A Hersonissos boat rental lets guests drive a small open boat along the north coast of Crete, and the listings say no boat licence is needed. It is one of the sea outings beside the Greek tours listed on Greece VIP.
This post covers the licence rule, the start point, the boats and what is included, the briefing, the coast, wind and sea. Packing, reviews and common questions come last.
What is a Hersonissos boat rental?
A Hersonissos boat rental is a private motorboat hired for a set slot and steered by the renter, with no crew member at the helm. The main listing is sold per group of up to 8 people, not per person.
The listing tells renters to be their own captain and to explore the coast of Crete by private motorboat from Hersonissos.
Its summary promises hidden coves, clear water and freedom at sea. The group is private, so only the renter’s own party is aboard.
A glass-bottom boat cruise, a catamaran cruise and a jet boat tour are crewed outings. In a rental, the renter drives and picks the pace.
- Driver: Renter only.
- Group: Max 8.
- Booking: Private group.
The main Hersonissos boat rental listing shows 4.9 out of 5 from 1,500 reviews.
Does a Hersonissos boat rental need a licence, and who can drive?
Hersonissos boat rental listings state that no licence is required, and the main listing says so in its title. Customers drive the boat themselves, follow all maritime rules and carry responsibility for its safe operation and for any damage.
A travel-booking mirror of the listing adds that no previous boating experience is required to drive the private motorboat.
One travel page states no minimum age for the driver. Three Hersonissos owner listings set the minimum renter age at 18.
One owner can ask the renter for ID on the day. That owner can also adapt check-in, for example with training or help leaving the port.
- Licence: None required.
- Age: Minimum 18.
- Skipper: Optional extra.
Licence terms depend on the size and type of the boat, so renters ask the owner.
Where does a Hersonissos boat rental start in Hersonissos?
Hersonissos boat rental owners on a boat marketplace berth their boats at the Port of Hersonissos, in the Heraklion area. A travel page that summarises the main listing gives no harbour address or berth for the meeting point in Hersonissos.
That page names six pickup areas:Anissaras, Hersonissos, Analipsi, Stalis, Piskopiano and Limenas Chersonisou. Confirmation reaches the customer the day before.
A travel-booking mirror lists selective hotel pickup and a meeting point in Hersonissos. Reviewers report hotel pickups that ran on time.
Crewed outings are sold per person, so renters who want a crew can compare Crete boat trips.
- Berth: Hersonissos port.
- Pickup: Selective hotels.
- Heraklion: 25 km.
A Hersonissos boat rental begins at the port, or with a hotel pickup where offered.
Which boats does a Hersonissos boat rental offer, and how large a group fits?
A Hersonissos boat rental offers a fully equipped small motorboat of five metres with a 30 hp outboard engine and a bimini top. The largest boats take up to 8 people, while smaller boats in the port take 4 or 5 people each.
Owner boats at Hersonissos run mostly 5 to 5.5 metres long and carry a 30 hp engine, based on the marketplace listings.
One 8-seat boat counts as one of the largest boats that need no licence, and its owner says it suits families and groups of friends.
Another boat takes 5 people at 4.5 metres with a 34 hp engine, and a third takes 4 people at 5 metres.
- Large: 8 seats.
- Middle: 5 seats.
- Small: 4 seats.
Group size decides the boat choice for a Hersonissos boat rental.
What is included in a Hersonissos boat rental?
A Hersonissos boat rental includes free hotel transfers inside the area, water, a shower, snorkel gear, insurance, life jackets and safety equipment. The boat leaves with a full tank, and the renter pays only for the fuel used on return.
The travel page lists no exclusions and says customers can bring their own food and drinks on board.
Owner boats on the marketplace leave fuel out of the rental price, and reviewers say it is charged by use at return.
Marketplace boats carry third-party liability cover, which does not pay for damage to the rented boat. Renters can buy a damage waiver at booking.
- Fuel: paid separately.
- Deposit: owner holds.
- Skipper: optional extra.
Extra rental time at Hersonissos must be booked in advance, not on the day.
How does the briefing work on a Hersonissos boat rental?
A Hersonissos boat rental starts with a safety briefing and simple driving instructions before departure. The boat is easy to handle for beginners. The host shows where the emergency equipment is kept, and renters then follow all maritime rules and answer for any damage.
One reviewer says the owner gave a lesson on using the boat before the guests went out alone.
Another reviewer says the owner rode with the group out of the harbour and back in again.
Anyone who prefers a water trip without driving a boat can compare Heraklion snorkeling tours.
- Wind: force-5 refund.
- Storms: trip cancelled.
- Routes: can change.
The briefing opens a Hersonissos boat rental before the group sails alone.
Where can a Hersonissos boat rental go along the coast?
