Chania: Private Cruise with Sup Food & Unlimited Drinks

The best part of this Souda Bay cruise is the freedom to leave the crowded beaches behind. Your private group sails to clear-water coves, small islands, cliff-lined bays, and boat-only swimming spots, with a SUP board and snorkeling gear ready when you want more than a view from the deck.

I like the small private-group setup, which gives Captain Giannis and his crew room to adjust the pace. I also like the food-and-drink arrangement: Greek meze, a meal, fruit, beer, Cretan wine, raki, and soft drinks are served onboard rather than sold one item at a time. The main consideration is that the $707 price covers up to four people, so the value is much better for a full group than for one or two.

Key points to know

• Souda Bay departure: The boat leaves from Perseus Sailing Cruises, with a short welcome, coffee, snacks, and safety briefing before sailing.
• Private boat for up to four at this price: The yacht can carry up to 10 people, but your quoted rate is for a private group of four.
• Swimming gear included: Masks, snorkels, flippers, and a SUP board are provided. Wakeboard equipment is also listed.
• Lunch and drinks onboard: Expect Greek appetizers, a meal, seasonal fruit, beer, Cretan wine, raki, coffee, and soft drinks.
• A flexible coastline route: Stops can include Ai Giannis, Marathi, Almyrida, Kalami, Seitan Limania, and other coves, depending on timing and sea conditions.
• Special occasions are possible: Sunset cruises, dinner cruises, bachelor parties, birthdays, and wedding decoration can be arranged on request, with extra charges for special services.

Leaving Souda for a quieter side of Crete

The cruise starts at Souda, east of Chania, at Perseus Sailing Cruises. You meet the crew, settle in with coffee and local snacks, and receive a safety briefing before the yacht gets underway.

Captain Giannis is listed as the skipper, with a hostess and guide handling food, drinks, and the day’s sightseeing. The crew speaks English and Greek. Previous passengers especially praised the friendly, relaxed service, with Christina often singled out for keeping food and drinks moving without hovering.

The first part of the journey is as much about scenery as swimming. You pass coastal views toward Kalami, with the White Mountains behind the shore. The route also points out old fortifications, including a small island fortress with cannon openings once used by the Venetians to guard the bay from pirates.

That historical backdrop gives the cruise a little more substance than a simple beach transfer. You are not only moving from one swim stop to another. You are also seeing the coast from the angle that makes its coves, cliffs, churches, and ruins easier to understand.

Ai Giannis and the first swim

Ai Giannis Beach is usually the first substantial stop. You get time for photographs, swimming, snorkeling, and a look around while beer, wine, and local snacks are available onboard.

This is a useful first stop because it lets you test the water and gear before the longer sections of the route. If you prefer a gentle start, stay on deck and enjoy the view. If you want activity, the snorkeling equipment and SUP board let you explore around the boat without committing to a long excursion.

You should bring your own towel, since towels are not included. Comfortable shoes are recommended for the boat and shore, but high heels are not allowed. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are essential on a day with limited shade.

Open water, marine life, and the secret stop

After Ai Giannis, the boat spends about 90 minutes sailing through the bay and along the coast. This part includes sightseeing, photographs, and the possibility of spotting dolphins. The exact marine life you see cannot be promised, so treat that as a pleasant possibility rather than the purpose of the trip.

A short secret stop follows, with time for another swim or snorkel. These brief anchorages are where the private format earns its keep. You can spend your time in the water, remain on deck with a drink, or use the SUP without being tied to a large boat’s fixed group schedule.

The boat is not a silent sailing vessel in the traditional sense. Music is included, and the day has a social, easygoing feel. That suits groups of friends, families, and celebrations. If you want a quiet meditation retreat, the music and shared onboard meal may feel less suited to your style.

Marathi: the main meal stop

Marathi is one of the longer stops, with around two hours set aside for lunch, swimming, snorkeling, and free time. This is the practical center of the day.

Food includes Greek meze, a prepared meal, fruit, and regional dishes. Drinks include coffee, beer, wine, raki, and soft drinks. The meals have been praised for being plentiful and tasty, which matters on a full day in the sun. You do not need to leave the water early to hunt for lunch, and you can eat with the coast still around you.

I would think of this as a relaxed onboard meal rather than a formal restaurant service. The value comes from having food ready during a private cruise, not from expecting a multi-course dining event.

Marathi is also a good point to settle into the rhythm of the trip. Swim, eat, dry off, and return to the water when you feel like it. That unhurried pattern is one reason this works better for people who want a full day at sea rather than a quick photo stop.

Almyrida and Kalami by boat

The next sections pass more coastal viewpoints before reaching the area around Almyrida. Here you may have another hour for swimming, snorkeling, snacks, and drinks.

