Very disappointed!!!
It was my first time when I decided to book yacht cruise to celebrate my birthday with my family and friends.
I chose LAZORS as they have only 5* review, but unfortunately wasn't as stated in the description.
The crew didn't say anything about where we are going and no information was given about the places, which we passed or when we stopped. We have to asked the crew where is the wreck of the German aircraft because we would like to undertake snorkeling tour as it said in description.
They took us to that place and they said to us: " You can go to do snorkeling but is your responsibility because this activity is prohibited".
They also told us if the water guards will come we need to tell them that it's our equipment and the yacht crew have nothing to do with it.
They didn't explain or show us how to use the snorkeling equipment as no one has any experience with it before.
My husband and I came to Crete for our honeymoon and this boat tour was one of the highlights of the trip. We hiked to the top of a small island with remains of an old castle without any other tourists present. The views were spectacular. We then continued onto the famous Balos beach, which is extremely difficult to access without a boat. They prepared us a large lunch with Italian flare that was delicious that we couldn’t nearly finish. The boat crew appropriately planned our times to access the castle and beach before the giant ferry with over 1000 people arrived, which we were very thankful for! This boat tour is really the only way to explore popular tourist sites without all the tourists. The boat itself was beautiful and looks just like the photos. The only downside is in October the weather can be rather overcast but we did have some moments of sunshine and regardless it was an amazing experience.
We were a party of 6 and we went yesterday 10am until 12. Mike and Demetri were informative and helpful.When we stopped to snorkel a couple of us me included were anxious to say the least, they were patient and when I finally relaxed after Demetri the captain assisted me to relax with the snorkelling equipment and I realised I could breathe with the snorkell I have to say it was brilliant the fish and water is unbelievably clear. Thoroughly enjoyed myself thank you so much guys. All 6 of us got off the boat smiling and happy and it is all I can talk about since. x thank you Dawn, Amie, Stacey, Ashley, Emily and David zxx
There were 6 adults on this trip. We had the boat for 90 minutes, we wished we had the two hour trip in the end, we enjoyed it so much. We left the harbour at a nice, exciting speed to go to the nearby island. The guys on the boat were informative, helpful and extremely knowledgeable about the nature on the island. We then moved on to the snorkelling adventure, again the guy in charge was informative and a fabulous teacher, putting the more worried of us in the group completely at ease, we all did it and looking at the fish was amazing. Do the trip, however young or old you are, you will love every minute of it.
This was a fantastic trip and we are so glad we booked it for our first morning in Chania. We were fortunate enough to have a boat all to ourselves (plus our captain and diving guide). The water was choppy on the day of our trip, but the captain was super attentive to make sure we weren't feeling seasick at any point during our journey. While we were out on the beautiful water, we got an overview of the town, Crete, and the surrounding islands from our guide. He was really knowledgeable and spoke excellent English; we fired off plenty of questions and he always had an answer to share with us. We really enjoyed learning while we sailed. We checked out a nearby island and spotted gri gris on the cliff (so cool!) and then checked out a few small grottoes before heading to a quiet spot with calm waters for diving. They had great equipment for us and they showed us how to use everything before we began, and then they checked on us to make sure we were safe and comfortable the whole time we were in the water. The dive lasted a while (maybe 30-45 minutes?) and then we got to see underwater plane wreckage from WWII, which was very cool.We highly recommend this trip! Book it immediately! Side note: payment is required on the day of the journey and they can only accept cash.
From the moment we spoke with Maria on the Sea Tour stand in town we knew it was the right trip for us. We have 2 young girls and wanted to see a little bit of the island without too much hassle so we opted for the private minibus tour.We were collected from our hotel by Lazaros who immediately made us a feel comfortable and got us settled in the van. We headed to Elafonisi beach and the whole journey Lazaros pointed out places of interest and td us about villages we drove through and lots of knowledge about the island. We arrived before the crazy really started at the beach and found nice beds in a quieter part right at the front so we could keep any eye on the girls. We were provided with a SUP board, body board, rubber ring and snorkel equipment to use which was amazing.....the kids loved it! Elafonisis beach is truly beautiful but if you dont get there early dont bother.....by the time we were leaving at 1:30 the placed was packed solid and traffic was starting to build. We left the beach and stopped at a monastery for the views, then headed to a local village restaurant with a view of the mountain. On the way back we stopped at a spot that looked as if we were on the moon....Lazaros was a really nice guy with so much knowledge and someone who really loves what he does and appreciates where he lives. Maria was wonderful too, really helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you
Searching for boat trips in platanias, where the SeaKing has the biggest space, we found a small stand with brochures from SeaStarChania. This led us to the website of this company. We saw that they arrangent private tours both on boat and with a small Van.We booked the Van tour to Elafonissi, and was contacted the same evening by Lazaros, advicing us to be there as early as possible, as the beach would be filled with tourists around noon when all the big busses arrived.So we spent morning snorkling, even saw a Lion Fish. All the equipment was freely with the booked tour. So we had snorkling equipment and SUP and a big bathing ring.On the way back Lazaros showed us some of the older parts of Crete and talked alot about the history. We were really taken by his generousity to help us have a good time, that we booked him once more, where we asked him to arrange a good snorkling place. So he took us to a very nice small cove with nice clear water and eventhough it was windy the water was very still. And only 5-10 other people than us.We spend a whole day snorkling there.I can only give Lazaros and his company the best recommandations from here.This is what you should do, unless you like the overcrowded boats and ferrys that the big companies sell. This is specifically for you and not all the other people :)
Αφεθηκαμε στους εξαιρετικούς Δημήτρη και Μάικ για την απογευματινή μας ξενάγηση στον περίπλου του νησιού θοδωρού στον κόλπο των Χανίων. Θαυμάσια ξενάγηση, πολύ επεξηγηματικη και ευχάριστη. Η παρέα μας είχε και μικρά παιδιά από τη Ρουμανία, και ακόμα και αυτά ο Μάικ τα βοήθησε να μπουν στο νερό και να χρησιμοποιήσουν με ασφάλεια τον εξοπλισμό για την παρατήρηση του βυθου και της θαλάσσιας ζωής. Μπράβο παιδιά, ευχαριστούμε
Fantastic tour, very professional crew on board and the snorkelling was fantastic. I was initially reluctant to snorkel but was encouraged and glad I did. Worth the money, fab boat!
Thanks for a great trip today! Highly recommended as a break from the beach/pool Very hospitable and professional crew! Forgot to take more pictures..to busy snorkling
We booked a private 2hr trip and had the best time. We were greeted warmly down at the harbour before we set off. Once aboard both Dimitris and Mike made us feel very welcome. They were both extremely knowledgeable, pointing out different caves and birds as we made our way around Theodorou Island. One of the great parts of the trip was when we got in the water. I am not overly keen on swimming in open water but thought I would give it a try as the water was so clear. I am so happy I did l, as both guys made me feel very relaxed and safe in the water. They were fantastic guides, constantly pointing out different wildlife and they were hugely knowledgeable about the island. My husband and I had an amazing trip and would definitely recommend this to anyone one coming to the Plantanias area.
Well worth the 25 euros for the 3 hour trip , people really friendly , got to see the rare goats an have a lovely swim in the sea all snorkel equipment provided , even got to see an octopus and sea cucumber and a bit of information on them , also stop off to see the plane under the water , worth going on this trip
We had a simply brilliant time being SO well looked after by Dimitri and George. Enthusiastic, friendly, brilliant English and as well as having fun being on board a speed boat, we learnt a few things too. Snorkelling spots we perfect for the children. All in all, in really couldnt have been better.Thank you all for such a great time and I hope you had a great season.
