Athens: 1-Day Cruise to Poros, Hydra & Aegina Islands with Lunch

Fun way to see a few islands

The islands were beautiful and the tour of the temple of Athena was excellent, the guide was friendly and informative. The boat was packed which made it a bit uncomfortable and it is a rush getting on and off with very little time in each location but being at sea was relaxing and worth doing.

Great to see 3 islands in 1 day

Hydra is so beautiful. Poros and Aegina are nice too. Crew was friendly and helpful. Beautiful day. Food was good for a boat too.

Does not worth!

First of all, it's not clear that the tour is on a big ship with hundreds of people, which makes you waist lot of time only to drop off and get in again. We lost 1:30 hour only in the bus for picking up all costumes from different hotels. The ladies who are the tour guides and sellers of the tour are not friendly, at all. On the top floor there is no shade enough for everyone. The food was very poor. Very disappointed. I won't buy anymore through this platform.

Long time on a slow boat

From hotel pick up to drop off this was almost 13 hours. Given that, I think it was just too long. Hydra is picturesque and Aegina has its temple above (tour is extra), but Poros has very little to merit a stop. Lunch on the ship was just okay. Remember you go south roughly in the morning and north in the afternoon to determine where to sit if you want sun or shade, or indoors. If I could do it over again, I would just visit Hydra by metro to Piraeus and fast catamaran ferry there and back on my own, spending the day on just that island, and skip this tour. Nothing really was wrong with it, but too long of a day mostly on a slow boat.

Cruise to Poros, Hydra & Aegina Islands

The beautifull landscapes are amazing. the service onboard is kind and warm, and the lunch was nice. The time in each islanad is short but it is understandable given the lenght of the trip. The information about the pick-up hour at the hotel is not in agreement with the practice of the local provider... it is worth correction.

Disappointing. Save your money

It was a very disappointing. There were so many people and they tried to upsell everything from VIP lounge to more excursions from the boat. The food was terrible no flavor. Drinks were expensive

We did not get what we paid for

In the one day Cruise we did not get any thing , no food , no tour and we paid 508 dollars for 2 persons I tried to catch the operator and they try to help us in the boat and they couldn’t get contact with the operator I try to refund 50% because the trip was as a transport between the Islands Samia Boukter

Sit back and relax then hustle a little

For us we loved this day! It was a relaxing break. The water was smooth and the weather amazing. There are several decks, We were on last and a little disappointed we didn’t get the top, but as we found out quickly, it was much warmer on the lower level. We also got to have a nice cup of coffee and it was not crowded at all on that deck. Sat back and relaxed. Each island has something unique about it to offer, but our first island was Poros and not much time there at all. I would definitely choose more time on two islands, but Poros is charming in itself. On our way to Hydra, they served us lunch, which was very decent. Aegina is where you get the pistachios and that is so worth it. We got back a little early, to the boat and secured a spot on the top deck and were very glad that we did because we had perfect seating for the entertainment. The Greek dancers were a lot of fun. The DJ guy was so fun. We really did enjoy ourselves and the ability to relax in between each island. You do not have a ton of time on the islands so if that is what you were looking for, I would suggest going there directly. I was disappointed in reading some of the reviews before this trip, but I honestly feel like some people just have some expectations. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Better than most reviews sounded!

I saw lots of negative reviews so I was concerned and considered canceling but so glad I didn't! I had a wonderful time. The food, drinks and entertainment in ship were better than expected. Lots of options to buy additional food if desired. I would consider looking into the upgrades to business or first class but I don't know those options existed until after departure. Get there early to get good seating but lots of options on deck and below. They sell excursions (avg €25) and I enjoyed the walking tour of Hydra and the swimming. Bring bathing suit and towel if interested in swimming. Also bring book or media (and portable phone charger) most of the time is spent on ship. It was 14 hrs door to door with bus pickup/drop off but I was also the first/last stops. Total time on all 3 islands was only about 4 hrs.