The water is the main attraction, but the changing shoreline helps keep the ride interesting. You see white rock, small coves, and steep coastal edges that are difficult to appreciate from roads inland. Kalami is a shorter sightseeing stop, mainly for photos and views rather than a long beach visit.

Do not expect every location named in the route to receive the same amount of time. A four-hour cruise cannot offer the same number of stops as a seven-hour day. Ask the company which route is planned for your date, especially if one particular beach matters most to you.

The Seitan Limania reality check

Seitan Limania is named as one of the possible highlights, but there is an important practical catch. One previous passenger specifically noted that the boat is too large to enter the beach itself.

That does not make the stop useless. You may still see the dramatic cove from the water and take photographs, but do not book this cruise if your main goal is to land directly on Seitan Limania or spend a long time walking its beach.

This is a good example of why the route should be discussed before booking. The cruise is designed around coastal viewing and swimming from the yacht. It is not a small-boat beach-hopping trip that can squeeze into every narrow inlet.

Balos and the limits of the published route

The longer itinerary also lists Balos, with time for a meal, swimming, snorkeling, walking, and sunset views. Balos is a major destination, but the overall cruise is advertised as four to seven hours, and the route includes many other stops.

Because of that, you should confirm whether Balos is included in the exact sailing you are booking, rather than assuming every named location fits into one outing. The same applies to Ai Giannis, Marathi, Almyrida, Kalami, and the other coastal points.

The boat operator can shape the day around the available hours, sea conditions, and your group’s preferences. A shorter cruise may focus on Souda Bay and nearby coves. A longer private charter may allow more sailing and a later return.

What the private price really buys you

The quoted price is $707 per group of up to four. That sounds high beside a standard shared boat trip, but the comparison is not quite like for like.

You are paying for a private group, skipper, hostess, guide, fuel, port charges, food, drinks, and use of the swimming equipment. You also avoid the crowded feel of a large excursion boat. Several people who had previously taken much larger cruises found the quieter private setup worth the extra money.

For four people, the cost works out to about $177 per person before any optional special services. For two people, it becomes a much more expensive day, although you gain privacy and control. If you are traveling as a family or group of friends, this is the strongest value case.

The boat is listed with capacity for 10, but the advertised $707 rate is for a private group of up to four. Ask about the cost for a larger private group rather than assuming the same price applies.

A day for swimming, not serious sailing

The included SUP board, masks, snorkels, and flippers give you several ways to use the stops. You can paddle along the coast, look below the surface, or simply jump in for a swim and return to the deck.

The cruise also lists wakeboard equipment, but the supplied details do not explain how or when wakeboarding is offered. If that is important to you, ask in advance about availability and conditions.

You should be comfortable around water and able to manage a day in strong sun. Bring a towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and comfortable shoes. Shoes are not allowed indoors, smoking indoors is prohibited, and sharp objects, weapons, and explosive substances are not permitted.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to make your own way to Perseus Sailing Cruises in Souda.

Sunset, dinner, and special occasions

Perseus also offers private sunset and dinner cruises. Weddings, birthdays, and bachelor parties can receive special decoration or other arrangements by request, with additional charges.

These options make sense if the occasion matters as much as the coastline. A sunset cruise can trade some swimming time for softer light and a slower meal. A dinner cruise may be better for a group that wants food and conversation more than a packed schedule of coves.

Ask exactly what is included in any decoration or event package. The standard cruise includes food and drinks, but special services carry extra costs.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this for a group that wants a full day on the water without joining a crowded excursion. It suits friends who want drinks and music, families who value a private boat, and couples looking for a more personal day around Chania.

It is also a strong choice if your priorities are swimming, snorkeling, SUP, Greek food, and flexible time at anchor. The crew’s relaxed service is a major part of the appeal. Christina and Captain Giannis are repeatedly praised for being attentive without taking over the day.

I would be more cautious if you mainly want to visit Seitan Limania on foot, reach every named beach, or keep costs low for one or two people. The route covers a lot of ground, but exact stops and timing need to match the length of your booking.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you can fill the private group and want a quieter alternative to a large boat trip. The combination of swimming coves, SUP, snorkeling gear, onboard Greek food, and unlimited listed drinks gives you a complete day rather than a simple boat ride.

Before paying, confirm the route length and whether Balos or Seitan Limania will be visited from the water only. If you understand that limitation, this is a well-rounded private outing with strong value for four people and a crew known for warm, attentive service.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start?

The cruise starts at Perseus Sailing Cruises in Souda.

How long does the experience last?

The advertised duration is four to seven hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How many people can join?

The price is for a private group of up to four people. The boat itself is listed as having capacity for 10 guests.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. The included refreshments list soft drinks, meals, Greek meze, fruit, beer, Cretan wine, Cretan raki, and coffee.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Masks, snorkels, and flippers are included. A SUP board and wakeboard equipment are also listed.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.