Mauritius: Catamaran Cruise to Ile aux Cerfs with BBQ Lunch

The lagoon does most of the entertaining. This full-day catamaran trip combines calm sailing, swimming, a waterfall visit, and a generous BBQ lunch for $111. I especially like the easygoing crew service and the fact that drinks, including beer and rum cocktails, are available throughout the day. The main catch is weather: strong wind and clouds can turn a beautiful sea day into a chilly one.

I also like the setting at Pointe Jerome, near Mahebourg and Blue Bay Marine Park. You sail along Mauritius’s historic east coast, then reach Ile aux Cerfs inside a broad turquoise lagoon. Pickup is optional, which is useful if you want a hotel transfer, but you must choose the correct booking option from the start.

Key points to know before you book

• A full day on the water: Plan on roughly 7 to 8 hours, with sailing, swimming, snorkeling, a waterfall stop, lunch, and time around Ile aux Cerfs.
• Lunch is cooked and served onboard: The buffet includes smoked marlin mousse, grilled fish, chicken, sausages, salads, bread, fruit, coffee, and drinks.
• The route begins near Mahebourg: Pointe Jerome gives you access to the Blue Bay area and the wild east coast, rather than only a resort beach.
• Drinks are part of the day: Water, soft drinks, beer, and rum cocktails are available, with Mauritian coffee also worth trying.
• Weather matters greatly: Wind and cloud can make snorkeling difficult and leave you cold, even when the crew and food are good.
• Extra water sports cost more: Parasailing and other activities at Ile aux Cerfs are not included.

Setting out from Pointe Jerome near Mahebourg

Your day begins at Pointe Jerome Embarkation Point, close to the authentic village of Mahebourg and the Blue Bay Marine Park. This is a useful starting point because the outing is not simply a transfer to a crowded beach. It places you near one of Mauritius’s protected marine areas and the island’s historic southeast coast.

If you choose hotel pickup, the operator collects you from your accommodation in Mauritius. The exact collection time is confirmed the day before, based on where you stay. Be careful when booking: hotel transport is optional, and you need to select the option that includes transfers if you want to be collected.

At the meeting point, you board the catamaran for a day that lasts approximately eight hours. The boat stays within the largest turquoise lagoon in Mauritius for much of the route. That sheltered water usually makes for a gentler sailing experience than open-sea travel, though wind conditions can still affect the day.

I like this departure area because it gives the trip some local context. Mahebourg is tied to the island’s maritime past, while Blue Bay is protected under the International Ramsar Convention. You do not need to be a history specialist to appreciate the setting. The first part of the trip already feels more connected to Mauritius than a simple resort excursion.

Sailing across Mauritius’s largest lagoon

The heart of the experience is the cruise itself. You spend a good part of the day on deck, watching the water change color and enjoying the slow pace of travel by catamaran. The lagoon provides the main visual reward: clear turquoise water, low islands, and the open feel of the east coast.

The crew speaks English and French, and their friendly service is one of the strongest reasons to book this particular outing. They prepare lunch, serve drinks, help keep the day moving, and create the relaxed mood that makes a long boat trip work. Several people have singled out the crew’s warmth and attentiveness, including one German-speaking customer who praised how readily the staff looked after everyone.

This is not a quiet sailing lesson or a luxury yacht charter. It is a social day on a shared catamaran, with food, drinks, and water activities built into the schedule. If you want constant narration or a small private boat, this may feel too casual. If you want to sit back without arranging every part of the day yourself, the format is appealing.

The drink service adds real value. Water and soft drinks are available, along with beer and rum cocktails. One especially popular choice is the local-style jungle juice, while Mauritian coffee makes a good choice later in the day. You should still pace yourself. Eight hours in the sun, on a moving boat, is not the time to treat rum cocktails as a competitive sport.

Swimming and snorkeling in the lagoon

The water stops give the day its active side. You can swim and snorkel before the waterfall visit, making this a good fit if you want more than a sightseeing cruise. The protected lagoon setting is generally suited to a relaxed dip, and the catamaran offers a convenient base between activities.