It was okay

The boat ride took longer than we expected, but I can’t remember if I originally saw the estimated time of 3 hours to get to the 1st island or not, so I won’t ding that. The 1st island was nice, we did a walking tour. However, we got stuck on the top sun deck and it took 25 minutes to get off the boat because of all the people. Our tour had already left us. They had someone waiting for us and we had to basically run to catch up with the group. This was not great. It was very hot and we missed a lot of the beginning of the tour. When we finally caught up, the tour guide made a snide comment about needing to keep up with the group. The 2nd island was a waste of time. We had 30 minutes is all. By the time everyone got off the boat we only had about 10 minutes. The 3rd island was nice. We did a bus tour. Lunch was adequate. The boat was way over crowded. You couldn’t move around and there weren’t enough seats for everyone.

Exactly what it says it is

The cruise was okay exactly what it said it would be... Here are some suggestions 1. Bring snacks - at $4.5 euro a.coffee and basic at best snacks for $10 it got expensive quick - every stop is a souvenirs grab but I hope most people understand that Make sure to bring sunscreen and a towel or a jacket First thing in the morning is cool The islands were.beautiful and it eas a nice way to get out on the ocean and away from the bustle of the city It was hard to eat the lunch if you didn't already have a table The food served after the first stop (Hydra) was delicious so don't buy food on Hydra. there are not enough tables to chairs- you need to be forward and sit with strangers.. this is fine! Make a new friend

Don't take this tour!

This was one of the worst experiences of our vacation. We were packed into a old boat of about 600 people for a hour ride to Hydra. Sitting outside was very windy and inside was cramped. Not a comfortable ride. We were given 1 hour on Hydra, that included the time to get off and on the boat. Maybe 20 Minutes for a photo on POROS and 1.5 hour on Aegina. We spent more time on the diesel smelling boat than on land. Very disappointing. We had to purchase water, and the lunch was served cold. It was suppose to be hot. Unless you purchase the VIP package this is not a beautiful, comfortable cruise.

Flavor of three islands-Aegina, Poros & Hydra

The tour was very well organized from pickup in the morning to drop off that evening. Very long time on the boat. Would have preferred to go to only two islands to have more time to explore. Hydra and Poros were our favorite but spent the least amount of time at both. Tour staff were very nice and was surprised that our lunch was as good as it was.

Amazing visit to 3 beautiful Greek islands!

This tour gave us a fabulous taste of the history and beauty of the Greek isles. With only a short time in the area, this was time and money well spent. Tour guides were fun and knowledgeable. Special shoutout to Spiros on board the ship for taking an extra interest in assuring we found great seats, had everything we needed, and for recommending the best things to see, eat, and do on each island. He truly made the trip over the top excellent.

Don’t Do this tour

Would not recommend this trip , a wasted day of vacation time the two islands had nothing to do but shop which is same stuff in Athens .

Awesome

Seeing 3 islands in one day was most memorable. Many Shops with beautiful items. And The churches and the blue water

boat tour gone wrong

First of all, all my documentation and confirmation advised pick up was at our hotel at 7:30am. At 6:50am we received a call from the front desk stating our tour was there. Two minutes later the tour employee basically yelled at my husband to come downstairs. We were downstairs at 6:54am. the employee was badgering us the whole time, mean while we get to "their" pick and continue to wait for 30 minutes for others to arrive. We finally leave, get to the dock only to find a massive boat with well over 400 people. more time spent on the boat than any of the islands, lunch was cold and disgusting. Would not recommend.

A mixed experience, some good, some poor.

The boat trip was fine. The loading and unloading logistics were poorly executed because of the number of people on board the ship. The lunch was good too.

