The cruises compared here
Three of the six Santorini boat listings on Civitatis are caldera cruises in the plain sense: the caldera boat cruise, sold in 3, 6 and 11-hour versions, the traditional boat cruise and the catamaran. The sunset and glass-bottom trips are compared on the Santorini page. Prices and scores are those on the listings on 29 October 2026.
The boat cruise has the most reviews of the three (640), and the other two have the best scores, 9.2 and 9.3. Here is how they differ on length, food, pier and cancellation.
1What each cruise does
The catamaran trip lasts about 5 hours, with swimming at Red Beach and White Beach, the Palea Kameni hot springs, snorkelling equipment and a buffet. Depending on the option you pick, the meal is lunch or dinner, with drinks. You choose between hotel pickup and meeting at Vlychada marina. The listing names an English-speaking crew and no guide.
The traditional boat cruise is also about 5 hours, in a morning or an afternoon version, with swimming at Red Beach and White Beach, snorkelling, food and drinks, and an English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup in Santorini is included, and the provider contacts you the day before, usually one hour before the start.
The caldera boat cruise comes in three lengths. The 3-hour version leaves from the Old Port of Fira, and the 6 and 11-hour versions are arranged with pickup near your hotel. It has an English-speaking guide and crew. Lunch is not included, and neither is entrance to the Nea Kameni volcano (€5 per person).
2Price and cancellation
The boat cruise starts at €30, the catamaran at €70 and the traditional boat at €72. The extra €40 to €42 on the last two buys food and drinks, which the boat cruise listing does not include.
The boat cruise and the catamaran can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before. The traditional boat closes its free window 3 days before; cancel 48 hours before and you get 70% back. Only the traditional boat is marked wheelchair accessible, if you say so when booking.
3Which one to pick
Pick the catamaran for the highest score and a meal in the price, with the option to meet at Vlychada marina. Pick the traditional boat if you want a guide on board, hotel pickup included and wheelchair access. Pick the boat cruise when price matters most: it has the most reviews, but it also has the lowest score of the three, 8.1.
Check duration, stops and start time for your date on the booking page, because the boat cruise changes with the version you choose.