Barbarossa Sailing
Barbarossa Sailing
5
Full view
About
5 hours (daytime or sunset) - or full day - sailing tours around the Caldera. Book a private or semi-private tour and Sail with us like true pirates do!!
Oia, South Aegean, Greece
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2022
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Barbarossa Sailing
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
628 reviews
Excellent
620
Very good
5
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Karyn H
Brandon, FL44 contributions
Jul 2022
Booking this was a fabulous decision. I started communicating with Captain Mario via email. He responded so quickly I immediately wanted to go with him and look no further. I recommend you do the same. I asked about 10 questions and he kept responding quickly and politely. This meant so much since I am a female traveling with just my 83 year old mom and 20 year old daughter. I felt at ease and he simplified and streamlined it all. (His rate was $125 per person for the 5 hour cruise, lunch, drinks and the transfer, all during peak season.) He picks you up and has you transferred to Ammoudi Bay in Oia. It would have been about a 35 minute walk from our villa but he included the car transfer to and from a parking area near our villa, which shortened our walk to only 5 minutes. I asked if we should do daytime or sunset cruise and he recommended daytime. I trusted him which I am glad I did. We are from Florida, so for us it would have been too cold to swim on the sunset cruise even in July. (The waters here are much colder then Florida and the wind makes it very cold when you get out.) He does provide jackets if you need them. I brought my own towels but he probably provides that too. We were greeted with plates of fresh fruit and our beverage of choice (beer and wine are included in the price). We had a family of 4 on the boat with us and we all hit it off within minutes of leaving the dock. I give Mario credit for that too as he makes everybody so relaxed and at ease. His son Jason and a wonderful girl named Alex were on board and helped serve and explain sights and history. At the hot springs swim spot, Mario and the crew prepared lunch which was DELICIOUS. It was prepared and ready when we came out of the hot springs. I believe it tasted fresher and was more authentic then anything we ate in Oia at a restaurant. For those of you who may wonder, yes there is a bathroom on board and it is clean with nice lavender soap. LOL! If you want peace and tranquility Mario will give you that. If you want some excitement he will make sure to provide the best swimming spots and photo ops. If you want history and conversation, he is knowledgeable and will give you great history lessons and background of the area. If you want a tale he can spin a story and make you laugh. My 20 year old said it was the best thing we have done the entire week we have been in Greece from Athens, to Naxos to Santorini. That sentence alone should be my review. Enjoy!
Written July 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Melanie K
2 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
After researching boat excursions in Oia, we settled on Barbarossa. I’m so glad we did! There were a total of 6 guests on the boat for a 4-5 hr trip around the caldera. This small intimate experience was so different than going on a huge catamaran with 50-100 of your closest friends! Captain Mario and firstmate Zoe were amazing. We went on the daytime trip not the sunset cruise. We were able to get out of the boat and snorkel and swim in the hot springs.
We dined on a fabulous lunch made onboard. It was like being invited to someone’s home for dinner. The food was Greek specialties and delicious.
I can’t recommend this experience highly enough
We dined on a fabulous lunch made onboard. It was like being invited to someone’s home for dinner. The food was Greek specialties and delicious.
I can’t recommend this experience highly enough
Written October 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Coco
Singapore, Singapore1 contribution
Jul 2022 • Friends
What makes this sailing special among all the others is the personalities of Captain Mario. He is a natural storyteller and entertainer, told us interesting stories about the region, Ancient Greek mythologies and philosophies among the way. He and his crew Alex looked after us really well, very skilled at navigating the mood of the sea, and the food was delicious too, specially Capt Mario’s secret receipt of shrimps saganaki. We had a great time onboard Barbarossa Sailing! Would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a more intimate and personal boat tour out to the Aegean sea.
Written July 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
rainbowmandy
Queenstown, New Zealand136 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
Like many other reviewers before us we can’t fault this and loved the trip.
Sadly we didn’t have Mario as our captain but Alex and Josh were great. Maybe not as charismatic in their storytelling but still great hosts.
The things we loved the most:
Small sail boat that has max 10 guests. We were 7 guests.
Three swim spots with no other boats around. They pick a great spot for the hot springs and we pretty much watched a massive boat depart as we pulled in giving us the area to ourselves. However the sulfur really does change you light colored suits :( Sunset cruises just get two swim stops.
Snorkeling gear was provided and some fish were seen but this isn’t a snorkeling trip so that’s a bonus.
The food was great. We are pescatarian and the meal was a seafood sauce with pasta. Plenty of it for everyone and plenty of drinks.
Transport from out accom in Fira was provided.
We didn’t want a €40 trip with heaps of people and couldn’t figure out what was so special about the other more expensive trips options from other companies that ranged from €120-€180- it seems the price went up when we told them we don’t eat meat… so in the end we thought the value for this trip was fantastic.
Note:
No towels provided and when we realized we forgot our sunscreen there was none as emergency on board the boat. Thankfully the other guests gave us some.