Hersonissos boat rental listings send self-drive renters to Saint George Bay and its pirate cave. One owner adds small coves for anchoring and swimming, and states no formal area limit. The renter sets the pace of the coast tour.
A travel page states the rental covers Saint George Bay and the Cave of the Pirates, plus other beaches and places around Crete.
The same page states no speed limits, boundaries or restricted zones, and a second listing promises hidden bays.
Seven of the boat listings read around Hersonissos name Saint George Bay, and a reviewer also enjoyed Stalis Bay.
- Bay: Saint George.
- Limits: None stated.
- Pace: Renter’s choice.
A Hersonissos boat rental names Saint George Bay as its main stop.
Which beaches and islands lie near a Hersonissos boat rental?
Hersonissos boat rental sits in an area with a long beach list, and Potamos and Anissara hold blue flag status. Dia, an uninhabited island, lies off the north coast of Crete and allows day trips but not camping.
The same list also names Karteros, Tobruk, Arina, Vathianos Kampos, Kokkini Hani, Gournes, Gouves, Analipsi, Sarantaris, Klotsani and Malia.
Stalida has a long sandy beach, shops, bars and tavernas. A marketplace lists Hersonissos Port as a base for licence-free boats on Crete.
No self-drive listing read names Dia as a route, and a Dia island boat trip from Hersonissos is sold as a crewed catamaran cruise.
- Flag: Potamos, Anissara.
- Municipal: Arina, Sarantaris.
- Dia: No camping.
Self-drive hire and a crewed Dia cruise are sold as separate trips.
How do wind and sea affect a Hersonissos boat rental?
Hersonissos boat rental runs calmest from June to September, when five-year average waves stay below 0.8 m. Model data shows strong wind days, with a daily top of 30 km/h or more, are rare from June to August.
The meltemi, a strong north wind, blows in periods until about mid-September and is strongest in the afternoon and dies down at night.
Five-year average daily top wind is 17.4 km/h in June, 19.8 in July and 18.2 in August, against 22 to 23 from January to March.
One owner listing cancels with a full refund when winds exceed force 5, and the marketplace lets a rental move dates in bad weather.
- Sea: Warmest August.
- Winter: Roughest February.
- Risk: Seasick passengers.
A Hersonissos boat rental is easier on days with low wind and small waves.
What do guests bring on a Hersonissos boat rental?
A Hersonissos boat rental calls for swimwear, towels, sunscreen and personal items, according to the FAQ on a travel page. Water, showers and snorkel equipment come with the rental, and guests can bring their own food and drinks.
A broker says a passport is the only ID needed in Greece. One owner says renters can be asked for ID on the day.
Reviewers advise extra money for fuel, paid on return. One reviewer mentions a cooler box on the boat.
A reviewer mentions a snack bar opposite the port, and another says a friend’s sunglasses stayed behind on the boat. Pickup is free inside the Hersonissos area.
- Payment: card, PayPal
- Confirmation: day before
- Pickup: hotel, free
A bimini top on the boat gives shade.
What do reviews say about a Hersonissos boat rental, and who is it for?
Hersonissos boat rental reviews name friendly staff, good value, scenic views, easy boat handling and enjoyable snorkelling as their themes on a travel page. The rental suits families, groups of friends and swimmers, with up to 8 people on each boat.
The main listing scores 4.9 out of 5 from 1,500 reviews on the booking platform. Counts differ by site.
Reviewers of one Hersonissos Port owner boat praise friendly staff and a clean boat. Two say hotel pickup was on time. One reviewer saw a turtle.
Owner-boat complaints include a different boat than booked, a late start and a boat more worn than in the photos.
- Families: children allowed
- Swimmers: snorkel equipment
- Unsure drivers: skipper
Travellers wanting a crew can book a catamaran cruise.
What do guests ask about a Hersonissos boat rental?
Hersonissos boat rental questions cover the licence, group size, fuel and children. The answers below come from the booking listings, owner pages and reviews from past renters, and where the sources disagree, both figures are shown in each answer.
Is a licence needed for a Hersonissos boat rental?
The main listing says no licence and no boating experience are needed. The 30 hp limit comes from a broker and one listing, not from a source citing Greek law.
How large a group can join a Hersonissos boat rental?
The booking label caps the main rental at 8 people, while one travel page says 7. Larger groups do not fit on that listing.
Is fuel included in a Hersonissos boat rental?
The boat starts with a full tank, and the renter pays for the fuel used on return. Reviewers of one smaller owner boat call the fuel policy fair.
Can children join a Hersonissos boat rental?
A travel page says children are allowed with no age limit, capped only by seats. Owner listings at Hersonissos Port set 18 as the renter’s minimum age.
Travellers wanting a different day out can read aboutHeraklion sailing tours.