Catamaran trip to Ile Aux Cerfs With Two Way Transportation

The main appeal here is simple: you get a full day on the water without having to arrange taxis, boat tickets, meals, or drinks separately. I especially like the hotel-to-harbor transportation and the chance to see Île aux Cerfs by catamaran rather than treating the island as a quick beach stop.

I also like that the price includes barbecue food and drinks, plus a waterfall visit and time for swimming. The main caution is consistency. The catamaran is advertised for up to 40 people, and one very unhappy booking described a crowded boat, poor meal organization, and a long wait for an optional parasailing activity. Confirm the day’s plan when you book.

Key points to know before booking

• A full eight-hour outing: This is a major part of your day, not a short boat ride.
• Île aux Cerfs by catamaran: The boat ride is the heart of the experience, with swimming time included.
• Food and drinks are covered: Breakfast, lunch, barbecue dishes, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks are included.
• A waterfall visit adds variety: You are not limited to beach and boat time.
• Hotel pickup is included across Mauritius: The driver collects you at your hotel reception and returns you afterward.
• Service can vary by departure: Most supplied comments praise the crew and driver, but one serious complaint raises concerns about crowding and organization.

Sailing from your hotel to the harbor

Your day begins with pickup at your hotel reception in an air-conditioned vehicle. This is one of the strongest practical features because Mauritius is spread out, and reaching the harbor on your own can mean arranging a taxi at an early hour or navigating unfamiliar roads.

The included transfer matters even more if you are staying in Grand Baie or another part of northern Mauritius. One booking from Grand Baie involved roughly 1.5 hours each way, so you should think of the transport as a useful service but also as a sizable part of the day.

I would ask for the exact pickup time before departure. The tour lasts eight hours, but that figure does not necessarily include the drive from your hotel to the harbor and back. If your hotel is far from the departure point, the outing may feel like a very long day.

The transport reports are mixed. Several comments describe a punctual, friendly, and professional driver. One person praised the transfer and said it made the day easy to organize. Another raised a serious safety complaint about fast driving, risky overtaking, and phone use behind the wheel. I cannot know how typical that was, but it is fair advice to speak up if you feel uncomfortable in the vehicle.

Boarding the catamaran and finding your space

At the harbor, you board the catamaran for the trip toward Île aux Cerfs. The stated maximum capacity is 40 passengers. That is not a small private cruise, so book this with the expectation of a shared boat and a social atmosphere.

The best departures appear to have a friendly crew, music, plentiful drinks, and an easygoing mood. Several comments praise the staff for being welcoming and attentive. If you enjoy meeting people, listening to music, and spending a day outside rather than sitting quietly on a private boat, this setup should suit you.

The tradeoff is space and control. A catamaran carrying a large group can make meals, seating, and movement less relaxed. One complaint described about 30 passengers on board, with people holding plates, cutlery, and glasses because the lunch service was poorly arranged. That account also referred to a promise of a six-person group, which conflicts with the stated capacity of up to 40.

For that reason, I would not book this expecting a private or luxury sailing trip, despite the provider’s name. Think of it as an all-day shared excursion with food, drinks, music, and several stops.

Breakfast, barbecue, and drinks on board

Food is built into the price. The package lists breakfast, lunch, barbecue, and drinks, with fish, chicken, sausages, and salads among the promised choices. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are also included, and the description presents the barbecue and drinks as unlimited.

That can make $116 per person a reasonable price. A separate taxi, catamaran ticket, lunch, drinks, and waterfall visit could quickly add up, especially if you are traveling with several people. The value is not just the food. You are paying for one coordinated day with pickup, transport, a boat, meals, and activities handled together.

Still, I would keep your expectations practical. One supplied account said breakfast was missing and lunch was limited and badly organized. Other comments praised the meal, calling the food excellent, and described drinks as plentiful. These opposing accounts suggest that service may depend on the particular boat, crew, or day.

The sensible approach is to eat something before pickup, even though breakfast is listed as included. That way, you are not starting an eight-hour excursion hungry if the morning meal is delayed or modest. Bring patience to the lunch service, too, especially if the boat is close to capacity.

Alcohol is included, so the mood may become louder as the day goes on. Most comments describe a good atmosphere, but one account complained about intoxicated and noisy passengers. If you want a calm boat trip, this may not be the right choice. If music and a party-like setting sound enjoyable, the same feature may be a plus.

The catamaran ride toward Île aux Cerfs

The boat ride gives the excursion its character. Instead of arriving at Île aux Cerfs by the quickest possible route, you spend much of the day on the water, with food, drinks, and company around you.

I like this format because it combines transport with the experience itself. You are not simply being delivered to an island and left to fill the hours. The catamaran becomes the social center of the outing, with the crew serving food and drinks and the route linking the island and waterfall stop.

The information provided does not give a precise sailing route, departure harbor, or exact time at each stop. That makes it hard to promise a detailed minute-by-minute schedule. Ask the operator how long you will have at Île aux Cerfs and how the day divides between sailing, swimming, the waterfall, and meals.

Music is part of the atmosphere according to the supplied comments. Several people enjoyed the mood on board, and the crew received strong praise for friendliness and attention. I would choose this tour for a lively shared day, not for quiet sailing, privacy, or a carefully guided cultural journey.

Swimming and time at Île aux Cerfs

Île aux Cerfs is the main destination, and swimming is included. The island gives you a chance to get off the boat, stretch your legs, and spend time in the water rather than remaining on board for the entire excursion.

