Category Cruises & Boat Tours

Crete · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips & Cruises in Crete

153 reviewed

Crete is best seen from the water, and the fleet is huge. Below are the 15 boat trips worth a day: the Balos catamarans, the Dia Island sails off Heraklion, the sunset cruises out of Rethymno. Each one priced, timed, and matched to the kind of day you want on deck.

From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa

From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa - Onboard experience: a ferry ride with real comforts

1.From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 6,755 reviews · 7 hours · from $47Our pick

Cruise from Kissamos to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa for emerald swims, a Venetian fortress hike, and big Cretan views in one 7-hour day.

“We had SUCH a fun day on this trip, the boat crew were super nice & the beaches we visited were stunning. I took my 3year old & we did take a pram for her, but just be aware, you can't really take the prams onto the beaches as they're really stony. We left ours near the boat which was totally fine. Also make sure you have your ticket barcode ready for the boat beforehand as there is no wifi & queues can be long to get them at the ticket office. This was the best day of our trip by far & I got a fantastic tan ;)”

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Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop - From Agios Nikolaos Port: The Part Where You Start Relaxing

2.Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,031 reviews · 4h 30m · from $29

Half-day boat trip from Agios Nikolaos to Spinalonga, with a 30-minute swim stop at Kolokitha Bay and guided fortress time.

“A really enjoyable day. The boat crossing and swimming were fantastic. The visit and talk on Spinalonga was so interesting. Our guide was so amazing and honest about the history of the island. Totally recommend, excellent value for money.”

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Heraklion: Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

Heraklion: Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal - The sail out (about 1 hour): scenery plus a story

Chania/Rethymno: Balos & Gramvousa With Pickup & Boat Ticket

Chania/Rethymno: Balos & Gramvousa With Pickup & Boat Ticket - Getting there from Chania: pickup, bus ride, and Kissamos Port

4.Chania/Rethymno: Balos & Gramvousa With Pickup & Boat Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,703 reviews · 9 - 12 hours · from $50

Full-day boat trip from Chania to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa, with pickup, cruise, swimming, snorkeling, and a Venetian castle hike.

“Nice trip to two popular destinations, we had quite enough time in each of them, considering how much the transportation takes. The ship had some food and drink options, and natural water was surprisingly cheap (0.6 eur per 0.5 l). Snacks are expensive in the port, better buy something in advance. Air conditioning wasn't regulated in the bus, it was cold inside (it was late September). The ship jumped a lot on the waves, so if you know you might be seasick, take some pills before it, the guide also offered them to us in the bus.”

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Heraklion: Sailboat Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks & Lunch

Heraklion: Sailboat Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks & Lunch - Meeting Point and Timing: Marina Cafe Side Matters

Hersonissos: Jet Boat Tour with Snorkeling

Hersonissos: Jet Boat Tour with Snorkeling - How the full 1-hour runs: cruise, turns, then snorkeling

6.Hersonissos: Jet Boat Tour with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,385 reviews · 1 hour · from $53Top rated

Jet boat thrills in Hersonissos, then snorkeling in Saint George’s Bay’s clear water. 1 hour, includes gear and pickup.

“Our guide was so much fun and made us laugh a lot. It was cool to experience the jet boat and we got very wet from the quick turns. We were hoping to see more cool fish with the snorkelling but we didn’t get lucky this time”

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From Ierapetra: Cruise to Chrissi Island with Swimming

From Ierapetra: Cruise to Chrissi Island with Swimming - From Ierapetra to Ship ARISTOVOULOS: Meeting Matters

Chania Areas/Kalyves:Gramvousa Island & Balos,Boat Tkt Extra

Chania Areas/Kalyves:Gramvousa Island & Balos,Boat Tkt Extra - Boarding the ferry to Gramvousa: how the day really begins

Heraklion: Sailing Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks and Meal

Heraklion: Sailing Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks and Meal - Dia Island time: snorkeling, SUP, fishing, and that easy pace

9.Heraklion: Sailing Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks and Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 778 reviews · 6 hours · from $106

Sail from Heraklion to Dia Island on a cozy yacht with snorkeling, SUP, drinks, and a Greek meal in crystal-clear waters.

