Exclusive Private Catamaran Adventure: Ile aux Cerf (Full Day Cruise incl Lunch)

Paradise comes with a boat timetable. This private catamaran day trip combines two things I especially like: hotel pickup across Mauritius and a full day on the water with snorkeling, lunch, and drinks included. I also like the easy mix of sea time, Grand River South East waterfalls, and beach time at Ile aux Cerfs. The main concern is the price, $993.32 for a group of up to four, especially since one detailed rating described the boat as older and the meal as only fair.

You should also know that private does not necessarily mean custom-built from start to finish. The day follows a set route and timetable, and optional activities such as parasailing, tube riding, and undersea walking cost extra. Still, the private vehicle, private group setting, open bar, and included lunch can make this a comfortable choice for a family or small group that values convenience.

Key points to know before booking

• A full east-coast day: You leave your accommodation around 8:30 a.m. and return to Trou d’Eau Douce around 4 p.m., with roughly seven to eight hours of sightseeing and sailing.
• A private group of up to four: The quoted price covers the group, not each person, so the value improves when four people share it.
• Waterfall first, island later: Grand River South East comes early, followed by a snorkeling stop, barbecue lunch, and time at Ile aux Cerfs.
• Food and drinks are built in: The three-course meal includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices, while beer, wine, soft drinks, water, and rum are available.
• Snorkeling gear is provided: You only need to bring your own towels and spare clothes.
• Water sports cost extra: Parasailing, tube riding, and undersea walking are not part of the advertised price.

Starting from Trou d’Eau Douce at 8:30 a.m.

Your day begins with pickup from your accommodation anywhere in Mauritius. A private, air-conditioned vehicle takes you to Trou d’Eau Douce, a fishing village on the island’s east coast. The stated meeting time is 8:30 a.m., although the exact pickup can vary with your location.

That door-to-door service matters. Mauritius is not a small island when you are crossing from one coast to another, and arranging separate transport to the marina would add work. The included driver and guide also mean you can focus on the day instead of watching road signs.

You are scheduled to reach Trou d’Eau Douce at about 9:15 a.m. and board the catamaran at 9:30. The start is early, but it gives you a useful stretch of daylight for the river, snorkeling, lunch, and Ile aux Cerfs.

The crew supplies local music, jokes, and stories during the cruise. That can give the journey a friendly Mauritian touch, though the quality of the atmosphere will depend on the crew working that day. The experience is designed as a relaxed outing with friends or family, not as a quiet sailing lesson or a formal cultural tour.

Grand River South East and the short waterfall ride

The first major stop is Grand River South East, one of the east coast’s scenic attractions. You leave the catamaran and transfer to a speedboat for the trip upstream to the waterfall, located about 500 metres inland.

This quick change of boats adds a little excitement and lets you see the river from close to the water. The riverbanks may offer glimpses of monkeys in the trees, and fruit bats can sometimes be seen high above the river. Those sightings are not guaranteed, so treat them as a bonus rather than a promise.

The waterfall visit lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough for a look and some photographs, but not enough for a long walk or extended exploration. If you prefer a slow morning with plenty of time at each place, this schedule may feel brisk.

After the waterfall, you return to the catamaran and head toward Ile aux Cerfs. The route makes good use of the island’s east coast: river scenery first, open water next, then the famous white beaches and shallow blue lagoon.

Snorkeling in the lagoon before lunch

The catamaran stops in the lagoon for swimming and snorkeling. Equipment is supplied, which saves you from packing fins and a mask. You should still bring a towel and another set of clothes, since the water stop comes well before the ride back to your accommodation.

The lagoon is described as having coral reefs and brightly colored tropical fish. Conditions can change with weather and water clarity, so your view of marine life may vary. This is a recreational snorkeling stop rather than a specialist marine excursion, and the supplied information does not promise a guide-led reef lesson or a particular species sighting.

For many people, this will be the best part of the morning. You get time in the water without having to arrange a separate snorkeling trip, and you can return to the catamaran when you have had enough. If you are not a confident swimmer, ask the crew what support is available before entering the water. The information confirms the equipment, but it does not specify flotation support or lifeguard supervision.

The snorkeling and lunch section is scheduled for about three hours. That gives the day some breathing room. You are not simply stepping off a boat, taking one photograph, and rushing to the next stop.

A three-course barbecue with an open bar

Lunch is served after snorkeling, either on the beach or on the catamaran. The meal is described as a three-course barbecue with vegetables, rice or pasta salads, and grilled garlic bread. Main-course choices include grilled chicken and sausages, with vegetarian and halal options available when requested.

Food allergies or illness should be reported at booking. Vegetarian meals are available, but you should not wait until boarding to raise dietary needs. A lobster lunch is also available for an additional charge, with the price supplied separately by the operator.

The open bar is one of the stronger inclusions. You receive unlimited locally served drinks, including wine, beer, soft drinks, water, and rum. This is useful on a long, hot day, since you do not have to keep buying drinks at each stop. It also adds value for a group that plans to spend most of the day aboard the boat.

Keep your expectations sensible about the food. One three-star assessment described the meal as only average, so lunch may be best viewed as convenient barbecue fare rather than a gourmet event. The food covers the needs of a full day, but the price does not guarantee restaurant-level cooking.

Three hours on Ile aux Cerfs

After lunch and the water stop, you spend time at Ile aux Cerfs. The island is known for white sand, palm trees, and clear turquoise water, and the approach by catamaran gives you a fine view of the coast before you go ashore.

The planned island visit lasts about three hours. You can walk along the beach, swim, sit in the sun, or simply enjoy the setting. The long stop is important because it keeps the excursion from becoming a nonstop boat transfer.

