From Kos:A full day cruise in the newest luxury vessel!

Captain Morgan is not a quiet little sailboat. It is a huge, new 33-meter party cruiser with three decks, a bar, music, sun cushions, and room for up to 300 people. The day mixes island stops and swimming with a lively onboard mood, plus a Greek barbecue lunch and a chance to spot dolphins near Kalymnos.

I like the clear plan: you get time at Pserimos, Vathy, and Platy rather than spending seven hours only at sea. I also like the value at $35 per person, since lunch and the island stops are included. The main catch is the atmosphere. This is a party boat, and the music can be loud, the ship can fill up, and the experience may suit social groups better than people seeking a peaceful cruise.

Key points to know before booking

• Captain Morgan is a large 2024-built vessel: Three decks, shaded seating, padded sun areas, tables, and a modern bar make it more comfortable than a basic excursion boat.
• The day includes three named island stops: Pserimos, Vathy in Kalymnos, and Platy provide a mix of sightseeing, swimming, shopping, and beach time.
• Ariel is part of the entertainment: Her upbeat hosting and island information are a major part of the cruise atmosphere.
• Lunch is included, drinks are not: Bring money for cocktails, soft drinks, or other bar purchases.
• Arrive early for the best chance at a preferred seat: You may need to leave a towel or personal item on your chair during a swim stop.
• Expect music and a social crowd: The cruise works best if you enjoy a lively boat rather than a quiet sailing trip.

What kind of cruise is Captain Morgan?

The first thing to understand is the scale. Captain Morgan is described as the largest sailing vessel in the Dodecanese, built in Greece in 2024. It measures 33 meters, has three decks, and can carry as many as 300 passengers.

That size gives you more choices than you get on a small boat. You can sit in the sun, look for shade, use a table, order a drink, or move around while the vessel is under way. The padded sun decks are useful during a long day, especially when you want to stretch out between stops.

The same size also shapes the mood. This is a social cruise with music, a bar, and a crew that keeps the energy high. One host, Ariel, receives especially strong praise for combining useful information with a playful style. She appears to be a key part of the day, particularly if you like a guide who treats the boat as a floating show as well as a means of transport.

If you picture a calm, traditional sailing trip with only the sound of wind and water, choose carefully. If you want swimming, music, cocktails, and an easy way to see several islands in one day, the format makes good sense.

Setting off from Kos for seven hours

You meet at Kos Cruise Experts and look for the pirate ship Captain Morgan. The cruise lasts about seven hours, including the outbound and return crossings, so the boat itself becomes a large part of the experience.

The published sailing times add up to a generous amount of time on the water. You have roughly 40 minutes of sightseeing at the start, then shorter crossings between stops, and another 40-minute return journey. Those passages give you views across the Dodecanese and time to settle into the boat’s rhythm.

The vessel has an up-to-date bar, tables, shaded areas, and sun decks with cushions. Drinks cost extra, but the onboard prices are described as reasonable. Cocktails are part of the appeal for many people, though the quality can vary, so I would treat the bar as a pleasant extra rather than the main reason to book.

Pserimos: a gentle first island stop

Pserimos is scheduled early in the day, with about 45 minutes for free time and sightseeing. It is a short visit, so you will not have time for a long walk or a full island exploration. Instead, use it to look around the port area, take photographs, and enjoy the change from boat to shore.

The island is known here for attractive beaches and a small, charming port. The stop gives you a quick taste of the quieter side of the Dodecanese before the cruise returns to the water.

Forty-five minutes passes quickly. I would not plan a serious shopping trip here, and you should not expect a full cultural tour. This is a brief introduction, best used for photos and a little wandering before the next crossing.

Vathy and Rina: the most varied stop

The visit to Vathy Port at Rina lasts about an hour and combines several activities. You have time for photographs, shopping, sightseeing, and swimming. That mix makes it one of the most useful stops for people who want more than a swim from their island cruise.

Vathy is on Kalymnos, an island strongly linked with sponge fishing. The cruise also introduces local honey and orange juice, giving you a small connection to the island’s food and working traditions. These details help the stop feel less like a random swimming break.

Still, keep your expectations in check. The boat stops on one side of Kalymnos, and the schedule does not allow you to see the whole island. You are visiting Vathy for a compact port stop, not taking a full tour of Kalymnos. The hour is enough for a look around, a purchase, and perhaps a swim, but not for a broad survey of the island.

If local products interest you, this is the stop to pay attention to. If you want dramatic island scenery from several parts of Kalymnos, the limited time and fixed port location may leave you wanting more.

Dolphin watching near Kalymnos

The itinerary includes a 20-minute dolphin-watching section near Kalymnos. Dolphins have been seen during the cruise, but sightings are never guaranteed, so consider this a bonus rather than a promise.

The short viewing period works well as a change of pace between shore visits. Keep your eyes on the water and your camera ready, but do not spend the whole cruise disappointed if the dolphins stay out of sight. The point is the possibility of seeing them while the boat moves through the island waters.

Platy: the main swimming reward

Platy is scheduled for about 45 minutes of free time and swimming. The water is described as clear and blue, and this is likely to be one of the best parts of the day if you care more about getting into the sea than visiting ports.

Bring swimwear, as the tour specifically recommends it. A towel is also a practical choice, especially because you may want to return to a cushioned seat afterward. Swimming time is not unlimited, so be ready when the crew gives the signal.

The stop may also suit confident swimmers who want to jump from the boat or try a little cliff jumping where permitted by the crew and local conditions. The activity information presents this as part of the fun, but you should follow safety instructions and only use designated areas.

Platy is not a long beach day. Forty-five minutes gives you a refreshing swim and some sun, not hours on shore. That is typical of a multi-stop cruise: you gain variety, but each individual stop remains brief.

