Greece: Sail & Swim

It was a pleasure to have a more low-key and relaxing sail in Greece. The crew looked after us really well, and the standout was our Tour Leader, Nikos. He made the experience all the more better with his great conversation, support for everyone and his warm hospitality. He went out of his way to ensure we were all looked after and most importantly safe. The food onboard was delicious and ensured we didnt go hungry. The cooking class with Katerina was a highlight, highly recommend! Only feedback I have is that the itinerary of the trip on the Top Deck website/app doesn't match the actual itinerary of the trip, which caused some confusion but other than that it was an enjoyable week!

Was thoroughly enjoyable. Sail to an angelic swimming destination and swim for 3ish hours before being fed delicious Greek luncheon. Then Sail to the island of the night, visit around town, dinner in delicious restaurants, picturesque towns, information presentations, before the evening to connect with your fellows into the evening. For those early birds a couple hours in the morning of the same town before the day repeats onto a swim spot and next island. Did not want it to end. Relaxation on a beautiful boat in paradise, would recommend.

I recently did the Sail & Swim Greece tour and while there were some amazing highlights, the whole experience felt a bit undercooked especially compared to other Topdeck tours we’ve done. 🏝️ Swim Stops & Downtime The swim spots were beautiful and relaxing, and it was great having time to unwind. But if you’re someone who likes to stay active, it can drag. Most of the time we were just sitting around reading, with paddleboards and floaties provided. I bought a ball and the vibes, and a friend had a deck of water proof cards. But there wasn’t much initiative from the crew or guide to make the most of the downtime. One stop had a cool cave; more things like that would’ve helped break it up. 🎟️ Lack of Optional Activities There was just one optional activity across 8 days, a cooking class (which was fantastic). But surely one of the islands offers something like jet skiing, kayaking, hiking, or even a cultural tour? It felt like a missed opportunity to not include more. Also, although it’s advertised as 8 days, we started around midday on Day 1 and finished by 10am on the final day, so really, it’s more like 6.5 days. 🧭 Guide & Organisation Our guide was nice but felt a bit green. Orientation walks mostly involved reading info off her phone. Following this pinning us locations to a pharmacy, ATM, beach, or gelato shop not much local insight or history, and what there was, could’ve been sourced easily. A few times we were delayed waiting for bridges or for the guide to wake up, one morning we were told to be back on board by 10am, but the guide slept in and didn’t reappear until 10:40, only to leave again for a coffee. That’s 90 minutes we could’ve used exploring. 🎉 Vibes & Socials The social side was disappointing. The vibe was left entirely up to us. One night we had a “boat party,” but there were no decorations, no real effort put into setup, no theme, just overpriced drinks (€7 vodka sodas) and not much atmosphere. We weren’t allowed to BYO, even though wine on land was €2.50 for 500ml, which made it feel like a bit of a money grab. No ice-breakers, no games, no planned bar crawls, even the beer pong night was something we set up ourselves. My wife found a great bar one night that saved the evening and our guide and crew had no idea it even existed. That sums it up: the group was putting in more effort than the people running the tour. There’s so much potential for easy wins: dress-up nights, scavenger hunts, trivia, welcome games that turn into drinking games… even a simple pub crawl like every other Topdeck tour seems to offer. 👫 The Group Made It That said, we had a fantastic group and met some genuinely wonderful people which has always been our experience with Topdeck. It’s the people that made the trip memorable. ⚖️ Overall If you’re happy to relax and switch off completely, this is your trip! But if you’re hoping for more activities, better organisation, and a bit more energy from the crew and guide, it might not meet your expectations. With more effort put into planning, guiding, and group engagement, this could easily be a much better experience.

I recently joined the Sail & Swim Greece Topdeck tour and had a memorable experience exploring the stunning Greek islands by boat. The swim stops were definitely the highlight; crystal-clear waters, hidden coves, and plenty of time to relax or snorkel. Each island we visited had its own charm, from quaint villages to lively harbors, making the itinerary both scenic and diverse. That said, the tour did feel a bit unorganised at times. There were moments where communication could have been clearer, especially regarding daily plans or changes to the schedule. A bit more structure or guidance would have helped smooth out the overall experience. For example, we were told we’d be able to disembark the boat at certain times of the morning, however the ramp was never down on-time or the boat was unable to dock at the port, cutting short our time to explore the islands. We were also told we were having a ‘boat party’ one night but nothing was arranged, it would’ve been nice for the trip leader to arrange a theme or some fun games. Lastly, the orientation tours could be improved, often we stood in one spot while the trip leader read notes from her phone, it would’ve been nice to walk around the islands and be told info along the way. Despite that, the beauty of the locations and the camaraderie among fellow travelers made the trip worthwhile. With a few improvements in coordination, this tour could easily go from good to exceptional.

Such a fun trip. We were a smaller group (only 7) and it honestly was the perfect amount for the boat. The boat crew were amazing, always willing to help out or join in, they always knew the best swim spots for the day. Maria was an amazing guide, showing us the best spots and restaurants.