A santorini catamaran day trip built around a BBQ and open bar means the crew cooks and pours while you swim, rather than you paying extra for food on top of the cruise itself. Here’s what I’d actually tell you before booking: this isn’t a sit-down, multi-course Greek meal, it’s a simpler onboard BBQ, chicken, seafood, pasta, salads, served with unlimited wine, beer, and soft drinks, and knowing that distinction upfront sets the right expectations.
I’ll walk through exactly what’s served, what the smaller group size actually buys you, and when I’d point you toward a different catamaran cruise instead. For the full category comparison, my catamaran cruise pillar covers the day cruise and the Thirasia-focused Platinum cruise side by side.
Ready to see prices? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See times What’s Actually Served on the BBQ and Open Bar Cruise?
The santorini luxury small group catamaran w meal & open bar includes chicken, seafood, pasta in a Santorini tomato sauce, salads, and dips, cooked fresh onboard at Mesa Pigadia Beach, alongside unlimited wine, beer, and soft drinks. Vegan and vegetarian choices are available, and a premium seafood upgrade exists if you want it.
My honest take: this is a satisfying, casual meal, not a formal plated lunch. If you want a more complete sit-down Greek meal with meat and vegetarian mains served as proper courses, the Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise structures its food differently and is worth comparing before you book either one.
Why Call It a Small-Group Cruise?
This santorini all inclusive luxury catamaran small group cruise caps numbers lower than the bigger catamarans on this route, which genuinely changes how crowded the hot springs stop feels. The crew anchors at a quieter stretch of the volcanic hot springs than the busier spot other cruises use, so you’re swimming in mineral-rich water without jostling for space.
I’d pick this cruise specifically if you’ve already done a larger catamaran cruise before and want a calmer repeat, or if a crowded swim stop is something that would genuinely bother you. If group size itself, not just crowding at one stop, is the deciding factor for you, my boat tour group size page compares every size tier on this route.
Want a closer look? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See timesWhat Stops Does This Cruise Actually Make?
Four stops in total: a photo and swim pass at Red Beach, a scenic stretch past White Beach and the Akrotiri lighthouse, the quieter hot springs stop, and finally the BBQ lunch and swim at Mesa Pigadia Beach. The whole trip runs about 5 hours from Vlychada Port, with a day or sunset departure depending on when you book.
My honest take: four distinct stops in 5 hours is a solid pace, not rushed, but also not a lot of idle time at any single spot. If you’d rather linger longer at fewer places, I’d look at a shorter, more focused cruise instead.
Short on time? Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise, from $139.09 See timesIs This Cruise the Same Thing as a “Booze Cruise”?
Some travelers search for a santorini booze cruise, and this product fits that description reasonably well: unlimited wine, beer, and soft drinks served alongside the BBQ. It’s not marketed or run as a party boat specifically, but the open bar is genuinely unlimited for the duration of the sail.
I’d set expectations accordingly: it’s a relaxed, scenic sail with free-flowing drinks, not a loud party atmosphere. If a quieter, calmer vibe matters to you, the smaller group size here actually works in your favor either way.
Ready to see prices? Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise, from $33.38 See timesWho Should Book the BBQ and Open Bar Cruise?
I’d recommend this to anyone who’s already tried a bigger catamaran cruise and wants a calmer second trip, or to travelers specifically prioritizing a less crowded hot springs stop over a more elaborate meal. It’s less suited to anyone who wants a full, multi-course sit-down lunch, since the onboard BBQ here is simpler by design.
Families with older kids who want to swim without a long hike tend to do well on this one too, since nothing on the route involves walking on volcanic terrain.
Want a closer look? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See timesHow Does the Food Compare to the Standard Day Cruise?
The standard Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise serves a more complete Greek meal with grilled meats, salad, and dolmadakia as part of a slightly longer 5-to-6-hour trip at $122.40. This BBQ cruise, at $118.51 for 5 hours, trades a bit of that meal complexity for a smaller group and a quieter hot springs stop.
My honest take: the price difference is small enough that I’d choose based on group size preference rather than cost. Pick the BBQ cruise for a calmer day, the standard day cruise for a more complete onboard meal.
What’s the Meeting Point and Check-In Like?
Check-in happens near the mini market at Marina Vlychada, where a guide holding the company’s sign meets you by a nearby ATM before boarding. I’d arrive with a little buffer before your slot, since finding the exact ATM point among a busy marina can take a few extra minutes if you’ve never been there before.
A pickup option exists if you’d rather not arrange your own transport to Vlychada, though I’d confirm whether that’s included in your specific booking or priced as an add-on, since it isn’t automatic on every listing for this cruise.
Ready to see prices? Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise, from $33.38 See timesCan You Upgrade the Meal on This Cruise?
Yes, a premium seafood upgrade is available if you want it, on top of the standard chicken, pasta, and salad spread. I’d decide on this before boarding rather than hoping to add it last minute, since onboard catering for a set group size is planned in advance by the crew.
My honest take: the standard BBQ is satisfying enough for most travelers that I wouldn’t consider the upgrade essential, but if seafood is specifically what you’re after, it’s a reasonable add for a cruise that otherwise keeps things simple.
Want a closer look? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See timesIs This Cruise Good for Seeing Dolphins?
There’s a real chance, though no guarantee, of spotting dolphins along the stretch past White Beach and the Akrotiri lighthouse. I wouldn’t book this cruise specifically for that reason, since it’s genuinely unpredictable, but I’d keep a camera handy during that part of the route just in case.
Short on time? Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise, from $139.09 See timesWhat Should You Bring on the BBQ Cruise?
Sunscreen in cream form rather than a spray, since aerosols aren’t allowed onboard, along with a hat and a light jacket for breezier stretches of the sail. If you’re prone to motion sickness, I’d bring your own medication rather than assume the boat carries any, since the listing notes there’s no doctor onboard.
A change of clothes is worth packing too, particularly if the sulfur-rich water at the hot springs stop leaves a faint smell on your swimwear, a detail every cruise that visits this spot shares.
Ready to see prices? Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise, from $33.38 See timesHow Does This Cruise Compare to the Budget Volcano Cruise?
The Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise runs a fixed 3-hour afternoon slot from Athinios Port with audio commentary and a volcano hike, but no meal included, at a much lower price than this BBQ cruise. I’d pick the volcano cruise if budget and time are tight and you specifically want the crater hike, and this BBQ cruise if a full onboard meal and a quieter hot springs stop matter more to you than price.
My honest take: these two aren’t really competing for the same traveler. One is a short, cheap, narrated outing; the other is a longer, food-and-drink-focused half day. Decide which priority matters more before comparing their prices directly.
Want a closer look? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See timesFrequently Asked Questions
What food is served on the Santorini catamaran BBQ cruise?
Grilled chicken, seafood, pasta in Santorini tomato sauce, salads, and dips, prepared fresh onboard, with vegan and vegetarian options and an optional premium seafood upgrade.
Is the drink package really unlimited on this cruise?
Yes, the open bar includes unlimited wine, beer, and soft drinks for the duration of the roughly 5-hour sail.
Why is this called a small-group catamaran cruise?
It carries fewer passengers than the larger catamarans on this route, which makes swim stops, especially at the hot springs, feel noticeably less crowded.
How does this cruise differ from the standard catamaran day cruise?
This one serves a simpler onboard BBQ with a smaller group and a quieter hot springs stop, while the standard day cruise serves a more complete sit-down Greek meal to a larger group.
For general background on the caldera this cruise sails across, see the Wikipedia page on Santorini.
Short on time? Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise, from $139.09 See times