Had an amazing time today on the seastar rib boat we got to see some amazing views and go snorkeling and see some beautiful fish and learnt alot about the island from the seastar crew it has great history captain Dimitris and diver maik were absloutly amazing making sure everyone felt safe and was safe and enjoyed our trip which we certainly did even my 10year old went snorkeling and loved defently would 100%recommend this and the guys were amazing thank you very much
We booked SeaStar for our friends birthday and it was absolutely amazing. Could not have asked for anything better! The birthday girl had a great day and so did the rest of us. Would definitely recommend
A wonderful boat, an amazing trip, with the most experienced captain(Dimitris) and diver (George). We saw every single secret spot of the island Theodorou and learned the history of it.We also made a stop for snorkel, the diver swam with us, he showed us how underwater life is and explained us all about sea life. You can enjoy the trip, the swimming and feel safe at the same time on the most beautiful speed boat. I recommend it 100%.If you are going to visit Platanias go for it and you will not regret it.
Wonderful experience with great crew. The caption was very professional and Giorgios the skipper, treated us perfectly. We recommend this cruise to everyone who wants a high quality experience out in the cretan sea! /Gabriella
Im a huge fan of boat trips so I thought of going there and give it a try! As I arrived there I met Captain Dimitris who greeted me and helped me get into the boat in which his diver George was waiting. More people came and after a while the trip started from the small port of Platanias. We quickly arrived at Thodorou island and started moving around it slowly so we have the opportunity to admire the beautiful landscape as long as all the animals that live there. We saw the famous kri-kri (cretan goat species), cranes and falcons. The crew also showed us some of the many caves that exists in this island!!! We stopped somewhere around the island and they told us that we could dive and go for some snorkeling. I must say that I’ve never done anything like that before... Under the sea live amazing creatures and it was nice to be able to see them from such a close distance!!! The 1h I bought, passed quickly and unfortunately it was time for us to head back to the port. Next time Ill make sure I book the 2h trip!!! The whole experience and the people where amazing and I definitely recommend everyone to try it if they ever find themselves somewhere nearby!
We just had a trip yesterday with this company and I can 100% recommend them. Our Captain Adonis and his first mate Georgo where absolutely perfect. We were 6 girls and took a 6 hour private trip from Chania harbour and they took us to some beautiful spots for swimming and relaxing - they even put a bed out on the sea for us to play around and float on. A definite thumbs up and I would highly recommend.
Our family of 8 ( 2 teenagers, 4 adults in their 40s and 2 adults in their 70s ) booked a private boat trip at a cost of 130 euros for an hour and a half.Our guides Dimitris and George were friendly and informative from the moment we stepped foot on the boat. They also ensured everyone was safe at all times. We went around the island where our guides gave us information about the history of the island and also pointed out the Kri Kri goats. They then anchored the boat so that we could snorkel. I was very apprehensive about snorkelling but they put me at ease and persuaded me to give it a try, wow Im so glad i did the fish were amazing. Our guides were also very reassuring and helpful to get us to grips with snorkelling as non of us had done this before. They were also incredible with my 72 year old mother who didnt want to snorkel, they give her a ring to float on. They then moved the boat to another location so that we could snorkel and see a plane wreck.We had such an amazing experience that as soon as we arrived back at the shore we booked a 2 hour trip!!
We rented a privat tour and that was really nice ! Went from platanias and around the island and got to see kri kri goats , falcon and caves . The guys that was with us was nice and informative . The boat was also very nice :) 160€ for 2 hours , so thats not bad !
We are the family with 3 kids ages 6, 12 and 14 rented a boat to snorkel around Theodorou Island. We loved it a lot, captain Dimitris and his assistant gave us many interesting info about the island and provided snorkelling gear. Children had lots of fun! Very nice experience :)
Me and my girlfriend decided on seastar after reading on TripAdvisor. We went with the private 1,5 hour snorkeling tour for 130 euros (at the time). The captain and the guide joining us on the tour were super professional and always had a Smile and gave us an interesting and fun tour around the island. The boat was amazing, as well as the snorkeling. Saw lots of fish and the water and their spotWas crystal clear. We had the best time. I can’t recommend these guys enough, it was the highlight of our trip.
This is the place! We wanted to go snorkeling while in Crete. We found SeaStar based on Trip Advisor reviews, and boy did we get it right. Because we were a party of 6, with a variety of skill levels, we decided we wanted a private tour. Our 2-hour tour started right on time. The boat was clean and in ecellent shape. Demetrius and George were fabulous guides. They told us about the history and the wild life. Funny and personal, but safety was always the top priority. Everyones mask was checked before anyone could get in the water. There was always a spotter on the boat to make sure no one in our party strayed too far away. One person in our party didn't dive, and even she had a really good time. We saw lots of birds and even quite a few kri-kri. All of this, and it wasn't even that expensive. Well worth the money.
This was most definitely one of the highlights of our trip. Our crew was attentive and knowledgeable and really aimed to please. We were out with them for 6 hours and it wasnt nearly enough. A delicious lunch was served. We floated in turquoise waters! I highly recommend taking a tour with SeaStar!! I will post photos.
We booked a 2 hour rib private tour - we were 6 adults (ranging from thirties to almost 80 years old), and a 4 year old child. The staff recommended that we depart at 10:00AM, which turned out to be a great time.The boat was clean and comfortable,
You can’t leave Crete without taking this private tour of the beaches and coastline of Crete. The captain took us to all his favorite hidden spots where we felt we had our very own secluded beach. The crew was fun and helpful. The lunch was a wonderful and generous sampling of Cretan cuisine.
We took the 2 hour private snorkeling tour which we recommend. Nice, professional guides and just enough time to see what there is to see in your own tempo. The island animals, the plane wreck and some small fish. Really fun and relaxing!
I went on a 2 hour boat trip with my family of 7, which meant we got a private boat.We toured the island of theodorou and the guides were great at telling us about the islands history, and stopping to show us the wildlife.The diver was great, he attracted the fish with food, so we saw loads of fish gathering, one of the best snorkeling sights I've seen. He was also really good with people in the group who were nervous about deep water swimming and supported them well.Swimming to the sunken plane was a great experience, a unique touch the the tour.I would definitely recommend doing the longer tours so you can really enjoy each stop.
Went on 1 1/2 hour private snorkeling trip with Seastar to Theodoriu Island and it was much more than we could imagine! The boat was a superb powerboat,very clean and well maintained. The guys on the boat (skipper and Diver) were very professional and we got a lecture about the island. Would not have wanted to miss this tour. All snorkeling equipment on board is first class!
Amazing trip to Theodorou Island! Shallow waters and great snorkeling... we would like to thank you the Captain Lazaros and theDive master Yannis for taking care of everything and especially our dog, that has been treated like one of the family thank you very much for this wonderful trip.
This tour was very nice and despite only one hour window we experienced more and did more snorkling than on other tours around the island. They explained very nice the wildlife and the history of the island and due to only few persons pr tour ( we were 8) the guiding is more privat and directed. Boat is great, fast and stable.
My husband and I recently spent two weeks in Greece. During our time in Crete we did a lot and found ourselves constantly going-going-going. We wanted to truly relax on our last day in Crete and we booked a private yacht full-day trip and couldn't have more pleased with our experience. The water was a little rough and we were unable to complete the whole boating experience but we docked and my husband and I sunbathed, snorkeled and enjoyed some drinks on the boat. Lunch was a light meal of local pastries - both sweet and savory. The captain was extremely friendly and so was his mate. Cant recommend this experience more if youre looking to relax and just enjoy some fun in the sun.
