Mykonos: Delos and Rhenia Full-Day Sailing Cruise with Meal

Mykonos looks best from the water. This full-day sailing trip links the ancient ruins of Delos with the clear coves of uninhabited Rhenia, giving you history, swimming, sun, and a generous Greek lunch in one outing. I especially like the friendly small-group feel and the chance to spend several unhurried hours swimming and snorkeling away from Mykonos crowds.

The onboard buffet is another strong point. Greek salad, spreads, bread, beans, pasta, bruschetta, and other local dishes are prepared on board, with beer, house wine, soft drinks, and water included. The main consideration is time: Delos receives about one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes, which is enough for a quick look but not enough for a thorough archaeological visit. Also, confirm the departure time carefully, since the supplied schedule includes both a morning cruise and a separate late-afternoon sunset departure.

Key points to know before booking

• Two very different islands in one day: Delos gives you temples and ancient streets, while Rhenia offers swimming, snorkeling, and quiet beaches.
• A genuine onboard meal: The Greek buffet is one of the trip’s most praised features, with food prepared by the crew rather than a basic packed lunch.
• Small-group sailing atmosphere: The skipper and assistant may let you help with ropes, steering, or navigation when conditions allow.
• Rhenia is the relaxing half: Plan on roughly two to three hours for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and lunch.
• Wind matters in Mykonos: The boat can rock, and the front seating area may get wet. Bring a jacket and choose your place on board with care.
• Delos entry is extra: Admission to the archaeological site and any guide are not included, so bring money if you want to go ashore.

Why this cruise works so well

Mykonos is famous for whitewashed streets, late nights, and crowded beaches. This trip gives you a different view of the island. You spend much of the day outside town, with the horizon open around you and the sea doing most of the sightseeing work.

The appeal is the contrast. Delos is a serious historical site, filled with temples, marble houses, mosaics, and traces of an important ancient Aegean center. Rhenia is almost the opposite: no town, no busy resort strip, and no scheduled tour of monuments. You swim, eat, dry off in the sun, and let the day slow down.

The boat ride is also part of the event, not just transport between stops. Depending on wind and sea conditions, the yacht may travel under sail, with the motor assisting when needed. The crew invites you to lend a hand with ropes or steering if you feel adventurous. If you prefer a quiet ride, you can stretch out on the deck and watch Mykonos recede behind you.

The atmosphere seems especially suitable for families and mixed-age groups. One family ranging from 17 to 70 enjoyed the day together, and another child was allowed to help steer for a short time. That does not mean every child will get the same opportunity, since the captain must put safety first, but it shows the relaxed character of the outing.

Leaving Mykonos New Port

The published morning schedule begins at 9:00 a.m. from Mykonos New Port, with a return around 3:00 p.m. The listed route includes roughly 50 minutes of sailing in each direction, about 1.5 hours at Delos, and around two hours at Rhenia.

However, the supplied booking information also mentions a departure at 4:00 or 4:30 p.m. lasting until sunset and passing Delos. That appears to describe a different sailing option, so do not assume every departure follows the morning itinerary. Check the exact time attached to your chosen booking.

The meeting point can vary between Grand Banks Yacht, Mykonos Cruise, and Zephyros Sailing Mykonos. You do not receive hotel pickup or drop-off, so allow time to reach the correct marina meeting point. The booking requires each passenger’s full name, date of birth, nationality, and identification or passport number. A photo of the document can be sent by email or WhatsApp.

Once aboard, you can settle into padded deck seating. The front of the boat offers the best sense of motion, but it can also take spray when the sea is choppy. If you want to stay dry, the middle or rear part of the boat is the wiser choice.

Delos: ancient stones with limited time

Delos is the cultural heart of the outing. In ancient times, the island was tied to Apollo and Artemis and became a major religious and commercial center in the Aegean. Today, its remains spread across a stark, open archaeological site that feels very different from the resort atmosphere of Mykonos.

The cruise reaches Delos after about an hour on the water. You then have roughly one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes for the site and museum, depending on the day’s timing. That is enough to walk among major ruins and get a strong impression of the island, but you will need to move with purpose.

I would treat this as an introduction rather than a full archaeological study. You can wander through ancient streets, see marble remains, and visit the museum if the timing allows. The site is much easier to appreciate if you read a little about Delos before boarding, since there is no included guide to explain every temple, house, or carved fragment.

Admission to the archaeological site is not included. One passenger paid about 8 euros, but the supplied tour details only identify the entrance fee as an optional extra, so check the current amount before you go. A guide is also optional and not included.

The limited Delos time is the clearest weakness of the trip. If ancient sites are your main reason for visiting Greece, you may prefer a dedicated Delos excursion with more time and organized commentary. If you want a pleasant mix of culture and sea, the shorter visit is a reasonable trade.

A useful advantage of the early departure is that you may reach Delos before the busiest part of the day. Leaving on time can make the ruins feel calmer, and the open setting gives you room to wander without the packed feel found at popular sites on the main islands.

Rhenia: the day’s best swimming stop

After Delos, the yacht crosses the narrow strait to Rhenia. This uninhabited island has sheltered bays, coves, and clear water. There is no village sightseeing here. The point is to step out of ancient history and into a long, easy break at sea.

Depending on the specific departure, you receive about two to three hours at Rhenia. That time may include swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, sunbathing, and lunch on board. The water is the star. Several passengers singled out the beautiful cove and transparent sea as the most memorable part of the day.

Snorkeling equipment is provided, and stand-up paddleboarding is available. You should still bring your own towel and swimwear, along with sunscreen. A jacket belongs in your bag too, since the return ride can feel cooler and windier after you have been wet.

