Mauritius Catamaran Cruise to Ile Aux Cerfs with BBQ Lunch

The lagoon steals the show. This Mauritius catamaran cruise combines three appealing island experiences in one day: the Grand River South East waterfall, a swim and snorkeling stop, and several hours at Ile Aux Cerfs. I especially like the generous drinks selection and the onboard BBQ lunch, which save you from arranging separate meals during a long outing. The main drawback is comfort: parts of the day can feel crowded, and the pickup or boat transfer may not run as smoothly as you hope.

At $59 per person, the outing offers solid value if you want a simple full-day introduction to Mauritius’s east coast. The crew and hospitality earn the strongest praise, with Avish singled out as a helpful driver. Still, you should allow for weather changes, limited swim time, and possible confusion when moving from the shore to the catamaran.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

• The waterfall stop takes about one hour, with a short ride toward Cascade Diamamouve and time for photos.
• Lunch is served onboard, with BBQ food and a wide range of soft and alcoholic drinks, including local rum.
• Ile Aux Cerfs gets about three hours, giving you time for the beach, lagoon, craft market, and optional paid watersports.
• Snorkeling depends on the weather, and it has been canceled on rough or rainy days.
• The group limit is listed as 35 people, but the catamaran can feel crowded when seating and crew space are tight.
• Hotel pickup is optional, and you should check the extra cost before adding it to your booking.

Starting at Trou D’Eau Douce at 9:30

The cruise begins at Green Island Beach Restaurant on B59 Coastal Road in Trou d’Eau Douce. The scheduled start is 9:30 a.m., and the trip ends back at the same meeting point.

If you arrange hotel pickup, treat the timing as an important part of the day. One account describes a driver arriving about an hour late, while another praises Avish for providing a good transfer. That uneven experience means I would confirm the pickup time and cost before departure. If your hotel is near the port, compare the quoted pickup fee with a normal taxi fare. A warning about overly high pickup charges makes this worth checking.

The total transportation time between the attractions is about one hour and 30 minutes. That is not wasted time, but it does mean your six to seven hours are not all spent swimming or sitting on the island. Bring patience, especially during the morning transfer and the move between smaller boats and the main catamaran.

Some people have described clambering onto a small boat before reaching the catamaran. The transfer process may not come with much explanation, so keep your hands free and listen closely to the crew. If you have trouble with boat steps, ask for help before boarding rather than trying to manage bags and cameras at the same time.

The River Ride to Cascade Diamamouve

The first major stop is the Grand River South East waterfall, also known as Cascade Diamamouve. The boat travels upriver from Trou d’Eau Douce, giving you a change of scenery before the open-water part of the cruise.

This is primarily a sightseeing and photo stop. You may spot monkeys in the trees along the riverbanks, and the waterfall makes a pleasing first picture of the day. The stop lasts about an hour, which gives you enough time to take photographs without turning the morning into a long wait beside the falls.

I like this opening because it adds some variety. A trip focused only on Ile Aux Cerfs could become a simple beach transfer, while the river section gives you a look at a different side of the east coast. The waterfall itself is attractive, but you should keep expectations realistic. This is not a long rainforest walk or a strenuous nature excursion. You see the falls from the boat area and spend time taking in the setting.

The river may also be one of the calmer parts of the day. If you are uneasy on open water, this first section gives you time to settle into the pace of the trip before the catamaran reaches the lagoon.

Swimming and Snorkeling Before Lunch

After the waterfall, the boat stops for swimming and snorkeling in clear water. This is one of the most appealing parts of the schedule, especially if you want time in the sea rather than only beach photographs.

The available information does not specify the exact snorkeling site, equipment details, or length of the swim. You should therefore ask the crew what is supplied and how long the stop will last. The published plan allows about two hours for the snorkeling, swimming, and lunch portion, so the actual time in the water may be shorter once food service is included.

Weather matters here. Snorkeling has been canceled on some outings because of poor conditions, and that is a sensible safety choice. The cruise can still continue with the waterfall, lunch, and Ile Aux Cerfs, but the day will feel different if you were mainly booking for marine life.

One useful bit of practical advice: bring a swimsuit under your clothes and keep a dry layer for the ride back. You will also want a secure place for your phone. A catamaran deck is a pleasant spot for photographs, but wet hands and moving boats are a poor combination for loose electronics.

A few people wished they had more time to swim. That is worth noting if swimming is your main goal. The schedule covers a lot, and the island stop includes another chance to enter the lagoon, but this is an organized sightseeing day rather than a relaxed beach day with unlimited water time.

BBQ Lunch and Drinks on the Catamaran

Lunch is served onboard, which is a real advantage. You do not need to leave the cruise to find a restaurant, and the boat remains the center of the day instead of turning the outing into a series of separate transfers.

The meal is described as a three-course BBQ lunch, with food prepared for a Halal diet. The exact dishes are not specified, so I would not book this expecting a particular menu. The overall feedback points to good portions, and the food is repeatedly treated as one of the stronger parts of the experience.

Drinks include soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum. That is a generous selection for a $59 excursion, particularly when lunch and the waterfall visit are included. You may need to ask for a beer rather than assume it will appear automatically, since one account describes having to request it.

The onboard setting is part of the appeal. You can eat with the water around you, rather than sitting in a fixed restaurant. It is also part of the limitation. If the boat is full, lunch can feel less spacious, and the available seating may be tight. The published maximum is 35 people, while one account describes a smaller boat reaching its practical limit once crew members were counted. Since boat size can affect comfort, I would ask the operator what vessel is scheduled for your date if personal space matters to you.