Overall a really fun day out with our 3 children (19, 21, 22). A quick departure as we were a little late in arriving and then a high speed 35 knot blast to Gramvousa which was a lot of fun - thankfully the sea conditions were very calm! We were the only people there for a while as we undertook the climb to the old fortress (allow 20-25 mins climb each way) which provided amazing views from the top. Then a short hop across to the Balos lagoon to avoid the crowd of tourists now being disgorged from the big boat tour. Swam off the boat to the lagoon beach where envious day trippers watched our arrival! The lagoon is a wonderful sight although not really a place to snorkel as sandy and shallow. Then back to the boat for the high speed journey to the private beach at Menies bay. We dropped anchor in the bay and lunch was served. We expected a light lunch as advertised but we were served a very light and unimaginative platter of cheese pasties and croissants followed by mixed fruit. For the price we paid for the trip we really expected something a lot better. Not to be put off we then enjoyed some great snorkelling with good quality kit provided. Then back to Chania at full tilt with everyone enjoying the thrill. Overall we loved the trip but felt that the lunch was a let down.
We enjoyed six hours on this wonderful boat and I cannot fault the crew and the excellent service we received! It was almost like stepping into a rich mans world! We could go almost anywhere we wished and explore the beautiful small islands, swim and snorkel to our hearts content and sunbath and chat in luxurious comfort. A wonderful experience I will always remember.
Very nice trip with relaxed and professional guide and captain. Crystal clear waters. The Sea life is not like the Red Sea but it was definitely worth it!
Had an awesome trip! Was a lovely small group and thank you so much to Lazaros for not only giving us an awesome snorkel trip but also giving us so may ideas/tips of other things we could do whilst in Crete.
This was an amazing boat trip end of September - a wonderful day full of sunshine, great emotions, and new discoverings under and above the water.The boat was comfortable, the team was trustworthy and extremely friendly, and the whole experience unforgettable! There was always a helpful hand and answer to all our questions - thank you so much, Freddy !!! You are a superstar!
We contacted the people from SeaStar the day before we wanted to make the trip with them and they manage to organize everything really quickly. We took the Classic trip with snorkeling. We sailed around one Island (I dont remember the name) next to Platanias beach. They told us some history about the island and then we did snorkeling and they took water photos! It was amazing! I totally recommend the experience with Seasta
My family (middle-aged couple, two college-age kids) was delighted with our day on the Cigala Benvinetti. The boat itself is powerful, fast, and well-appointed. Guide Liza was terrific, from her astute snorkeling pointers to her knowledgeable explanations of seafloor and ancient ruins alike. Not cheap, but given the intensity and diversity of delights it was well worth it.
All was perfect We made a family day trip and it was great. We were two families with 4 children from 4 to 10 years and the children enjoy a lot the trip and snorkeling. Freddy who took care of us was great and made the day very pleasant and enjoyable. The boat was perfect.Thanks again Freddy.
We hired cigala-benvinetti speed boat for half a day with Top skipper Adonis and amazing guide Liza. The experience exceeded our expectations from the start. The quality of the boat was superb. Liza is so knowledgeable about everything from local history to marine biology. We are not all seasoned snorkelers and Liza took the time to explain everything with top tips and after 5 minutes with her calmness in the water with us we were totally relaxed and loving the snorkelling. As an experienced free diver she blew us away by spotting a year old octopus hiding in the rocks ca 15m down. She carefully caught him. Calmed him, like you would a little child, and presented him to us to touch before returning him all chilled back to a hole in the seabed.... Truly an amazing moment me Tom (12) Katie (9) and Emm (?) will NEVER forget. We snorkelled over a ww2 Junkers crashed aircraft before we dropped anchor in a lovely bay where we enjoyed a lovely plate of fresh fruit and fresh baked Cretan pies.. We were there for a few hours where we were free to swim , snorkel, dive, chill.... Before returning to Chania for the sunset... THANK YOU so much Liza and Adonis for giving us all an experience we won't forget. Top day.
It was one of the best tours I had so far! The staff is super friendly and they create a nice relaxing atmosphere. If you love the speed one thing is sure: you wont be disappointed!! The captain George is giving you so many interesting information about the island of Thodorou and The snorkelling part was just outstanding!! The diver Giannis teached us how to dive and took amazing pictures while my boyfriend and I were exploring the Beaty of the sea bed. I totally recommend it..Its worth trying! thank you guys for the memorable experience!
Theres nothing quite as wonderful as being out on the water in Greece...and this was the ideal way to do it in Chania. We took out the Cigala Bertinetti with Elize and you could see that she truly loves what she does! Great spots for snorkeling and we learned loads about the history of Crete as well as the marine life.
Family of 7 people (all adults) went on the Cigala Bertinetti yacht for a 4 hour trip around Theodurou Island from Chania harbour. Liza was our guide for the day, excellent host and very informative about the history of the area and answered any questions we had. Adonis was the captain and was also very welcoming. Fantastic trip with 3 snorkelling stops and a lovely lunch! Highly recommend this trip for everyone and was great value for money!
Excellent, just been out with George & John from platanias harbour. Well worth it, fun, interesting and informative, we would strongly recommend anyone to take an hour out for this trip. Thank guys
My wife and friends decided they wanted to go snorkelling while we were staying in Agia Marina, Crete. We looked on line for possible tours or for sites we could drive to. We were fortunate enough to come across the SeaStar cruise departing from Platanias. For 15 euros each we were taken to Theodorou Island (A Greek National Park protected island), given a tour around the island and then given the opportunity to snorkel in 2 different locations. The tour was advertised as an hour tour but i am certain we spent at least 1 and a half hours on the tour.Everyone associated with this group had a great sense of humour, were knowledgeable about the island, its history and the area. The diver who led us on our snorkelling adventure tried his hardest to locate octopus and other marine life. The view of the Kri Kri (native Ibex) at the very top of the island scampering his way down the sheers cliff was really a highlight for us. Our Captain told us that this was a rare event as usually the Kri Kri ust stand there looking out over the sea. We also sighted rare eagle circling one of the islands peaks. Recommend this excursion for those who do not want to travel by car or just want an easy afternoon adventure
We booked a full day tour to Gramvousa a couple of weeks before we left for holiday to Crete. When we came to Chania we had bad weather for most of our 1 week holiday. It was heavy wind and high waves. We were in contact with a person from SeaStar Boats several times and rebooked the time to travel with them. So on our 2nd last day it was ok weather to go out, but not very good. A person from SeaStar Boat came and picked us up at our hotel and drove us to the harbour and the Cigala - Bertinetti Yaght. Here we agreed that it would be a better tour for us, 4 adults and 2 kids to take a shorter tour to Menies Bay. It was great!!! We had a really good guide that told us about the island and what we could see in the water. We were there for 30-40 minutes before we drove to a different place to look and dive at the WW2 German Juncker wreck. Again here the two adults dove and took pictures. After 5 minutes we went to our last place. Here the captain and the guide made a great salad for lunch. The whole time we could have as much to drink as we liked. After lunch we jumped in the water again and looked around. We even had a guided tour under water.Also on this place we put a lifejacket on the kids so that they also could enjoy the nice water. They were professional and flexible. They also had good knowledge of what they were doing.
We were in Chania with a group and wanted to spend a special day celebrating a milestone birthday. We booked the half day to Theodorou Island as we had spent much time in Agia Marina and had looked on the island from afar. I would recommend the half day afternoon (when the winds are calm) as it feels like a day event. We were also interested in snorkeling and cruising the waters of Chania privately. It was very special not having the hordes on board that you see on the other tourist boats. The captain and boat hand were professional and excellent. They took us to the best spots for snorkeling and pointed out the bio-diversity on the island. We saw a few cri-cri, star fish, octopus and some coral. A must if you are in a group of 10!
This tour is a must-do when visiting Platanias. We went with three adults and five quite small children and we all had a fantastic time. The crew was very competent, calm and fun and gave the children the courage to snorkel for their first time. It was adventure and safe at the same time. Excellent.
I came here on the recomendation of my travel companion (4th time visiting!) and was treated to a wonderfull experience. This was my first time snorkeling, but with some good instruction from Freddy I was quickly comfortable under water. We took the classic tour which includes some stops along Theodorou island to look at the wildlife and historic sights from the boat. We enjoyed it som much that we actually ended up doing two tours, the second day with the wonderful Elise. She will gladly introduce you to some of the creatures under water. The tour includes use of snorkeling gear so just remember to bring your swiming attire and perhaps a towel for drying off. Very friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgable staff made this a trip to remember.
