We have been taking private boat trips in Paros for more than 20 years, so unfortunately this experience was disappointing compared with what we are used to on the island. First, I want to make it very clear that the captain and his assistant were excellent. The captain was professional, careful and responsible, especially after one of the engines stopped working. He handled the situation extremely well and, in my opinion, his cautious approach prevented us from potentially ending up at sea with a complete engine failure. We felt that he did the very best he could under difficult circumstances. Unfortunately, the boat itself was not in the condition we expected as advertise for a €2,300 private charter. It was not very clean, the seating was quite old and dirty, and during the trip one of the engines broke down. We had to return very slowly, with the boat struggling at times and producing a considerable amount of black smoke. Communication with Davide, the owner, was also difficult from the beginning. I had to follow up several times to receive confirmation, acknowledgment of our deposit and basic details about the trip. Even close to the date, getting clear and timely information about the arrangements was more complicated than it should have been for a private charter at this price level. To his credit, Davide gave us a €400 discount from the agreed €2,300 price because of the problems we experienced. For a younger group looking for a casual day on the water without high expectations regarding the boat itself, Galatea may still be a reasonable choice. But we were traveling as a family and had booked a private boat, so for the price we genuinely expected a much better standard of maintenance, cleanliness and overall experience. After more than 20 years of boat trips in Paros, this was unfortunately the first time we came back truly disappointed. The captain and his assistant deserve praise, but the boat and the overall organization need significant improvement.
Dear Regina, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry that your experience did not fully meet your expectations. However, we would also like to clarify a few points to provide a more complete and accurate picture of what happened during your cruise. First of all, we are very pleased that you recognized the professionalism and dedication of our captain and assistant. When a technical issue occurred, our crew handled it promptly and professionally, ensuring that the cruise could continue safely. Regarding the experience itself, the scheduled stops were all made as planned. The food and beverages included in the experience were served and enjoyed by the guests, and the cruise was carried out as described, with the exception of the return journey, which took place at a reduced speed due to a minor technical issue involving a loss of engine pressure. Our crew successfully bypassed the problem, allowing us to complete the experience safely. It is also worth mentioning that 8 out of the 10 guests on board enjoyed the day without raising any significant complaints during the cruise. Of course, we respect that every guest has their own expectations and perception of the experience, and we are sorry that yours was not entirely positive. Regarding the cleanliness of Galatea, we would like to clarify that our boat is cleaned meticulously by the crew every evening. We take great pride in maintaining the boat and ensuring that it is ready for our guests every day. Nevertheless, we take your comments seriously and will continue to pay close attention to this aspect. As for communication, I personally apologize if I was not able to respond to your emails as quickly as you would have preferred. We were experiencing an exceptionally busy period with a very high workload, and I understand that this may have caused some frustration. However, there were no issues regarding the meeting point, the agreed route or the additional services provided, including drinks. In this sense, all the essential arrangements for the experience were communicated and carried out correctly. We also offered a €400 discount on the agreed price as a gesture of goodwill, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the reduced speed on the return journey. We appreciate your kind words about our crew and your recognition of the captain's professionalism. At the same time, we believe it is important to clarify that the cruise was delivered substantially as advertised, with the exception of the reduced-speed return due to a minor technical issue. Thank you again for your feedback. We will continue working to improve our service and ensure that every guest enjoys a memorable day aboard Galatea. Kind regards, Davide
