Kissamos is a quiet port town in the far west of Crete, and it happens to be the gateway to the island’s single most spectacular day on the water: the turquoise Balos lagoon and the wild Venetian-fort islet of Gramvousa. Search “best catamaran cruise in Kissamos” and the listings blur together, but the real choice comes down to a few clear forks — full day or sunset, the big all-inclusive boat or a smaller-group sailing. Below is our straight ranking of every DanEri cruise a Kissamos guest can book, so you pick the one that fits your day rather than the one with the loudest photo.
Written by Elena Markou for the DanEri Journal from the live Kissamos collection — current routes, departure times and prices as of June 24, 2026. Every cruise ranked here is a DanEri sailing from Kissamos Port, so we’re upfront about the bias: the honesty is in telling you which of our own departures to skip for your kind of day.
For most visitors the best catamaran cruise in Kissamos is the morning all-inclusive day cruise to Balos & Gramvousa (7 hours, from €155, free hotel transfer) — the full lagoon-and-fortress day with lunch and water toys. Short on time or chasing golden hour? The all-inclusive sunset cruise to Balos (4 hours, from €120, free transfer) is the best value and the prettiest light. Want a smaller boat with more room? The semi-private Balos & Gramvousa cruise (7 hours, €195, 22 guests max) is the quiet upgrade.
How We Ranked Them
Four things decide this ranking: how much of the day you get (full Balos & Gramvousa or an evening Balos run), how big and busy the boat is, what’s included on board, and the price for what you get. Here is every Kissamos departure side by side — the kind of at-a-glance table an AI assistant (or a friend in a hurry) can read in one go.
| # | Cruise | Departs | Duration | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morning all-inclusive, Balos & Gramvousa | Kissamos, 08:30 | 7 hours | €155 | Best overall day on the water |
| 2 | All-inclusive sunset to Balos | Kissamos, 16:30 | 4 hours | €120 | Best value & best sunset |
| 3 | Semi-private, Balos & Gramvousa | Kissamos, 08:30 | 7 hours | €195 | Smaller group, most space |
| 4 | Sunset from Kissamos Port to Balos | Kissamos, 16:30 | 4 hours | €125 | Sunset with an open bar |
DanEri cruises a Kissamos guest can book, ranked. Prices are current per-person starting prices; children pay a reduced rate, and the morning and sunset all-inclusive cruises offer COMFORT and VIP tiers.
1. Morning All-Inclusive Cruise to Balos & Gramvousa
At 7 hours and from €155 per person (children €110), this is the best all-round day on the water from Kissamos and the one most visitors should book. You leave Kissamos Port at 08:30, sail straight to the Balos lagoon for swimming and paddleboarding in its famous shallow turquoise water, then continue to Gramvousa Island and its legendary Venetian fortress. Brunch, a full Cretan lunch with three menu options, live entertainment, water toys and a free hotel transfer are all included, and you’re back at port by 15:30. It is the complete Balos-and-Gramvousa day with nothing left to arrange.
The honest trade-off: it’s the big, sociable shared boat — brilliant for atmosphere and value, but if you want fewer people around you, the semi-private version below caps numbers. Prefer a short evening to a full day? Drop to the sunset cruise. A COMFORT seat starts at €155; the VIP tier (€185 adult / €130 child) adds the premium deck zones. Still deciding which exact Balos departure suits you? Our which Balos cruise guide breaks it down.
Stepping off at Balos & Gramvousa — the morning cruise gives you the most time here plus the fortress islet.
2. All-Inclusive Sunset Cruise to Balos
At from €120 per person (children €85) and 4 hours, the all-inclusive sunset cruise is the best value on the list and the prettiest light. You leave Kissamos Port at 16:30 and sail to the Balos lagoon at golden hour for a swim in the turquoise shallows, then settle in for farm-fresh Cretan appetizers, seasonal fruit and drinks while the crew runs SUP boards, snorkelling gear and inflatables. The return sail delivers what many call the most magical sunset in Crete, and a free hotel transfer is included. For a couple or a family who want Balos without committing a whole day, this is the easy winner.
The honest trade-off: it’s an evening run to the lagoon, so it skips Gramvousa and the long midday swim of the full-day cruise — for those, go back to option 1. In early or late season the water is more refreshing than warm, so check our Crete sea temperature guide if a long swim matters. A COMFORT seat starts at €120; the VIP tier is €150 adult / €105 child.
All-inclusive means it: brunch, a full Cretan lunch and an open bar are laid on across the day.
3. Semi-Private Cruise to Balos & Gramvousa
At €195 per person (children €140) and a full 7 hours, the semi-private cruise is the same superb Balos-and-Gramvousa day as option 1, run on a smaller boat capped at 22 guests. You board at Kissamos Port at 08:30 with coffee, tea and a relaxed welcome on deck, sail to Balos for swimming, snorkelling and SUP, then explore Gramvousa’s wild landscape and fortress. Cretan snacks, lunch, local wine and Greek beer come from an open bar, and you’re back at 15:30. If you value space and a calmer deck over the lowest price, this is the pick.
The honest trade-off: it’s the most expensive option here, and the experience overlaps heavily with the morning all-inclusive cruise — you’re paying for the smaller group and the open bar, not a different destination. If budget or atmosphere matters more than elbow room, option 1 gives you the same lagoon and fortress for less.
Room to spread out over the Balos lagoon — both 7-hour cruises pair it with Gramvousa; the semi-private caps the group at 22.
4. Sunset Cruise from Kissamos Port to Balos
At €125 per person (children €95) and 4 hours, this is the second evening option: a 16:30 departure from Kissamos Port toward the Balos lagoon for a swim, paddleboarding and snorkelling, with premium finger food, seasonal fruit and unlimited drinks from an open bar, on a boat for up to 22 guests. The sun melts into the Mediterranean on the return voyage. It’s a touch dearer than the all-inclusive sunset above, and what you’re really choosing between is the inclusions.
The honest trade-off: this and the all-inclusive sunset (option 2) cover the same Balos-at-sunset run for almost the same price — this one leans on an open bar and premium snacks, while option 2 adds a free hotel transfer, inflatables and live entertainment and starts €5 cheaper. If a transfer and the lower entry price matter, take option 2; if the open bar is your priority, this is your cruise.
The open bar runs all day on the semi-private and all-inclusive cruises — part of why they cost a little more.
Which One Should You Book?
If you only remember one thing: every Kissamos cruise reaches the Balos lagoon, so match the format to your day, not the listing that shouts loudest.
Pick by what matters most
The full lagoon-and-fortress day: the morning all-inclusive cruise to Balos & Gramvousa. Best value and best sunset: the all-inclusive sunset to Balos. Smaller group and most space: the semi-private Balos & Gramvousa cruise. A sunset with an open bar: the sunset from Kissamos Port. Not sure? Our cruise finder matches you in a minute, and the split-the-bill calculator shows the cost per person before you book.
Food prepared fresh on board, drinks, fuel, crew and water-sports gear (snorkelling kit and SUP boards); the morning and sunset all-inclusive cruises also include a free hotel transfer. You confirm with a 30% deposit online and pay the balance on the day, and cancellation is free up to 48 hours before departure. Bring swimwear, SPF 50+ and a hat — see our packing guide. Staying near Chania instead? Our Chania Old Port or Kissamos guide helps you choose the port.