My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary by hiring the boat for a morning to visit the island close to Chania. Lazarus, Freddy and George could not have been more helpful in tailoring the trip to our every need. We were collected from and returned to our hotel and experienced several James Bond moments as we headed towards and around the island. We expected the snorkelling/swimming to be great but the knowledge and expertise shown by both Freddy and George made our trip. Their professionalism and sincere enthusiasm envelope you. This was a romantic trip . However I am sure families would enjoy it just as much. This is only my second trip review as I had to recommend both the team and company. Excellent value for money , but more than that - a unique activity and memory which will stay with us always!
We took the Scuba Adventure tour. It's a group tour, but there was only one other person on the trip with us. Our guide, Elise, was wonderful, as was the rest of the staff. We had plenty of time to snorkel. My husband had never been, and Elise was a great teacher. She showed us a lot of sea life and shared her plentiful knowledge about the history and nature of everything we saw. Our second stop was snorkeling around a German war plane that crashed during WWII. So interesting to see. Price was incredibly reasonable and the staff was wonderful. Will definitely do again (probably a longer cruise) during our next visit!
Having spent some time on the Internet looking for something more than a pile em high glass bottomed boat tour with some snorkelling thrown in we found these guys. They were helpful from the off. We called to book, they were informative about the best time to come, what the tours offered etc. when we arrived they made us feel very welcome. The location is great, the small staff very relaxed, intelligent and helpful. The were 6 of us, 4 teenagers and 2 adults plus an older couple who wanted to understand more about the island rather than snorkel. The guys combined our tours so we got the best of both worlds. Freddie and the captain are very friendly and knowledgable about much more than just another island! The highlight was the snorkelling. Its rare that anyone actually wants to snorkel with you, and takes the time to show you the different species of marine life, sponges, star fish, sea urchins and even octopus. We had a fantastic time and would recommend Sea Star to anyone.
A great ending to a great holiday.€15 each for the classic boat trip which included a guided voyage round the island and a stop of snorkelling lasting in total for about an hour. It was me, my lady, the guide and the captain. Real personal experience. Sea was bit rough but the snorkelling was sheltered and relaxed. Fed the fish and saw some sea life. Not like a fish tank but it is the Med.The boat was comfortable, modern and powerful and most importantly had shade from the sun. head down to Platanias and look for the black kiosk and pay your €15 and enjoy.
My and my boyfriend took an adventure snorkeling tour. We were snorkeling for the first time and were little afraid of it, but everybody was so great and explained and showed us everything, so there was absolutely no reason for worries. The snorkeling tour was a really good choice, we really enjoyed it and in another holiday we will be definitely looking for similar activity. Our best recommendations!
An excellent trip made interesting by the on board diver who retrieves species from the ocean floor for you to see and touch. We had good sightings of the wild goat ,falcon and also kingfisher. The water was clear and warm for swimming/snorkelling.
We took a tour that lasted a little more than an hour, but it made my whole day! The crew and the tourguide were so enthustiastic and were very wellread about the places and the things we saw. I can warmly recommend the company and the boattrip. Exciting tour and wonderful people! Love from Sweden
My lady and i have just finished the Classic Tour, and it was the Best trip we had in our vacation. The Crew was very friendly and helpfull. We did the snorkling stop aswell and it was fun and very exciting.We would do the trip again if we get to Crete another time. Thanks for a Nice trip!
Having read the reviews on Tripadvisor, we took a classic tour with Seastar it was 15 euros pr. person. Lisa was very friendly and took time to explain the details to us. She even recommended waiting a day before booking a tour, because the water would be better the next day.The tour around the island was very exciting, Freddy has a fine knowledge of the island, its history and animals. We very lucky enough to see two Kri-Kri. When we stopped to snorkel, Freddy explained thoroughly how to snorkel and which precautions to take. This was my first time snorkeling and it was great fun. Freddy dove down and took sea porcupines, pieces from a wrecked ship, starfish for us to see. For a first time snorkeler this was truly a great experience, we will definitely go again if we head to Crete again.
We travel a lot and this is surely one of the best tours weve done. More than anything you can tell that Freddy and the rest of the staff LOVE what they do and that makes all the difference. We went snorkeling/freediving on Theodorous Island -- the fun speedboat ride over there is alone worth the price of admission! The boat is really fast but also small, so the tour can never be crowded. Once in the water Freddy enthusiastically explained all about the marine life, history of the island, and other educational tidbits that added a lot to the experience. At the end he made us a souvenir out of a mother-of-pearl seashell and gave us a CD of his underwater photography - wow! Trip is inexpensive so definitely go if you are anywhere near the area!
A great excursion with nice and professional people. They make us discover the fauna and the flora respectfully. We are supervised of the beginning till the end. I have never dived before, I adored and I was really in confidence. To make absolutely !
As we dont like the big touristic tours, we were searching for a nice activity that we could enjoy as a couple. Luckely the hotel told us about the SeaStar tours. The first time we did the classical tour (tour arround the island and snorkeling) and even if the boat was full(8 pers.), it didnt gave the impression of being crowed so we could really enjoy the explanations of Freddy about the island and do some nice snorkeling. We enjoyed it so much that we booked a second tour, a purely snorkling tour with a photo session in the sea. We admit: we werent the best photo models but Freddy was very patient with us and it was a very funny and rememberable experience. Also the captain and Lisa are very nice so we certainly recommand this activity to anyone who likes to do an authentic, beautiful and relaxing activity.
The Seastar and its team are incredible. We had a great time and the only regret we have is that we did not find them earlier in our holiday as we would have gone 3-4 times for snorkelling trips with them. We tried to book a private boat tour with them for our group (family of four & grandma & great-grandma) and they were honest enough to tell us that it is better if we come back the next day and try our luck then since the sea was just too rough and snorkelling made no sense. Much respect for their honesty. The next day we returned and we went on their classic 1-hour boat tour to theodorou island. Freddy knows so much about the history of Chania and Crete. We really enjoyed listening to his stories. On top of that, he is also fluent in German which helped my folks (from Austria) to understand the whole tour and I did not have to translate. Bring your cameras as they will take you along beautiful spots where you can take great pictures.Then we stopped for snorkelling and it was amazing. Freddy joined me in the water and showed me many marine species, even bringing some (sponges, urchin) back to the boat for the little ones and my family to see. His guidance was fabulous.At the end we walked away amazed by the whole experience. They did such a good job that my wife and I booked another 1-hour trip just for the two of us later the same day to go snorkelling some more. It was beautiful and I should mention that they are also very reasonable in price. Thank you Seastar Team.
We have done many boat trips in Chania, this is the best one! The team is amazing! They know many things about the island and about the sea. The children were very happy as Freddy show them fishes and shells in the water. My parents enjoyed the seeing tour with all the history and took plenty of photos. If you look for quality tour , good time and fun, this is the tour you have to choose! Bravo and thank you to the Seastar!
Yvonne
Very disappointed!!! It was my first time when I decided to book yacht cruise to celebrate my birthday with my family and friends. I chose LAZORS as they have only 5* review, but unfortunately wasn't as stated in the description. The crew didn't say anything about where we are going and no information was given about the places, which we passed or when we stopped. We have to asked the crew where is the wreck of the German aircraft because we would like to undertake snorkeling tour as it said in description. They took us to that place and they said to us: " You can go to do snorkeling but is your responsibility because this activity is prohibited". They also told us if the water guards will come we need to tell them that it's our equipment and the yacht crew have nothing to do with it. They didn't explain or show us how to use the snorkeling equipment as no one has any experience with it before.
