About this tour
When Alex from our team tried this catamaran cruise out of Agios Nikolaos, we spent the morning sailing the Mirabello Gulf's quieter corners — turquoise bays, decent snorkelling spots, and a roasted lunch onboard before cruising past Spinalonga Island's fortress walls. It's a solid 5.5-hour loop that mixes swimming, eating, and coasting past dramatic Cretan scenery. The boat's small enough that you're not jammed in with a hundred others, but full enough that the galley crew can actually feed you properly. Families and non-divers mix comfortably here.
Highlights
- Kolokytha Bay's turquoise water genuinely lives up to the hype.
- Cretan spread includes proper shrimp pasta and freshly cut salads.
- SUP and snorkel gear provided — no extra hire fees.
- Spinalonga Island views from the water beat the crowded landing.
- Small catamaran feels intimate, not a floating resort.
- Wine and beer included without the sneaky upsell.
- Bathroom onboard — underrated luxury on a boat day.
What to expect
You'll start at the marina in Agios Nikolaos with a quick safety chat, then sail east into the gulf. The first hour is spent cruising the coastline; it's relaxing rather than action-packed, good for settling in. At Kolokytha Bay, you've got roughly an hour to swim, snorkel if you fancy it, or try the SUP boards — the water's genuinely stunning and clear. Some of our team went under, others just floated and read.
After that, the crew starts cooking. You'll eat on deck: Greek mezze starters, a choice of shrimp linguine or mushroom risotto, Greek salad, and fruit for pudding. The food's proper homemade stuff, not reheated deck slop. Then you sail past Spinalonga's fortress from the water — if you want to actually land and explore the old fort ruins, that's a separate (and fairly expensive) excursion, so this tour just gives you the views. You're back at the marina mid-afternoon.
What travellers say
- Meal prep onboard and genuinely tasty — no corner-cutting.
- Snorkel gear and SUP included; no hidden rental costs.
- Kolokytha Bay's water colour is worth the sail alone.
- Small-boat intimacy without feeling cramped or ignored.
- Wine and beer flow without awkward upselling.
- Towels not provided; bring or accept soggy clothes.
- Seasickness risk if the gulf's choppy that day.
- Spinalonga fortress landing excluded; separate cost if interested.
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
The swimming and snorkelling are genuine highlights, and the meal is genuinely good — not ship's biscuits. You're not forced to land at Spinalonga, which actually means you avoid the tourist pile-up on the island itself. The gear rental (SUP, snorkel) being built in is handy if you don't own it. Small groups mean the crew knows who wants what.
Towels aren't provided — bring your own or plan to air-dry. The boat isn't motorised luxury, so it rocks a bit if the gulf's choppy; prone-to-seasickness folks should consider tablets. Not advised if you're pregnant. Infants must sit on a lap the whole time, so plan accordingly. The "exclusive menu" isn't fancy — it's good home cooking, not a Michelin moment. Spinalonga landing is genuinely excluded; if you want to explore the fortress, budget extra. Public transport to the marina works fine from town. Peak season (June–August) gets busier; shoulder months are calmer.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.