Kefalonia / The verdict
Is a Kefalonia boat trip worth it?
Yes. The Ithaca day cruise is the island's signature boat day at about EUR 50 from Sami, and the alternatives run a full ladder: a EUR 36 southern version from Skala and Poros, the Queen Bee coastal cruise out of Argostoli, Myrtos-bay water-taxi circuits, and license-free self-drive hires from EUR 50 a day.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team.
The Kefalonia story
Kefalonia is the Ionian's biggest island and its most scenic: Myrtos Beach under white cliffs, pastel Fiskardo, the Melissani cave lake, and Mount Ainos rising black-fir forested over the sea. It delivers postcard Greece at a slower tempo than Santorini or Mykonos, with harbour villages like Assos under its castle and the ferry hop to Ithaca, Odysseus's island.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Go
Yes. The Ithaca day cruise is the island's signature boat day at about EUR 50 from Sami, and the alternatives run a full ladder: a EUR 36 southern version from Skala and Poros, the Queen Bee coastal cruise out of Argostoli, Myrtos-bay water-taxi circuits, and license-free self-drive hires from EUR 50 a day.
Go if
- You want the classic Greek-island day: a big boat, swim stops, a pretty port and lunch ashore
- Car-free travelers; the cruise packages island-hopping logistics you cannot do yourself
- Families and mixed groups; the big boats are easy on kids and non-sailors
- Confident crews who would rather captain a 30hp boat for the day
Skip if
- You get seasick on open water; the Ithaca crossing is a real sea voyage rather than a lagoon lap
- Your budget only stretches to one paid activity and the caves or car hire win
- You want west-coast beaches on a windy week; exposed runs get cancelled
- You dislike organized group days; pick a water taxi or self-drive hire instead
What it costs
- Ithaca day cruise from Sami, adult (Sami Star II): €50 (children EUR 30; departs about 09:00, returns late afternoon). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Ithaca day cruise from Sami, adult (Kefalonia Tours): €50 (children EUR 30; same route and price at the second Sami operator). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Ithaca cruise from Skala and Poros, adult (Captain Vangelis): €36 (children EUR 20; departs 09:00, returns about 16:30, runs Wednesday and Sunday). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Queen Bee day cruise from Argostoli, adult: €60 (children EUR 35; departs 09:00, returns 17:00; sunset cruise EUR 45). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Fteri water taxi, Zola to Fteri beach return: €20 (the operator's Myrtos-bay day trip is EUR 80 per adult). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Self-drive boat hire at Fiscardo, day: €50 (from EUR 50 for the smallest no-license boats up to about EUR 240 for the largest, fuel extra). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Private sailing day cruise, up to 10 people: €750 (6 hours from Argostoli; 9-hour private cruise EUR 1,000, sunset half day EUR 500). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 12 traveler reports (Nov 2024 to Jul 2026) and the official sources linked on this page. 0 were negative.
What people like
- The Ithaca day cruise is repeatedly called the trip's best excursion: swim stops, Vathy free time and a real crossing for EUR 50.
- Self-drive boat hire gets 'best day of the trip' billing in several reports, with secret-beach anchoring the payoff.
- The water-taxi circuit reaches beaches that no road serves, including Fteri and the Myrtos-bay coves.
- Three departure bases (Sami, Skala/Poros, Argostoli) cover the island's resort zones without cross-island drives.
What people complain about
- The Ithaca crossing is a genuine sea voyage; rough afternoons test weak stomachs.
- Peak-season sailings fill and the best deck seats go early.
- Self-drive fuel is extra and can add a third to the day's bill.
- Exposed west-coast runs get cancelled or rescheduled in wind, wrecking tight itineraries.
How to do it right
- Pick your product first: the Ithaca day cruise is a sightseeing voyage, the Myrtos-bay circuit is beach access, and a self-drive hire is DIY; reports warn the value collapses when you buy one expecting another.
- For the Ithaca day cruise, depart from Sami (about EUR 50) or from Skala and Poros in the south (about EUR 36); both land you in Vathy with swim stops on the way.
- Book a day or two ahead in July and August; the Sami sailings fill, and reports advise arriving early for a top-deck seat.
