The best part of this cruise is the mix of ancient Delos and quiet Rhenia beaches in one private day on the Aegean. You get a short visit to one of Greece’s great archaeological sites, then several hours for swimming, sun, snacks, and clear water before finishing around Little Venice in Mykonos.

I like the freedom of a private boat for up to nine people, especially if your group wants more beach time instead of a fixed sightseeing schedule. I also like the practical extras: towels, snorkeling gear, fresh fruit, snacks, and unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks are included.

The main thing to weigh is the price, $2,839.02 per group, plus the €12 Delos entrance fee per adult. It can be good value for a larger group, but a couple or small family will pay much more per person than a full party of nine.

Key Points to Know Before You Book

• Delos adds serious cultural interest: You get time on the sacred island linked in Greek mythology with Apollo and Artemis.
• Rhenia supplies the beach hours: Skinos Beach, also called Blue Lacuna, is the main swimming stop, followed by more coves.
• The cruise is private: Only your group participates, with space for as many as nine people.
• Food and drinks are covered: Fresh fruit, snacks, towels, snorkeling equipment, beer, wine, and soft drinks are included.
• Little Venice gives the day a lively finish: You can go ashore for stone-paved streets and sunset views in Mykonos.
• The Delos guide is optional: A professional guided tour can be arranged, but it is not part of the basic price.

An Eight Hour Boat Day Across Three Islands

This is not simply a transfer from Paros to Mykonos. It is a full day on the water, with the boat doing the work between islands while you switch between ruins, beaches, and a famous waterfront quarter.

The listed start is 10:00 am at Porto Naoussa in Naousa, Paros. The experience ends back at the meeting point. Pickup is offered in the tour details, but hotel pickup and drop-off are also listed as not included, so you should confirm the exact pickup arrangement before booking rather than assume transportation to the port is covered.

Because the cruise is private, you are not working around strangers or a large group. That matters most during the beach stops. If your party wants to swim longer, sit quietly with a drink, or spend more time ashore in Mykonos, the crew can work within the day’s schedule and sea conditions.

The boat is described in one account as a modern Matrix RIB with plenty of space. The exact boat assigned can vary, but you can expect a private vessel, a captain, and crew support rather than a standard public ferry or crowded excursion boat.

Delos: A Short Visit to a Sacred Island

After a short boat ride, the first stop is Delos, one of the Aegean’s most important archaeological sites. Ancient Greeks regarded it as a holy island, and mythology says Poseidon raised it from the sea so Leto could give birth to Apollo and Artemis after fleeing Hera.

You are scheduled for about 30 minutes on Delos. That is enough for a first look and some photographs, but it is not a long archaeological visit. If you enjoy ancient sites, the time will feel brief. You will want to focus on the main areas rather than expect a slow, detailed walk across the island.

A professional guided tour is available on request. I would strongly consider arranging one if the ruins are a major reason for booking. Without a guide, the remains can be harder to understand in a short visit, and the historical setting deserves more than a quick glance.

The admission fee is separate. The listed cost is €12 per adult, and it is not included in the cruise price. Build that into your budget, especially if several adults are in your party.

The short Delos stop works best for someone who wants a taste of the site while giving most of the day to the sea. If you want a full archaeological outing, this cruise is probably not the right format. A dedicated Delos visit would give you more time, but it would not offer the same private beach day afterward.

Rhenia’s Skinos Beach and Blue Lacuna

From Delos, the boat heads to nearby Rhenia, a quieter island known for sandy coves and clear water. The first beach stop is Skinos Beach, described as Blue Lacuna, where you have about two hours to swim, walk along the coast, and relax aboard or near the beach.

This is where the private format earns its keep. You are not rushing through a five-minute photo stop. Two hours gives you time to get into the water, dry off, try the snorkeling gear, and enjoy the supplied food and drinks without watching the clock every few minutes.

The included snorkeling equipment is useful for a casual look beneath the surface. No particular marine life or underwater sights are promised, so think of it as a way to enjoy the clear water rather than a specialist snorkeling trip.

The beach setting is natural and simple. The appeal is the water, sand, and lack of a packed sightseeing program. You should not book this expecting extensive facilities or a developed resort beach, since no such services are listed.

Towels are provided, which saves space in your luggage and makes repeated swims easier. Fresh fruit, snacks, beer, wine, and soft drinks are also included. That combination makes the two-hour stop feel more like a relaxed boat day than a basic sightseeing transfer.

More Rhenia Beaches: Lygia, Glyfada, Strada, Lia, and Ambelia

After Skinos, the cruise continues around Rhenia for another two hours of beach time. The route may include beaches such as Lygia, Glyfada, Strada, Lia, and Ambelia, with the captain choosing among the coves according to the day’s conditions and schedule.

This second beach period is a good reason to choose the tour over a simple island-hopping trip. You get more than one chance to swim, and the scenery changes as the boat moves between coves. If you prefer to spend a full afternoon on the water, these hours will likely be the heart of your day.

You can use this time in different ways. Swim from the boat, sit on the sand, walk along the coast, or stay aboard with a cold drink. The details of each stop are not fixed, so your experience may depend on weather, sea conditions, and the captain’s judgment.

That flexibility is useful, but it also means you should not treat every named beach as a guaranteed landing. The schedule lists several possible Rhenia beaches, not a promise that you will spend equal time at all of them.

Rhenia is also the point where the tour feels less programmed. Delos has a clear cultural purpose, while the beach stops are about choosing your own pace. If you need constant activity, the two hours at each beach may feel long. If you want a break from ports and crowds, the open time is a major advantage.