Phil and Alexandra on hollidays

We hade a great time, Nice weather Nice island Nice People Nice staff The lunch could be better Thanks a lot

Ok tour but poor food

The tour itself is what you would have expected - long hours on the boat - its like a 13 hr day. 45 minutes at poros, 1.15 hrs at hyrda and 1.45 hrs at aegean. They said boat leaves at 730 but it did nit leave until after 8. They will sell you tours for Hydra and Aegean which was ok. The food is the most disappointment. Horrible all around. Salad, fish which was soo bland and had a weird taste, rice, chicken and some weird chocolate dessert. I wish they could have done a better job with the food given that everything else is extra - water, juice, etc. they could have done some traditional greek food - a simple kebab, souvlaki or anything would have been better than what they serve.

Ok, but skip it

The idea is good; however, we didn’t go to Hydra, so went to two islands instead of three. Very little time on the islands. A lot of traveling on the boat with very little time on land. You pay extra for the tours once you get off the boat. There is no way to walk to the attractions, so you have to get on the bus after a boat to see the site for just 20-30 minutes. Food was mediocre so as entertainment. No tour on the boat itself. It’s a tiring waste of time. And if you get sea sick in addition to all that, the day is completely ruined.

Good but bring something to do between islands.

It was great to see the Islands, but the ride in-between was long and noisey, however a beautiful view, and if you had a good seat you couldn't get up and do anything, otherwise your seat would be taken.

Nice Tour! Good experience!!

The tour was super nice!! I wish we were able to have a bit more time on each Island though. We spent 1 hour in Hydra, 40 minutes in Poros and 2 hours in Aegina. Especially for Poros 40 minutes wasn't enough time since most of the things to do there were about a 20 minute walk away. There seemed to be a bit more to do and see in Poros than Hydra so I would've rather we had more time in Poros than Hydra. The cruise company offered optional guided tours at an additional cost in Hydra and Aegina. There was a walking tour in Hydra and two different bus tours in Aegina (one historical tour and one Panoramic tour). We didn't opt for the tour of Hydra but we did do the one in Aegina. The tour of Aegina was helpful because since we were on a bus we were able to visit historical locations we wouldn't have been able to get to otherwise. The tour company offered a discounted student rate for tickets and historical tours in both English and Japanese (I'm not sure if Japanese is standard or if this was due to the languages spoken on board). The food onboard was very good, my friend and I are vegetarian and there were a lot of options for us (pasta, chickpeas, rice, potatoes, salad!) However, the listing that we booked off of said that soft drinks were included with our ticket and they were not. There were also alcoholic drinks available on board for purchase at reasonable prices. Overall a nice experience but I wish we had more time on some of the islands!

Great Experience

It was an amazing trip. Great experience seeing the islands. The schedule of the times was on point. The weather was wonderful

It was okay.

Service was excellent by all the staff. However the lunch could have been better. Also the lavatory facilities were very poor.

Hydra was beautiful and...

Hydra was beautiful and the pistachio in Aegina was delicious. Poros you would need more time as it’s all spread out a bit. Unfortunately we were joined by a 115-person group from USA which means all decks were full and the noise level was very high at all times as the majority of them were students.

Three lovely islands

The three islands are lovely to visit. The staff on the boat were very friendly and helpful. A choice of two lounges plus a top deck. Not too long a coach ride to get to the port. Easy to find the office for a pick up. Be prepared for a very long day though. Very clear instructions on visits and timings.

Excellent and unforgettable experience

Great timing! excellent staff, so kind and welcoming. Love the workers and the islands we visited. Food was delicious.

A wasted day

Too many negatives to list. Nothing positive. The boat was loud. At times didn’t seem sea worthy. PA system was horrible. Couldn’t understand what was being said. Entertainment was laughably 3rd rate. Our daughter and grandson found it disgusting that the crew tossed their cigarette butts into the sea. Diesel fumes were overwhelming on the second deck but was told there was no way to better ventilate the seating area as others might get cold. I could go on but overall a long unpleasant day.

The best cruise in Athens

The perfect way to visit the islands of the Sarinic golf. You had time to explore the islands on our own and we really enjoyed our time on board. The stuff was very friendly and the food delicious.

