Home > Athens > Hydra, Poros and Egina Day Cruise from Athens with Optional VIP Upgrade
USD $125.00
Hydra, Poros and Egina Day Cruise from Athens with Optional VIP Upgrade
Athens, Greece
Visit three gorgeous Greek Islands in one day on an island-hopping cruise from Athens! Visiting the Saronic Islands of Hydra, Poros and Egina, this independent sightseeing tour includes a delicious Greek lunch and ship transfers. Sightsee, shop, swim or join exciting excursions, like a trip to the Temple of Aphaia (own expense), on this must-do day trip from Athens. Upgrade to enjoy a VIP experience with access to a VIP area, enhanced buffet lunch and unlimited drinks.
Meet your guide in central Athens and head to Piraeus Port by luxury, air-conditioned coach. You’ll set sail from here for the island of Poros, roughly two hours away, during which the cruise hostess will provide information about the islands.
When you arrive in Poros, the smallest of the three islands, you will have 1-hour of free time to wander around this endearing island. Here, visit Trinzia, Poros’ Russian dockyard, and learn about Greece’s cooperation with the Russian army in the 18th and 19th centuries. Alternatively, take a stroll in the Lemon Forest (Lemonodassos), and find pretty windmills and waterfalls as you walk through the densely wooded area of lemon and orange trees.
Back on ship, enjoy lunch (first sitting) while sitting comfortably on the lounge and admiring the views of the Mediterranean Sea during approximately 1 hour, on your way to Hydra. We enter the port of Hydra, whose amphitheater shape once served as a safe shelter for Saronic Pirates. Lying near the island of Spetses, Hydra is best known for its colorful little capital, full of quaint, narrow alleys, charming red-tiled houses and mansions silently stand witness to a long and turbulent history. Your guide will point out the best shops and cafes, and then leave you to explore independently during approximately 2 hours.
When you return back on board, the tables will be set for the second lunch sitting. You have already had your lunch, relax on the ship's deck and enjoy the warm breeze as you sail to your last stop, the larger island of Egina. When you arrive, you can either join a sightseeing tour to the Temple of Aphaia (own expense) or stroll around the main town at leisure. Also known as Port of Aegina, the island is a bustling one, with ferries, catamarans and flying dolphins dotting around the harbor. Soak up the sights or perhaps relax in one of the town’s popular ouzeries or cafes.
The journey back to Piraeus Port takes approximately one hour. A traditional Greek folk show with singers and dancers in original costumes will entertain and animate you up to the final moment as the ship docks in Piraeus. On arrival, you’ll be transferred the short distance back to central Athens where your tour ends.
VIP Cruise Experience Upgrade to enjoy special amenities and be spoiled in the VIP class lounge. Start with a private transfer from hotel to port, enjoy a private check-in, and then relax in the VIP lounge. Savor a buffet lunch in the VIP dining room and make the most of unlimited wine, beer, soft drinks and coffee through the day. The VIP area is equipped with Wi-Fi, and on the second deck a tax-free luxury goods store awaits. In the summer, you'll be charmed by the sun deck and spacious open space with a comfortable sitting area and bar.
Highly recommend taking this full day cruise out of Athens / Piraeus port to 3 islands. The scenery was magnificent. The food was very good, as was also the entertainment.
Review by: mellis, July 2018
We very much enjoyed the Island Tour, but believe the VIP Upgrade was not worthy of the cost._br/_ The lunch served was very poor. Better food was available for purchase and it is obvious that they were pushing this meal. Also, all drinks were extra. We even had to pay for water. The Islands were very nice and that part of tour was excellent.
Review by: vertos7, July 2018
Everything was wonderful and the islands are beautiful. Everyone was very helpful and lunch was delicious. We would definitely do it again.
Review by: dinag1966, July 2018
It was amazing to see all 3 islands. Hydra was my favourite. The cruise to each island was smooth. Only issue there was a big group of students from Spain were a little rowdy.
Review by: Debjit B, July 2018
An enjoyable day spent in the Greek islands.
Review by: female_emale, July 2018
The order of the island visits differed from the itinerary. There was no folk music or show of any kind on the boat. Visiting Poros is a joke. Spent more time trying to exit the parking lot than on Poros. There are no excursions available there, and there wasn't any time to look for waterfalls mentioned in the description. The other two were as stated. There was no time to relax on any of the island beautiful beaches. The food at the buffet was ok.