The stop is not a beach club visit. The island is uninhabited, and the boat serves as your base for food, drinks, shade, and changing back into dry clothes. If you need a broad range of facilities, this may feel basic. If you want a clean, quiet place to swim without a resort around you, it is exactly the right kind of stop.

The length of the Rhenia break helps balance the quick Delos visit. You are not rushed from one photo stop to another. You can swim, climb back aboard, eat, and go back into the water if you wish.

A Greek lunch worth making room for

The lunch is more than a token sandwich. The crew prepares a buffet of Greek dishes on board, and the spread has received unusually strong praise. Described dishes include Greek salad, bread with a cheese spread, giant beans, pasta, and bruschetta. Other local specialties may vary by day.

This style of meal suits the setting. You can take a little at a time, eat on deck, and keep the day casual. It is also a sensible menu after swimming, with enough variety for a light meal or a fuller plate.

The wine, beer, soft drinks, and water are included. House wine with a Greek lunch feels fitting, but drink sensibly if the sea is moving. Alcohol, sun, and boat motion are not always good friends.

The crew receives much of the credit for the meal and the overall mood. Evgenia, Zak, George, and captains including Dimitris are named in the supplied information as warm, attentive members of the team. The crew helps with comfort, keeps drinks available, and manages the boat when the wind rises.

Sailing conditions and comfort

Mykonos is known as the island of the winds, and the sea may be rough. Some trips have had a lively ride with plenty of rocking and rolling. That can make the sailing feel exciting, but it can also bother you if you are prone to seasickness.

The captain’s handling of the boat is a major part of the experience. Captains have managed windy conditions carefully, though passengers have still gotten wet on the way back. The yacht may use a combination of engine and sails, with more full-sail sailing possible when conditions permit.

There is limited information about shade on deck, and one passenger wished there were more shaded areas. Bring sunscreen, a hat if you have one, and a light jacket. The front of the boat is the wettest position, so sit there only if spray sounds like part of the fun.

This is not a silent luxury yacht cruise. It is friendlier and more hands-on. You may hear music, chat with the crew and other passengers, and be invited to participate in simple sailing tasks. Private groups are available if you want a more personal outing, but the regular cruise already aims for a small-group setting.

Is the $123 price good value?

At $123 per person, the price is fair if you plan to use the entire day. You are paying for a sailing yacht, skipper and assistant, fuel, port fees, taxes, lunch, and drinks. You also get transportation by sea to two separate islands, which would be harder to arrange independently.

The value is strongest for people who want variety. A separate Delos visit might offer more historical time, while a beach day might give you more hours in the sand. This cruise combines both, then adds a prepared meal and the pleasure of moving between islands by boat.

The value is weaker if you care only about Delos. The archaeological stop is short, admission costs extra, and no guide is included. It is also less appealing if you dislike wind, spray, boat movement, or open-deck sun.

The high satisfaction rating of 4.8 from 90 ratings fits the trip’s strongest features: the crew, food, swimming stop, and easygoing atmosphere. The perfect-score transport rating also reflects an important practical benefit. You are not simply being ferried across the water. You are spending the day on a working sailing yacht with a crew that pays attention to the conditions.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That helps if your Mykonos plans may shift, but you still need to provide the passenger identification details required for the booking.

Who should book this Mykonos sailing day?

I would recommend it to you if you want one outing that covers several sides of the Cyclades. It suits couples, families, friends, and solo passengers who enjoy meeting people in a small boat setting.

You will get the most from it if you:

• Enjoy swimming and snorkeling in clear water
• Want a taste of Delos without spending an entire day at ruins
• Like fresh Greek food served in a relaxed setting
• Are comfortable with sun, wind, and some boat movement
• Prefer an active day at sea to a formal guided bus tour
• Appreciate a crew that may involve you in the sailing

I would think twice if you need lots of shade, dislike getting wet, or want detailed archaeological interpretation. For a serious Delos visit, book a longer archaeological tour. For a quiet beach day, choose an outing that spends more time on one island.

Final call: book it for the sea, not only the ruins

Book this cruise if you want the best mix of Aegean sailing, clear-water swimming, and a memorable Greek meal. The crew, food, and Rhenia stop are the reasons this outing earns its strong reputation.

Go in with the right expectations. Delos is a compact visit, not a complete archaeological tour, and Mykonos wind can make the ride lively. Confirm your departure time, bring a towel, sunscreen, jacket, and identification, and avoid the front seat if staying dry matters.

For most visitors, the combination is hard to beat at $123. You see an extraordinary ancient island, swim off an uninhabited one, and spend the hours between them on the water with a capable crew and a proper lunch.

FAQ

How long does the Mykonos sailing cruise last?

The cruise lasts about 6 to 6.5 hours. The morning schedule describes a 9:00 a.m. departure and return around 3:00 p.m., but another listed option departs at 4:00 or 4:30 p.m. and runs until sunset. Confirm the time for your selected option.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is a buffet of Greek delicacies freshly prepared on board. Dishes described for the meal include Greek salad, bread with a cheese spread, giant beans, pasta, and bruschetta.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Soft drinks, beer, house wine, and water are included.

Is the Delos entrance fee included?

No. Admission to the Delos archaeological site is optional and not included in the cruise price. A guide at the site is also not included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a jacket, and a passport or identification card. A copy of the passport or ID is accepted for the required passenger information.

Does the cruise include hotel pickup and drop-off?

No. Pickup and drop-off service is not included. The meeting point may be Grand Banks Yacht, Mykonos Cruise, or Zephyros Sailing Mykonos, depending on the option booked.