Uber’s New ‘Boat’ Service Takes the Mykonos Experience to Another Level

Mykonos, Greece.

The new Boat service is a step in Uber’s strategy, which places Greece at the heart of the European market and strengthens its support to Greek tourism, ensuring affordable and safe transportation options for both residents and visitors of the island.

Picture this: You’re on Mykonos, one of the most popular Greek islands and sought-after high-end destinations of the world. The options on how to spend the day there are many: you can visit the sites, take a stroll through the island’s cobblestone alleys, dine and drink at one of the many restaurants and bars or catch some sun rays at one of the many beaches with their crystal-clear waters.

Considering you’re in a “beach mood” and just want to kick back, have a refreshing swim or just enjoy a cocktail at one of the vibrant beach bars – but want to avoid the island’s crowded roads – ride-hailing company Uber has got you covered: with “Boat” – a new service for visitors and residents of the island to take excursions by sea through the Uber app.

Book a boat ride to Mykonos’ beaches via Uber app

An embarkation point on Mykonos for Uber Boat service: Paraga Beach.

A pioneering service launching worldwide for the first time in Greece, Boat gives users of the app the opportunity to book excursions with a speedboat at the touch of a button. Through the app, users will be able to move around various parts of Mykonos easily, making use of the multiple embarkation and disembarkation points for speedboats that have a capacity of up to eight people.

According to Uber, the innovative service in the app was released for the first time during a year when tourism is expected to reach record levels and mobility needs will be increased.

“By launching the Boat service on Mykonos, we aim to provide users with a fun, fast, and convenient way to navigate between the island’s beautiful beaches,” Uber Greece General Manager Sarita Varouch tells GTP Headlines.

Available from the end of June to October, Boat is an on-demand service, provided by a local licensed operator and available through the Uber app.

“Travellers can now move effortlessly between beach destinations without the need to put on their shoes, avoiding crowded roads or the hassle of finding parking spots,” she adds.

Travelers using the Boat service need to book a speedboat 45 minutes in advance. The pricing is upfront, just like Uber’s option for rides in cars, and depends on the distance (pickup location and the destination). Scheduling multiple stops for beach-hopping can also be arranged.

“This service offers an elevated and enjoyable transportation experience, aligning perfectly with the luxurious and leisurely lifestyle that Mykonos embodies, as well as the other Greek islands, giving during the summer a special holiday experience to our guests,” says Varouch.

An Uber Boat speedboat just off Elia Beach on Mykonos.

But why was Mykonos selected as the first launch destination in the world?

As Varouch puts it: “The island’s vibrant atmosphere, stunning beaches, and cosmopolitan appeal make it the perfect setting to introduce the Boat service”. She adds that Uber in general chose Greece because as a company it is “strongly committed to the country and wants to help local providers seize the strong opportunities that come from domestic and imported tourism”.

Journalists experience Boat service at pre-launch event

Journalists taking off from Paraga Beach for the Uber Boat full day experience event.

GTP Headlines was among the first to try out the Boat service on the sidelines of a recent press trip organized by Uber that included journalists and content creators from all over the world.

During the Uber Boat full day experience, media representatives were introduced to the new way to explore and move around the best beaches and spots of Mykonos through the convenient transportation alternative. Starting off from Paraga Beach, the Uber Boat full day experience included visits to beaches including Super Paradise, Elia and Skorpios.

Speedboats offering the Uber Boat service lined up off Elia Beach on Mykonos.

Uber Boat full day experience on Mykonos: Speedboats offering the Uber Boat service lined up.

The Uber team on Mykonos: Stefan Teofanov, Communications Associate, Uber Southern Europe, Mary Gaitanarou, Senior Operations Manager, Uber Greece; Joe Groves, Head of Consumer and Product Comms, Uber, UK; Lexi Levin Mitchel, Consumer Communications, US; and Clement Conti, Communications Associate, Uber, France.

Uber Boat full day experience: Journalists and influencers from all over the world experiencing the Uber Boat service on Mykonos.

Boat comes to add to Uber’s seasonal summer offerings that aim to offer both locals and tourists the best possible transportation options to move around the Greek islands in a comfortable and convenient way, without the need for a personal car so they can focus on enjoying the island experience.

“In line with this goal, the introduction of Boat offers users an innovative way to travel between beaches through a fun, convenient alternative that eliminates the need for individuals to step into their shoes,” Varouch tells GTP Headlines.

“By embracing innovation and addressing the specific transportation needs of beachgoers, we believe Boat will contribute to enhancing the overall mobility experience for both locals and tourists,” she adds.

Uber in Greece

Uber first launched in Greece in 2014 and, according to data, has experienced a steady growth that has led the company to consolidate its Uber Taxi service in both Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece’s two largest cities. The Uber Taxi service is available all year round in both cities and is among the main transportation solutions for both locals and visitors.

In addition, Uber has expanded its activity to some of the most popular Greek islands – Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu – giving taxis access to its app creating additional opportunities to increase their clientele through the high demand the company offers. At the same time Uber cooperates with Greek local partners who offer additional transportation options.

On the islands, the services provided through local partners as well as the new Boat service have a seasonal character and aim to cover the high tourism season in Greece (May-October).

Uber Boat full day experience on Mykonos: Speedboats offering the Uber Boat service lined up.

Travelers on the Greek islands are able to book three different ride options including Taxi, Comfort (more spacious cars with a “VIP vibe”) and Van (ideal for large groups of family or friends), which are all live until October. At the same time, Uber gives travelers to Mykonos a little extra service with the addition of the new private boat charter service (Boat) to experience the island by sea during the summer. All services are available through the Uber app.

Uber Greece General Manager Sarita Varouch.

“We anticipate that Boat will serve as a fun, enjoyable, and convenient alternative for users to move around the island and explore its stunning coastline,” Varouch said, adding that 2023 will be a year of learning for Uber, during which the company will evaluate how the product can evolve in the coming years.

“We will spend the first weeks gathering data and insights, as well as user feedback, to analyze how the first days of operation develop,” she said.

Uber’s services are quite popular on Mykonos with Comfort used by the majority of international tourists.

“But we are confident that Boat will be much appreciated,” Varouch adds.

According to data provided by Uber, the top nationalities that use the company’s services on the island are Americans, the British and Australians.

How to book Uber Taxi, Comfort, VAN and Boat

Uber Van

Photo source: Uber

Uber Comfort

– Download the app in your smartphone
– Open the Uber app, enter your destination and request your trip
– Choose between different options: Taxi, Comfort, VAN or Boat

In addition to Greece, Uber this year is focusing on other popular European destinations. The company’s product Uber Reserve for travellers who want to plan and book in advance, looking to plan and book ahead, is now available at busy airports across Europe. Moreover, Uber Taxi and Uber Comfort are extending to popular holiday destinations in the Mediterranean and Balearic islands, as well as coastal favourites.

An Uber vehicle (Van service) on Mykonos.

Uber has also launched another interesting service called Uber Travel. Available in more than 10,000 cities, including Greek destinations like Athens and Mykonos, Uber Travel is a helpful booking integration that pulls flight details from reservations found in a traveler’s Google or Microsoft email accounts and can automatically reserve rides to and from the airport.