Looking for a boat trip in Ayia Napa?
There are SO many boat trips to choose from, each offering a very similar day out but each with their own little quirks and personalities.
After searching online and looking at reviews, we booked the Cyprus East Coast Lazy Day Cruise with Lunch Onboard trip via TripAdvisor. It was well reviewed, had interesting sounding stops (with two swim stops), included lunch and was very reasonably priced. It had plenty of space thanks to the top level and indoor shaded areas with tables. Although busy on board, it felt spacious.
It is advertised on the leaflets at €30 per person. Booking through TripAdvisor it cost around £26 per person. (Price from 09/06/2022) That felt like an absolute bargain once we’d experienced the boat trip. We had such a great time!
So, where does the Aphrodite II take you on the boat trip around the Ayia Napa coast?
This boat trip takes you along the easy coast of Cyprus, passing by the sea caves at Cape Greco, spotting the ghost town of Famagusta in the distance (this is quite far away), stopping at the Blue Lagoon and Konnos Bay and seeing all the lovely areas in between.
Swim Stops in Ayia Napa
This boat trip gives you two swim stops, each one roughly 40-50 minutes depending on time and I would guess, the weather conditions. The boat offers snorkelling equipment so you don’t have to take your own however we had to give in a €20 deposit to hire it. We did of course get the money back once we returned the snorkels, but it is something to keep in mind if you are planning to book!
The boat also had a number of child and adult-sized lifejackets, so any swimmers who wanted the support could have it.
The first swim stop is at Konnos Bay, which is located between Protaras and Cape Greco and the second swim stop is at Blue Lagoon. Both spots are beautiful, with clear water and plenty of fish to be seen swimming around! You also have the opportunity to jump off the side of the boat in these spots – if you’re brave enough!
These spots are not special to each boat tour – you will find that the majority of tours follow the same route. This does mean you are likely to be there at the same time as another boat, but there’s so much space it really doesn’t matter. You might even get to see the Black Pearl up close from the water…
Of course, you don’t have to swim if you don’t want to. There’s plenty to look at from the boat!
Lunch on the Aphrodite II Boat Trip
If I’m being honest here, I wasn’t expecting much from the lunch. You just never know what you’re going to get, and as a vegetarian, it’s even more unknown! The menu for the day (and I believe it is probably this all of the time) was roast chicken, potatoes and veg. My meal was the same, but with a vegetable burger instead of the chicken. We also got coleslaw and the chance to grab a slice of two of bread.
As we boarded the boat, we were asked about any allergies or dietary requirements. At this point I was given a paper ticket to give in when lunch time came, and this was to tell the servers that I needed a vegetarian plate.
Taste-wise, I couldn’t fault the food. The potatoes were lightly seasoned with what I think was paprika, and they were delicious. The vegetable burger was simple, but tasted fine, and the rest was also good. I do love a coleslaw though… The meat option was received well by those I travelled with. It’s not a meal that’s going to completely blow your socks off, but after a swim in the sea, it was very much needed!
Booking the Aphrodite II Cruises Boat Trip in Ayia Napa
As mentioned above, we booked through TripAdvisor online. This gave us a QR code that I just showed on my phone. There are the usual stalls around town and near the harbour where you can book and pay cash if wanted. The boat leaves from The Harbour in Ayia Napa, and is easy to spot!
Boarding is from 9:00am till 10:00am, with a 10:15am departure. If you’re bothered about getting a seat near the front of the boat, or on the top level with the sunbed mattresses, it’s worth getting there earlier. These seat were all full when we boarded at around 9:30am. If you want a table, there are a few outdoors, but most are inside the boat.
Initially, a 5 hour boat trip sounds like quite a long time. This trip didn’t feel too long at all. The swim stops are evenly spaced, and there is plenty to see as you cruise around the coast. The captain of the boat was friendly, as were the staff aboard.
Have you visited the Ayia Napa Sculpture Park?
Have you ever been on a boat trip in Ayia Napa?