Mykonos Little Venice at the End of the Day

The final stop is Little Venice, Mykonos, for about two hours. Depending on your schedule, mood, and desire, you can leave the boat and walk through the narrow stone-paved streets before returning to the waterfront for sunset.

Little Venice is a very different finish from Rhenia. After quiet coves and swimming, you get a dose of Mykonos atmosphere, old lanes, and waterfront buildings. It gives you a chance to stretch your legs and enjoy an island setting without spending the entire day in town.

The two-hour allowance is generous enough for a walk and sunset time, though your exact experience will depend on when the boat arrives and the day’s light. The wording makes this stop somewhat flexible, so ask the captain how much shore time is practical once you are underway.

If your group has no interest in Mykonos town, you may prefer a longer swim stop instead. But for many people, Little Venice is a smart final chapter because it adds a recognizable Mykonos scene to a day otherwise focused on beaches and open water.

What the Captain and Crew Add

The crew is an important part of a private cruise. Captain Andreas is specifically praised in the supplied information for being capable, relaxed, and fun with a family group. Captain Toni is also singled out for handling a private day well, including a Paros outing with a restaurant visit and a swim at a bay near a monastery.

Those examples come from other Don Blue trips, so they do not guarantee which captain will operate your cruise. They do show the kind of service you can expect: practical help on the water, a friendly presence, and local knowledge about stops and timing.

One account also describes Alicia handling booking questions from the United States before the trip. That is useful if you have a complicated group, need to clarify pickup, or want to arrange the optional Delos guide in advance.

The best private cruise crews do not just steer the boat. They help you make good use of the day. Here, that may mean suggesting a suitable cove, explaining points of interest, or adjusting the rhythm between swimming and shore time.

Food, Drinks, Towels, and Snorkeling Gear

The included supplies make a real difference to the day’s value. You receive fresh fruit and snacks, plus unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks. Towels and snorkeling equipment are included as well.

This does not replace a full restaurant meal, and no formal lunch is specified. If you need a substantial meal, ask what snacks are served and plan accordingly. For a beach-focused cruise, though, the supplied food should help cover the small hunger that comes with swimming and being out on the water for hours.

Unlimited drinks are especially useful for a private group. You do not have to keep ordering each time you want water, a soft drink, or a beer. You should still treat the alcohol as one part of the day, since you will be swimming and moving around a boat.

A previous Don Blue outing included a meal made with fresh ingredients, but that detail is not promised for this particular route. Stick to the confirmed inclusions: snacks, fresh fruit, and drinks.

Is $2,839.02 Good Value?

The price is $2,839.02 for the whole group, with a maximum of nine people. That works out to about $315 per person if nine people share the boat, or about $710 per person for a group of four, before the Delos admission fee.

For nine people, the price can make sense. You are paying for a private captain and boat, fuel, eight hours on the water, multiple island stops, beach time, equipment, towels, snacks, fruit, and unlimited drinks. A full group also gets privacy that a standard shared cruise cannot offer.

For two people, the calculation is harder. You are paying a premium for control, space, and a custom-feeling day. If your main goal is simply to reach Delos or swim at one beach, a shared excursion may cost less. If you value privacy and want a special day with no other group aboard, the higher cost may feel justified.

The price also makes more sense for a family or group celebrating something. You can share the cost, stay together, and avoid the compromises that come with a public boat. The fuel surcharge is included, so there should not be a separate fuel charge added to the advertised amount.

Remember to add €12 per adult for Delos. Hotel transportation is not included, and the cruise returns to the meeting point at Porto Naoussa.

Who Will Enjoy This Cruise Most?

I would recommend this day to a group that wants three different experiences in one outing: ancient ruins, quiet swimming coves, and a Mykonos finish.

It is especially suited to:

• Families with older children who can handle a full day on a boat
• Couples who want a private day rather than a shared excursion
• Friends splitting the cost across a larger group
• Visitors staying in Paros who want to see Delos, Rhenia, and Mykonos by boat
• People who prefer swimming and free time over a packed program

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the experience is not recommended for children aged three and under. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed, but anyone concerned about boat travel or long periods in the sun should consider the eight-hour duration carefully.

This is less suitable if you want a long, scholarly tour of Delos, a formal meal, or a fixed schedule with every beach stop guaranteed. The route is built around comfort, swimming, and flexibility.

Practical Details That Matter

Confirmation is provided at booking. The cruise is offered in English, and the listed start time is 10:00 am.

Bring sun protection, a swimsuit, and anything you personally need for a full day outdoors. Towels and snorkeling gear are supplied, but the information does not specify other personal equipment, so pack conservatively for the sea and shore.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

Should You Book It?

Book this cruise if you have a group large enough to share the cost and want a private Aegean day with plenty of swimming. The combination of Delos, Rhenia, and Little Venice is varied, and the included snacks, drinks, towels, and equipment keep the day simple.

Before paying, confirm the pickup details, ask if you want the optional Delos guide, and check exactly how much time is expected at Little Venice. If your group is small or your priority is archaeological sightseeing, the price may not be the best fit. For a family or group of friends seeking a relaxed private boat day, it offers a strong mix of culture, beaches, and Mykonos atmosphere.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start?

The cruise starts at Porto Naoussa, Naousa 844 01, Greece, at 10:00 am.

Where does the cruise end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Porto Naoussa.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private cruise?

The private activity is for your group only and can include up to nine people.

Is the Delos entrance fee included?

No. Admission to Delos costs €12 per adult and is paid separately.

Are food, drinks, towels, and snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Fresh fruit, snacks, towels, snorkeling equipment, unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks are included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.