Ayia Napa: Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Lunch & Open Bar

The sea saves its best light for last. This five-and-a-half-hour cruise combines Cape Greco scenery with a proper onboard lunch, and I like the generous mix of swimming, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and quiet time on a sunbed. I also like that beer, white wine, soft drinks, and water are available throughout the cruise. The main consideration is the $171.52 price, which is high for a boat outing, especially since towels, sunscreen, hotel transfers, and private cabins are not included.

You meet at Riva Beachouse52 at 3:30 pm and return to the same point after sunset. The boat takes up to 20 people, so this is more intimate than a large party cruise, though it is not a private charter. With a professional English-speaking crew, an onboard toilet, an outdoor shower, Wi-Fi, music, and a full set of water equipment, it is built for a comfortable afternoon rather than a quick sightseeing ride.

Key points to know before booking

• Sunset timing: The 3:30 pm departure gives you the afternoon for Cape Greco, swimming, and lunch before the return sail in evening light.
• Two major swimming stops: The Blue Lagoon and the waters around Cape Greco provide the main chances to get in the sea.
• Food is more than a snack: You receive local pastries and a cheese platter early on, followed by a freshly prepared Mediterranean-style lunch and dessert.
• A small-group feel: The catamaran carries a maximum of 20 people, making it less crowded than a large excursion boat.
• Useful equipment onboard: High-quality masks and fins, SUPs, noodles, fishing gear, life jackets, and a flamingo float are included.
• Bring your own towel and sun protection: These are not supplied, and hotel transfers must be arranged separately if needed.

Setting out from Ayia Napa Marina at 3:30 pm

The afternoon begins at the stated meeting point, Riva Beachouse52 on Ayias Theklas in Ayia Napa. You should allow time to reach the marina before the 3:30 pm departure, since the cruise returns to this same location and does not include hotel transportation as part of the standard package.

The welcome is pleasantly simple: coffee, tea, and local pastries. That matters because this is an afternoon sailing, not an early-morning departure, and you may already have spent several hours in the Cypriot sun. The pastries give you something light before the main meal without filling you up too soon.

The catamaran has sunbeds and shaded lounges, so you can choose between open-air sun and a cooler place under cover. I like that choice. A boat day becomes tiring when everyone has to sit in one exposed area, especially during Cyprus’s warmer months.

Music plays onboard, and free Wi-Fi is available. Those touches will please some people and matter less to others. The real attraction is being outside, but Wi-Fi is useful if you need to stay in touch or share a photo without relying on mobile service.

Lover’s Bridge starts the sightseeing

One of the first sights is Lover’s Bridge, a natural rock formation associated with romance and proposals. It gives the trip an immediate point of interest instead of sending you straight into a long open-water ride.

This stop is mainly for viewing and photographs. The experience does not include a guided tour, so do not expect a detailed talk about the geology or local legends. You get the sight, the setting, and the chance to take it in from the water.

That lack of formal guiding is worth noting. If you want a history-focused excursion, this is not the right choice. If you prefer to hear a few useful comments from the crew and then enjoy the coast at your own pace, the lighter approach may suit you better.

Cape Greco brings cliffs, arches, and open water

The catamaran continues toward Cape Greco, one of the most striking coastal areas near Ayia Napa. From the water, you can look toward high cliffs, rock arches, and clear blue sea while resting on the boat’s padded sunbeds.

This is where the boat itself earns its keep. A catamaran gives you room to move around, and the sunbeds make the scenic part feel relaxed rather than cramped. You can sit with a drink, find shade, or position yourself for photographs as the coast passes by.

The crew serves local bites during this part of the cruise, including a cheese platter, with wine or beer available. The food is not presented as the main lunch yet, so think of it as a pleasant grazing course while you take in the coastline.

I would treat this portion as a viewing session rather than a formal sightseeing tour. There is no promise of a named guide or a detailed explanation at each rock formation. You are paying for the combination of access, comfort, food, and time on the water.

Swimming and water toys at the first sea stop

When the boat reaches a suitable swimming area, the crew prepares the equipment. You can use snorkeling masks and fins, stand-up paddleboards, swimming jackets, noodles, and the inflatable flamingo. Fishing equipment is also available for a gentle fishing session.

The inclusion of masks and fins is helpful because it saves you from packing or renting basic gear. The description specifies high-quality masks and fins, though it does not promise a particular marine life encounter or underwater route. Conditions can vary, so I would think of snorkeling as a flexible activity rather than the central purpose of the cruise.

The SUPs offer a more active option. If you prefer not to swim far from the boat, paddling gives you something to do without committing to a long session in the water. Noodles and the flamingo float are better for a relaxed, playful break.

Swimming jackets and life jackets are onboard. That is useful for people who are less confident in open water, and the crew can help with the equipment. The supplied information does not specify individual swimming ability requirements, but most people can take part.

Families can request a box of toys for children. That small detail may help parents decide if the cruise will hold a child’s attention, although the boat’s main appeal remains the sea, food, and sunset rather than a dedicated children’s program.

The Blue Lagoon is the main water stop

The route continues to the Blue Lagoon, described as a secluded area with bright turquoise water. This is likely to be the most anticipated swimming stop of the day, and the schedule gives you time to enjoy the water before and after lunch.

The appeal is straightforward. You can swim, use the SUPs, snorkel, float, or stay aboard with a drink. The crew sets out the gear, so you do not need to organize every activity yourself.

Still, keep your expectations practical. A popular coastal stop can feel less secluded when other boats are present, and the tour information does not guarantee exclusive access to the lagoon. The boat is semi-private, not a private yacht charter.

The Blue Lagoon also gives you a good reason to pack carefully. Towels are not included, and sunscreen and personal care items are your responsibility. Bring a towel from your hotel and apply sunscreen before departure, then keep it handy for the time between swims.