Review by: george, June 2018
A long day on the water of the beautiful Greek isles closest to Athens. The ferry boat was large with a capacity of about 250 people. You could purchase snacks and beverages onboard. First stop was Hydra where the only mode of transportation is burros that are lined up along the waterfront waiting for your photo ops. Of course the tour doesn't include the walking tour offered here or the seperate bus tour on Egina but when in Greece, you might as well splurge for the extra 40 or so Euros. The buffet style lunch onboard was quite sufficient and filling. The guides were quite knowledgeable as well.
Review by: jackee25, June 2018
Totally worth the VIP experience where you are away from the crowds. The service was amazing and so was the food. The islands were absolutely gorgeous and would do it again.
Review by: Mark C, June 2018
What a remarkable experience that day was! The cruise itself was fun, the staff were cheerful and helpful and the buffet was great!_br/_ The islands were absolutely beautiful and we were glad we agreed to have the tour guides from the ship show us around and provide further insight into the various sights on the islands.
Review by: Eva G, May 2018
Great tour! It was fun seeing three islands in one day. Only thing I would recommend is more time on Aegina and Hydra
Review by: greeneyes5763, May 2018
The tour is O'K w/o VIP option. VIP option is a waist of your money. We weren't staying in central Athens hotel, And have to be in in one of hotels by 7:30 am, but weren't picked up until 7:50am. Then, we were taken by small sedan to the port. There were already 2 passengers in the car, and 2 of us barely fit in the car. On the way back, the driver dropped us in the middle of the street, pointed in some direction, and left. VIP option doesn't cover any drinks on the boat, except one small juice welcome drink. VIP morning unlimited snack is available only 10 am - 11am, and pretty meager lunch on the boat didn't taste that great - you can find a lot better options on the islands. Tours that offered free w/ VIP shouldn't cost anything because because you can walk the islands and see what is around by yourself. Egina is the most interesting island, and you can spend a day/ half a day there. The tour of thr temple of Poseidone is very good, but isn't included among free VIP options. Don' t buy VIP option in advance - you are paying more than twice the cost of the tour for a little more leg room, and you can upgrade on the boat.
Review by: Mel, May 2018
Absolutely loved this tour. The boat ride was a little long but it was well worth it.
Review by: Andrew James F, April 2018
The boat ride was a pleasure, the buffet outstanding, and the atmosphere festive. It is a lot to see three islands in one day and so there is an ache to see more of each place visited. My top objective was to see the Temple of Aphaia which is the reason I booked the tour. However, I also wanted to see Greek islands beyond Mykonos and Santorini, thus having three in one day turned out to be a wise choice as well.
Review by: Donna C, April 2018
LOVED this whole tour, but Hydra was just wonderful.
Review by: marwankazan, April 2018
Very good tour
Review by: 4677 K, April 2018
Great way to see these islands. Hydra has a lot of history especially its role in Greece's freedom movement. The stop at Poros is very short just enough for a coffee. Egina was also very interesting and being the largest of the 3 islands we explored it by bus._br/_ The cruise is good but _br/_ Can get very crowded. There is an option to upgrade to VIP class which we didnt do.
Review by: Keith C, April 2018
The VIP upgrade was soooo worth it. Otherwise the cruise ship is super crowded and you have to rush to get a table and you can't leave it or someone else will take it. Hydra and Aegina were cool, although Poros was forgettable. They should cut out Poros and give more time to Aegina I did the optional tour at the Temple of Aphaea but it left no time for exploring the island.
Review by: ellie3, April 2018
We upgraded and glad we did. The experience was great and the Purser in the VIP lounge was fantastic.
Review by: Alana H, April 2018
It was a nice day. But if you want to see the real Greek islands, you will need to travel out further.
Review by: Kendra T, April 2018
This cruise is well worth the money. The only thing I would change is that they spend more time in Hydra. Its the best island!