The surprise stop and the value of variety

The cruise includes one additional stop described as a surprise location. Its exact identity is not provided in advance, which is part of the appeal. It gives the crew room to choose another place for swimming or relaxation around the Dodecanese.

Because the details are not fixed, I would not book this tour for a particular beach at the surprise stop. Think of it as extra time in the water and another scenic pause. The day already includes Pserimos, Vathy, and Platy, so this added stop strengthens the overall variety.

The itinerary information lists the named island visits and the surprise stop slightly differently, so the exact order and timing may vary. That is normal for a boat day affected by sea conditions and the captain’s decisions. The important point is that the cruise promises four opportunities for swimming, fun, or sightseeing rather than one single beach visit.

Lunch is included, drinks cost extra

A Greek barbecue lunch is included in the $35 price. That matters because a full day on the water can become expensive once you add food. Having lunch covered lets you budget more clearly.

The food is described as acceptable rather than a culinary highlight. I would see it as practical fuel for a long cruise, not a special meal worth booking the trip around. The real value is having something to eat between swims and crossings.

Drinks are not included. The boat has a bar with cocktails and other refreshments, and onboard prices are described as reasonable. One point to note is that cocktail quality may not please everyone. Bring a payment method for drinks if you want them, but do not assume they form part of the advertised fare.

Seating, music, and the party-boat question

The biggest practical issue is seating. Captain Morgan can hold up to 300 passengers, and the boat may feel crowded when full. There may not be enough prime seats for everyone, especially around the sun decks and the most desirable shaded areas.

If you want to keep the same place after swimming, arrive early and claim a seat. A useful tactic is to leave your towel or another personal item on your chair while you swim, as long as you follow the crew’s directions and do not occupy more space than you need.

The music can be loud. The crew may lower drink prices during the day and keep the bar active, adding to the feeling that you are aboard a floating nightclub with swimming stops. Some people will love that energy. Others may spend much of the cruise wishing for quieter music.

Families can still enjoy the day. The stops, water, and friendly crew appeal across age groups, including younger children. But the party setting is worth explaining before you book for older relatives or anyone sensitive to loud sound. A shaded table may be more comfortable than the main sun deck for those passengers.

Is $35 good value from Kos?

At $35 per person, this is a strong value if the listed fare is available for your date. You receive about seven hours on a large new vessel, several island stops, swimming time, dolphin-watching potential, and a barbecue lunch.

Comparable value depends on what you want from a boat trip. If you only want quiet sailing, the price does not solve the main problem, because the loud music and busy onboard setting may not suit you. If you want a full day with transport between islands, lunch, entertainment, and several chances to swim, the fare covers a lot.

The new boat is another reason the price feels attractive. Captain Morgan offers padded sun areas, shade, tables, and a modern bar rather than the bare setup you might find on a smaller, older boat. The tradeoff is capacity. More facilities do not mean more personal space.

I would also allow extra money for drinks and keep some flexibility around the day’s exact order. The cruise is designed for broad enjoyment, not a private, tailor-made itinerary.

Who will enjoy this Kos island cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want to:

• See several Dodecanese islands in one day
• Swim in clear water without arranging separate transport
• Enjoy music, cocktails, and a lively social setting
• Travel with friends, a family, or a mixed-age group
• Get lunch included at a low price
• Combine short port visits with water activities
• Meet a host such as Ariel who keeps the day moving

I would think twice if you want a quiet sailing trip, long time on one island, or a detailed visit to Kalymnos. You should also reconsider if loud music is likely to spoil your day. The boat is comfortable, but comfort does not remove the party atmosphere.

The tour is guided in English, French, German, Italian, and Polish. That makes it easier for mixed-language groups to follow the announcements and activities.

Practical advice for a smoother day

Wear your swimwear under your clothes and bring a towel. The stops come quickly, and changing can waste much of your swimming time.

Arrive early if seating matters to you. The boat can be busy, and the best seats may go quickly. Choose shade if you burn easily, or a cushioned sun deck if your priority is lying out between stops.

Keep your phone or camera ready for Platy, Vathy, and the dolphin-watching section. You can also purchase professional photographs for about €5 per print, with no pressure to buy.

Finally, keep the schedule flexible. The advertised route includes sightseeing cruises of 20 to 40 minutes, short island stops, and a surprise location. The day works best when you treat it as a moving island party with swimming breaks, not as a precise historical tour.

Should you book Captain Morgan?

Book this cruise if you want maximum variety for a low price and like the idea of a large, lively boat. The new vessel, included barbecue, clear swimming stops, and friendly entertainment give you a lot for seven hours.

Skip it if your ideal day means quiet water, small groups, or long, unhurried time in one port. Captain Morgan is at its best when you join the music, use the swimming stops, and accept that the boat may be full.

For most visitors looking for an easy island day from Kos, the value is convincing. Just board with the right expectation: this is a social party cruise with island scenery, not a silent sailing escape.

FAQ

How long is the Captain Morgan cruise?

The cruise lasts seven hours, including sightseeing cruises, island stops, swimming time, and the return to Kos.

Where does the cruise depart?

It departs from Kos Cruise Experts. Look for the pirate ship named Captain Morgan.

Which islands does the cruise visit?

The planned stops include Pserimos, Vathy Port at Rina on Kalymnos, and Platy. The day also includes a surprise stop.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Greek barbecue lunch is included in the activity price.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included, but the vessel has a bar where you can purchase refreshments and cocktails.

What languages are available during the cruise?

The live tour guide service is available in English, French, German, Italian, and Polish.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear. A towel is also practical for the swimming stops and for returning to your seat afterward.