Optional water sports include parasailing, tube riding, and undersea walking. None is included in the tour cost, so ask about current prices before agreeing to an activity. These extras can quickly change the final bill, especially if several people in your group want to participate.

The island portion is likely to suit you best if you want a classic beach day with transport and meals arranged. It is less suitable if you are searching for an untouched, empty shore or a highly personal island experience. Ile aux Cerfs is a popular destination, and the tour information does not promise a private beach area.

The private booking does give your group more personal space than a standard shared excursion. But the day still follows the normal attractions and sailing route. The most accurate way to think about it is private transport and private group arrangements, not a completely improvised cruise.

Sailing back to Trou d’Eau Douce

The return sail is scheduled after your time on the island, with arrival in Trou d’Eau Douce around 4 p.m. Your driver then takes you back to your accommodation. The final hour is a pleasant buffer after swimming, eating, and walking in the sun.

The total experience lasts about seven to eight hours, depending on pickup location and the day’s timing. That makes it a substantial full-day outing, so do not schedule another major attraction immediately afterward.

The catamaran is the heart of the experience. You get open-air sailing, music, drinks, and time to talk with your group rather than spending the day moving between land vehicles. One critical rating called the boat old and felt the trip was more like a standard tourist outing than a highly individualized cruise. That is worth taking seriously if the word luxury is the main reason you are considering this booking.

Is $993.32 good value for four people?

The listed price is $993.32 per group of up to four. If four people share the booking, that works out to about $248 per person. For two people, the same group price works out to about $497 per person, so the economics are much better for a full group.

At that price, you are paying for more than the boat ride. The package includes pickup and drop-off anywhere in Mauritius, private air-conditioned transportation, a qualified guide and driver, the waterfall trip, snorkeling equipment, a three-course lunch, and unlimited listed drinks.

That is a strong bundle for four people who would otherwise need to arrange transport, food, and a separate boat trip. The private format also has real value for families or friends who want to stay together without sharing every part of the day with strangers.

The value is weaker if you are a couple on a tight budget or if you mainly want a short beach visit. You could be paying for private service and included drinks that you do not care much about. The price also does not include the popular motorized and undersea activities.

The mixed rating of 4.1 from seven ratings suggests a generally positive experience, but not a flawless one. The specific criticism about an older boat, limited customization, and ordinary food should temper the premium language used to describe the cruise.

Who will enjoy this private cruise most?

I would recommend this trip most readily to a group of three or four people who want convenience. You get a full itinerary without having to coordinate transfers, lunch, snorkeling gear, and return transport yourself.

It also suits families who want a manageable mix of activities. Children or less active adults can enjoy the boat and beach while stronger swimmers snorkel. The schedule gives you several ways to spend the day instead of making everyone participate in the same activity.

Couples may like the privacy, open bar, and scenery, but they should examine the cost carefully. At two people, the per-person price is high unless the private setting is especially important to you.

This is not the best match for a serious sailor, a gourmet, or someone seeking an entirely flexible day. You will follow a set route, and the boat and food may feel less polished than the price suggests.

Practical details that affect your day

A minimum of two people is required per booking, and only your group participates in the private activity. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the tour is near public transportation, though the included pickup makes public transport unnecessary for most customers.

The start time is 8:30 a.m., with pickup variations based on your accommodation. Bring a towel and spare clothes for snorkeling. You should also tell the operator about vegetarian needs, food allergies, or illness when booking.

The experience depends on good weather. If a cyclone or torrential rainfall alert causes the operator to cancel, you can receive a full refund. The standard cancellation rule is strict: if you cancel or request a change, the booking is non-refundable.

That combination deserves attention. You receive weather protection if the operator calls off the tour, but you do not receive the same protection if your own plans change. Book only when you are confident about your dates.

Should you book the Ile aux Cerfs catamaran?

Book it if you want a private, all-day east-coast outing with transport, a catamaran, snorkeling, barbecue lunch, drinks, a waterfall stop, and beach time in one package. It is especially sensible for four people sharing the group price.

Think twice if you are paying for two people, expect a new luxury yacht, or want complete control over the schedule. The boat may feel older than the price suggests, the lunch sounds practical rather than special, and the extra water sports cost more.

For the right group, the convenience is the main prize. You can leave the driving and arrangements to someone else, enjoy a broad sample of the east coast, and spend the afternoon at Ile aux Cerfs without piecing together separate bookings. Just treat the experience as a polished private day trip, not a fully bespoke sailing adventure.

FAQ

How long does the catamaran experience last?

The tour lasts approximately seven to eight hours. Pickup begins around 8:30 a.m., and return to Trou d’Eau Douce is expected around 4 p.m.

Where does the catamaran depart?

The catamaran departs from Trou d’Eau Douce on the east coast of Mauritius. Pickup is offered from accommodations anywhere in Mauritius.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off at any accommodation or hotel in Mauritius are included, along with private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Is the tour private?

Yes. This is a private activity, and only your booked group participates. The maximum group size is four people, and at least two people are required to book.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A three-course lunch is included. The meal includes vegetables, rice or pasta salads, grilled garlic bread, and grilled main-course items, with vegetarian and halal options available.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited locally served drinks are included, including wine, beer, soft drinks, water, and rum.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is provided. You should bring your own towel and spare clothes for the snorkeling stop.

Are parasailing and other water sports included?

No. Parasailing, tube riding, and undersea walking are optional activities with additional charges. Lobster lunch also costs extra.

Can I request a vegetarian meal?

Yes. Vegetarian meals are available, but you should advise the operator at the time of booking. Food allergies or illness should also be reported.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

The experience requires good weather. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, cyclone conditions, or torrential rainfall alerts, you will be offered another date or a full refund.