Review by: rn2md, March 2018
Excellent tour! We did the VIP option and had very attentive staff addressing all needs and we enjoyed sitting comfortably in a non crowded upscale separate segment of the ship. Unlimited snacks and beverages, helpful for everyone._br/_ All three islands were beautiful and tours were offered at Hydra and Egina, one of which is included for no additional charge with VIP._br/_ The other is extra, but you can choose which island will be your Freebie._br/_ There was enough time at each island for pictures, shopping and a little exploration, but not much more._br/_ On the way back, the sea was a little choppy and the boat rocked quite a bit, with chairs falling down and glasses breaking._br/_ Staff even passed out barf bags at one point, just in case._br/_ Thankfully that was only the last 30 minutes of the trip back to port._br/_ I would still do it again though. The islands are beautiful enough and so different from the other more historically significant sites around Greece, that this trip is an important addition to a well balanced vacation.
Review by: jow00001, March 2018
Wind made us not go to hydra which was the port we really wanted to see
Review by: Sarah B, March 2018
I upgraded for the vip experience which my family really appreciated as I had a 11 and 16 y/o. There were only 10 people in the large stateroom with private service. Everyone loved the tour more than they thought they would and the islands were beautiful and we loved seeing the Temple of Athea. We wound up seeing all 3 major temples so this was a bonus. A long day but a very nice way to spend a day.
Review by: Shannon S, March 2018
This tour was a bit of a let down and not because ⅔ of the passengers including myself spent the last hour of the trip to the first island sea sick, but because of the amount of time on the islands is very short and unless you book additional tours with the cruise company at an additional cost there is not much other than to look at beautiful scenic views and shop. The crew seemed to know there was an extreme likelihood of passengers getting sea sick and had bags ready, however so advance notice would have been great. As a person who has never had an issue with motion or sea sickness it would have been nice to know the likelihood so I could have taken proper precautions i.e. taken medication the appropriate amount of time before hand. One of the most helpful crew members was a gentleman named Aris . He was ready to hand passengers a barf bags as needed and went out of his way to help those in need. The cruise includes lunch, but it was not very good. The fish was tasteless which is a shame since there is so much amazing seafood in this area. We would have preferred to eat on one of the islands. My husband and I would not take this tour again. We do not feel it is worth the cost.
Review by: nmillerlpc, March 2018
Excellent over view of islands! A fun day being exposed to the Greek culture and history.
Review by: Francisco A, December 2017
Es una experiencia bonita si no tienes el tiempo para ir a Santorini o alguna de las islas principales. El crucero no es muy lujosos aunque si es cómodo, no esperen lujos pero se pasa un buen rato.
Review by: John A, December 2017
Our boat excursion to the islands of Hydra, Poros and Egina was very enjoyable and professionally run. The ferry was comfortable and the staff was very hospitable. My wife and I purchased the VIP package which was nice, however 2 things were disappointing. First, the van did not pick us up on time and the driver had to rush to get us there before departure. Secondly, the lunch that was served as part of the VIP package was not very appealing.
Review by: Cate F, December 2017
Great day, good service with value for money and time. Would recommend if time poor.
Review by: William F, December 2017
Hydra is a must see!!! The town is stunning and I almost missed the boat leaving as I was so wrapped up in exploring. If this cruise has a fault it is that Hydra is the first island you visit. Because of this I unfairly compared the other islands to Hydra. My big regret is that I did not take the optional tour of Egina and missed the chance to explore more of the island.
Review by: Bernadette917, December 2017
WhT a fabulous trip ... definitely do the VIP ... it truly is worth it and me met new friends that are now life long friends from around the world!
Review by: Estelle Weyl W, December 2017
This is a really nice trip, and a must do if you are in Athens for 3 or more days. Hydra is a quaint little town. The bus tour in Aegina is worth the additional charge, though if you have three or more in your group, it is likely worth it to hire a cab or rent a car to see the Temple of Aphaea.
Review by: richesposito, December 2017
Lunch was good - we walked around both islands and enjoyed the towns. If you want to do a tour on the island, you need to buy that on the boat - that seemed to be underhanded but otherwise we liked the trip.
Review by: redsoxgirl04, November 2017
I was really excited for this tour, but we did not love it. It did not help that it rained almost all day. Be prepared to be on the boat for most of the whole time. There are some short tours you can do for an extra fee on two of the islands, but other than that we just walked around. Each island looks the same so by the end of the trip I was over it. We did have muscles on Poros, which were the best thing we ate in Greece. Also, on Aegina we got some pistachio butter that was incredible.