Melissa
My husband and I came to Crete for our honeymoon and this boat tour was one of the highlights of the trip. We hiked to the top of a small island with remains of an old castle without any other tourists present. The views were spectacular. We then continued onto the famous Balos beach, which is extremely difficult to access without a boat. They prepared us a large lunch with Italian flare that was delicious that we couldn’t nearly finish. The boat crew appropriately planned our times to access the castle and beach before the giant ferry with over 1000 people arrived, which we were very thankful for! This boat tour is really the only way to explore popular tourist sites without all the tourists. The boat itself was beautiful and looks just like the photos. The only downside is in October the weather can be rather overcast but we did have some moments of sunshine and regardless it was an amazing experience.
Darwin Sorby
We were a party of 6 and we went yesterday 10am until 12. Mike and Demetri were informative and helpful.When we stopped to snorkel a couple of us me included were anxious to say the least, they were patient and when I finally relaxed after Demetri the captain assisted me to relax with the snorkelling equipment and I realised I could breathe with the snorkell I have to say it was brilliant the fish and water is unbelievably clear. Thoroughly enjoyed myself thank you so much guys. All 6 of us got off the boat smiling and happy and it is all I can talk about since. x thank you Dawn, Amie, Stacey, Ashley, Emily and David zxx
Cazzab
There were 6 adults on this trip. We had the boat for 90 minutes, we wished we had the two hour trip in the end, we enjoyed it so much. We left the harbour at a nice, exciting speed to go to the nearby island. The guys on the boat were informative, helpful and extremely knowledgeable about the nature on the island. We then moved on to the snorkelling adventure, again the guy in charge was informative and a fabulous teacher, putting the more worried of us in the group completely at ease, we all did it and looking at the fish was amazing. Do the trip, however young or old you are, you will love every minute of it.
Amy Marie
This was a fantastic trip and we are so glad we booked it for our first morning in Chania. We were fortunate enough to have a boat all to ourselves (plus our captain and diving guide). The water was choppy on the day of our trip, but the captain was super attentive to make sure we weren't feeling seasick at any point during our journey. While we were out on the beautiful water, we got an overview of the town, Crete, and the surrounding islands from our guide. He was really knowledgeable and spoke excellent English; we fired off plenty of questions and he always had an answer to share with us. We really enjoyed learning while we sailed. We checked out a nearby island and spotted gri gris on the cliff (so cool!) and then checked out a few small grottoes before heading to a quiet spot with calm waters for diving. They had great equipment for us and they showed us how to use everything before we began, and then they checked on us to make sure we were safe and comfortable the whole time we were in the water. The dive lasted a while (maybe 30-45 minutes?) and then we got to see underwater plane wreckage from WWII, which was very cool.We highly recommend this trip! Book it immediately! Side note: payment is required on the day of the journey and they can only accept cash.
Debbie
From the moment we spoke with Maria on the Sea Tour stand in town we knew it was the right trip for us. We have 2 young girls and wanted to see a little bit of the island without too much hassle so we opted for the private minibus tour.We were collected from our hotel by Lazaros who immediately made us a feel comfortable and got us settled in the van. We headed to Elafonisi beach and the whole journey Lazaros pointed out places of interest and td us about villages we drove through and lots of knowledge about the island. We arrived before the crazy really started at the beach and found nice beds in a quieter part right at the front so we could keep any eye on the girls. We were provided with a SUP board, body board, rubber ring and snorkel equipment to use which was amazing.....the kids loved it! Elafonisis beach is truly beautiful but if you dont get there early dont bother.....by the time we were leaving at 1:30 the placed was packed solid and traffic was starting to build. We left the beach and stopped at a monastery for the views, then headed to a local village restaurant with a view of the mountain. On the way back we stopped at a spot that looked as if we were on the moon....Lazaros was a really nice guy with so much knowledge and someone who really loves what he does and appreciates where he lives. Maria was wonderful too, really helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you
Trekel
Searching for boat trips in platanias, where the SeaKing has the biggest space, we found a small stand with brochures from SeaStarChania. This led us to the website of this company. We saw that they arrangent private tours both on boat and with a small Van.We booked the Van tour to Elafonissi, and was contacted the same evening by Lazaros, advicing us to be there as early as possible, as the beach would be filled with tourists around noon when all the big busses arrived.So we spent morning snorkling, even saw a Lion Fish. All the equipment was freely with the booked tour. So we had snorkling equipment and SUP and a big bathing ring.On the way back Lazaros showed us some of the older parts of Crete and talked alot about the history. We were really taken by his generousity to help us have a good time, that we booked him once more, where we asked him to arrange a good snorkling place. So he took us to a very nice small cove with nice clear water and eventhough it was windy the water was very still. And only 5-10 other people than us.We spend a whole day snorkling there.I can only give Lazaros and his company the best recommandations from here.This is what you should do, unless you like the overcrowded boats and ferrys that the big companies sell. This is specifically for you and not all the other people :)
Maro
Αφεθηκαμε στους εξαιρετικούς Δημήτρη και Μάικ για την απογευματινή μας ξενάγηση στον περίπλου του νησιού θοδωρού στον κόλπο των Χανίων. Θαυμάσια ξενάγηση, πολύ επεξηγηματικη και ευχάριστη. Η παρέα μας είχε και μικρά παιδιά από τη Ρουμανία, και ακόμα και αυτά ο Μάικ τα βοήθησε να μπουν στο νερό και να χρησιμοποιήσουν με ασφάλεια τον εξοπλισμό για την παρατήρηση του βυθου και της θαλάσσιας ζωής. Μπράβο παιδιά, ευχαριστούμε
Annie
Fantastic tour, very professional crew on board and the snorkelling was fantastic. I was initially reluctant to snorkel but was encouraged and glad I did. Worth the money, fab boat!
Mariusha
Thanks for a great trip today! Highly recommended as a break from the beach/pool Very hospitable and professional crew! Forgot to take more pictures..to busy snorkling
Erin
We booked a private 2hr trip and had the best time. We were greeted warmly down at the harbour before we set off. Once aboard both Dimitris and Mike made us feel very welcome. They were both extremely knowledgeable, pointing out different caves and birds as we made our way around Theodorou Island. One of the great parts of the trip was when we got in the water. I am not overly keen on swimming in open water but thought I would give it a try as the water was so clear. I am so happy I did l, as both guys made me feel very relaxed and safe in the water. They were fantastic guides, constantly pointing out different wildlife and they were hugely knowledgeable about the island. My husband and I had an amazing trip and would definitely recommend this to anyone one coming to the Plantanias area.
Devonlew
Well worth the 25 euros for the 3 hour trip , people really friendly , got to see the rare goats an have a lovely swim in the sea all snorkel equipment provided , even got to see an octopus and sea cucumber and a bit of information on them , also stop off to see the plane under the water , worth going on this trip
Shootinglight
We had a simply brilliant time being SO well looked after by Dimitri and George. Enthusiastic, friendly, brilliant English and as well as having fun being on board a speed boat, we learnt a few things too. Snorkelling spots we perfect for the children. All in all, in really couldnt have been better.Thank you all for such a great time and I hope you had a great season.
Sarah-jane
Had an amazing time today on the seastar rib boat we got to see some amazing views and go snorkeling and see some beautiful fish and learnt alot about the island from the seastar crew it has great history captain Dimitris and diver maik were absloutly amazing making sure everyone felt safe and was safe and enjoyed our trip which we certainly did even my 10year old went snorkeling and loved defently would 100%recommend this and the guys were amazing thank you very much
Aimee Bowring
We booked SeaStar for our friends birthday and it was absolutely amazing. Could not have asked for anything better! The birthday girl had a great day and so did the rest of us. Would definitely recommend
Tony
A wonderful boat, an amazing trip, with the most experienced captain(Dimitris) and diver (George). We saw every single secret spot of the island Theodorou and learned the history of it.We also made a stop for snorkel, the diver swam with us, he showed us how underwater life is and explained us all about sea life. You can enjoy the trip, the swimming and feel safe at the same time on the most beautiful speed boat. I recommend it 100%.If you are going to visit Platanias go for it and you will not regret it.