Bring a towel and sunscreen. Those two items are specifically important here, since the day combines time in the water with long periods outside. You should also leave valuables behind. The operator advises against bringing them, and a boat day is easier when you are not worrying about phones, jewelry, or bags.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is not presented as a specialist snorkeling trip, and no detailed marine-life program is supplied. You may enjoy clear water and a pleasant swim, but the quality of the snorkeling depends on the weather and sea conditions.

That point matters. On one outing, strong wind and heavy cloud made people cold and prevented snorkeling. The complaint was not about the crew or food. It was about running the trip in weather that made the water activities unpleasant. This is the clearest warning attached to the experience: a sunny forecast can make the day memorable, while poor conditions can dominate everything else.

If the weather turns cool, there is at least the catamaran itself, the scenery, the lunch, and the crew service. Still, you should not book this expecting the operator to cancel whenever conditions are less than perfect. The published cancellation terms allow you to cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, but the practical choice is to check the forecast before that deadline.

The Grande Riviere Sud Est waterfall stop

The route includes a visit to the Grande Riviere Sud Est waterfall. Its appeal comes from the natural setting and the change of pace. After swimming and sailing, you get a chance to see Mauritius from a river environment, with the waterfall framed by the surrounding greenery.

The stop also connects the scenery to the island’s colonial and military past. Remains of 18th-century ramparts can still be seen in the area. These structures witnessed corsair activity and naval clashes, including the Battle of Vieux Grand Port between French and English forces in 1810.

That history gives the stop more weight than a quick photo pause. You are not only looking at falling water. You are near a site linked to the struggle for control of Mauritius and its shipping routes. The supplied details do not promise a long historical talk, so I would treat the ramparts as a useful piece of context rather than a formal museum visit.

The waterfall visit also helps break up the day. A seven or eight-hour cruise could feel repetitive if you stayed on the boat the whole time. Moving between the lagoon, river, and island gives the schedule a better rhythm.

Lunch onboard: what the BBQ includes

The BBQ lunch is prepared and served by the crew on the catamaran. The menu is substantial rather than token: smoked marlin mousse, grilled fish, chicken, sausages, rice and potato salads, crudités, freshly baked bread, fresh fruit, and coffee.

The smoked marlin mousse is a particularly Mauritian touch. If you like trying local seafood, it gives the meal more character than a basic grilled chicken buffet. The grilled fish, chicken, and sausages also give you familiar choices, while the salads and bread round out the plate.

I see the lunch as one of the better parts of the value at $111. You are paying for a long day on the boat, a guided outing in English or French, hotel transfer if selected, swimming and sightseeing, and a full meal with drinks. A standalone boat ride plus lunch and transport could easily become a costly day once you add each piece separately.

The meal is still served in a boat environment, not a restaurant. Wind, movement, and shared seating are part of the experience. If you need a carefully controlled dining setting or have serious dietary requirements, the available information does not confirm special menu arrangements, so you should ask before booking.

The friendly crew seems to matter here as much as the menu. Good service can turn a buffet into a proper occasion, and this outing puts the crew in charge of both cooking and hospitality. You can expect a sociable meal rather than a rushed packed lunch.

Arriving at Ile aux Cerfs

Ile aux Cerfs is the headline destination, and it delivers the classic Mauritius island setting: pale sand, clear lagoon water, and a strong sense of escape from the main island. The catamaran reaches it by sailing through the lagoon, so the journey itself is part of the destination.

The island is suited to a relaxed stop. You can walk, swim, sit by the water, or choose additional activities. Parasailing and other water sports are not included in the tour price, so budget separately if you want them.

That exclusion is worth noting because Ile aux Cerfs is strongly associated with paid water activities. The base trip gives you the cruise, lunch, and included drinks, but it does not cover every activity offered at the island. You should not assume that parasailing is part of the package simply because you are visiting the island.

