Mauritius: Ile Aux Cerfs Catamaran Cruise with Lunch

The best part of this seven-hour outing is the mix of open-water sailing, island beaches, and a barbecue lunch in one day. You leave from Trou d’Eau Douce, cruise along Mauritius’s east coast, stop at the Grand River South-East Waterfalls, and spend time around Ile aux Cerfs.

I like the friendly atmosphere reported aboard and the fact that the $64 price includes a full lunch, water, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks. I also like the simple route: you get sea views, a waterfall, a beach stop, and time for swimming without arranging several separate excursions.

The main caution is that the water program is not guaranteed in the form you may picture. Rough seas, wind, tides, or water depth can change the order of stops, and one recent outing had no snorkeling and only a short waterfall visit. Bring your own snorkeling gear if you want to use it, since equipment is not included.

Key points to know before booking

• Trou d’Eau Douce departure: The catamaran leaves from this east-coast village, with no hotel transfer included in the base price.
• Three-part day: Expect a boat ride, a Grand River South-East Waterfalls stop, and time at Ile aux Cerfs, with the order set by sea and tide conditions.
• Lunch is included: The onboard meal includes BBQ chicken, fish, sausage, green salad, dessert, water, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks.
• Snorkeling is weather dependent: You can swim and snorkel, but equipment is not provided and rough water may make the activity unsafe.
• Island time may feel short: A recent schedule allowed about 1.5 hours at Ile aux Cerfs, so this is not a full beach day on the island.
• Good value for active couples and families: The price covers the main cruise and meal, but hotel transport and personal water gear cost extra.

Setting out from Trou d’Eau Douce

Your day begins in Trou d’Eau Douce, a coastal village on the east side of Mauritius. This is the practical starting point for the cruise, so plan your own way to the meeting point unless you arrange a separate hotel transfer for an additional charge.

Once aboard, the trip becomes a slow tour of the coast rather than a simple boat transfer. The catamaran gives you wide views over the sea and toward the mountains, while the breeze and open deck provide a welcome break from inland heat.

The exact start time is not fixed in the information provided, so you need to check availability when booking. The total duration is about seven hours, long enough to feel like a full day on the water rather than a quick ride to a beach.

The boat is also the center of the day. You return to it for lunch, drinks, and parts of the sightseeing route. That makes the cruise easy to follow, but it also means your comfort depends on how crowded the catamaran feels and how much shade is available. One unhappy passenger described limited room for everyone to sit out of the sun, so bring a hat and do not treat sunscreen as optional.

Cruising Mauritius’s east coast

The east coast is the scenic heart of the trip. As you move away from Trou d’Eau Douce, you get a changing view of the shoreline, mountains, and open sea. I like this part because it gives you time to settle into the pace of Mauritius. There is no rush from one land attraction to the next.

The catamaran ride is also useful if you prefer seeing several coastal highlights without spending the day in a car. You get the feel of a sea excursion, with the crew speaking English and French and serving refreshments as the day goes on.

That said, a catamaran is exposed to the weather. A calm morning can turn into a windy afternoon, and the ride may feel lively when the sea is rough. The operator can reschedule the trip in adverse weather, excluding ordinary rain, and offers another date. If no suitable date can be arranged, a full refund is offered.

The sequence of stops can change according to the tide and water depth. This is normal for a shallow coastal route, but it matters if you are expecting the waterfall, snorkeling, lunch, and island visit at precise times.

The Grand River South-East Waterfalls stop

The Grand River South-East Waterfalls, often shortened to GRSE Waterfalls, are one of the cruise’s main sights. The falls bring a different mood to the day: instead of open sea, you see water dropping through a greener inland setting.

The catamaran visits the falls as part of the route, and the crew can point out the scenery along the way. It is a good photo stop, especially if you enjoy seeing how Mauritius’s rivers meet the coast.

Keep your expectations measured. The stop may be brief. One recent outing allowed only about three minutes at the waterfall, so you might have just enough time for a quick look and a few photographs rather than a long pause beside the falls.

The order may also shift with tide and water depth. If the waterfall is your main reason for booking, ask about the expected timing at the start of the day. The falls are included, but the amount of time there is not presented as fixed.

Swimming and snorkeling near Ile aux Cerfs

The water around Ile aux Cerfs is the cruise’s main outdoor activity area. You can swim and, when conditions permit, snorkel in the coastal water. The island setting gives you a chance to trade the boat deck for a beach and enjoy a few hours of sun and sea.

Snorkeling equipment is not included. Pack your own mask and snorkel if you have them, or confirm in advance if another rental option is available. The provided information does not promise that equipment can be hired on the day.

Water conditions matter here. One outing had no snorkeling because of the sea conditions, and the swimming area was considered too windy and unsafe. That is an important point: the activity promises the chance to swim and snorkel, not a guaranteed session in calm water.

If you are comfortable adjusting your plans, this is part of the nature of a sea trip. If snorkeling is the main goal of your Mauritius holiday, you may want a specialized snorkeling excursion instead. This cruise is broader, with several stops and lunch, but its water time can be reduced by wind, tides, or safety decisions.

Arriving at Ile aux Cerfs

Ile aux Cerfs is known for its sandy beaches and clear coastal water. Once you reach the island, you can walk on the beach, relax in the sun, swim, and take photographs. The change from the moving catamaran to solid ground gives the day a useful pause.

I would not book this trip expecting a long, quiet island stay. One reported schedule left about 1.5 hours on Ile aux Cerfs, and part of the day may be taken up by the waterfall stop, swimming arrangements, lunch, and boat movement.