Gabriella
Wonderful experience with great crew. The caption was very professional and Giorgios the skipper, treated us perfectly. We recommend this cruise to everyone who wants a high quality experience out in the cretan sea! /Gabriella
Argyro
Im a huge fan of boat trips so I thought of going there and give it a try! As I arrived there I met Captain Dimitris who greeted me and helped me get into the boat in which his diver George was waiting. More people came and after a while the trip started from the small port of Platanias. We quickly arrived at Thodorou island and started moving around it slowly so we have the opportunity to admire the beautiful landscape as long as all the animals that live there. We saw the famous kri-kri (cretan goat species), cranes and falcons. The crew also showed us some of the many caves that exists in this island!!! We stopped somewhere around the island and they told us that we could dive and go for some snorkeling. I must say that I’ve never done anything like that before... Under the sea live amazing creatures and it was nice to be able to see them from such a close distance!!! The 1h I bought, passed quickly and unfortunately it was time for us to head back to the port. Next time Ill make sure I book the 2h trip!!! The whole experience and the people where amazing and I definitely recommend everyone to try it if they ever find themselves somewhere nearby!
Stra Sonia
The most beautiful day of our journey
Annie
We just had a trip yesterday with this company and I can 100% recommend them. Our Captain Adonis and his first mate Georgo where absolutely perfect. We were 6 girls and took a 6 hour private trip from Chania harbour and they took us to some beautiful spots for swimming and relaxing - they even put a bed out on the sea for us to play around and float on. A definite thumbs up and I would highly recommend.
Sarah
Our family of 8 ( 2 teenagers, 4 adults in their 40s and 2 adults in their 70s ) booked a private boat trip at a cost of 130 euros for an hour and a half.Our guides Dimitris and George were friendly and informative from the moment we stepped foot on the boat. They also ensured everyone was safe at all times. We went around the island where our guides gave us information about the history of the island and also pointed out the Kri Kri goats. They then anchored the boat so that we could snorkel. I was very apprehensive about snorkelling but they put me at ease and persuaded me to give it a try, wow Im so glad i did the fish were amazing. Our guides were also very reassuring and helpful to get us to grips with snorkelling as non of us had done this before. They were also incredible with my 72 year old mother who didnt want to snorkel, they give her a ring to float on. They then moved the boat to another location so that we could snorkel and see a plane wreck.We had such an amazing experience that as soon as we arrived back at the shore we booked a 2 hour trip!!
Nora
We rented a privat tour and that was really nice ! Went from platanias and around the island and got to see kri kri goats , falcon and caves . The guys that was with us was nice and informative . The boat was also very nice :) 160€ for 2 hours , so thats not bad !
Marina
We are the family with 3 kids ages 6, 12 and 14 rented a boat to snorkel around Theodorou Island. We loved it a lot, captain Dimitris and his assistant gave us many interesting info about the island and provided snorkelling gear. Children had lots of fun! Very nice experience :)
Mordon
Me and my girlfriend decided on seastar after reading on TripAdvisor. We went with the private 1,5 hour snorkeling tour for 130 euros (at the time). The captain and the guide joining us on the tour were super professional and always had a Smile and gave us an interesting and fun tour around the island. The boat was amazing, as well as the snorkeling. Saw lots of fish and the water and their spotWas crystal clear. We had the best time. I can’t recommend these guys enough, it was the highlight of our trip.
Michelle
This is the place! We wanted to go snorkeling while in Crete. We found SeaStar based on Trip Advisor reviews, and boy did we get it right. Because we were a party of 6, with a variety of skill levels, we decided we wanted a private tour. Our 2-hour tour started right on time. The boat was clean and in ecellent shape. Demetrius and George were fabulous guides. They told us about the history and the wild life. Funny and personal, but safety was always the top priority. Everyones mask was checked before anyone could get in the water. There was always a spotter on the boat to make sure no one in our party strayed too far away. One person in our party didn't dive, and even she had a really good time. We saw lots of birds and even quite a few kri-kri. All of this, and it wasn't even that expensive. Well worth the money.
April
This was most definitely one of the highlights of our trip. Our crew was attentive and knowledgeable and really aimed to please. We were out with them for 6 hours and it wasnt nearly enough. A delicious lunch was served. We floated in turquoise waters! I highly recommend taking a tour with SeaStar!! I will post photos.
Olafurgauti
We booked a 2 hour rib private tour - we were 6 adults (ranging from thirties to almost 80 years old), and a 4 year old child. The staff recommended that we depart at 10:00AM, which turned out to be a great time.The boat was clean and comfortable,
Valerie
You can’t leave Crete without taking this private tour of the beaches and coastline of Crete. The captain took us to all his favorite hidden spots where we felt we had our very own secluded beach. The crew was fun and helpful. The lunch was a wonderful and generous sampling of Cretan cuisine.
Ewelina
We took the 2 hour private snorkeling tour which we recommend. Nice, professional guides and just enough time to see what there is to see in your own tempo. The island animals, the plane wreck and some small fish. Really fun and relaxing!
Sallz
I went on a 2 hour boat trip with my family of 7, which meant we got a private boat.We toured the island of theodorou and the guides were great at telling us about the islands history, and stopping to show us the wildlife.The diver was great, he attracted the fish with food, so we saw loads of fish gathering, one of the best snorkeling sights I've seen. He was also really good with people in the group who were nervous about deep water swimming and supported them well.Swimming to the sunken plane was a great experience, a unique touch the the tour.I would definitely recommend doing the longer tours so you can really enjoy each stop.
David
Went on 1 1/2 hour private snorkeling trip with Seastar to Theodoriu Island and it was much more than we could imagine! The boat was a superb powerboat,very clean and well maintained. The guys on the boat (skipper and Diver) were very professional and we got a lecture about the island. Would not have wanted to miss this tour. All snorkeling equipment on board is first class!
Valentina
Amazing trip to Theodorou Island! Shallow waters and great snorkeling... we would like to thank you the Captain Lazaros and theDive master Yannis for taking care of everything and especially our dog, that has been treated like one of the family thank you very much for this wonderful trip.
Cretan
A wonderful crew that caters to your every need. Fantastic way to spend time on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
Emmjay
This tour was very nice and despite only one hour window we experienced more and did more snorkling than on other tours around the island. They explained very nice the wildlife and the history of the island and due to only few persons pr tour ( we were 8) the guiding is more privat and directed. Boat is great, fast and stable.
Helle
Thanks for a very nice trip
Hans
Nice trip to beautiful Theodorou bird island, including diving and snorkelling. Value for money. Boys are committed for nature.
Emily
My husband and I recently spent two weeks in Greece. During our time in Crete we did a lot and found ourselves constantly going-going-going. We wanted to truly relax on our last day in Crete and we booked a private yacht full-day trip and couldn't have more pleased with our experience. The water was a little rough and we were unable to complete the whole boating experience but we docked and my husband and I sunbathed, snorkeled and enjoyed some drinks on the boat. Lunch was a light meal of local pastries - both sweet and savory. The captain was extremely friendly and so was his mate. Cant recommend this experience more if youre looking to relax and just enjoy some fun in the sun.
John
Overall a really fun day out with our 3 children (19, 21, 22). A quick departure as we were a little late in arriving and then a high speed 35 knot blast to Gramvousa which was a lot of fun - thankfully the sea conditions were very calm! We were the only people there for a while as we undertook the climb to the old fortress (allow 20-25 mins climb each way) which provided amazing views from the top. Then a short hop across to the Balos lagoon to avoid the crowd of tourists now being disgorged from the big boat tour. Swam off the boat to the lagoon beach where envious day trippers watched our arrival! The lagoon is a wonderful sight although not really a place to snorkel as sandy and shallow. Then back to the boat for the high speed journey to the private beach at Menies bay. We dropped anchor in the bay and lunch was served. We expected a light lunch as advertised but we were served a very light and unimaginative platter of cheese pasties and croissants followed by mixed fruit. For the price we paid for the trip we really expected something a lot better. Not to be put off we then enjoyed some great snorkelling with good quality kit provided. Then back to Chania at full tilt with everyone enjoying the thrill. Overall we loved the trip but felt that the lunch was a let down.
