Cruise to Rhenia Island with Stop at Ancient Delos

Ancient Delos and uninhabited Rhenia make a fine pair: one is a remarkable archaeological site, the other a quiet place for swimming and sandy coves. This 6.5-hour cruise gives you both without needing a private boat, with lunch and drinks included.

I like the choice between touring Delos and staying aboard for a swim, and I like that Rhenia offers a quieter contrast to busy Mykonos. Staff members Joana and Kristo have been singled out for patient, generous service, including helping passengers during poor weather.

The main caution is that the schedule can change. Past departures have shortened the Delos stop, skipped Rhenia, or returned early, so ask for the exact plan before sailing. Delos entrance fees and land transfers cost extra.

Key points to know before booking

• Two very different islands: Delos offers ancient ruins and sacred sites, while Rhenia brings sandy coves and open water.
• Your Delos choice matters: You may spend time ashore on a stated two-hour visit or remain on the boat to swim.
• Rhenia is the swimming stop: This uninhabited island is the place for snorkeling, clear water, and a slower pace.
• Lunch and drinks are included: The $117 price covers the cruise escort, onboard meal, beverages, and local taxes.
• The plan is not completely fixed: Weather, anchoring, or group arrangements have affected stops on some departures.
• Prepare your documents: Send passport details at least 12 hours before sailing and bring your passport or ID card.

Why combine Delos and Rhenia?

Mykonos is the famous name in this trio, but this trip spends its useful daylight away from the island’s crowded streets. You sail toward Delos first, then continue to Rhenia, creating a day with both culture and water time.

That balance is the heart of the experience. A day devoted only to Delos can feel very focused on stones, columns, and exposed archaeological ground. A day devoted only to a beach can feel like a standard boat outing. Here, the ancient site gives the cruise purpose, and Rhenia gives you room to relax afterward.

The two islands are close to Mykonos, but they feel different from the main resort island. Delos is uninhabited and protected as a major archaeological site. Rhenia is also uninhabited, with coves and beaches rather than a village, port, or line of waterfront restaurants.

At $117 per person, the price is not simply a boat ticket. It includes the six-and-a-half-hour outing, lunch, drinks and beverages, an escort, and local taxes. You still need to budget for the Delos entrance fee and the optional guide or escort for the archaeological visit, but the included meal and drinks improve the overall value.

Setting out from Mykonos New Port

The meeting point is at the New Port of Mykonos, directly opposite the Olia Hotel. This is important because the New Port is not the same setting as Mykonos Town’s old harbor. Give yourself enough time to reach the correct port and identify the cruise meeting point.

A land transfer is available for an additional €8 per person, each way. Since the transfer is not included, check your arrangements before booking. The stated meeting point is clear, but the information does not identify a pickup schedule or hotel-by-hotel service.

You must send passport information at least 12 hours before the cruise. Port Authorities require it for the passenger list and permission to sail. Bring the same passport or ID card with you on the day. This is not a minor formality, so do not leave the document requirement until the morning of departure.

The cruise escort and onboard staff handle the sailing portion. The listed live languages are English and Greek. A separate English, Italian, French, Spanish, or Portuguese guide for Ancient Delos is not included, so check carefully if you want a formal explanation of the site rather than independent time ashore.

Ancient Delos, an island built for the gods

Delos is the cultural centerpiece. In ancient times, it was one of the most important religious sites in the Greek world and a major place of worship connected with Apollo and Artemis. Today, the island is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its importance comes from the remains spread across the open ground.

You can expect an archaeological visit rather than a modern village experience. There is no ordinary island town to wander through, no beach break as the main attraction, and no promise of a guide included with your ticket. Your time is for seeing the ruins, understanding the scale of the site, and taking in the setting.

The stated plan offers a two-hour tour or visit at Delos. That is enough time to get a real sense of the place, though it is not a full archaeological study. A departure in April had a much shorter stop than expected, which made the experience feel rushed. Because of that, I would ask the crew before leaving Mykonos how much time is actually planned ashore.

The alternative is to stay aboard and enjoy swimming in the blue and green water around Delos. This option suits you if archaeology is not your priority, if you prefer a gentler day, or if you want to save your energy for Rhenia. It also gives you a way to enjoy the setting without paying the separate Delos entrance fee, although you would miss the island itself.

If you go ashore, wear practical shoes and bring sun protection. Those suggestions follow from the nature of the stop: you will be visiting an exposed archaeological site, not strolling through shaded streets. The supplied information does not promise a museum visit, a shaded route, or a specific accessibility arrangement.

The choice between a site visit and a swim

This is one of the most useful features of the cruise. People in the same party may want different things, and the plan allows you to choose between seeing Delos and staying on the boat.

Choose Delos if you care about ancient sites, UNESCO landmarks, and the chance to walk among remains in their original setting. You should also choose it if Delos is the reason you are considering this cruise in the first place. A boat view of the island cannot replace setting foot on it.

Stay aboard if you would rather swim, relax, and avoid the extra entrance fee or guide cost. This is also the better fit for anyone who wants a beach day with a short scenic cruise rather than a history-focused outing.

The important question is how the two-hour visit is organized on your departure. The information says you may disembark for a memorable two-hour tour, but it also lists a guide as an extra. That means the exact experience depends on whether you arrange a guide or explore independently.

Rhenia, the quiet half of the day

After Delos, the boat continues to Rhenia. This is where the pace changes. Rhenia is uninhabited, and its appeal comes from sandy coves, clear water, and beaches without the built-up feel of Mykonos.