Great to see many islands at once

Overall I had a good time. This was a great way to squeeze in different islands if you’re doing a week or less trip to Greece. Like another reviewer said, you do spend a lot of time on the boat. But to make up for it, I would’ve loved to spend more time on the islands. Personally more time on Hydra (1 hour) and Poros (40 min) would have gotten a higher review from me. Aegina is beautiful as well, but not much to do (we spent 1 and a half hours there). In total I spent $170 for this tour which included the shuttle pickup and drop off from my hotel and a buffet lunch. The lunch wasn’t spectacular but it will do if you’re hungry. I paid extra fees for breakfast and drinks on the boat (extra $20) I feel like it would’ve been worth the money spent if some island tours were included. Even if it were no major tours. All the island excursions were an extra charge of $50+.

Beautiful islands but not enough time

I was grateful to have gone on this day cruise but it wasn’t enough time on each island. One of the islands we had less than an hour. Also the two tours they offered were extra money as well as drinks (even water) with your lunch! I appreciated their promptness but next time I would visit each island on my own to get more time.

Tours of the islands were not up to expectations

The Temple we went to see was closed on Monday and we were not told that they were closed. The walking tour of Hydra also not great

Great day trip

Great day trip cruise experience. We had an amazing service from everyone on board. The buffet lunch was plentyfull and delicious and I loved the folklore dance at the end of the day. I decided to only book the bus tour on Agina to be able to see the ruins. Hydra can be walked by yourself and is absolutely beautiful. I wish we had more than 20 minutes in Poros.

Nice islands, not enough time spent!

Visiting three islands in one day is truly not a good idea as there is not enough time in each of the places. Thirty minutes is just not enough time to spend and see anything. Not a good tour at all.

Fun day on a boat seeing exceptional sites

Loved the dancers on board and they got everyone up and dancing. Tour guide for Aegina optional bus tour very knowledgeable. Loved the cafe/store by temple. Boat crew very nice and boat bathrooms, tables and surfaces all kept clean. Great experience.

Just take a ferry.

For starters not telling everyone you are going to cut Hydra out as one of the stops until you shove off or that it was even a possibility is pretty underhanded. At least offer a discount or even I don't know free bottled water. What we were offered was more time at the other two stops. That was kind of a falsehood also. The first stop Poros is just shops you can find anywhere in Athens. It's not even a good stop because you eat lunch on the ship afterwards. For the second stop at Aegina to see the ruins and the monistary. Those were interesting but the tour guide says you have 25 minutes at the ruins then has you stand in front of the ruins for a 20 minute explanation of them giving you no time to actually appreciate them. Pretty much the same for the church. The bus then takes you straight to the dock and puts you on the boat so no displaced Hydra time there. This was all after getting an email the night before trying to tell us that we did not setup a hotel pickup location so meet them at their office. If I did not see that email we would have missed the trip. They sent an email back after I pointed out where we were supposed to be picked up and changed the pickup time to 40 minutes earlier. If I did not see that email we also would have missed the bus and the trip. All this and Hydra was the location we were most interested in. We should have just taken a ferry straight there.

We liked the whole trip....

We liked the whole trip. The best was the island of Hydra. It was beautiful, different and very picturesque. The islands Poros and Aegina were nice too especially to take photos. We took the tour in Aegina and the time really flew very quickly. The time on the boat was rather long, but we managed by chatting and reading. One may need to plan what to do during that time, if not it could be rather boring as it was too cold to stay on the upper deck as it was winter time.

We Had Fun Time

We took a full day tour to visit 3 Greek Islands, Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. The trip was nice and each island has different vibes, we enjoyed visiting them but we couldn’t spend enough time at each island. The traveling time was very long, we felt like the whole trip we were at the cruise ship. But I do understand they are far from each other. The crew members of the trip were absolutely amazing, very kind and professional. Though they’ve been working for the full day looking after all passengers but they were always smiling and happy to serve the people.

Family Friendly Experience

This full day (sun up to after sunset) was a great experience for our whole family. The staff was friendly, attentive and helpful!