Review by: Monica E, November 2017
We had a fun cruise with a nice sampling of the islands.
Review by: Catherine D, November 2017
highlight of holiday.. what a fantastic day.. would advise if you can afford it go vip, we did and was worth every penny of upgrade..we were treated like royalty, and it made our day more special. would def recommend vip..
Review by: Stephanie M, November 2017
Awesome way to see multiple islands on a tight schedule!
Review by: Mary A, November 2017
Lovely, memorable day. We upgraded over concerns related to crowding and jockeying for a good seat however that didn’t seem to be an issue. The upgrade = stress free day: door to door pick up, comfy lounge with reserved in and outdoor seating, and an attentive, charming steward. Highly recommend.
Review by: epoch, November 2017
Great way to see three islands in one day. Highly recommend the VIP add on. Konstantinos, our host was very attentive. The cultural tour on Egina to see temple, not too be missed. We didnt take the walking tour of Hydra. Our fellow VIPers who did didnt think much of it. Fine to walk around on Hydra by yourself.
Review by: Angela S, November 2017
Good option to get you to Hydra, Poros and Egina. You've got to purchase extra tours on board if you want to. Crew on board are a little overwhelmed with all the passengers and it takes forever to get your water or coffee.
Review by: Diana B, November 2017
I will preface with the disclaimer that the weather was rainy, windy, and stormy. That being said, the captain decided that it was too stormy to attempt going to the third island, so we spent about an hour at Egina, and 3 hours at Poros. I am glad we did not get to go the third island or we would have been too rushed during our other expeditions. We would have preferred more island time and less boat time.
Review by: Marek G, November 2017
Everything super. Worth the money! The islands are beautiful.
Review by: Observer Mover, November 2017
Just being on the Aegean Sea is wonderful. Being able to stop at three islands is even better.
Review by: Dean R, November 2017
We did want to see a bit of the islands, tho our trip was planned to be an Athens trip.
Review by: Maidn1, November 2017
The tour was good. I was a little disappointed that the beverages were an extra charge. Lunch was included but the beverages including water were not. Additionally once we were on the boat we were given an additional sales pitch for island tours, they were not included.
Review by: garcesdiane, November 2017
A wonderful way to spend a day. We opted for the regular package and did not regret it. The pick-up from our hotel was on time and we had plenty of time to find a good seat at the front of the boat. We did not go with the full sightseeing package available on board that included a walking tour of Hydra and a bus tour in Egina. We only purchased the Egina tour. It was well worth it. _br/_ Hydra is a treat and gives you the feel of a visit to one of the more famous islands. There is ample time to wander around the cobblestone streets and do a little shopping if desired. Poros is the least desirable of the islands with very little to do except walk a bit to stretch your legs. My recommendation is to go to one of the waterfront cafes and order a wonderful lunch to bring back on board as the food is quite dismal on the ship. And as said, the bus tour in Egina including the visit to the Temple of Aphaea and the Greek Orthodox Church was well worth it. _br/_ The ship was roomy and comfortable the service was excellent and the Greek entertainment was fun. _br/_ The Saturday that we went was sunny and warm we thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the sling lounge chairs at the front of the ship watching the many islands go by. A lovely and relaxing way to spend the day!
Review by: Ben and Chin U, November 2017
The tour was amazing. We had an incredible time seeing all three islands.
Review by: Alison R, November 2017
This was a very relaxing day, we had quite a lot of cloud cover which makes the journey between Islands a bit boring because beauty is always enhanced when the sun shines! The island stops were lovely, and we did the bus trip panoramic on the final Island which is definetly to be recommended, beautiful views out to sea! Overall, although I found it a bit expensive, I understand why these trips need to be as expensive as they are, because of the number of people involved, and the two ladies who did all the 'guide' work, worked extremely hard all day. I would need a week off after the day they put in!
Review by: Alicia L, November 2017
An amazing and beautiful trip. I would highly recommend. I would do it again in a heart beat!staff was amazing. VIP upgrade is a MUST!!!!
Review by: Angeli S, November 2017
a MUST when visiting Greece. Only ONE day and yet you get to see a LOT of places. the Saronic Islands are beautiful!
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