Sadly we didn’t have Mario as our captain but Alex and Josh were great. Maybe not as charismatic in their storytelling but still great hosts.
The things we loved the most:
Small sail boat that has max 10 guests. We were 7 guests.
Three swim spots with no other boats around. They pick a great spot for the hot springs and we pretty much watched a massive boat depart as we pulled in giving us the area to ourselves. However the sulfur really does change you light colored suits :( Sunset cruises just get two swim stops.
Snorkeling gear was provided and some fish were seen but this isn’t a snorkeling trip so that’s a bonus.
The food was great. We are pescatarian and the meal was a seafood sauce with pasta. Plenty of it for everyone and plenty of drinks.
Transport from out accom in Fira was provided.
We didn’t want a €40 trip with heaps of people and couldn’t figure out what was so special about the other more expensive trips options from other companies that ranged from €120-€180- it seems the price went up when we told them we don’t eat meat… so in the end we thought the value for this trip was fantastic.
Note:
No towels provided and when we realized we forgot our sunscreen there was none as emergency on board the boat. Thankfully the other guests gave us some.
Written August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jennifer F
3 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
Electra and Mario were an amazing tag team. Fun, friendly, insightful. Mario sailed while Electra gave us the history and stories of everything we were passing by. Very interesting stories that I won't spoil, but highly encourage you to take a tour and check it out for yourself!
We made a couple stops where we were able to jump into the sea and swim around, look at the fish, and explore the hot springs. They provided towels, noodle floaties, goggles, bottomless drinks, and a hearty Greek meal. The last stop is where we stopped the longest to eat dinner and watch the sunset. We've seen so many beautiful Greece sunsets already, but watching it on the water was a heightened experience. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to join this tour! And we only had 8 passengers so it was quite intimate and gave us a lot of time to chat/learn even more.
We made a couple stops where we were able to jump into the sea and swim around, look at the fish, and explore the hot springs. They provided towels, noodle floaties, goggles, bottomless drinks, and a hearty Greek meal. The last stop is where we stopped the longest to eat dinner and watch the sunset. We've seen so many beautiful Greece sunsets already, but watching it on the water was a heightened experience. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to join this tour! And we only had 8 passengers so it was quite intimate and gave us a lot of time to chat/learn even more.
Written September 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Charla
Bordeaux, France7 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
My family and I had such an amazing experience with Barbarossa.
First we were welcomed by a wonderful couple, super gentle and respectful of our privacy, happy to help and to teach us the amazing history of Santorini.
Then the tour was very nice. We left from OIA and go down Thira and to the hot water sources. The sunset was beautiful from the boat (we booked the tour from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Finally, we enjoyed a very typical and delicious homemade dinner.
It was such a good experience and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn a bit about Santorini history while enjoying the amazing view.
First we were welcomed by a wonderful couple, super gentle and respectful of our privacy, happy to help and to teach us the amazing history of Santorini.
Then the tour was very nice. We left from OIA and go down Thira and to the hot water sources. The sunset was beautiful from the boat (we booked the tour from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Finally, we enjoyed a very typical and delicious homemade dinner.
It was such a good experience and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn a bit about Santorini history while enjoying the amazing view.
Written June 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rachel
Canada1 contribution
Aug 2021 • Family
My first time writing a review and I had to share this amazing experience with Barbarossa Sailing team- Elektra and Mario are amazing! Great communication from the start; especially during this time with many uncertainties due to Covid, everything went so smoothly. It was a trip with my mom and sister, and we had such an amazing time. They warmly welcomed us on board, then we were stopped at couple of swimming spots including hot springs. We never swim in open water, and Elektra helped and prepared us in a best way to make the unforgettable experience. She is not only kind but also very knowledgeable. We already recommended to one of our friend who is visiting next month, and we highly recommend to anyone who is visiting Santorini. This was the best day of our trip! Thanks again for everything :)
Written August 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Nicky
Exeter, UK3 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
We have just returned from an amazing day sailing trip, George and Alex looked after us all so well. Alex gave us lots of information about Santorini, the history and the Volcano but we had time to relax and take in the beautiful surroundings too.
I would definitely recommend this trip if you are considering a sailing trip, there was one couple on board with the 5 of us so plenty of room for us all to lay on top of the boat. We saw other boats that were so packed full of people and we were so pleased we had picked Barbarossa
I would definitely recommend this trip if you are considering a sailing trip, there was one couple on board with the 5 of us so plenty of room for us all to lay on top of the boat. We saw other boats that were so packed full of people and we were so pleased we had picked Barbarossa
Written August 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Yaryna
2 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
Everything about the boat trip with Barbarossa Sailing was perfect. We got the best views of the caldera and the islands, learned a lot about the history of Santorini, took a swim in the hot springs, had an amazing home cooked dinner and enjoyed the majestic sunset.