The stop may suit couples, families, and groups of friends who want a beach break without arranging their own boat. It is also a good match for a honeymoon itinerary. One couple described the trip as a perfect end to a 14-day honeymoon and especially enjoyed the crew, jungle juice, and Mauritian coffee.

At the same time, Ile aux Cerfs is the most popular part of this route, so you should expect a well-known visitor destination rather than an empty private island. The value is in the complete day and the sailing route, not in having the beach entirely to yourself.

How the $111 price works in practice

At $111 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see a beach in Mauritius. It is a full-day package, though, and the price covers the catamaran cruise and lunch, with hotel pickup and drop-off available if you select that option.

The included drinks strengthen the value. Water, soft drinks, beer, and rum cocktails are available throughout the day, which means you do not need to keep buying refreshments during the cruise. The lunch menu is also much more complete than a simple sandwich or snack.

I would consider the price fair for someone who wants a planned day with several elements: boat travel, swimming, snorkeling, the Grande Riviere Sud Est waterfall, Ile aux Cerfs, lunch, and crew service. It is less compelling if you only want a few hours on a beach or already have access to a private boat.

Pickup can also change the calculation. Mauritius is spread out enough that getting to Pointe Jerome may take effort depending on your hotel. If you need a transfer, choose the correct option and confirm your hotel name when booking. If you can reach the meeting point easily, the basic option may be enough.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later terms add flexibility. They are useful here because weather is such an important part of the experience.

Who will enjoy this catamaran day most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a relaxed mix of sailing, water time, food, and scenery. It works especially well for couples, families, and anyone who prefers a complete day rather than piecing together transport, lunch, and activities.

It is also a good choice if you enjoy social boat trips and friendly crew service. English and French are offered, and the crew’s attentive style is a repeated strength. You do not need advanced sailing or snorkeling skills to take part.

You may want another option if your main goal is serious snorkeling, guaranteed sunshine, or a private and quiet cruise. Bad weather can limit the water activities, and the operator does not list parasailing or other water sports as included.

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women. It is wheelchair accessible, which makes it more inclusive than many boat outings, though you should still confirm any specific mobility needs before departure.

Practical tips for a smoother day

• Check the weather before the 24-hour cancellation deadline. Wind and cloud can affect comfort, snorkeling, and the overall mood.
• Bring a towel and plenty of sunscreen.
• Leave valuables at your accommodation whenever possible.
• Choose hotel pickup during booking if you need transport to Pointe Jerome.
• Try the jungle juice and Mauritian coffee, but alternate alcoholic drinks with water.
• If you want parasailing or another water sport at Ile aux Cerfs, plan to pay separately.
• Expect about eight hours for the complete experience, not just the sailing time.

Should you book the Ile aux Cerfs catamaran cruise?

I would book it for a well-rounded Mauritius day at sea, especially when the forecast is sunny and calm. The crew service, onboard BBQ, included drinks, waterfall visit, and lagoon sailing give you more than a simple ride to Ile aux Cerfs.

I would wait or choose another activity if the forecast shows strong wind and heavy cloud, or if snorkeling is your top priority. For $111, the trip offers solid value when the weather cooperates, but the sea conditions can make or break it. Book the transfer option if needed, bring only the essentials, and treat the island as one part of a longer, social day rather than the whole show.

FAQ

How long does the catamaran cruise last?

The tour lasts approximately 7 to 8 hours, with the full experience taking about eight hours.

Where does the catamaran depart?

The meeting point is Pointe Jerome Embarkation Point in Mauritius.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available if you select the option that includes transfers. The collection time is confirmed the day before based on your hotel location.

What food is served for lunch?

The onboard BBQ buffet includes smoked marlin mousse, grilled fish, chicken, sausages, rice and potato salads, crudités, freshly baked bread, fresh fruit, and coffee.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Water, soft drinks, beer, and rum cocktails are available during the day.

Are parasailing and other water sports included?

No. Water sports and parasailing at Ile aux Cerfs are not included in the tour price.