Catamaran vs Boat Tour in Santorini: Which Should You Pick?

Catamaran or boat tour? In Santorini, “boat tour” covers everything from a large sightseeing vessel to a small sailing catamaran. The sea and the volcano are the same; the day on board is not. Here is the difference, told from the catamaran side.

Every visitor to Santorini ends up asking the same question: which boat? Prices on the island are quoted for very different vessels, and a “sunset cruise” can mean a quiet dinner on a sailing catamaran or a loud evening on a vessel built to carry a large group. This page lays out what changes with the size and type of boat, what a small catamaran like ours actually offers, where a bigger boat genuinely has the edge, and how to decide for your own party.

What “boat tour” means in Santorini

Four kinds of boat sail the caldera. Large motor vessels run fixed sightseeing programs with many passengers per departure. Traditional wooden boats carry the day-trip and ferry traffic to the volcano and to Thirasia. RIB speedboats cover the coast fast for small private groups. And sailing catamarans, the type we run, take a comfortable number of guests around the island with the swim stops, the meal and the sunset built into the route. Each is a different product, even when the itinerary on paper looks alike.

A small catamaran, in practice

Our catamaran, the Lagoon “Summer Wind”, is the kind of boat you can walk around: bow trampoline nets, side decks, a shaded cockpit with the table where the meal is served, and a stern ladder for the swim stops. The deck is kept at a comfortable capacity, so there is always somewhere to sit, lie down or stand at the rail with nobody in the frame. Guests tell us the same thing in their reviews: it feels like a day on a friend’s boat.

• The route: Red Beach, White Beach, Mesa Pigadia below Akrotiri, the volcano and the Hot Springs, the caldera cliffs under Fira, and home to Vlychada; the sunset cruises add the sunset from the water. Every stop is on the route maps.
• What is included: the meal cooked on board during the cruise, drinks, snorkeling gear and hotel transfers.
• Swimming: every cruise stops to swim; the ladder goes down at the stern and the crew hands out noodles and masks.
• The price: €80 per person on the semi-private day cruise and €95 at sunset; private charters from €1,200, which covers up to 6 guests, +€100 per extra guest. All of it is on the prices guide.
• The boat you get: the vessel assigned on the day may vary, but it is always a sailing catamaran run by our own crew; we do not resell seats on other operators’ boats.

What a bigger boat does well

To be fair to the other side: large vessels are built for volume and structure. They carry far more passengers per departure, run a set program with set timings, usually offer indoor seating and shade for everyone, and feel steadier to people who are nervous about being close to the water. If you want to watch the caldera from a high, wide deck with a drink in hand and little to decide, that is their strength. Prices vary by operator and vessel; the economics of a big boat favor volume, and the experience is shaped by it.

Side by side

Feature	Small sailing catamaran (ours)	Large sightseeing vessel
Space per guest	Comfortable capacity: bow nets, side decks and a cockpit table, with room at the rail for everyone	Decks shared with many more passengers; seating and rail space are first come, first served
Swimming	Every cruise stops to swim; ladder at the stern, noodles and masks on board	Varies by vessel and program; some stop, some stay aboard
Food and drinks	Cooked on board during the cruise and served at the table; drinks included	Varies; often a buffet prepared for the whole group
Pace and route	Six caldera stops on the shared cruises; on a private charter the route bends to your group	A fixed program on a fixed schedule
Pickup	Hotel transfers included	Varies by operator
Price	€80 (day) / €95 (sunset) per person shared; private from €1,200 (covers up to 6 guests, +€100 per extra guest)	Varies by operator and vessel
Best for	Couples, families, friends who want a quiet deck and the water	Large groups and travelers who prefer a structured sightseeing program

Who should pick which

Still unsure? The three-question chooser points you to the right cruise with its price, and the guest photos show what the deck, the swim stops and the sunset really look like.

Catamaran vs boat tour: your questions

Is a catamaran better than a regular boat tour in Santorini?

Better for most couples, families and small groups, because the day is built around space, swimming and a meal cooked on board rather than around moving a large group through a program. A large vessel is the better fit for people who want a structured sightseeing outing on a high, steady deck with many others.

Is a catamaran stable on the water?

Yes. A catamaran rides on two hulls, which gives it a wide, level platform; it heels far less than a single-hull sailboat, so walking around, eating at the table and swimming from the stern ladder all feel easy. Guests who worry about seasickness usually find the morning cruises the calmest; our sailing tips page covers it.

Do catamaran cruises in Santorini stop for swimming?

Every one of ours does. The shared and private cruises stop at Red Beach, White Beach and the Hot Springs by the volcano; the ladder goes down at the stern and snorkeling gear is on board. On the sunset cruises the swims come early, while the light is still warm.

How much does a catamaran cruise cost compared with a boat tour?

Our semi-private catamaran cruises cost €80 per person by day and €95 at sunset, with the meal, drinks, snorkeling gear and hotel transfers included; private charters start at €1,200 for up to 6 guests, +€100 per extra guest. Other boat tours are priced by their own operators and vessels, so compare what each price includes, not the number alone.

All Santorini boat tours · Semi-private vs private · Day vs sunset · The boats