Luxury Catamaran Cruise, Dia Island –Open Bar & Lunch -Top Rated!

Dia Island is the star here, but the boat makes the day. You sail from Heraklion to a quiet bay where you can swim, snorkel, paddle a SUP, fish, or simply stretch out with a glass of local wine. I especially like the fresh lunch cooked onboard and the fact that the crew supplies nearly every piece of water equipment you need.

I also like the small maximum of 25 people, which gives this cruise a more personal feel than a large excursion boat. The main drawback is the price, $145.18 per person, and the fact that the experience depends on good weather. If you want a cheap ride to the beach, this is not it. If you want food, drinks, equipment, and a polished boat wrapped into one half-day outing, the cost is easier to justify.

Key points to know before booking

• Three hours at Dia Island: Most of your time at the island is spent in a peaceful bay suited to swimming, snorkeling, SUP boarding, fishing, and relaxing.
• Seafood lunch prepared onboard: The menu includes a seafood risotto with kantaifi-wrapped shrimp, plus vegetarian and chicken lasagna options.
• Open bar included: Water, soft drinks, local white wine, and beer are available throughout the cruise for adults aged 18 and over.
• Equipment is supplied: Snorkeling gear, swimming vests, SUPs, fishing gear, a canoe board, noodles, and inflatable sea toys are included.
• Small group size: The catamaran carries a maximum of 25 people, a useful limit for a more comfortable day on the water.
• Heraklion departure: Meet at Cafe Marina on Leof. Nearchou, near public transportation, then return to the same point.

Sailing out of Heraklion toward Dia Island

This cruise begins at Cafe Marina on Leof. Nearchou in Heraklion. The location is near public transportation, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate return from another harbor.

The total experience lasts about five and a half hours. The supplied schedule gives Dia Island three hours, leaving the rest of the time for boarding, sailing out, anchoring, serving food, and returning to Heraklion. Exact sailing conditions can affect the rhythm of the day, so I would not treat the timetable as a minute-by-minute promise.

The catamaran is the main setting for the experience. It is described as a luxury, high-end boat, with toilets for men and women, a shower, free WiFi, and a professional English-speaking crew. Those details matter on a half-day cruise. A shower is useful after swimming, and onboard toilets mean you are not dependent on facilities ashore.

The maximum group size is 25 people. That is not a private charter, but it is much more manageable than a large party boat. You should still expect other people sharing the deck, water toys, dining area, and swimming space. The smaller capacity helps, especially when the crew is serving lunch or handing out snorkeling equipment.

Three hours in the bay at Dia

Dia Island is an uninhabited island off Crete, and the cruise stops in a peaceful bay rather than simply circling the island from offshore. The appeal is straightforward: clear turquoise water, time to swim, and a range of activities that let you choose your own pace.

The captain selects an anchoring area, and the cruise can position close to shore when conditions allow. That gives you a better chance to appreciate the bay rather than spending the entire stop far from land. Still, this is a water-based outing, not a guided island walk. The supplied plan focuses on the bay and its activities, and it does not promise a shore excursion or historical tour.

You can use the snorkeling equipment and swimming vest provided onboard. The vests are helpful if you are comfortable in the water but do not want to swim without support. Snorkeling conditions can change with wind, visibility, and sea movement, so it is best to view it as an included option rather than a guaranteed wildlife encounter.

SUP boards, a canoe board, fishing gear, inflatable toys, and swimming noodles are also available. This is a good setup for a mixed group. One person can paddle, another can fish, and someone else can stay on the catamaran with a drink and a book. You do not have to be athletic to enjoy the day.

The three-hour stop is generous enough to avoid the rushed feeling of a quick swim call. You can try several activities, return to the boat for food or shade, then get back into the water. On the other hand, anyone hoping for extensive exploration of Dia Island may find the experience limited. The focus is the sea and the boat, not a land-based visit.

What you will eat onboard

Food is one of the strongest reasons to consider this cruise. The main meal is prepared fresh onboard with local ingredients and served with fresh salads. That gives the day more substance than the usual excursion of packaged snacks and a basic sandwich.

The seafood choice combines sea garden risotto with kantaifi-wrapped tempura shrimp. The risotto brings a warm, filling main course, while the shrimp adds a crisp element. Kantaifi is a fine shredded pastry often used in Greek cooking, so this is more distinctive than standard fried seafood.

You can choose a vegetarian option of spinach lasagna with creamy béchamel sauce, described as a Mediterranean take on moussaka. The meat option is chicken lasagna with mushrooms and colorful bell peppers. These choices make the cruise practical for a mixed group, though you should select your meal when reserving rather than assuming every dish will be available in equal quantities onboard.

Before or around the main meal, you can expect welcome coffee, Cretan delicacies, gourmet platters with assorted cheeses and cold cuts, seasonal fruit, and a local Cretan dessert. The word brunch is used for the platters, while the main meal is presented as lunch. In practical terms, plan on plenty of food spread through the cruise rather than one single plate at one fixed moment.

The menu is a real value factor. If you paid separately for a quality seafood lunch, drinks, snacks, and equipment, the price would rise quickly. Food quality can always vary with the day and the kitchen, but the setup is more serious than a simple boat picnic.

The open bar and the pace of the day

The all-inclusive bar covers water, soft drinks, local white wine, and beer. Coffee and tea are included as well. Cocktails are not part of the standard package, but they can be requested separately. Alcohol is available only to people aged 18 or over.

I like this arrangement because it keeps the day simple. You do not need to bring a cooler, buy drinks at each stage, or calculate the cost of every bottle of water. The local white wine fits the setting, and a cold beer after swimming is an easy pleasure.