Michaela
We enjoyed six hours on this wonderful boat and I cannot fault the crew and the excellent service we received! It was almost like stepping into a rich mans world! We could go almost anywhere we wished and explore the beautiful small islands, swim and snorkel to our hearts content and sunbath and chat in luxurious comfort. A wonderful experience I will always remember.
Roel De
Alex
Very nice trip with relaxed and professional guide and captain. Crystal clear waters. The Sea life is not like the Red Sea but it was definitely worth it!
Giorgos
Holly
Had an awesome trip! Was a lovely small group and thank you so much to Lazaros for not only giving us an awesome snorkel trip but also giving us so may ideas/tips of other things we could do whilst in Crete.
George
We had a fantastic boat trip. Thankyou so much for your time and extra special touch that you dont get with the bigger pushier alternative companies.
Marios
Απίστευτη, μοναδική εμπειρία σε τρομερά νερά, ιδανικά για κολύμπι και κατάδυση με ασφάλεια. Πολύ φιλικοί και επαγγελματίες... Μπράβο στο team...
Liisest
This was an amazing boat trip end of September - a wonderful day full of sunshine, great emotions, and new discoverings under and above the water.The boat was comfortable, the team was trustworthy and extremely friendly, and the whole experience unforgettable! There was always a helpful hand and answer to all our questions - thank you so much, Freddy !!! You are a superstar!
Daniel Fernande
We contacted the people from SeaStar the day before we wanted to make the trip with them and they manage to organize everything really quickly. We took the Classic trip with snorkeling. We sailed around one Island (I dont remember the name) next to Platanias beach. They told us some history about the island and then we did snorkeling and they took water photos! It was amazing! I totally recommend the experience with Seasta
JDLexington
My family (middle-aged couple, two college-age kids) was delighted with our day on the Cigala Benvinetti. The boat itself is powerful, fast, and well-appointed. Guide Liza was terrific, from her astute snorkeling pointers to her knowledgeable explanations of seafloor and ancient ruins alike. Not cheap, but given the intensity and diversity of delights it was well worth it.
Laurent
All was perfect We made a family day trip and it was great. We were two families with 4 children from 4 to 10 years and the children enjoy a lot the trip and snorkeling. Freddy who took care of us was great and made the day very pleasant and enjoyable. The boat was perfect.Thanks again Freddy.
Ivar
Very nice boattrip
Mancboy
We hired cigala-benvinetti speed boat for half a day with Top skipper Adonis and amazing guide Liza. The experience exceeded our expectations from the start. The quality of the boat was superb. Liza is so knowledgeable about everything from local history to marine biology. We are not all seasoned snorkelers and Liza took the time to explain everything with top tips and after 5 minutes with her calmness in the water with us we were totally relaxed and loving the snorkelling. As an experienced free diver she blew us away by spotting a year old octopus hiding in the rocks ca 15m down. She carefully caught him. Calmed him, like you would a little child, and presented him to us to touch before returning him all chilled back to a hole in the seabed.... Truly an amazing moment me Tom (12) Katie (9) and Emm (?) will NEVER forget. We snorkelled over a ww2 Junkers crashed aircraft before we dropped anchor in a lovely bay where we enjoyed a lovely plate of fresh fruit and fresh baked Cretan pies.. We were there for a few hours where we were free to swim , snorkel, dive, chill.... Before returning to Chania for the sunset... THANK YOU so much Liza and Adonis for giving us all an experience we won't forget. Top day.
Christina
It was one of the best tours I had so far! The staff is super friendly and they create a nice relaxing atmosphere. If you love the speed one thing is sure: you wont be disappointed!! The captain George is giving you so many interesting information about the island of Thodorou and The snorkelling part was just outstanding!! The diver Giannis teached us how to dive and took amazing pictures while my boyfriend and I were exploring the Beaty of the sea bed. I totally recommend it..Its worth trying! thank you guys for the memorable experience!
MeljChicago
Theres nothing quite as wonderful as being out on the water in Greece...and this was the ideal way to do it in Chania. We took out the Cigala Bertinetti with Elize and you could see that she truly loves what she does! Great spots for snorkeling and we learned loads about the history of Crete as well as the marine life.
Georgia
Family of 7 people (all adults) went on the Cigala Bertinetti yacht for a 4 hour trip around Theodurou Island from Chania harbour. Liza was our guide for the day, excellent host and very informative about the history of the area and answered any questions we had. Adonis was the captain and was also very welcoming. Fantastic trip with 3 snorkelling stops and a lovely lunch! Highly recommend this trip for everyone and was great value for money!
Kath
Excellent, just been out with George & John from platanias harbour. Well worth it, fun, interesting and informative, we would strongly recommend anyone to take an hour out for this trip. Thank guys
Ingrid
We had a very nice boat trip with you guys today! We'll recommend this to others!
Dimitrius
My wife and friends decided they wanted to go snorkelling while we were staying in Agia Marina, Crete. We looked on line for possible tours or for sites we could drive to. We were fortunate enough to come across the SeaStar cruise departing from Platanias. For 15 euros each we were taken to Theodorou Island (A Greek National Park protected island), given a tour around the island and then given the opportunity to snorkel in 2 different locations. The tour was advertised as an hour tour but i am certain we spent at least 1 and a half hours on the tour.Everyone associated with this group had a great sense of humour, were knowledgeable about the island, its history and the area. The diver who led us on our snorkelling adventure tried his hardest to locate octopus and other marine life. The view of the Kri Kri (native Ibex) at the very top of the island scampering his way down the sheers cliff was really a highlight for us. Our Captain told us that this was a rare event as usually the Kri Kri ust stand there looking out over the sea. We also sighted rare eagle circling one of the islands peaks. Recommend this excursion for those who do not want to travel by car or just want an easy afternoon adventure
Gitte Nørregaard
MrSkyline
We booked a full day tour to Gramvousa a couple of weeks before we left for holiday to Crete. When we came to Chania we had bad weather for most of our 1 week holiday. It was heavy wind and high waves. We were in contact with a person from SeaStar Boats several times and rebooked the time to travel with them. So on our 2nd last day it was ok weather to go out, but not very good. A person from SeaStar Boat came and picked us up at our hotel and drove us to the harbour and the Cigala - Bertinetti Yaght. Here we agreed that it would be a better tour for us, 4 adults and 2 kids to take a shorter tour to Menies Bay. It was great!!! We had a really good guide that told us about the island and what we could see in the water. We were there for 30-40 minutes before we drove to a different place to look and dive at the WW2 German Juncker wreck. Again here the two adults dove and took pictures. After 5 minutes we went to our last place. Here the captain and the guide made a great salad for lunch. The whole time we could have as much to drink as we liked. After lunch we jumped in the water again and looked around. We even had a guided tour under water.Also on this place we put a lifejacket on the kids so that they also could enjoy the nice water. They were professional and flexible. They also had good knowledge of what they were doing.
Sophie
We were in Chania with a group and wanted to spend a special day celebrating a milestone birthday. We booked the half day to Theodorou Island as we had spent much time in Agia Marina and had looked on the island from afar. I would recommend the half day afternoon (when the winds are calm) as it feels like a day event. We were also interested in snorkeling and cruising the waters of Chania privately. It was very special not having the hordes on board that you see on the other tourist boats. The captain and boat hand were professional and excellent. They took us to the best spots for snorkeling and pointed out the bio-diversity on the island. We saw a few cri-cri, star fish, octopus and some coral. A must if you are in a group of 10!
