Fishy tails: the island has gone mermaid mad

THE MERMAID CRUISE
Down in Protaras there are – and we have this on good authority – oodles of mermaids to be found on the Mermaid Cruise. A dream experience for little girls (and boys, because everyone loves a mermaid!), the two-hour cruise is awash with fishy tales, glittering events and magical sparkle. Setting off from the Nissiotis jetty next to Yianna Marie Beach at 5pm (be there 15 minutes early!) every Saturday throughout summer, this high seas jaunt voyages along the coast, round Cape Greco and towards the Blue Lagoon.

But it’s less about the (admittedly) stunning scenery, and more about the experience, which starts with the story of the mermaids, continues with a treasure hunt (led by Billy Bones the pirate and Tinkerbell) and culminates in a few real live mermaids. “Everyone has the chance to swim with our mermaids in the beautiful Blue Lagoon,” organisers reveal. “The water is crystal clear and our mermaids will entertain and interact with the children as they swim together and pose for photos on the boat.” With a mini disco, face painting, glitter tattoos and snacks all round, this is the kind of brilliant event which makes you wish you were seven once more!

For more information, visit the Facebook page The Mermaid Cruise or call 99 586726. Tickets are €25 for adults and €15 per child (under 2s go free). Group discounts available

LITTLE MERMAID PARTY
Finding a local company which can actually arrange (and understand!) a theme party can be a real challenge! But if there’s one company that manages it’s The Party Planner Paphos: incredibly professional planners and entertainers who have been in the business for years and organised hundreds of theme parties in their time.

Entertainers, face painting, glitter tattoos, mini discos, arts and crafts, photobooths and photographers, bouncy castles… Nothing is beyond the reach of organiser and owner Krissy Dos-Santos, who has a full staff of professional, child-care qualified staff just waiting to host the perfect mermaid pool party. Willing to travel island-wide and cater to any number of little mermaids, these Paphos-based party planners are always willing to go the extra mile; friendly, helpful, and very happy to do whatever it takes to turn a kids’ party into an Ariel-worthy extravaganza!

For more information, visit the Facebook page The Party Planner or call 97 791340

SCULPTURE
We’ve all heard of the Ayia Napa Sculpture Park. Most of us have passed by at some point and taken a few Instagram-worthy snaps of the oversize sphinxes, warriors, and owls which loom over the coastal road to Protaras. But few realise that the town itself plays host to a sculpture that’s almost the twin of Copenhagen’s most famous statue; a Little Mermaid of our very own!

Head down to Napa Harbour and there she is: contemporary, serene, and slightly more curvaceous than her Danish cousin. Holding a lyre and riding high above the waves on a dolphin, the bronze sculpture was unveiled in 2015, and is a testament to the town’s sea-faring roots. There’s something rather lovely about having our very own island mermaid; next time you’re down by the eastern shores check her out: even if you’re not interested in paying homage to our marine ancestry,

The Little Mermaid of Napa Harbour is worth a visit for the photo opportunities alone.

For more information on the Mermaid Sculpture in Ayia Napa Harbour, check out The Mermaid of Ayia Napa on Trip Advisor

MERMAID CAKE
Based in Larnaca, and with a shop just behind Lidl in Aradippou, Emma’s Lunch has been baking divine confectionary for six years now, in varieties which include red velvet, vanilla, jam, cookies and cream, carrot cake, and even banana chocolate chip! But it’s what goes on top that’s most intriguing, and owner Vanja Radivojevic-Savva has more than a few delightful mermaid cakes under her belt! Willing and able to create any fishy design you want, her mermaid tail cake and Ariel cake are favourites, along with the delightful mermaid cupcakes.

Theme cakes start at €30. Visit the Facebook page Emma’s Lunch or call 99 382652

Home-made and based in Nicosia, with a shop near the Hilton opening any day now, Sweet Oh Cake are a hit in the capital. The creatrice behind the brand is Maria Markidou Agathangelou, and she’s been baking biscuits, cupcakes and theme cakes to order for over a decade… One of her creations is the mermaid cake, which can be made with fillings as diverse as chocolate mousse, Snickers, Nutella, red velvet and carrot cake. Or order up a batch of mermaid biscuits for that added summer sparkle at your party!

Theme cakes start at €40. Visit the Facebook page Sweet Oh Cake or call 99 514939

MERMAID SCHOOL
Okay, so you can visit a mermaid sculpture, hire a mermaid entertainer, or spot a mermaid or two in their natural habitat. But what if you, yourself, want to become a mermaid? The Coralia Mermaid School has the solution to your bipedal dilemmas: an Ayia-Napa based venture which promises “the REAL mermaid experience!” Run by Coralia herself, the school is open to kids of all ages and includes a two-day course in diving, swimming, and splashing around in a fishy tail (presented to you at the start). The roughly two-hour lessons take place in either the sea or a pool (Coralia is happy to travel anywhere on the island), always with a qualified lifeguard in attendance, as safety is paramount where little mermaids are concerned!

Along with your new piscine knowledge, you also get 100+ photos of your time, with the entire experience clocking in at €150. Which ain’t cheap, but is certain to make some little budding mermaid/merman very happy this summer! You can also hire Coralia for parties and modelling engagements – having a mermaid at your pool party is might just ensure you host the most-talked-about event of the year!

For more information, visit coraliamermaidschool.webnode.fi, the Facebook page Mermaid Coralia, or call 97 653179

MERMAID BLANKET
Lastly, here’s one for the colder months – or for those with excellent air conditioning. Mermaid tail blankets are huge the world over – a whimsical way to wrap up warm. But if you don’t want to wait for winter (and an Amazon delivery) try Emerald Green Cat Eye’s Etsy shop. Nicosia resident Chrystalla Ioannou is the creatrice behind these custom-made wool blankets, which come in the size and colour of your choosing. Kids’ can be made in within 10 days, adults’ within a month, and all can be delivered anywhere on the island.

Cost from €60. For more information, visit the Etsy shop or Facebook page, both called Emerald Green Cat Eye

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