- For the Myrtos-bay circuit, the Fteri water taxi runs out of Zola harbor; the full 6-hour trip is EUR 80 and a simple beach shuttle is EUR 20 return.
- For self-drive hire, boats under 30hp need no license; Fiscardo and Sami have the fleets, and fuel is charged on return.
- Check the wind before any exposed-west-coast run; reports describe cancelled Fteri and Myrtos crossings on breezy days.
The trap to avoid
Assuming 'the boat trip' is one product. The Ithaca cruise is a sightseeing crossing with village time, the coastal circuit is a beach shuttle, and self-drive hire is DIY; travelers who book the Ithaca run expecting a lazy swim day, or a water taxi expecting a tour, report disappointment. Match the product to the goal.
What to do instead
Why this verdict
The Ithaca day cruise is the island’s signature excursion, and reports consistently call it the best excursion of the trip. From Sami, both operators price it at EUR 50 per adult for a roughly 09:00 to late-afternoon sail that lands you in Vathy with boat-only swim stops en route; the southern version out of Skala and Poros runs EUR 36 on Wednesdays and Sundays. Either way it solves the island-hopping logistics that are fiddly to DIY, which is why car-free travelers rate it so high.
The catch is that ‘boat trip’ covers three different products, and reports warn the value collapses when you buy the wrong one. The Ithaca run is a sightseeing voyage with village time. The coastal circuits, like the Fteri water taxi out of Zola, exist to reach beaches no road serves, at EUR 20 for a beach drop or EUR 80 for the six-hour Myrtos-bay run. And self-drive hire, boats under 30hp needing no license, is the DIY answer that several reports call their best day; Fiscardo operators publish EUR 50 to EUR 240 by size, fuel extra.
The objections are real too. The Ithaca crossing is a real sea voyage rather than a lagoon lap, peak sailings fill, west-coast runs cancel in wind, and organized group days are not for everyone. For most visitors with three or more days on the island, though, a boat day is the excursion that pays back best; pick the product to match the goal and it earns it.
Timing and tickets
Book July and August sailings a day or two ahead and board early for the top deck. Check the wind before any exposed-west-coast run and keep a flex day around a booked cruise. For self-drive hire, expect the fuel bill on top, and take the operator’s safety briefing before casting off.
Book or check times
Sami Star II: Ithaca day cruise (operator)Kefalonia Tours: Ithaca cruise (operator)Captain Vangelis: Ithaca cruise from Skala (operator)Queen Bee day cruises from Argostoli (operator)Fteri water taxi: Myrtos-bay trips (operator)Fiscardo boat rental: Regina's Boats (operator)
Where to stay
Staying in Kefalonia?
Which area of Kefalonia to stay in, based on traveler reports. Search Kefalonia hotels on Expedia partner site
Questions
How much is the Ithaca cruise from Kefalonia?
From Sami, both operators price adults at EUR 50 and children at EUR 30 for the full-day cruise. From Skala and Poros in the south, the adult fare is EUR 36 (children EUR 20). All figures are the operators' published 2026 prices.
Where do the Ithaca cruises leave from?
The main departures are Sami (roughly 09:00, back late afternoon) and Skala/Poros in the south (09:00, back about 16:30, Wednesday and Sunday). A separate Argostoli option sails the island's own coast rather than Ithaca.
Can I rent a boat in Kefalonia without a license?
Yes; boats up to 30hp need no license under Greek rules. Fiscardo operators publish day rates from about EUR 50 to EUR 240 by size, fuel extra, and reports call the self-drive day a trip highlight.
What is the Fteri water taxi?
A boat transfer and day-trip service from Zola harbor into the Myrtos-bay beaches that roads do not reach: EUR 20 return for a beach drop, or EUR 80 for the 6-hour multi-stop circuit.
Do the big cruises get cancelled in wind?
Occasionally; reports describe operators shifting the swim stops or rescheduling when the west coast gets rough. Keep a flex day around a booked cruise if the forecast looks marginal.
Is a private charter worth it?
For groups it can be: an operator's 6-hour private sail for up to 10 starts at EUR 750, which split eight ways approaches cruise pricing with a private boat and custom stops.
Pack for it
Gear verdicts from our sister site, Real Buyer Experiences: