Catamaran cruise to Ile aux Cerfs from Pointe Jerome

Mauritius looks best from the water. This seven-hour catamaran cruise combines Ile aux Cerfs, a snorkeling stop, Grand River South East Waterfall, and an onboard BBQ. I like the generous open bar and the friendly crew, along with the useful mix of swimming, sightseeing, beach time, and local music. The main concern is reliability: several recent bookings reportedly ended in a no-show at Pointe Jerome.

You leave Pointe Jerome at 9:00 and usually return around 16:30, although tides and wind can shift the schedule. I also like that the 42-foot boat has a shaded cockpit, sunbathing nets, showers, and a toilet. Just keep in mind that roughly 90 minutes on Ile aux Cerfs may feel short if your main goal is a long, quiet beach day.

Key points to know before you book

• A full day for $60: The price includes the catamaran, BBQ lunch, open bar, snorkeling equipment, and the main island and waterfall stops.
• Three different water experiences: You can snorkel in the lagoon, swim from or near the boat, and relax on Ile aux Cerfs’s white sand.
• Grand River South East by boat: The river stop offers distant waterfall views, plus the chance to see monkeys and giant bats along the banks.
• Comfortable 42-foot catamaran: Expect a shaded cockpit, seating, trampolines for sunbathing, a toilet, and showers.
• Food and drinks are a major part of the day: Beer, rum, cocktails, soft drinks, juice, tea, coffee, cake, and BBQ lunch are included.
• Check the meeting carefully: At Pointe Jerome, look for a representative in a blue-teal shirt with a Mauritius Taxi Service badge.

Why this cruise works so well as a Mauritius day out

I like this trip because it does not ask you to choose between a beach day and a boat trip. You get a little of both, with food and drinks folded into the price.

The southeast coast is a good setting for a catamaran day. From the moment you leave Pointe Jerome, the focus is on open water, warm weather, changing coastal views, and the chance to cool off. You are not simply transported to Ile aux Cerfs and left there. The journey itself is part of the experience.

At $60 per person, the value is strong if you plan to use the included features. A separate boat ride, lunch, snorkeling rental, and drinks could quickly add up. Here, the open bar remains available through much of the day, and the crew prepares lunch onboard.

The value is less clear if you do not drink, dislike group boat trips, or mainly want several quiet hours on the beach. In that case, the shorter island visit and the social atmosphere may not suit you as well.

Leaving Pointe Jerome at 9:00

The meeting point is the Pointe Jerome embarkation area on Mauritius’s southeast coast. The scheduled departure is 9:00, so I would arrive early enough to find the representative without rushing.

Look for a person wearing a blue-teal shirt and a badge identifying Mauritius Taxi Service. That person is supposed to guide you to the catamaran. This detail matters because the meeting area may have several boats and operators, and the correct contact is not simply any crew member nearby.

Pick-up and drop-off from your hotel are not included in the $60 price, though an optional arrangement may be available. You need to plan your own way to Pointe Jerome unless you add that service.

The most important practical warning concerns the departure itself. Several people reported waiting at Pointe Jerome without the organizer appearing or answering the phone. Those reports include waits from 8:45 to 9:50 and claims that nobody was present. That is a serious issue, especially when you have arranged transport and built your whole day around the cruise.

I would confirm the departure details shortly before the trip and keep the provider’s contact information handy. This is not a criticism of the sailing program itself, which received many strong ratings, but it is a real booking risk that you should take seriously.

Life aboard the 42-foot catamaran

The boat is designed for day charters, with a large shaded cockpit, ordinary seating, and front trampolines for lying in the sun. You can choose shade, open air, or a spot closer to the water depending on the weather and how crowded the boat feels.

The shaded area is especially useful in Mauritius. Seven hours under a strong tropical sun can become tiring, and a boat without cover would make the day much less comfortable. You should still bring sunscreen and a sun hat, since parts of the cruise are spent in direct sun.