The crew receives the warmest praise across the available comments. Friendly service, plenty of refreshments, and a welcoming atmosphere help make the cruise feel festive. Local Sega music on the return journey adds to that mood and gives the trip a distinctly Mauritian touch.

Three Hours on Ile Aux Cerfs

Ile Aux Cerfs is the main attraction, and the schedule allows about three hours there. You will find white sand, palm trees, and a clear turquoise lagoon. This is the point in the day when you can slow down, swim, take photographs, or simply sit by the water.

I like the length of this stop because it gives you more than a quick photo opportunity. You have time to choose your own pace. If you want to be active, you can ask about parasailing or tube riding. If you prefer an easy afternoon, the beach and lagoon are enough.

There is also a local arts and crafts market. It offers a chance to look for Mauritian souvenirs without arranging a separate shopping trip. Since market visits can eat into beach time, decide early what matters most to you. I would first walk around and note prices, then return to anything you genuinely want.

Optional activities cost extra. Double parasailing is listed at about Rs 2,500, or approximately Rs 1,000 per person in the supplied pricing notes, so confirm the current price before committing. Underseawalk is listed at about Rs 2,000. These costs are not included in the $59 price, and the wording around parasailing prices is not perfectly clear.

The island is beautiful, but it is not a private escape. You are visiting one of the most popular stops on the east coast, and the atmosphere can be social and busy. That is not a problem if you enjoy a lively beach outing. If you want solitude, the organized cruise format may disappoint.

A few hours can also pass quickly. Once you account for walking from the landing area, browsing the market, changing clothes, and waiting for optional activities, your actual swim time may be less than expected. Keep an eye on the return instructions so you do not spend the final minutes searching for the boat.

The Return With Mauritian Sega Music

The cruise returns to Trou d’Eau Douce after the island stop. The final stretch includes local Mauritian Sega music, a welcome change from a quiet motor ride and a good way to close the day.

Sega is closely linked with Mauritian culture, and hearing it on the boat adds local character to a schedule otherwise built around scenery and water activities. You should not expect a formal cultural performance from the information provided, but the music helps create the friendly party atmosphere that many people enjoy.

By this stage, you may be tired, sun-exposed, and ready for dry clothes. Carry water, use sun protection, and keep a light cover-up handy even though drinks are supplied. The return is part of the experience, not simply a transfer, but the day is long enough that comfort matters.

What the $59 Price Really Buys You

At $59 per person, this is a strong package for someone who wants several east-coast highlights in one booking. The price includes the full catamaran cruise, Grand River South East waterfall, swimming and snorkeling stop, BBQ lunch, local drinks, Ile Aux Cerfs, and return to the meeting point.

That bundle is the main reason I see value here. Paying separately for transport, a boat outing, lunch, and an island visit could easily become more complicated. The drinks package is especially useful for families and couples who do not want to keep buying refreshments throughout the day.

The value is less convincing if you care mainly about snorkeling or quiet beach time. Bad weather can remove the snorkeling portion, and the schedule may leave you wishing for longer in the water. You also need to account for optional watersports and possible hotel pickup charges.

The 3.6 rating from 14 available ratings reflects that split. The most positive experiences praise the crew, food, drinks, scenery, and overall atmosphere. The lowest scores focus on late transport, unclear boat transfers, crowding, limited facilities, and poor communication. I would treat those practical details as genuine decision points, not minor complaints.

Who Will Enjoy This Cruise Most

I would recommend this cruise to families, couples, and first-time visitors who want an easy overview of Mauritius’s east coast. It works well if you like a full day with several activities and appreciate having lunch and drinks included.

It also suits anyone who wants to combine sightseeing with beach time without arranging several separate excursions. A 12-year-old had a particularly good experience, with the food, refreshments, boat ride, and island keeping the day varied.

You may want another option if you need a quiet, spacious boat, precise timing, or long uninterrupted snorkeling sessions. The group can reach 35 people, and the transfer arrangements may feel informal. People with limited mobility should also ask about the small-boat boarding process, since the trip may involve stepping between boats.

The tour requires good weather. If conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Should You Book the Ile Aux Cerfs Catamaran Cruise?

I would book it if you want good scenery, a filling lunch, open-bar-style refreshments, and a broad mix of stops for $59. The waterfall, beach, lagoon, and Sega music create a satisfying picture of Mauritius in one day, and the crew’s hospitality seems to be the most reliable strength.

I would skip it if your priority is a calm luxury cruise or serious snorkeling. Before paying, confirm the hotel pickup fee, the boat’s expected capacity, and what equipment is supplied for snorkeling. Go with flexible expectations, and you are likely to enjoy this as a sociable island day rather than a perfectly timed private escape.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise start?

The meeting point is Green Island Beach Restaurant, B59 Coastal Road, La Pelouse, Trou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius.

What time does the cruise start?

The scheduled start time is 9:30 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise lasts approximately six to seven hours.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available if you select that option when booking.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the catamaran cruise, Grand River South East waterfall visit, snorkeling and swimming stop, BBQ lunch, selected local drinks, Ile Aux Cerfs visit, and hotel transfers if that option is chosen.

What drinks are provided?

The included selection consists of soft drinks, juice, water, beer, wine, and local rum.

Is the food Halal?

Yes. The food is listed as Halal.

Are parasailing and underseawalk included?

No. Parasailing and underseawalk are optional activities at an additional cost. Double parasailing is listed at about Rs 2,500, and underseawalk at about Rs 2,000.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather.