Private Charter Full Day Cruise: Île aux Cerfs

The day begins on the water. This private cruise pairs a roomy 45-foot catamaran with a fine mix of swimming, scenery, wildlife, and free time at Île aux Cerfs. I like the privacy for families and groups, and I like that the crew provides snorkel equipment rather than making you rent it separately.

I also appreciate the friendly crew, clear safety briefing, and chance to tailor the day to your group. The main drawback is time: seven hours sounds generous, but the day includes several stops, and one past guest wished for more time swimming from the boat. Food and drinks are also extra, so your final cost can rise.

Key points to know before you book

• Private use of a 45-foot Island Hopper catamaran: Your group has the boat to itself, with space for up to 15 people.
• Île aux Cerfs combines beach time and optional activities: Swim, sunbathe, walk, or pay separately for activities such as parasailing.
• Free snorkel equipment is provided: That makes a quick swim stop easier and keeps one small rental cost off your bill.
• GRSE Waterfall adds a wildlife stop: The river cruise may bring views of monkeys, giant bats, and other animals in the trees.
• Lunch is optional and costs extra: A standard BBQ menu and drinks cost €35 per person, while the lobster menu costs €74 per person.
• The crew receives high marks for safety and friendliness: A strong briefing helps you settle in before the sailing begins.

Why this private cruise works well for a group

The biggest advantage is control. This is a private activity, so only your own group joins the boat. That matters if you are traveling with family, close friends, or a group celebrating something and want to talk, swim, and relax without sharing the deck with strangers.

The boat is the 45-foot, 14-meter Island Hopper, a catamaran built for day sailing. The size gives you a proper sailing platform rather than a small transfer boat, while the private format keeps the mood more personal. You are not simply being carried from one port to another. The day is designed around time on the water.

The listed price is $1,335.67 per group of up to 15 people. At the maximum group size, that works out to about $89 per person before food, drinks, or optional activities. For a smaller group, the per-person price rises quickly, so I would compare your head count before booking.

A group of 10 would pay about $134 per person for the charter, while a group of six would pay about $223 per person. That makes this much better value when you can fill most of the available places. For a couple or small family, a shared cruise may make more financial sense.

The tour lasts about seven hours and begins at 9:00 a.m. at Pointe Jerome Embarkation Point in Pointe d’Esny. You return to the same meeting point. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to arrange your own way to and from Pointe Jerome.

Setting off from Pointe Jerome at 9:00 a.m.

The meeting point is HPGF+496 Pointe Jerome Embarkation Point, Pointe d’Esny, Mauritius. Since the start is a specific riverside and coastal departure point rather than a hotel pickup, allow time to reach it and make sure your whole group knows the exact location.

The experience is mobile-ticket friendly, which keeps the check-in side simple. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. If you are planning around a tight holiday schedule, book ahead. This cruise is booked, on average, 58 days in advance, which suggests that waiting until the last minute may limit your choices.

Once aboard, the crew gives a safety briefing. That detail deserves attention. A good safety talk is not decorative on a boat day. It tells you how to move around the deck, what to expect near the water, and how the crew manages the sailing portion of the trip.

The crew has been praised for being friendly and for explaining the sights along the way. I would especially value that on a private charter, because the quality of the crew shapes the whole day. A quiet, capable crew lets you enjoy the boat without turning the outing into a string of rushed announcements.

Snorkeling and swimming from the catamaran

The cruise includes a stop at a snorkeling location, with snorkel equipment supplied at no extra charge. That is useful for mixed groups. You can try the water without committing to a separate equipment rental, and people who prefer to stay aboard can simply enjoy the catamaran.

The available details do not specify the exact snorkeling site or how long the boat remains there. Keep that in mind if snorkeling is your main reason for booking. The schedule also includes Île aux Cerfs and the GRSE river, so this is a broad sightseeing day rather than a dedicated snorkeling charter.

You may want to ask the operator about the expected swim time when confirming the booking. One piece of feedback specifically pointed to wanting longer for swimming from the boat. That gives you a practical warning: the day offers swimming, but the schedule may not satisfy someone who wants hours in the water.

Bring the attitude of a flexible day sailor. Conditions, wildlife sightings, and the pace of the group can affect the exact timing. The private format may give the crew more room to respond to your interests, but it does not guarantee unlimited time at any single stop.

Île aux Cerfs: beach, clear water, and one free hour

The main island stop is Île aux Cerfs, reached by catamaran and visited for about one hour. You can get off the boat, walk onto the island, and choose how to use that time.

The simplest choice is to relax on the beach and soak up the sun. You can also swim in the clear water. For many people, this will be the easy pleasure of the day: no complicated plan, just a beach, warm weather, and a short break from the boat.

You can also walk or take a hike on the island. That gives you a little more than a beach transfer, especially if some people in your group want to stretch their legs while others stay near the water.

Parasailing is available as an activity on the island, but it is not included in the charter price. Treat it as an optional extra, not part of the core experience. If only one or two people in your group want to try it, clarify the cost and timing locally so the rest of the group does not lose too much of its island hour.

One hour is enough to get a taste of Île aux Cerfs, but it is not a leisurely full-day island visit. You may need to choose between swimming, sunbathing, walking, and an activity. If your dream is to spend most of the day on the beach, this cruise may feel too active. If you want the island as one part of a varied outing, the short visit makes sense.

GRSE Waterfall and the river wildlife

The cruise then heads up the Grand River toward GRSE Waterfall. The waterfall stop lasts about 20 minutes, so expect a brief scenic visit rather than a long walk or extended exploration.