The catamaran has a toilet and showers, which are small details with real value on a long day at sea. After swimming or snorkeling, you can rinse off and change rather than spending the afternoon salty and damp.

The crew adds much of the character. They serve the food, pour drinks, share local tales and jokes, and play Mauritian sega music. That gives the trip a social, distinctly local feel rather than making it a silent transfer between photo stops.

If you prefer a calm, private sailing experience, this may feel busy or informal. If you like a friendly boat with music, conversation, and a crew that takes an active role, the mood should suit you.

Snorkeling in the largest lagoon

The snorkeling stop is scheduled for around 11:00, inside the island’s largest lagoon. This is one of the most useful parts of the outing because it breaks up the sailing and gives you time in the water rather than only viewing it from the deck.

Snorkeling equipment is included. You can look for corals and brightly colored tropical fish while swimming in the lagoon. The water is also suitable for a refreshing swim, so you do not need to be an experienced snorkeler to enjoy this stop.

Keep expectations sensible. This is a group excursion, not a specialist marine-life trip with a long, guided search for rare species. Conditions can change with tide and wind, and the amount you see will depend on the water that day. Still, the stop gives you a straightforward chance to see some of the local underwater life without arranging another activity.

Bring a towel and a change of clothes. I would also keep your camera protected until you are back on the boat, since the day moves between swimming, wet gear, lunch, and beach time.

Grand River South East Waterfall from the water

After snorkeling, the catamaran continues along the east coast toward the mouth of Grand River South East. The boat goes up the river to view the waterfall from a distance.

This is a scenic stop rather than a waterfall hike. You will not be walking to the base or standing beside the falls. Instead, you see the river mouth and the waterfall from the water, with monkeys on the riverbank and a giant bat colony adding an unusual wildlife detail.

The outing may involve changing boats for part of the waterfall visit, according to the timing described by one French booking. That can add a little movement to the day, so listen carefully to the crew’s instructions.

The waterfall is not the main event here. Ile aux Cerfs and the time on the catamaran are the stronger attractions. But the river trip gives you a change of scenery and a glimpse of Mauritius beyond the beach postcard.

A BBQ lunch with an open bar

Lunch is served onboard after the river visit. The crew prepares a BBQ, and this is widely praised as one of the best parts of the cruise.

The meal is practical and well timed. You can eat while the catamaran continues toward Ile aux Cerfs, rather than losing beach time by searching for a restaurant. Alcoholic choices include beer, rum, and cocktails. Non-alcoholic drinks include soft drinks, juice, and cocktails.

The open bar operates from the start of the cruise and continues after the island visit. On the return journey, the crew serves tea, coffee, and slices of cake as well. For a $60 outing, that amount of food and drink makes the price easier to justify.

Vegetarians need to advise the operator ahead of time so the chef can prepare a suitable meal. Do not wait until you are sitting down to eat. The available information does not describe the exact BBQ menu, so anyone with serious dietary needs should confirm what can be provided before paying.

The alcohol is part of the social atmosphere, but you do not need to drink to enjoy the trip. The non-alcoholic choices and the included lunch make the package workable for families and people who prefer to stay clearheaded on the water.

Arriving at Ile aux Cerfs

After lunch, the boat passes through the channel between Ile aux Cerfs and the Anahita sanctuary before stopping at the island’s famous white sandbank.

Ile aux Cerfs is the classic image of a Mauritius beach day: pale sand, palm and casuarina trees, and turquoise lagoon water. You can walk along the beach, swim, snorkel, or simply find a place to sit and enjoy the scenery.

The island also has facilities and optional water sports. Parasailing, tube riding, and an undersea walk cost extra, so the $60 price does not cover those activities. A lobster lunch is also optional, but it is not necessary when the BBQ is already included onboard.

The schedule allows about 90 minutes on the island, based on the timing given by one person who took the cruise. That is enough for a stroll, a swim, and photographs, but not enough for a slow exploration of every corner. If you want to spend most of the day on Ile aux Cerfs, look for a trip that gives you more island time.

