The Thalassa was built as the Bahriyeli A in 2002 in Bozborun near Marmaris in Turkey as one of the most impressive and robust wooden three-masted ships.

Her design in the style of a traditional Turkish gulet formed the template for the construction of three further ships (Bahriyeli B-D), which were launched by the same Turkish shipping company in the following years.

The Bahriyeli A had been chartered by cycle tour operator Islandhopping since 2006 and was both a floating hotel and a pampering oasis for hundreds of cyclists on their tours departing from Turkey on their journeys to the magical Dodecanese islands and along the entire Turkish west and south coast.

In 2020, Inselhüpfen founder Klaus Schenk and his brother decided to buy the Bahriyeli A and transfer it to Greece. They founded the shipping company Aegean Yacht Cruises and registered the ship under the Greek flag and the name Thalassa in the port of Piraeus at the end of 2019. 

To date, there are hardly any wooden motorised sailing boats of a higher standard for up to 20 passengers in Greece. The Thalassa makes it possible to expand the successful island hopping tour offer with bike & boat in Greece and to travel the Cyclades, the Argosaronic Gulf and the coasts of the Peloponnese with active holidaymakers from all over the world. The ship has filled a real gap in the market and is extremely popular with island hopping guests.

Numerous investments were made in the years 2020-2024 so that the ship can shine in this splendour today and offer Greek holidaymakers a perfect floating home: