Creating the most spectacular sailing experiences in Greece, and beyond.
Co-founder Karina Pankova recalls how the catamaran cruise operator grew from one boat in Crete to one in every port on the island.
DanEri Yachts’ name pays homage to the founders’ daughters, Danielle and Erietta, and this family-centric origin still drives the company. Founded in 2017, the Crete-based sailing tour operator has experienced remarkable growth.
Their first catamaran launched in 2018, one of the earliest in Crete, a market dominated by motorboats and monohulls. It was a significant risk, but founders Karina and Sergey had big ambitions, and their extensive background in tourism gave them an edge.
Skip to 2024, and the husband and wife duo — plus around 50 loyal staff — operate nine catamarans across Crete and now Milos, which Karina believes is poised to become the next Santorini, a strategic move for their expansion. “My dream is to have 50 catamarans all over, as far as Cyprus, which has such potential; it’s already in the works,” Karina says of their ambition.
The strategy is clear: offer luxury services that attract guests seeking premium experiences rather than engaging in price wars with local competitors.
This drives innovation, upholds their high standards, and influences their choice of ports and islands. Here, Karina shares how vision and dedication have turned a small family business into a thriving enterprise, setting a benchmark for luxury catamaran cruises in Greece, and how their collaboration with GetYourGuide has been invaluable in boosting their bookings and visibility.
Why catamarans? Was it a risk to carve out that niche in Greece?
"My husband and I worked for many years in the tourism industry, so we knew what guests were searching for, what services they wanted, what they would like to see, to experience. We were well prepared to serve them in the best way before we even bought our first boat. Then, with a big loan, we got a small catamaran in Heraklion, one of the first on the island. For two years, Sergey and I did all the work ourselves. He was the skipper. I would take care of promotion, get provisions for the boat, and even cook the food for guests every morning before the cruise. But it worked, and we used that money to buy our second boat, a much bigger one."
How did you choose which ports to expand to?
"It was always a goal to have a catamaran in every port in Crete. By 2021, we’d added two more catamarans in Hersonissos and Rethinmo. In Heraklion, there are a lot of small boats with cheaper prices. We didn’t find this port so attractive anymore. We offer luxury services and don’t want to become a part of this price fight. So, we only choose our ports and islands when we believe we can earn money and do our jobs appropriately. That is part of why, in 2024, we added more boats to expand to Milos, which I’m sure will become the next Santorini in two or three years. It’s much more beautiful."
Why did you decide to partner with GetYourGuide?
"With local businesses, it’s tough to communicate sometimes. We don’t want partners who won’t work with you because of your business model or because they see you provide good services but instead because they like you or you’re a member of their family. GetYourGuide suited us, and they had the volume, so they soon became our number one partner.”
How did GetYourGuide help boost bookings?
"Long before the season starts, we receive 10–15 new bookings daily. Online, people can book things far in advance when they book their vacation. This has given us the confidence to expand and buy more catamarans because we already know the bookings are there. Also, the information we require from each person on the cruise is already completed and sent to us when they book. It saves a lot of time.”
How did you create new products as you expanded the fleet of catamarans?
"Our decision to go to Kíssamos port for the cruises to Balos and Gramvousa, we took after my conversation with our account manager at GetYourGuide. He knew that many clients were already interested in special luxury cruises. The same happened with the Chania region. He told us there were no catamarans there, and people were asking for them, so we worked on it. This year, we have a catamaran doing very well in Chania.
But this company is my baby, too, so I am the person who gives birth to new ideas, and my girls also help. We have many returning guests; there’s always something new so they don’t get bored. It might be a new menu, and we even introduced overnight trips to Santorini to watch the famous sunset and stay on the boat.”
Have any particular sails stood out?
“We’ve all been brought to tears with proposals on our private cruises, which is always a special moment. Of course, there are some odd requests too — one couple paid a lot of money for a private cruise, but instead of spending the time on board, they asked to be left on a wild beach for three hours and then be picked up and taken back to the port. But they were happy, so that’s all that matters.”
Key takeaways
- Year-on-year growth of 140 percent with GetYourGuide in 2023 and 200 percent in 2024: DanEri has expanded and optimized its availability to increase bookings.
- The founders worked with GetYourGuide to identify opportunities to expand into new regions. Since the partnership began, DanEri Yachts has operated in new ports each year and expanded beyond Crete.
- The company attracted new and returning customers with improved content and enhanced experiences.
- Advance online bookings gave DanEri the confidence to expand the company ahead of the season. Digital booking also helped to streamline necessary data collection from guests.
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