You need to bring your own swimwear. It is specifically excluded, along with shopping expenses and personal extras. Pack a towel and any personal items you need for swimming, although the supplied information does not confirm whether towels, lockers, or changing facilities are available.

One person specifically wished for more time on the island. That is useful advice because the island is not the only element of the day. The boat ride, meals, waterfall stop, and transport all take time, so you should not assume that most of the eight-hour outing will be spent ashore.

I would ask before departure how long the island stop lasts. If your priority is beach time, a day trip focused mainly on Île aux Cerfs may suit you better than a boat package with several included components. If you like variety, the combination of island, swimming, sailing, and waterfall is more appealing.

Shopping is not included. You can bring money if you want to buy something on the island, but the tour price covers the organized activities, meals, drinks, and transport rather than personal purchases.

The complimentary waterfall visit

The waterfall stop is a welcome change of pace. It adds a land and nature element to a day otherwise centered on the boat and island. The visit is included at no extra charge, so you do not need to decide whether an additional paid activity fits your budget.

The details are limited. The supplied information does not name the waterfall, explain how long you stop there, or say whether you view it from the boat or visit it on foot. Ask for those details if the waterfall is a major reason for booking.

I see this stop as a bonus rather than the main reason to choose the excursion. Île aux Cerfs, the catamaran, swimming, food, and drinks form the main package. The waterfall helps break up the day and gives you another setting for photographs and sightseeing, but it should not be treated as a long guided nature walk unless the operator confirms that.

Crew, language, and the mood on board

The crew speaks English and French. That makes the tour practical for a broad range of visitors, and it should help with basic instructions about boarding, meals, swimming, and meeting points.

The strongest positive pattern is the crew’s friendliness. Multiple comments describe the catamaran staff as kind, welcoming, and attentive. The driver also received praise for being punctual and pleasant on several departures. Those details matter because an eight-hour shared excursion depends heavily on staff attitude.

There is also a serious negative account involving the organizer, Royal Luxury Holidays. The complaint described poor handling of a service dispute and alleged discriminatory comments and intimidation. That is a grave allegation. I cannot verify it, but it is important enough that I would keep all booking details and confirmations, and I would raise problems calmly and promptly with the appropriate booking platform.

The more ordinary concern is organization. A full boat, alcohol, music, and buffet-style food can create a noisy, untidy setting if the crew does not manage the flow well. If you need a quiet, highly structured day, consider a smaller boat or a private charter instead.

Is $116 a fair price?

At $116 per person, the price is best judged as a package. You receive hotel pickup and drop-off, the catamaran ticket, breakfast, lunch, barbecue food, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, swimming, and a waterfall visit.

That is strong value if you plan to use the food and drinks and would otherwise need to arrange transport separately. The included transfer is especially helpful for visitors staying far from the harbor. You also avoid the hassle of finding a boat operator, buying lunch, and arranging your return.

The value is weaker if you want a private boat, a small group, or maximum time on Île aux Cerfs. A shared catamaran with up to 40 passengers cannot offer the same personal space as a private trip. You may also spend part of the day waiting for meals or moving between activities.

I would compare the cost with one question: do you want convenience and an all-in-one day, or control and quiet? At this price, the tour leans toward convenience and social atmosphere.

Who should book this excursion?

I would recommend it to you if you want an easy island day with transportation included. It suits couples, friends, and families who enjoy a shared boat, music, swimming, barbecue food, and drinks without having to plan each part independently.

It also works well if you are staying outside the immediate harbor area. Pickup from any hotel in Mauritius removes a large planning task, though long drives can make the day tiring.

I would be more cautious if you dislike crowds, alcohol, loud music, or buffet-style meals. You may also want another option if your main aim is several quiet hours on Île aux Cerfs, since the schedule includes the boat ride, meals, waterfall visit, and transport.

Before booking, confirm three points: the expected passenger count, the amount of time on the island, and how breakfast and lunch will be served. Those answers will tell you whether this is the relaxed island day you want or a busier group outing.

Booking advice and cancellation terms

The activity allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. It also offers reserve now and pay later, which is useful if you are still arranging your Mauritius schedule.

Pickup is included, and the chauffeur collects you at the reception of your hotel. The advertised languages are English and French. The tour lasts eight hours, but remember that the included road transfer may add substantial time, particularly from northern resorts.

Should you book the Île aux Cerfs catamaran trip?

I would book this if you value a complete day with transport, meals, drinks, swimming, and a boat ride in one price. The friendly crew, good onboard atmosphere, and helpful hotel transfer are genuine strengths, and the waterfall stop gives the itinerary some variety.

I would not book it if you expect a private cruise, a six-person group, or a quiet beach-focused schedule. The stated capacity is up to 40 people, and the conflicting accounts of food service and crowd control mean you should confirm the details before paying.

For the best chance of a good fit, contact Royal Luxury Holidays or the booking provider and ask about group size, breakfast, lunch service, and island time. If the answers suit you, $116 is a sensible price for a convenient, social day on the water.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts eight hours. Hotel transportation to and from the harbor is included and may add extra time to your day.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. A chauffeur picks you up at your hotel reception in an air-conditioned vehicle and provides the return transfer.

Is the catamaran ticket included?

Yes. The catamaran ticket is included in the price.

What food is included?

Breakfast and lunch are included. The lunch includes a barbecue with fish, chicken, sausages, and salads.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are included, and the package describes them as unlimited.

Is swimming part of the tour?

Yes. Swimming is included as one of the activities. You need to bring your own swimwear.

Is the waterfall visit included?

Yes. The tour includes a complimentary visit to a waterfall.

What languages are available?

The tour is available in English and French.