It’s obvious that Mario and Electra really love what they do and they made us feel so welcome, it felt like we were visiting good friends. They did everything to make sure that we had an amazing time - and we did! I cannot recommend them enough!
It’s obvious that Mario and Electra really love what they do and they made us feel so welcome, it felt like we were visiting good friends. They did everything to make sure that we had an amazing time - and we did! I cannot recommend them enough!
Written June 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Marc
Santiago, Chile2 contributions
Jun 2021
On Thursday night we called our host / skipper Elektra, to see if they had any availability. After talking with her for a bit, we decided not to go with the sunset tour, but with the day tour: it is a much calmer tour, and to be honest, we can get the sunset just as beautiful from the cliff. We could come aboard the next morning.
It was a beautiful, very relaxed day in a small group - just what we wanted, as it is hard to stay away from the louder tourists on this beautiful island. A day sailing around the caldera, with plenty of time to swim, snorkel, get some good pictures and have a great time at the different stops.
Everything was arranged: pick up and drop off at a convenient spot, amazing (local variety) wine, home made salads & family recipe seafood stew for lunch, comfy mattresses for lying in the sun, ... What a day!
It was a beautiful, very relaxed day in a small group - just what we wanted, as it is hard to stay away from the louder tourists on this beautiful island. A day sailing around the caldera, with plenty of time to swim, snorkel, get some good pictures and have a great time at the different stops.
Everything was arranged: pick up and drop off at a convenient spot, amazing (local variety) wine, home made salads & family recipe seafood stew for lunch, comfy mattresses for lying in the sun, ... What a day!
Written June 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
lynda
Long Beach, NY
Hello! Staying in Oia in June 2023….can I walk to the dock where u cruise from? Also; please confirm max passengers since I prefer small crowds..lol…thank you!
Karyn H
Brandon, FL44 contributions
Yes, you can BUT, it is a narrow treacherous road down to the Bay. Captain Mario will have somebody pick you up coming and going. I just tipped the driver a few euors as the ride itself was included and paid for by Barbarossa. My daughter and I are both fit and have no problem walking everywhere in the Florida heat. When Captain Mario sent somebody to pick me up and told me it was part of the package, I accepted it, and was very glad I did. The whole drive down to the bay was packed with vehicles on a narrow winding mountain road. It was hot and the pitch going down was steep. Look it up using Google map layers and you will see the terrain.
For crowd size: I THINK it was 10. We only had 6 on our boat (a family of 4 and my daughter and I), but I think the other boat with Barbarossa had 10.
I truly cannot begin to describe to you how beautiful, peaceful, tranquil and wonderful it was. We had such a blast with the other family, and it seemed like we were almost meant to be on that boat with them. We want to get back to Greece, and if I do, I am going to try and hire Mario to take us on a longer cruise. It was fabulous and he is the coolest guy. Enjoy! I am jealous.
Teresa D
Broadstairs, UK48 contributions
How many passengers on the boat and cost please. We don't like crowds. Thank you
barbarossa s
Oia, Greece1 contribution
Ahoy there. Maximun 8 people and the price is ( due to Covid) 100 euro per person
Explorer636290
3 contributions
Hello - Do you take payment by credit card? Looking forward to our cruise. Thank you!
Eleni
2 contributions
Yes they do
Cody G
Essex, UK32 contributions
Hi, Do you have any availability on July 18th? 2 people, not sure what the prices are for the different tours. Do you have a website? Thank you! Heard so many amazing reviews!
barbarossa s
Athens, Attiki, Greece
The website is on the searching machines with the same name. (We can't send link here)
How do we book? What are the prices ?
Carriej61
Lakeville, MN15 contributions
I contacted him using the gmail account listed on the website. I had trouble trying to book using the website, so thru gmail is how I got confirmation.
stacimills2018
Orinda, CA
Hi! I'm interested in booking 2 people for your semiprivate sunset sail. Do you have availability on Sunday, June 24? If not when would your next opening be? How should I contact you? Thanks! Staci
barbarossa s
Oia, Greece1 contribution
U can found the website searching with this name... There u will found info.... Bu the way... We are available
Elizabeth N
New York City, NY
Hello. Do you have availability for a party of 6 adults on August 28th or 29th? We would like to do the sunset cruise. Is there an email that I can use to contact you directly?
barbarossa s
Athens, Attiki, Greece
We can't send you mail address here anymore. +306982005126 text whatsup
Elizabeth N
New York City, NY
Hello. Do you have availability for a party of 6 adults on August 28th or 29th? We would like to do the sunset cruise. Is there an email that I can use to contact you directly?
barbarossa s
Athens, Attiki, Greece
We r available. Use the +306982005126 whatsup
Dear team,
I was wondering whether your team is available for two people 6th July (daytime trip)? I cross my fingers that we're not too late. Thank you so much in advance!
Julie
barbarossa s
Athens, Attiki, Greece
Hi there!!!
We r available for the 6th July for daytime tour... You
can text on 00306987030668 to a range it if you wabt