I see the limited beach time as a trade-off rather than an automatic flaw. This excursion is built around the whole day at sea. You are visiting the island as one part of a larger route, not using the catamaran only as a ferry.

The return sail to Pointe Jerome

Once the island stop ends, you return to the catamaran and sail back to Pointe Jerome. Tea, coffee, cake, and the open bar are available on the way back.

The expected arrival back at your hotel is around 16:30, but the published timing depends on tide and wind. Since hotel transport is not part of the standard package, use the Pointe Jerome return time as your planning reference and leave some flexibility afterward.

One unusual operational complaint described the hull rubbing badly because of the tide. That may have been a single condition on a particular day, but it points to a broader truth: shallow water, tide, and wind can affect the route and schedule. If you have an evening flight, a fixed dinner reservation, or another timed activity, do not plan it too tightly.

The reliability question you should not ignore

The experience has a mixed record. The overall score is 4.2 from 14 ratings, with many five-star accounts praising the crew, food, snorkeling, waterfall, and welcoming service. French-speaking passengers in particular described the crew as attentive and the day as good value.

But several one-star reports describe the same basic problem: nobody arrived at the meeting point, the phone was switched off, and the cruise did not take place. One report called it a scam after being told at the location that the company did not exist.

That does not erase the positive experiences, but it changes how I would book. I would confirm the meeting point, departure time, and contact number shortly before the day. At Pointe Jerome, I would look specifically for the blue-teal shirt and Mauritius Taxi Service badge rather than assuming any waiting boat is yours.

The weather policy is clear enough. The cruise may be rescheduled when conditions are genuinely adverse and the sea is extremely rough, not simply because it is raining. If another date cannot be offered, a full refund is available. Free cancellation is also allowed up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Who should choose this cruise?

I think this is a good fit for you if you want a broad taste of Mauritius in one day. It suits couples, families, and groups who like swimming, casual sightseeing, music, drinks, and a relaxed boat atmosphere.

It is especially useful if you want costs kept predictable. Lunch, drinks, snorkeling gear, the island visit, and the waterfall stop are included, so there are fewer surprise expenses than on a basic boat transfer.

You may want another option if you want a quiet luxury cruise, a serious snorkeling program, or a long stretch of uninterrupted beach time. The music, open bar, and friendly crew create a social outing, not a private sailing charter.

French and English are spoken, which helps if you need instructions during snorkeling or want to ask the crew about the route. Bring comfortable shoes, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, your camera, and dry clothes for the ride home.

Should you book the Ile aux Cerfs catamaran cruise?

Book it if the combination matters more to you than any single stop. For $60, you get a full day on a comfortable 42-foot catamaran, a BBQ, open bar, snorkeling, a river and waterfall visit, and time on one of Mauritius’s best-known beaches.

I would not book it without confirming the departure details first. The strong praise for the crew and food is balanced by several serious no-show reports. If the operator confirms your booking and you are comfortable with about 90 minutes on Ile aux Cerfs, this is a well-priced, lively way to see the southeast coast.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise depart?

The cruise departs from Pointe Jerome on the southeast coast of Mauritius.

What time does the cruise leave?

The scheduled departure time is 9:00.

When does the cruise return?

The expected return to the hotel is around 16:30, but tides and wind can affect the timing.

Is hotel pick-up included?

No. Hotel pick-up and drop-off are not included in the standard price, though an optional service may be available.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A BBQ lunch is prepared and served onboard the catamaran.

Are drinks included?

Yes. An unlimited open bar includes alcoholic drinks such as beer, rum, and cocktails, along with soft drinks, juice, tea, coffee, and cake.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, as is a snorkeling and swimming stop in the lagoon.

What languages are spoken?

The activity is offered in French and English.

Can the cruise be canceled or rescheduled?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The trip may be rescheduled if the weather is genuinely adverse and the sea is extremely rough. If no alternative date is available, a full refund is offered.