The island can also feel less secluded than the picture in your mind. One recent assessment found it no longer as peaceful or untouched as expected. That does not make it unappealing, but it does mean you should view it as a popular beach stop rather than a private tropical retreat.

There can also be a long pause connected with optional activities such as parasailing and tube rides through a partner. You are not required to treat those activities as the purpose of the trip, but this stop can affect how much time remains for the island and snorkeling. If you want a relaxed beach visit, ask the crew how long the boat will remain in each area.

What lunch and drinks add to the price

The $64 price includes a three-course BBQ lunch served on the catamaran. The meal includes chicken, fish, sausage, green salad, dessert, water, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks.

For a seven-hour outing, that package gives the price real value. You do not need to find a restaurant during the cruise, and the meal is served while you remain close to the water. A good lunch also matters more than it may sound. After time in the sun and sea, having food and drinks ready saves you from carrying a full picnic or cutting into your beach time to search for a café.

The food is not presented as a fine-dining meal. Think of it as a generous boat barbecue designed for a day outside. If you have dietary restrictions, the available information does not confirm special menus, so ask before paying.

Alcoholic drinks are included, but I would pace yourself. The boat, bright sun, and moving water can make drinks feel stronger than expected. Water and sunscreen should remain part of your plan even if you enjoy the bar service.

The lunch also helps explain why this cruise may be better value than a basic boat transfer. You are paying for the catamaran, several coastal stops, the island visit, and a substantial meal. The value is weaker if you mainly want a long stretch of quiet beach time, since the island stop may be limited.

Crew, atmosphere, and comfort aboard

The crew is described as attentive and friendly, and the overall mood can be one of the strongest parts of the day. The experience is designed for a social boat atmosphere rather than a private charter. You may enjoy meeting other people, sharing lunch, and letting the crew handle the route.

English and French are the operating languages. No individual guide names are provided, so you should not expect a named private guide. Instead, you get a crew-led cruise with explanations and help during the stops.

Comfort depends on the boat, weather, and number of people aboard. One particularly negative account described a catamaran in poor repair and not enough shade for everyone. That is not a reason to assume the worst, but it is a practical warning. Bring a towel, change of clothes, beachwear, sunscreen, and clothing that covers you from the sun.

A change of clothes is especially useful after swimming. You can then enjoy lunch and the return ride without sitting in wet beachwear for hours.

The trip is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or wheelchair users. Boarding, moving around the catamaran, and reaching swimming areas may be difficult.

What can change on the day

This cruise has a fixed broad outline, but the details are flexible. The operator may change the order of the stops based on tide and water depth. Rough seas can also lead to a rescheduled date, while ordinary rain alone does not automatically cancel the trip.

The main uncertainty concerns water activities. Snorkeling and swimming depend on safety, and the crew may choose a different area or skip snorkeling altogether. You should see that as a safety decision, not a missing extra, but it can still be disappointing if underwater time is your top priority.

The time at each site can also vary. The waterfall may be a quick viewing stop, while Ile aux Cerfs may receive around 1.5 hours on some schedules. The day is best understood as a moving coastal tour with several highlights, not as an island stay with a short boat ride attached.

Who will get the most from this cruise

I think this cruise suits you if you want to see several east-coast sights in one day and prefer an easy package with food and drinks included. It is a good fit for couples, friends, and families who enjoy being on the water and can accept a changing schedule.

You will likely appreciate it most if you value:

• A full day of sea views rather than a single beach transfer
• A social catamaran setting
• A prepared BBQ lunch with drinks
• The chance to swim and snorkel when conditions allow
• A short visit to the GRSE Waterfalls and Ile aux Cerfs in one route

I would think twice if you want a quiet, uncrowded island or guaranteed snorkeling. I would also be cautious if you dislike strong sun, boat movement, or flexible timing.

The package is less convenient if you need hotel transport. Pick-up and drop-off are not included, though they may be arranged separately for an added cost. You should also factor in the cost or effort of bringing snorkeling equipment.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity, with a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option can help if your weather plans are not settled, but it does not remove the need to reach Trou d’Eau Douce yourself.

Should you book the Ile aux Cerfs catamaran cruise?

Book it if you want a value-focused day on the water with a BBQ meal, drinks, a waterfall visit, and a chance to swim near Ile aux Cerfs. The strongest parts are the friendly crew atmosphere, the broad range of stops, and the fact that much of the day’s food and drink is already covered by the $64 price.

Do not book it solely for snorkeling or a long, peaceful stay on Ile aux Cerfs. Wind, tides, safety decisions, and optional activity stops can reduce your time in the water or on the beach. Pack sun protection, a towel, spare clothes, and your own snorkeling gear, then treat the route as flexible. With that mindset, this is a practical way to sample Mauritius’s east coast in one well-fed day.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise depart?

The cruise departs from Trou d’Eau Douce in Mauritius.

How long does the activity last?

The cruise lasts about seven hours.

What is included in the $64 price?

The price includes the catamaran trip, a visit to the Grand River South-East Waterfalls, a visit to Ile aux Cerfs, swimming and snorkeling opportunities, and a three-course BBQ lunch with water, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkeling equipment is not included, so you should bring your own if you want to snorkel.

What food is served at lunch?

Lunch includes BBQ chicken, fish, sausage, green salad, dessert, water, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks.

Are hotel transfers included?

No. Hotel pick-up and drop-off are not included in the standard price, though they may be arranged separately for an additional cost.

Can the itinerary change?

Yes. The order of the stops may change according to the tide and water depth. Adverse weather and rough seas can also lead to a rescheduled trip.

Is the activity available in English?

Yes. The live tour is provided in English and French.

Is the cruise suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. It is also not suitable for pregnant women.