Jessika
This tour is a must-do when visiting Platanias. We went with three adults and five quite small children and we all had a fantastic time. The crew was very competent, calm and fun and gave the children the courage to snorkel for their first time. It was adventure and safe at the same time. Excellent.
MrFriis
I came here on the recomendation of my travel companion (4th time visiting!) and was treated to a wonderfull experience. This was my first time snorkeling, but with some good instruction from Freddy I was quickly comfortable under water. We took the classic tour which includes some stops along Theodorou island to look at the wildlife and historic sights from the boat. We enjoyed it som much that we actually ended up doing two tours, the second day with the wonderful Elise. She will gladly introduce you to some of the creatures under water. The tour includes use of snorkeling gear so just remember to bring your swiming attire and perhaps a towel for drying off. Very friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgable staff made this a trip to remember.
Tracey
My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary by hiring the boat for a morning to visit the island close to Chania. Lazarus, Freddy and George could not have been more helpful in tailoring the trip to our every need. We were collected from and returned to our hotel and experienced several James Bond moments as we headed towards and around the island. We expected the snorkelling/swimming to be great but the knowledge and expertise shown by both Freddy and George made our trip. Their professionalism and sincere enthusiasm envelope you. This was a romantic trip . However I am sure families would enjoy it just as much. This is only my second trip review as I had to recommend both the team and company. Excellent value for money , but more than that - a unique activity and memory which will stay with us always!
Jamie
We took the Scuba Adventure tour. It's a group tour, but there was only one other person on the trip with us. Our guide, Elise, was wonderful, as was the rest of the staff. We had plenty of time to snorkel. My husband had never been, and Elise was a great teacher. She showed us a lot of sea life and shared her plentiful knowledge about the history and nature of everything we saw. Our second stop was snorkeling around a German war plane that crashed during WWII. So interesting to see. Price was incredibly reasonable and the staff was wonderful. Will definitely do again (probably a longer cruise) during our next visit!
Graham
Having spent some time on the Internet looking for something more than a pile em high glass bottomed boat tour with some snorkelling thrown in we found these guys. They were helpful from the off. We called to book, they were informative about the best time to come, what the tours offered etc. when we arrived they made us feel very welcome. The location is great, the small staff very relaxed, intelligent and helpful. The were 6 of us, 4 teenagers and 2 adults plus an older couple who wanted to understand more about the island rather than snorkel. The guys combined our tours so we got the best of both worlds. Freddie and the captain are very friendly and knowledgable about much more than just another island! The highlight was the snorkelling. Its rare that anyone actually wants to snorkel with you, and takes the time to show you the different species of marine life, sponges, star fish, sea urchins and even octopus. We had a fantastic time and would recommend Sea Star to anyone.
Dave
A great ending to a great holiday.€15 each for the classic boat trip which included a guided voyage round the island and a stop of snorkelling lasting in total for about an hour. It was me, my lady, the guide and the captain. Real personal experience. Sea was bit rough but the snorkelling was sheltered and relaxed. Fed the fish and saw some sea life. Not like a fish tank but it is the Med.The boat was comfortable, modern and powerful and most importantly had shade from the sun. head down to Platanias and look for the black kiosk and pay your €15 and enjoy.
Lucie
My and my boyfriend took an adventure snorkeling tour. We were snorkeling for the first time and were little afraid of it, but everybody was so great and explained and showed us everything, so there was absolutely no reason for worries. The snorkeling tour was a really good choice, we really enjoyed it and in another holiday we will be definitely looking for similar activity. Our best recommendations!
Patric
An excellent trip made interesting by the on board diver who retrieves species from the ocean floor for you to see and touch. We had good sightings of the wild goat ,falcon and also kingfisher. The water was clear and warm for swimming/snorkelling.
Ewelina
We took a tour that lasted a little more than an hour, but it made my whole day! The crew and the tourguide were so enthustiastic and were very wellread about the places and the things we saw. I can warmly recommend the company and the boattrip. Exciting tour and wonderful people! Love from Sweden
Mads
My lady and i have just finished the Classic Tour, and it was the Best trip we had in our vacation. The Crew was very friendly and helpfull. We did the snorkling stop aswell and it was fun and very exciting.We would do the trip again if we get to Crete another time. Thanks for a Nice trip!
Dk
Having read the reviews on Tripadvisor, we took a classic tour with Seastar it was 15 euros pr. person. Lisa was very friendly and took time to explain the details to us. She even recommended waiting a day before booking a tour, because the water would be better the next day.The tour around the island was very exciting, Freddy has a fine knowledge of the island, its history and animals. We very lucky enough to see two Kri-Kri. When we stopped to snorkel, Freddy explained thoroughly how to snorkel and which precautions to take. This was my first time snorkeling and it was great fun. Freddy dove down and took sea porcupines, pieces from a wrecked ship, starfish for us to see. For a first time snorkeler this was truly a great experience, we will definitely go again if we head to Crete again.
John
We travel a lot and this is surely one of the best tours weve done. More than anything you can tell that Freddy and the rest of the staff LOVE what they do and that makes all the difference. We went snorkeling/freediving on Theodorous Island -- the fun speedboat ride over there is alone worth the price of admission! The boat is really fast but also small, so the tour can never be crowded. Once in the water Freddy enthusiastically explained all about the marine life, history of the island, and other educational tidbits that added a lot to the experience. At the end he made us a souvenir out of a mother-of-pearl seashell and gave us a CD of his underwater photography - wow! Trip is inexpensive so definitely go if you are anywhere near the area!
Lucy
A great excursion with nice and professional people. They make us discover the fauna and the flora respectfully. We are supervised of the beginning till the end. I have never dived before, I adored and I was really in confidence. To make absolutely !
Elke
As we dont like the big touristic tours, we were searching for a nice activity that we could enjoy as a couple. Luckely the hotel told us about the SeaStar tours. The first time we did the classical tour (tour arround the island and snorkeling) and even if the boat was full(8 pers.), it didnt gave the impression of being crowed so we could really enjoy the explanations of Freddy about the island and do some nice snorkeling. We enjoyed it so much that we booked a second tour, a purely snorkling tour with a photo session in the sea. We admit: we werent the best photo models but Freddy was very patient with us and it was a very funny and rememberable experience. Also the captain and Lisa are very nice so we certainly recommand this activity to anyone who likes to do an authentic, beautiful and relaxing activity.
Brend
The Seastar and its team are incredible. We had a great time and the only regret we have is that we did not find them earlier in our holiday as we would have gone 3-4 times for snorkelling trips with them. We tried to book a private boat tour with them for our group (family of four & grandma & great-grandma) and they were honest enough to tell us that it is better if we come back the next day and try our luck then since the sea was just too rough and snorkelling made no sense. Much respect for their honesty. The next day we returned and we went on their classic 1-hour boat tour to theodorou island. Freddy knows so much about the history of Chania and Crete. We really enjoyed listening to his stories. On top of that, he is also fluent in German which helped my folks (from Austria) to understand the whole tour and I did not have to translate. Bring your cameras as they will take you along beautiful spots where you can take great pictures.Then we stopped for snorkelling and it was amazing. Freddy joined me in the water and showed me many marine species, even bringing some (sponges, urchin) back to the boat for the little ones and my family to see. His guidance was fabulous.At the end we walked away amazed by the whole experience. They did such a good job that my wife and I booked another 1-hour trip just for the two of us later the same day to go snorkelling some more. It was beautiful and I should mention that they are also very reasonable in price. Thank you Seastar Team.
Heidi
We have done many boat trips in Chania, this is the best one! The team is amazing! They know many things about the island and about the sea. The children were very happy as Freddy show them fishes and shells in the water. My parents enjoyed the seeing tour with all the history and took plenty of photos. If you look for quality tour , good time and fun, this is the tour you have to choose! Bravo and thank you to the Seastar!