychada from Fira; fares are on its official price list | KTEL Santorini |
How long is the Spiridakos sailing catamaran trip and when does it sail?
The boat part lasts about 3.5 hours of timed stops inside a five-hour product, and you choose morning or sunset in the calendar.
The listing says the morning and sunset runs use different start and end ports. I calculated sunset from the island's coordinates: 19:25 on 15 September and 18:41 on 15 October. Work back five hours from that to pick a start time for the sunset sailing.
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Start for sunset at the end |
|---|---|---|
| June | 20:37 | about 15:35 |
| August | 20:08 | about 15:10 |
| September | 19:25 | about 14:25 |
| October | 18:41 | about 13:40 |
What is on board and what is included?
All options give a hosted trip, snorkeling kit, towels, life jackets, swimming aids, restrooms, white wine and soft drinks; the other items depend on the tier.
| Item | Joy (no transfer) | Classic | Premium | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel van | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chicken, pasta, salad, vine leaves | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shrimp and beef sausage | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Beer | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cocktails | No | No | No | Yes |
The table is my reading of the includes list: hotel transfers are tagged "Classic, Premium and Luxury", shrimp, sausage and beer are tagged "Premium and Luxury", and cocktails are tagged "Luxury" only. The listing does not print the price of each tier, so use the booking page to compare.
- Gear - snorkeling equipment, life jackets and swimming aids for weaker swimmers
- Diet - a vegetarian option is available
- Bring - ID, a windbreaker, sunglasses, swimwear and sunscreen
- Leave behind - shoes, pets and oversize luggage are not allowed on board
How does the Spiridakos catamaran compare with the other Santorini boats?
It costs $85 for the entry tier, $10 less than Vista Yachting's boat and $38 less than the Sunset Oia luxury trip, with a 4.8 rating from 1,793 reviews.
| Trip | Price | Rating (reviews) | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spiridakos catamaran (this page) | $85 | 4.8 (1,793) | Vlychada Port |
| Vista Yachting gold catamaran | $95 | 4.8 (3,554) | Vlychada Marina |
| Sunset Oia catamaran | $67 | 4.6 (7,367) | Ammoudi Port |
| Sunset Oia luxury catamaran | $123 | 4.8 (4,425) | Hotel pickup |
| Blue Lagoon deluxe sailboat | $180 | 4.8 (176) | Vlihada Marina |
For a real sailboat, look at the Blue Lagoon Cruises deluxe tour. For a lower price, the Sunset Oia boat wins. See the sailing page for how I separate catamarans from sailboats.
Is the Spiridakos sailing catamaran worth it?
Yes for travelers who want a mid-priced, well-reviewed south-coast cruise with a meal, and no if you mind long van rides or need a published tier price.
At about $17 an hour it sits below the $24.70 median of my 16 trips. The Spiridakos catamaran also gives the clearest timed itinerary of any shared boat in my list, which helps you plan the day.
- Book it if you want a documented schedule and a barbecue buffet
- Book it if you want the option of beer or cocktails in a higher tier
- Skip it if two hours of van time is a problem; use the Joy ticket and meet at the marina
3,600 yearsago the Minoan eruption emptied the island's centre and left the sea-filled caldera that every boat in this guide sails into.
When is the best time to take the Spiridakos sailing catamaran?
June to September gives the warmest air and almost no rain; October has five rain days and sunset by 18:41.
| Month | Average high | Rain days | Days with wind 30 km/h+ | Sunset (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17°C | 8 | 0 | 18:26 |
| Feb | 13°C | 7 | 12 | 18:59 |
| Mar | 18°C | 4 | 12 | 19:25 |
| Apr | 19°C | 9 | 5 | 19:52 |
| May | 24°C | 3 | 6 | 20:17 |
| Jun | 28°C | 0 | 7 | 20:37 |
| Jul | 30°C | 0 | 5 | 20:35 |
| Aug | 30°C | 2 | 10 | 20:08 |
| Sep | 27°C | 1 | 6 | 19:25 |
| Oct | 23°C | 5 | 7 | 18:41 |
| Nov | 21°C | 4 | 3 | 18:09 |
| Dec | 17°C | 9 | 11 | 18:04 |
Wind decides whether a plan holds. The Open-Meteo archive shows wind of 30 km/h or more on 7 days in June, 5 in July, 10 in August and 6 in September 2025. Live forecasts come from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, and the Greek National Tourism Organisation shows current island conditions.
What do passengers say about the Spiridakos catamaran?
The platform summary of 165 recent verified reviews says travelers highlight friendly crews, organized transfers, clean boats and tasty food.
- Transfers - one reviewer says the pickup instructions were clear and on time at 9 am
- Crew and guide - several write that the crew was polite and helpful
- Atmosphere - a family review says a child made friends on board
- Swim time - the main criticism is that stops could be longer
The snippets I saw were positive, so I count them as a friendly-but-skewed sample.
Who should skip the Spiridakos catamaran?
Skip it if you use a wheelchair, expect shoes on deck, or want a private boat.
- Wheelchair users - excluded by the listing
- Unaccompanied minors - not allowed
- Private-boat seekers - see the SantoriniYachtingClub catamaran at $129
Back to the whole field on boat tours in Santorini.
How do you book the Spiridakos sailing catamaran?
The Spiridakos catamaran costs from $85 per person and includes a BBQ buffet, snorkeling gear, white wine and soft drinks, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best boat tour in Santorini?
For a mid-priced shared catamaran I would pick the Spiridakos catamaran at $85 from 1,793 reviews rated 4.8/5. For the highest rating among big review counts, Vista Yachting and Sunset Oia's luxury trip are the alternatives.
How much does the Spiridakos sailing catamaran cost?
The entry option costs $85 per person on GetYourGuide, shown as reduced from $112, about €76 at today's rate. Higher tiers add transfers, shrimp, beer or cocktails.
Where does the Spiridakos catamaran leave from?
It leaves from Vlychada Port, next to the ATM, 30 minutes before the start on the no-transfer ticket. Morning and sunset luxury cruises use Ammoudi at one end.
How long is the trip?
The product is five hours, with about 3.5 hours of timed boat stops and up to two hours of van transfers on transfer options.
What do I eat on board?
The buffet lists chicken, tomato pasta, salad and stuffed vine leaves, with white wine and soft drinks. Shrimp, beef sausage and beer need a higher tier.
Is there a vegetarian option?
Yes. The listing says a vegetarian option is available.
Can I wear shoes on board?
No. The listing lists shoes under items not allowed, so bring sandals you can carry.
I am arriving on a cruise ship. How do I get there?
Ride the cable car up from the Old Port to the Spiridakos office in Fira, arriving an hour or more before sailing. Tender passengers cannot be collected at the old port, which has no road.
Can children join?
Yes, but children under 12 must be accompanied. Alcohol is not served to anyone under 18.
Can I cancel?
Yes, up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing 105460 (checked 2026-10-16); Greek National Tourism Organisation, Santorini; Hellenic National Meteorological Service; Open-Meteo archive, Nager.Date and Frankfurter APIs; KTEL Santorini price list; Wikipedia (history only).
