What Boat Is Suitable for a Family Trip in Santorini?

The right boat for a family day out depends on your children’s ages, how much time you want in the water and how much shade and space everyone needs. Having taken families on boat tours around the caldera for about ten seasons, our team in Santorini has one answer for most of them: a catamaran.

Why a catamaran suits families

A catamaran rests on two hulls, so it stays level at anchor and rolls far less than a single-hull sailboat or a small motorboat. Drinks stay on the table and toddlers can walk around the deck.

There is room to spread out: shade inside and under the bimini, sun on the front deck, and a table for lunch. The boat has toilets, which matters more with children than anything else on this list. Getting into the water is easy from the steps at the back, so even small swimmers can climb in and out without a ladder over the side.

How the boats compare

Choosing by age

Babies and toddlers

Babies are welcome and travel on a parent’s lap. Plan around naps and heat: the 10:00 day cruise gets you back by mid-afternoon, before tiredness sets in. Keep the baby in the shade inside the boat during the sailing parts and bring a change of clothes.

School-age children

This is the age that gets the most from the day. Children swim at the hot springs on both cruises (and at Red Beach on Gold), where the water is warmer and coloured orange by iron and sulfur. Pool noodles and snorkel masks are on board. Dress them in a dark swimsuit for the day, because the springs can mark light fabric.

Teens and grandparents

Teens like the snorkelling and the sunset; grandparents like the shade and not having to swim. Swimming is optional at every stop, so the whole family can share one boat without everyone doing the same thing. Boarding is by steps, so the cruise is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Day cruise or sunset cruise with children

Both cruises stop at the same places. With young children the day cruise is usually easier: it starts at 10:00, lasts about 4.5 hours and leaves the afternoon for a rest. With older children, the sunset cruise (15:00, about 5.5 hours) adds the sunset over the caldera, but you are back late in summer. Our guide to sunset or daytime cruises compares them in detail.

Safety in the water

• The crew explains every swim stop before anyone gets in: where to swim, what to watch for and how long you have.
• Life jackets and pool noodles are on board. Children who are not strong swimmers should wear a life jacket at every stop.
• The water is deep at the swim stops, including the hot springs, so young children should swim with an adult next to them.
• If the sea is too rough at a stop, the captain skips it and the cruise goes on to the next one.

Semi-private or private

On the semi-private catamaran cruise you share the boat with other guests, up to 20 people, and the stops and times are fixed. It is the simplest choice for most families.

A private cruise gives you the whole boat. You can leave later if the children sleep in, stay longer at the stop they like and keep the music and the pace your own. It makes most sense for larger families or groups travelling together.

Is a boat trip worth it with young children?

For most families, yes. From about four or five, when children can enjoy the swims and the snorkelling, it is often the day they talk about most. With babies and toddlers it depends on the child. The day cruise is about 4.5 hours, and much of it is sailing between stops: babies who sleep well with motion usually do fine, while toddlers who need to run around can find it long.

If you are unsure, take the 10:00 day cruise rather than the sunset, so you are back for an afternoon nap. With a larger family or a toddler who will not sit still, a private cruise lets you set the length of the day and the pace.

What’s on board and what to bring

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. For the full list, see what’s included in a Santorini yacht cruise, and for clothing, what to wear on a catamaran in Santorini.