What should I wear on a Santorini catamaran cruise?

Swimwear under light clothes, a sun hat and sunglasses, plus a jacket or warm layer for an evening or spring and autumn cruise. Choose a dark swimsuit if you will swim at the hot springs.

Do you wear shoes on a catamaran?

Often not. Some operators ask everyone to take their shoes off before boarding. Wear sandals or flip-flops you can slip off. Bring trainers only if your trip includes the volcano hike.

Do I need to bring a towel?

It depends on the cruise. The day, luxury and small-group catamarans and the private catamaran list towels as included. The sunset catamaran and the wooden boat list towels as not included.

Will the hot springs ruin my swimsuit?

They can. Several listings warn that the iron- and sulphur-rich water can stain light-coloured swimwear, and recommend a dark swimsuit.

What to Wear and Bring on a Santorini Catamaran Cruise

Wear your swimsuit under light clothes, with sandals you can kick off. Bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a warm layer. If you will swim at the hot springs, pick a dark swimsuit. If you are on a sunset cruise or sailing in spring or autumn, the warm layer matters more than anything else in the bag.

We read 149 Santorini cruise and tour listings, 121 of which carry a “what to bring” list. Swimwear appears on 84 of them, sunscreen on 79, a towel on 40, a sun hat on 42 and sunglasses on 40. Passport or ID, often “copy accepted”, appears on 50.

Clothes: dress for two temperatures

On a summer day cruise you will be hot, and much of the deck is in full sun. Light, loose clothes over your swimsuit are all you need. Add a hat that will not blow away.

A sunset cruise is a different trip. The sunset, luxury and small-group catamaran listings all tell evening guests to bring warm clothes. The private catamaran listing suggests “a light jacket for the sea breeze”. The summer meltemi blows hardest in the afternoon, so you will feel it on deck after a swim. One October reviewer of the small-group cruise said the group “spent the entire sail in the back and under the covering”.

Some boats help. The luxury catamaran includes wind jackets. The day catamaran, small-group catamaran and private catamaran include blankets. The sunset catamaran’s list includes neither, so bring your own layer.

Spring and autumn. Two listings put it plainly: “If you are taking the cruise in spring or autumn make sure to bring a light jacket/sweater.” Sea temperature is only 16°C until April and drops to 19°C in November.

Shoes

Expect to go barefoot on deck. Some catamaran operators ask all passengers to take off their shoes before boarding. Others ask you to remove them before going into indoor areas. Wear sandals or flip-flops that come off and on easily, and leave the trainers at the hotel.

The exception is the volcano. Volcano boats stop at Nea Kameni, where an optional walk climbs to the crater over gravel and loose ground. The volcano and hot springs tour lists hiking shoes under what to bring. One reviewer called closed-toe walking shoes “important”. The luxury catamaran and the wooden boat both list the volcano hike as not included, and none of the catamarans we list mention a landing.

Swimwear and the hot springs

The springs off Palea Kameni are rich in iron and sulphur. Several listings, including the volcano tour, warn that the water can stain light-coloured swimwear and recommend a dark swimsuit. Leave the white bikini for the beach.

Boats stop about 50 m from the springs, and you swim the rest of the way. Pool noodles or flotation devices are on the day catamaran, luxury catamaran and volcano tour lists. Ask the crew if you are not a confident swimmer. The volcano tour advises against swimming if you have heart disease, a sulphur allergy, or are pregnant.

Towels: check your cruise

This is the item that varies most between cruises.

Towels included: day catamaran, luxury catamaran, small-group catamaran (to be returned), sailing catamaran and private catamaran.
Bring your own: the sunset catamaran and the wooden boat list towels as not included, and the volcano boats ask you to bring one.

A change of clothes is worth packing for any cruise with a sunset or evening return. You will be sitting on deck after the last swim.

The small things

Sunscreen before you board, and again after each swim.
Cash in euros for the volcano entrance fee of €5, paid on site, and for the on-board bar on volcano boats, which some listings say takes cash only.
Passport or ID. 50 of the 149 listings ask for one. A copy is often accepted.
Motion sickness tablets, if you need them, taken before you board. See seasickness.
A dry bag or zip bag for your phone. The boat rental includes waterproof phone cases; the shared cruises do not list them.

What not to bring

Anything you would mind getting wet or stained. On cruises with an open bar, you also do not need your own drinks. The luxury catamaran lists one thing as not allowed: intoxication. For the full month-by-month weather, see the best time for a boat trip.