Fish in a barrel with some free time to explore

This tour is on a large boat with maybe 60 people. The boat has a cafe and small canteen aboard which is comfortable. However, it also has a shop where they try to sell you handbags. You'd think for around $170 USD in the off-season that this would be an inclusive price. However, they try to upsell you with 2 tours for around 50 Euros on Hydra and Aegina. Note, I didn't take either of these tours. The first is a small island that has no vehicles and they offer a walking tour and a total island time of around 90 minutes. I don't think there's anything on Hydra that truly iconic other than exploring the overall vibe of the city and maybe doing some hiking. Therefore, I have no idea what this walking tour could possibly be going over. The second tour is on Aegina (third island) where they provide busses to an ancient temple. I think this tour alone might be worth it as it maybe also includes a meal. I spent the 90 minutes walking around and enjoying some restaurants. The second island is only a 45 minute stop. Overall, I think there are cheaper ways (likely during the "on" season) to travel to these three islands and spend more meaningful time on them without being rushed or sending even more money to this one tour company.

Long Day on the Water

The experience was well organized, but not what we expected. If you enjoy long boat rides on the water, I think you will enjoy this. The pick up and ticket process was very simple and all of the staff on the boat were very helpful. However we did not anticipate how long we would be traveling. We were in the boat for at least 6 hours (3 hours to reach the first destination). I would recommend bringing a book or audio because there is not much else to do. My travel companion gets seasick and the waves were very rough leaving the port. Note, we did travel in November which may have affected the weather. There were only 2 stops Hydra and Aegina, with an hour and a half at each. Lunch was served on the boat, and there was entertainment on the return journey back to Athens. Another important note is that all drinks required purchase, even water. Drink were not included at lunch, even water. There were lots of available seats and space, but this was probably due to the off-season. Overall, it was an OK experience but I do not think I would do it again or recommend to anyone who does not enjoy being in a boat.

A great adventure to three islands.

Seeing the inhabitants of these beautiful islands. The architecture of those islands and also the beautiful mountains made them picture perfect for tourists.

CANCELLED THE MORNING OF THE TOUR WITH NO WARNING!

We paid in advance and went to the pick up hotel to wait on the bus. No bus, no communication, no tour! Finally, a tour guide from another company called the tour operator for us and learned that our tour had been cancelled and that the tour operator was so sorry. We are still waiting for the refund of our payment. Both tours booked with Viator were cancelled at the last minute. We will never use Viator again!!!!!

The Boat is not like in poto(

The boat was not like in photo.It was just old metallic boat. Also there was not the tradiotional dance. But service was perfect.

Great organisation, I love it

The tour was great and very educational. Georgina the tour advisor was excellent, knowledgeable and helpful. She made our day great

I would not do it again

Last minute changes in the trip. No Hydra. I was there for Hydra. The other two islands, not much to do or to see. Great view from the see but that it. The buffet, good average food, salmon was dry, chicken leg only was ok. Inside the ship drinks, very expensive. Good experience, won’t do I again.

Great Compact Island tour

It is a must if the time permits at Athens. Hydra is a picture perfect town. There are some entertainment at the ship before the end of tour. Aegina id a big island and one may go for a guided island tour (at extra cost). Overall a day cruise on the Aegean sea is entertaining.

Spend your time and money elsewhere

Hydro walls really nice. The morning service on the boat was bad. We sat in the dining room. I asked 4 different people to take our order for food and drinks. Many people were being served, but many were not. We never got any service. However, the music and dancing on the return to Port, almost made up for that. Almost. The time on the islands was short, rushed. While I would return to Hydra again, it wouldn't be on this cruise. The guides were friendly and seemed to be knowledgeable. Oh yes, I must acknowledge Thomas the piano player. He was funny. A great entertainer. I guess if the day started out better, I could have given a positive review

Awesome Tour

This tours was great! The islands were beautiful and the Cruise tour was very hospitable and entertaining. The food was good and the boat was nice with a good amount of people, not overbearing. My family and I had a great time.