Semi-Private vs Private Catamaran in Santorini

Short answer: semi-private (from €80 pp) for value and atmosphere; private (from €1,200, covers up to 6 guests) for celebrations, flexibility and your own deck.

What’s the difference?

A semi-private cruise is a shared catamaran kept at a comfortable capacity — you join other guests, the route is fixed, and the price is per person (€80 by day, €95 at sunset). A private charter gives your group the entire boat: the route flexes to you, the schedule is yours, and the price is per boat (from €1,200 covering up to 6 guests, +€100 per extra guest).

Feature	Semi-private	Private
Price	€80 (day) / €95 (sunset) per person	€1,200–€2,400 per boat (covers up to 6 guests, +€100 each extra)
Deck	Shared, comfortable capacity	Only your group
Route	Classic caldera highlights	Flexible — built around you
Best for	Couples, solo travelers, small families	Celebrations, groups, total privacy
Food & drinks	Included	Included

When semi-private wins

Choose semi-private when value matters and you enjoy a little company: the deck stays comfortable, the food and swim stops are identical, and two people pay €160 by day or €190 at sunset instead of €1,200. Most first-time visitors are happiest here.

When private wins

Choose private when the occasion is the point — proposals, birthdays, families with small kids on their own schedule — or when you simply want to decide where the boat goes and how long it stays. Four to six people often find the per-person difference smaller than they expected.

The honest math for groups

At 6 guests, a €1,200 private charter is €200 per person — €120 more than the semi-private day cruise, €105 more than the sunset cruise — for a boat that answers only to you. Larger groups add €100 per extra guest, which usually still beats booking two separate experiences.

The verdict, by traveler

Couples: semi-private, unless it is a proposal or a honeymoon, which have their own cruises. Families with young children: semi-private in the morning if the children swim happily with others around; private if you want your own pace and your own deck. Four to six friends: private is closer in cost than it looks (€200 per person at six) and the boat answers only to you. Seven or more: private, adding €100 per extra guest; tell us your number and we confirm the setup. A whole day: only the full-day private cruise reaches Thirasia, the St. Nicholas islet and Ammoudi Bay below Oia.

Both kinds sail the same six-stop loop in the five-hour format, drawn stop by stop on the sailing route maps; the three-question chooser settles the rest.

Private vs semi-private: the questions we get

What is a semi-private catamaran cruise in Santorini?

A shared catamaran cruise kept at a comfortable capacity: you join other guests, the route is the classic caldera loop, and the price is per person (€80 by day, €95 at sunset), with the meal, drinks, snorkeling equipment and hotel transfers included.

What does a private catamaran charter in Santorini cost?

€1,200 for a five-hour day or sunset charter and €2,400 for the ten-hour full-day cruise; each price covers up to 6 guests, with €100 per extra guest. Food, drinks and hotel transfers are included, as on the shared cruises.

Is a private charter worth it for two people?

For most couples the semi-private cruise is the better value at €160 for two by day or €190 at sunset, and the deck stays comfortable. A private charter makes sense when the occasion is the point: a proposal, a honeymoon, or simply wanting the boat and the schedule to yourselves.

Can we choose the route on a private charter?

Yes. The published route is the starting point; on a private charter the captain shapes the day around your group, with the weather having the last word. On the semi-private cruises the route is fixed.

All cruises & prices · Sailing itinerary · Tips & FAQ