“The most magical and romantic experience to end our trip in Crete. Hosts were delightful, the snacks and drinks were excellent, the equipment and amenities provided for snorkelling, fishing and paddle boarding were amazing! The sights on the way and from the island were incredible - recommend the evening trip for the sunset. 100/10 couldn’t recommend more! So so worth the money!”

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Heraklion: Dia Island Sailing Cruise with Snorkeling

Heraklion: Dia Island Sailing Cruise with Snorkeling - Dia Island stop: where you swim, snorkel, and paddle in quiet water

10.Heraklion: Dia Island Sailing Cruise with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 742 reviews · 4.5 - 7 hours · from $82

Sail from Heraklion to Dia Island for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and Greek food on a small-group yacht.

“The crew was super friendly. Even the weather condition was not the best, the travel went quite smooth. The bays are there just amazing. Only dis thing was, I was expecting to swim in more spots (we did 2), but the places we swam was fantastic 🥰 The food was not great but it tastes good since you became super hungry 😁”

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From Ag. Nikolaos: Spinalonga & Kolokytha Cruise with Lunch

From Ag. Nikolaos: Spinalonga & Kolokytha Cruise with Lunch - Cruising Mirabello Bay: coastal views plus quick story stops from the boat

From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon

From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon - Departing Kissamos Port: The First Hour’s Views

12.From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 678 reviews · 5 hours · from $42

Cruise from Kissamos to Balos Lagoon in 5 hours. Swim in turquoise shallows, see cave views, and enjoy big Crete coast scenery. $42.

“Great Value for a Beautiful Experience The price is absolutely worth it. Private catamarans cost around €1500, and even the smaller boats we considered were €400–€500. Given that 2–3 hours is more than enough time to enjoy Balos — whether you're a couple or traveling with teens like me — this tour offers amazing value. We took the 13:15 tour, which was definitely less crowded than the morning ones. Once at Balos, we easily found sunbeds, as most of the morning visitors had already left. Yes, it’s a touristy experience and of course not as exclusive or customizable as a private tour, but for just a few hours, the difference…”

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Agios Nikolaos: Semi-Submarine Cruise

Agios Nikolaos: Semi-Submarine Cruise - Getting to the Port and Boarding at the Right Time

13.Agios Nikolaos: Semi-Submarine Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 670 reviews · from $18Best value

Air-conditioned semi-submarine cruise in Agios Nikolaos Bay. See fish, maybe turtles and dolphins, plus wide views from deck.

“Really lovely way to spend a few hours; and the air conditioned boat helped tremendously. The tour is given in English, French and German and is worth listening to. We got to see lots of fish, sadly missed the turtles :( one fish was huge, looked to be just under 1m long! The guides were friendly. There is a snacks and drinks dispenser machine onboard but be aware that it takes coins only.”

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Rethymno Area: Gramvousa Island & Balos, Boat Ticket Extra

Rethymno Area: Gramvousa Island & Balos, Boat Ticket Extra - Balos Bay Lagoon: the swimming stop that earns its hype

14.Rethymno Area: Gramvousa Island & Balos, Boat Ticket Extra

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 594 reviews · 10 - 12 hours · from $20

Day trip from Rethymno to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island with bus pickup, ferry crossings, swimming time, and optional fortress views.

“The trip was overally very nice. Logistically-wise everything was very good organised, both the bus and the boat were on time all the time. The only minor issue was the boat. It was very loaded with people and sometimes you would need to stand for the entire ride. Also, the bar on boat was super crowded and you had to wait 20-25 min to get a bottle of water. Both Gramvousa and Balos were very beautiful.”

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Chania/Almyrida: Balos Gramvousa Day Trip with Boat Ticket

Chania/Almyrida: Balos Gramvousa Day Trip with Boat Ticket - Kissamos Port break: short wait, then you’re moving

15.Chania/Almyrida: Balos Gramvousa Day Trip with Boat Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 590 reviews · 12 hours · from $64

Chania to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa with air-conditioned bus pickup, ferry tickets, and time to swim, snorkel, and climb to a Venetian fortress.

“great trip. everything ran smoothly. boat was good with lots of shade/air con if you wanted it, food drinks and snacks. Balos was stunning and even with the amount of people didn't seem overly busy as everyone finds there own we part.”

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