The stop is designed for swimming and snorkeling. You can get into the water, relax aboard, or spend time looking across the island’s open coves. The wording of the experience suggests a beach stop rather than a formal shore excursion, so do not expect a village walk, shopping, or monuments.

Rhenia is especially valuable after Delos because it lets the day breathe. You have already spent time considering an ancient site, and now you can simply enjoy the sea. I like this change of rhythm more than a cruise that packs one sightseeing stop after another.

Still, Rhenia is the part of the itinerary you should verify most carefully. At least two past departures did not follow the advertised plan: one skipped Rhenia entirely, and another went to a different beach area instead. Explanations included anchoring and arrangements for other passengers. These accounts do not prove that every departure changes course, but they do show why you should ask the crew directly about Rhenia before you commit to the day.

If Rhenia is your main reason for booking, make that clear at check-in. Ask whether the boat will stop there, how long the swimming stop will last, and whether passengers will go ashore or swim from the boat. The supplied details promise the destination and activities, but not a fixed swimming duration or a specific landing point.

Lunch, drinks, and the feel onboard

Lunch is included, along with drinks and beverages. That matters on a six-and-a-half-hour cruise, since you do not need to plan a separate meal during the day. The information does not specify the menu, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish or dietary arrangement.

Onboard entertainment has also been praised, and one family found the service easygoing and relaxed. That gives you a useful picture of the mood: this is not only a transport service between two islands. It is meant to be a social day at sea with food, swimming, and time to enjoy the ride.

Staff service is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Joana and Kristo have been remembered for being patient and generous, including helping a passenger who had forgotten a jacket during cold, rainy weather. That does not change the need to bring your own layers, but it suggests a crew willing to help when conditions turn less pleasant.

Weather matters a great deal here. On a warm, calm day, Rhenia’s water stop may be the highlight. In cool, rainy, or windy weather, the cruise can feel very different, and the crew may need to wait or adjust the order of activities. Bring a light jacket, swimwear, a towel, sun protection, and a secure bag for personal items.

What the $117 price really covers

The $117 fare is reasonable if you use the main inclusions: a full half-day-plus cruise, lunch, drinks, an escort, and visits or stops at two islands. It is less attractive if you mainly want a guaranteed beach transfer or if you do not plan to use the Delos portion.

Your extra costs are straightforward:

• Delos entrance fee
• Optional guide or escort at Delos
• Land transfer at €8 per person each way

The optional Delos guide is worth considering if the archaeological site is central to your trip. Without one, you can still visit, but the ruins may make more sense if you have background information or a guidebook. The cruise listing does not say that an organized multilingual guide is part of the base price.

The land transfer fee also changes the final cost. If you can reach the New Port yourself, the listed price is closer to your real outing cost. If you need a transfer both ways, add €16 per person. The cruise does offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option, which helps if your island plans are still shifting.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a balanced Mykonos day with both ancient ruins and swimming. It suits couples, families, and mixed groups where some people want culture while others mainly want time on the water.

Families can find it appealing because the day includes food, swimming, and a clear change of activity. Two children aged 11 and 12 reportedly enjoyed the relaxed format. Still, children need to be comfortable with a long boat outing and the heat or changing conditions at Delos.

History-minded visitors should book only after checking the Delos schedule and guide arrangements. If you want a serious archaeological tour, a dedicated Delos excursion may give you more time and explanation. This cruise is better for combining Delos with a beach stop than for studying every part of the ancient site.

You should be cautious if a guaranteed Rhenia stop is essential. Past route changes mean there is some uncertainty. I would also think twice if you dislike open-water outings, have very limited time on Mykonos, or need a tightly controlled timetable.

Practical questions to ask before sailing

The most useful questions are simple:

• Is Rhenia definitely on today’s route?
• How long will the boat remain at Delos?
• Will passengers go ashore at Rhenia or swim from the boat?
• Is a Delos guide available in your language?
• What is included in lunch and the drinks service?
• Where and when should you meet at the New Port?

These questions are especially worthwhile because the advertised outline and some past departures have not always matched. A quick confirmation can prevent disappointment and help you decide if the day fits your priorities.

Check the weather as well, though the final operating decision belongs to the cruise provider. The boat has sailed in poor weather before, with staff waiting for rain to ease, but the quality of the experience will naturally depend on conditions.

Should you book this Delos and Rhenia cruise?

Book it if you want the convenience of combining Ancient Delos, lunch, and a swimming stop in one day. The $117 fare includes enough to make the outing good value, especially for families or couples who would otherwise need separate plans for sightseeing and beach time.

Do not book it blindly if you need every scheduled stop guaranteed. Confirm the Delos timing and Rhenia route before departure, and remember that the entrance fee, optional guide, and land transfers are extra.

My call: this is a worthwhile choice for a flexible day at sea, with excellent variety and friendly service. Treat the schedule as a plan rather than an absolute promise, and you will be better prepared to enjoy whichever part of the Cycladic Sisters is at its best that day.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

The cruise departs from the New Port of Mykonos, directly opposite the Olia Hotel.

How long is the cruise?

The experience lasts 6.5 hours and returns to Mykonos in the evening according to the stated plan.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch on board, drinks and beverages, the cruise escort, and local taxes are included.

Are Delos entrance fees included?

No. The Delos entrance fee is not included. A guide or escort in English, Italian, French, Spanish, or Portuguese is also an additional cost.

Do I need to provide passport details?

Yes. Passport information must be sent at least 12 hours before the cruise so Port Authorities can include you on the passenger list. You should also bring your passport or ID card.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.