Our Story
Born from the sea. Built on family tradition.
Long before Princess Sailing Cruises was created, the sea was already part of our family story.
The founder
Built in Greece. Run by a family.
Every family has a story.
Ours has always been written by the sea.
Long before Princess Sailing Cruises was created, the sea was already at the heart of the Makarounas family.
Born and raised in Rhodes, Vasilis Makarounas grew up between the island’s traditions and its waters. From an early age, boats were part of everyday life — learning to read the wind, respect the sea, and understand that every journey begins with patience.
Over the years, that connection became a way of life. One traditional wooden boat followed another, welcoming visitors from around the world and sharing with them something more than the coastline of Rhodes: genuine Greek hospitality.
That experience eventually inspired the creation of Princess Sailing Cruises.
Built by hand in Greece in 2025, Princess brings together traditional wooden craftsmanship and modern comfort. She was created to offer a different way to experience Rhodes — unhurried, authentic and personal.
From Mandraki Harbour, we sail to some of the island’s most beautiful waters: Ladiko Bay, Anthony Quinn Bay and Kallithea Springs. Swimming in crystal-clear bays, enjoying Greek food and drinks, and spending a relaxed day at sea are all part of the experience.
But for us, Princess has never been only about the places we visit.
It is about the way our guests feel while they are with us.
We believe the best days at sea are the ones that feel effortless — good food, beautiful water, genuine hospitality and enough time to simply enjoy Rhodes.
Every departure carries a little of our family story with it.
Welcome aboard Princess.
Princess Sailing Cruises
Born in Rhodes. Crafted by tradition. Shared with heart.
“The sea does not reward people who are in a hurry. It rewards the ones who slow down enough to notice.”
— Vasilis
The boat
Built by hand. Maintained by hand.
Our boat is a traditional wooden vessel — varnished mahogany, brass fittings, white sails. She was built by craftsmen who still work the way their fathers did, and she is maintained the same way.
She holds up to fifty guests, but on most days carries far fewer.
The table
Cooked the way our grandmothers taught us.
The food on board is family food — fish caught nearby, vegetables from the garden, bread, olives, white wine the families have always made. There is enough of everything, and almost nothing on the menu changes from one season to the next.
Sister brand
Makarounas Fishing Trip.
When Vasilis is not sailing the Princess, he is running half-day fishing trips on a smaller boat — the same hospitality, on a quieter scale.
Visit Makarounas Fishing Trip →