The setting becomes different from the open coast. Instead of focusing only on the sea and beach, you move along the river and look into the trees along the banks. The change of scenery helps break up the day and gives the cruise a stronger sense of place.

There is a chance to see monkeys, giant bats, and other wildlife in the trees. These are possible sightings, not guaranteed attractions on a schedule. Keep your eyes open, but do not book this tour solely for a particular animal.

The mention of giant bats makes this stop especially unusual. You are looking at animals in their natural habitat, not visiting a staged wildlife display. That also means sightings depend on conditions, distance, and luck. A compact camera or binoculars may be useful, though the tour does not promise a close view.

The waterfall itself is a short stop. If you prefer long shore walks, this may feel brief. I see its value as a scenic interlude that adds river and forest views to a day otherwise centered on the coast.

Wildlife sightings are possible, not promised

The cruise also offers a chance to see dolphins, monkeys along the shore, and giant bats in their natural surroundings. Each animal adds a different kind of interest to the trip, but none should be treated as a guaranteed performance.

Dolphins are associated with the open-water portion of the cruise. Monkeys and bats are linked more closely with the river and shoreline vegetation. You will get the best experience by treating wildlife as a welcome surprise while enjoying the sailing itself as the main event.

This approach matters because nature does not follow a tour timetable. If your group includes children, the possibility of spotting animals can keep attention focused, but I would explain beforehand that a quiet wildlife day is still a successful boat day.

The crew’s role helps here. Their safety briefing and explanations of the sights give the outing more substance than simply sitting on a boat and waiting for something to appear. Still, exact commentary and wildlife timing are not specified, so do not expect a formal wildlife expedition.

Lunch, drinks, and the real final cost

Food and drinks are not included in the base price. You can add the standard BBQ lunch menu and drinks for a supplement of €35 per person, or choose a VIP BBQ menu with lobster and drinks for €74 per person.

Tea and coffee are also available. The supplied details do not explain the full menu, serving time, or dietary arrangements, so ask before booking if anyone in your group has food restrictions or needs a particular meal.

The meal supplements can change the value calculation. For 15 people, the standard option adds €525 to the group bill. The lobster option adds €1,110. Those are substantial extras on top of the charter, so decide whether you want the convenience of an arranged lunch or prefer to keep the base price lower.

I usually like the choice. A group with different budgets can decide for itself, and nobody is forced into a meal package. On the other hand, you need to plan ahead. Since hotel pickup, food, and drinks are all outside the base price, this is not an all-inclusive day.

What to bring and how to plan the day

The most useful things are practical: swimwear, sun protection, a towel, and a change of clothes. The tour specifically provides snorkel equipment, so you do not need to bring your own unless you prefer a personal fit.

Because the day includes both boat time and an island stop, wear something that works for getting on and off the catamaran and walking on Île aux Cerfs. Keep valuable items secure and bring only what you want near the water.

Plan your budget before departure. The charter price covers the private tour, but hotel transportation, food, drinks, and parasailing are separate. A group spreadsheet may sound overly serious for a beach day, but it prevents awkward cost debates once you are on the boat.

The tour is described as suitable for most people, and it is near public transportation. Still, anyone with specific mobility or swimming concerns should confirm details with the operator before booking. The information provided does not give detailed accessibility instructions for the catamaran, island landing, or waterfall stop.

Who will get the most from this cruise?

I would recommend it most strongly to a group of friends or family members who can use much of the 15-person capacity. The private boat, flexible atmosphere, and mix of beach, river, swimming, and wildlife make it easy to please people with different interests.

It also suits groups who care about comfort and privacy more than the lowest possible price. You are paying for exclusive use of the boat, not just a seat on a route. That premium makes more sense when the group is large enough to share it.

The cruise is less suitable if your top goal is one long snorkeling session, a full day on Île aux Cerfs, or a low-cost outing for one or two people. The schedule gives you several short experiences, and the island visit is about an hour. Someone who wants uninterrupted swimming may find the day too divided.

The strong safety briefing and friendly crew also make this a good choice for people who want a well-managed private outing. The overall rating is 4.9 from 21 ratings, with 100 percent recommending it, and the most praised points are the crew, safety, and memorable feel of the day. Those are meaningful positives, though a small review sample cannot predict every departure.

Should you book the Île aux Cerfs charter?

Book it if you have a sizable group and want a private day that blends sailing, swimming, beach time, a river waterfall, and possible wildlife sightings. The strongest value comes when you share the $1,335.67 charter among many people, then choose lunch and activities according to your budget.

Think twice if you are a small party watching every dollar or if you want long, unhurried swim stops. Ask about swim timing, meal arrangements, and the day’s exact order before confirming.

For the right group, this is a polished and varied way to see the east coast of Mauritius from the water. The crew’s friendly manner and careful safety briefing add confidence, while Île aux Cerfs supplies the postcard beach moment. Just budget honestly and accept that nature, weather, and timing may shape the day.

FAQ

How long is the private Île aux Cerfs cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately seven hours.

What time does the cruise start?

The scheduled start time is 9:00 a.m.

Where does the cruise depart and return?

It departs from HPGF+496 Pointe Jerome Embarkation Point in Pointe d’Esny, Mauritius, and ends back at the same meeting point.

How many people can join the private charter?

The private charter accommodates one group of up to 15 people.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkel equipment is provided for free.

Is lunch included in the charter price?

No. A standard BBQ lunch with drinks is available for an additional €35 per person. A VIP BBQ lunch with lobster and drinks costs an additional €74 per person.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.