Hand-built wooden sponge boat
Originally one of the first sponge boats to operate from Symi island, Eva was hand-built at a shipyard in Rhodes, and travelled the Mediterranean for years, solely under the power of wind against its sails. Nowadays, with Captain Savvas at the helm, she plies the Aegean Sea close to Kos, taking tourists on half-day excursions to Pserimos and Kalymnos.
A family-owned operation, Eva Cruises offers daily excursions that depart Kos Town at 11 in the morning, and return around 6 in the evening. First stop on the itinerary is Pserimos, where the boat anchors in a bay so passengers can take a swim and check out the scenery. Next stop is at Kalymnos, a Greek Island made famous by its sponge divers, where Eva’s crew serves up a BBQ lunch. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to take a trip on Eva during our brief stay on Kos. But it’s on my list of things to do next time we’re back on the island.
Below are several more photos of Eva both at sea and docked in the harbour.
Buildings on the Turkish coast near Bodrum provide a backdrop as Eva returns to Kos Town harbour following one of its 7-hour excursions
The family-operated tour boat offers daily trips to Pserimos and Kalymnos
Several passengers have sunny seats on the ship’s bow …
… while other passengers catch some of the warm late afternoon sunshine from their spots near the midsection of the handbuilt vessel
A view of Eva at its berth in Kos Town harbour, next to its tall-masted neighbour, Nikitas, another popular excursion boat
Two passengers on Eva’s bow check out other tall-masted ships in the harbour
During the excursions, Eva’s crew prepares a lunch featuring freshly grilled fish, chicken and souvlaki, along with salads, fruit and wine. Sailing the Greek islands while enjoying wine and a yummy BBQ lunch sounds like a perfect day to me!
November 1, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Captain Savas R.I.P. after awfull accidant in oktober 2012.
We enjoyed this cruise for 3 times, so many good memmories.
Regards from Holland
May 21, 2013 at 8:44 am
I was shocked reading about what happened on board of the EVA.
I was searching for the information about the EVA for friends. They are going to Kos this Summer and just as the lady,Caroline, in her reply says: We also enjoyed this one day cruise so much and we also have so many good memories. We enjoyed the cruise 2 times. That’s the raison, we wanted to share our indescribable experience with our friends. You have to make a boot trip with the EVA, than you’ll understand how special this is.
Our sympathy goes to the family.
Family Meppelink, Holland
December 15, 2013 at 11:51 am
My wife and I have visited kos for six years on the run and travelled on the Eva each time. On one occasion capt Savas and his crew recognised us from previous visits that we were invited to have a drink with them one evening aboard the Eva. We listened to thier stories and tales about their lives on Kos and Germany. Earlier on that day we sang songs aboard with a member of the crew who is German and whose name unfortunately escapes me. It was a most wonderful time which we will never forget. In fact we are going back to Kos in 2014 for the first time in several years and the Eva is a trip we will be booking, it will be sad not to have Capt Savas with us but I will salute him with a drink. Yamas Capt Savas and crew.
April 12, 2014 at 11:16 am
I was working 4 Summerseasons on Eva Boat from 2001 until 2005. Käptain Savvas was one of my best friends in greece. I have too many good Memories. I was shocked, found this bad info in internet so late. I visited Eva boat in May 2010 last time with my new wife. Now we have a son of one year. I am very sad about this end of such a good friend. All my sympathy and tears go to eva, dionissia, madeleine and the crew. This was so a special boat trip, i hope it will run also in future. Yamas to savvas! efcharisto poli.
Daniel, ex Kamaki and Pirat