There is one point to keep in mind: an open bar can affect how people pace themselves on a boat. You will be in the sun, moving around, and swimming. Drink water regularly and treat the wine and beer as part of the meal or relaxed time onboard, not as the main activity.

The cruise has received especially strong praise for its snacks, drinks, and food service. The open bar helps make the package feel genuinely inclusive, but it does not include cocktails, premium spirits, or every drink you might find at a land-based bar.

Crew service and the onboard setup

The team includes a qualified English-speaking crew, with a captain, chef, and assistant involved in running the experience. The captain handles the boat and anchoring, while the chef prepares the meal onboard. The assistant helps with food, drinks, and the activities.

That division of work matters. A good sailing day depends on more than a nice catamaran. You want clear instructions around the water equipment, quick help when you need a swimming vest, and a meal service that does not turn the deck into a jumble of plates and gear.

Past experiences have given the crew particularly high marks for professionalism, friendliness, and attention. The overall tone is intended to be relaxed rather than formal. You can expect the staff to manage the practical details while you choose how active or quiet you want the day to be.

The boat has separate men’s and women’s toilets, a shower, WiFi, and the equipment needed for most of the advertised activities. These are meaningful comforts on a five-and-a-half-hour outing. The WiFi may be useful, although the best reason to keep your phone handy is to photograph the bay and the sunset rather than stare at a screen.

Morning, afternoon, and sunset considerations

The supplied experiences include an afternoon departure at 3:30 pm that reached sunset at sea. If you choose a similar sailing time, you may get the warm light and changing colors that make the return trip memorable. Sunset timing depends on the date and the selected departure, so check the exact schedule when booking.

A morning or earlier sailing may suit you better if swimming and snorkeling are your main goals. You will have more daylight for water activities, and the schedule may feel less tied to sunset. An afternoon departure can be appealing if you prefer a slower start and want the return sail to be part of the evening atmosphere.

Because the tour requires good weather, the operator may cancel and offer another date or a full refund if conditions are poor. That policy is sensible for an open-water cruise, but it means you should avoid placing the activity on the final few hours of a tightly planned Crete visit.

Is $145.18 a fair price?

At $145.18 per person, this is a premium half-day outing. The price is not aimed at people who only need transport to a swimming spot. You are paying for a luxury catamaran, crew, food prepared onboard, an open bar, snacks, WiFi, water equipment, and about three hours at Dia Island.

The value is strongest if you plan to use the included features. Swim, snorkel, try a SUP, eat the full lunch, have a drink, and enjoy the boat itself. If you only sit on deck and skip the meal and activities, the price will feel harder to defend.

A private charter would normally cost more, so a maximum of 25 people offers a middle ground. You get a polished boat and a full service setup without paying for exclusive use. It is still not a budget excursion, and you should compare it with other sailing options in Heraklion if price is your top concern.

The high satisfaction level and 99 percent recommendation rate support the idea that the package delivers what it promises. I would still judge the value by your own priorities. Couples, families, and friends who want a comfortable day with nearly everything included are likely to get more from it than independent swimmers who prefer a public beach and a picnic.

Who should book this Dia Island cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want a special day on the water but do not want to organize food, drinks, equipment, and transportation between several suppliers. It suits people who like having choices: swim when you want, paddle when you want, eat when you want, and return to the boat for a rest.

It also works well for mixed-age groups, provided everyone can participate in a boat-based outing. Most people can take part, but the activity is not described as fully accessible, and water activities always require a reasonable level of mobility and comfort around a boat.

Families should appreciate the swimming vests, noodles, SUPs, canoe board, and inflatable toys. Couples may prefer the quieter parts of the bay, the onboard meal, and a possible sunset return. Food-minded passengers will find the fresh preparation and Cretan touches more appealing than a standard packed lunch.

You should think twice if you dislike shared tours, do not enjoy being on the water for several hours, or want a guided walk around Dia. You should also avoid booking it as your only flexible plan if the weather forecast looks unsettled.

Booking details that matter

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the tour is offered in English. Private pickup and transfer service is available on request, but it is not included in the listed price. The normal meeting point is Cafe Marina in Heraklion.

Sea scooters are not included. They require advance booking, and priority is given in booking order. If that feature matters to you, arrange it early rather than expecting to add it on the day.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded or accepted. The operator may also cancel if the minimum number is not reached, offering another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you want Dia Island packaged as a polished, easy half-day experience. The strongest reasons are the fresh onboard meal, open bar, useful water equipment, small group limit, and crew service. Those features make the $145.18 cost reasonable for a special day rather than a simple ferry-style outing.

Skip it if you are looking for the cheapest way to swim near Heraklion or if your main goal is to explore the island on foot. For everyone else, especially couples, families, and friends who value comfort and choice, this is a well-rounded way to spend a day at sea.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise begin?

The cruise begins at Cafe Marina, Leof. Nearchou, Iraklio 712 02, Greece.

Where does the cruise end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point in Heraklion.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise lasts approximately five hours and 30 minutes.

How long do you spend at Dia Island?

The planned stop at Dia Island lasts about three hours.

What activities are available at Dia Island?

You can swim, snorkel, use a stand-up paddleboard, fish, and use the canoe board, inflatable sea toys, and swimming noodles.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A fresh seafood Mediterranean lunch is prepared onboard, with vegetarian and chicken options also available.

What drinks are included?

Water, soft drinks, local white wine, beer, coffee, and tea are included. Cocktails are available on request but are not part of the standard package.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and swimming vests are included.

How many people can join the cruise?

The experience has a maximum of 25 travelers.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.