Lunch from the onboard chef

After time in the water, the catamaran serves an exclusive gourmet lunch prepared onboard by a private chef. The meal includes a Mediterranean-inspired main course and dessert.

This is one of the stronger reasons to consider the price. Many boat excursions provide a basic buffet or a simple sandwich. Here, the promise is a freshly prepared meal, served in the middle of the cruise and paired with the views. The menu itself is not specified, so you should not book expecting a particular dish or special dietary arrangement unless you confirm it directly.

Drinks are available throughout the sailing. The included selection covers water, soft drinks, local beer, and white wine. That removes the need to keep buying refreshments onboard, and it makes the $171.52 cost easier to assess.

The package also includes welcome coffee and tea, local pastries, and a cheese platter before lunch. Taken together, the food and drinks are substantial for a half-day boat trip. Even so, the value depends on how much you use the open bar and whether a polished meal at sea matters to you.

After lunch, you can return to the water for another swim or remain on the deck. That flexible rhythm is welcome. You are not pushed from one timed activity to another, and you can choose a quiet hour if the heat or swimming has taken enough out of you.

Sunset is the payoff on the return sail

The cruise is designed around the evening return, with the sunset described as the highlight. This timing gives you a different view of the coast than a morning sailing. The light softens, the heat usually becomes easier to handle, and the catamaran becomes a comfortable place to watch the sky change.

A previous guest described the afternoon as beautiful and singled out the crew’s help, the swimming, and the sunset views as the best parts. That matches the structure of the trip: the crew supports the practical details, the water supplies the activity, and the final light provides the memorable finish.

You can watch from a sunbed, sit in a shaded lounge, or enjoy the view with a glass of white wine or a local beer. If sunset photography matters to you, keep your phone or camera accessible, but protect it carefully around the water.

The cruise ends back at the meeting point. Its total duration is approximately five hours and 30 minutes, though the exact return time will depend on the day’s conditions and sailing schedule.

What the crew and boat provide

The professional English-speaking crew handles the basic running of the cruise and helps prepare the water equipment. The available gear includes:

• Snorkeling masks and fins
• Stand-up paddleboards
• Fishing equipment
• Swimming jackets and life jackets
• Inflatable noodles
• An inflatable flamingo
• A box of children’s toys by request

The catamaran also has an onboard WC and outdoor shower. Those facilities make a real difference after swimming, especially before lunch or the ride back to shore. Personal feminine hygiene products are available onboard as well, a thoughtful practical inclusion that many boat operators skip.

A branded gift is included for special occasions. The information does not specify what the gift is, so treat it as a small extra rather than part of the core value. The boat also carries liability insurance.

Private cabins may be requested, but use is not guaranteed. That is important if you are booking because you want cabin access. The standard experience is built around shared deck areas, sunbeds, and shaded lounges.

Is $171.52 a fair price?

At $171.52 per person, this is not a budget boat ride. The price makes more sense if you value a small maximum group of 20, a catamaran with comfortable seating, prepared lunch, open drinks, and several water activities in one package.

You are not simply paying for transport along the coast. The package combines the boat, crew, food, drinks, equipment, facilities, and sunset timing. If you would otherwise pay separately for lunch, equipment rental, and drinks, the total begins to look more reasonable.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want a short swim and a quick look at the coast. A less expensive sailing may suit you better if you do not care about the chef-prepared meal, open bar, or extra equipment.

I also would not compare this with a private yacht charter. The cruise is semi-private and capped at 20 people, which should feel more personal than a large group outing, but you still share the boat with other passengers.

Who should book this Ayia Napa cruise?

I would recommend it to couples looking for a relaxed sunset outing, families who want water toys and a shaded place to rest, and anyone who prefers a full afternoon on the sea rather than a short coastal transfer.

It also suits people who like choice. You can swim, paddle, snorkel, fish, float, eat, listen to music, or simply sit with a drink. That mix makes the schedule feel less demanding.

You may want to skip it if you need a detailed guided tour, guaranteed private cabin use, hotel pickup, or a low-cost excursion. It is also less suitable if you are not interested in swimming or spending several hours on a boat.

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the cruise, you are offered another date or a full refund. Standard cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the 3:30 pm start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Final booking advice

I would book this cruise if you want a polished, food-focused afternoon with Cape Greco, the Blue Lagoon, swimming, and sunset all in one outing. The strong points are the helpful crew, comfortable catamaran, open drinks, chef-prepared lunch, and excellent range of water equipment.

Before booking, check that $171.52 fits your plans, arrange your own transport to Riva Beachouse52, and pack a towel and sun protection. If those details work for you, this is a good choice for a special afternoon on the Ayia Napa coast. If you mainly want sightseeing or the cheapest possible boat trip, save your money for another option.

FAQ

Where does the Ayia Napa catamaran cruise begin?

The cruise begins at Riva Beachouse52, Ayias Theklas, Ayia Napa 5330, Cyprus.

What time does the cruise depart?

The scheduled start time is 3:30 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise lasts approximately five hours and 30 minutes.

Where does the cruise finish?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point where it begins.

How many people can join the cruise?

The catamaran has a maximum capacity of 20 people for this activity.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A private chef prepares a gourmet lunch onboard, including a Mediterranean-inspired main course and dessert.

What drinks are included?

Included drinks are water, soft drinks, local beer, and white wine. Coffee and tea are provided as welcome drinks.

Is swimming equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear, SUPs, swimming jackets, noodles, a flamingo float, fishing gear, and life jackets are provided.

Are hotel transfers and towels included?

No. Hotel transfers are not included, though they can be arranged upon request. Towels, sunscreen, and personal care items are also not included.