Catamaran Ile aux Cerfs, snorkeling + GRSE Waterfall, BBQ & Bar

Clear water, warm food, easy island time. This seven-hour catamaran trip links the Grande Riviere Sud Est waterfall with Ile aux Cerfs, adding snorkeling gear, a BBQ lunch, drinks, and time for beach activities. I like the all-inclusive food and drinks, and I like the friendly crew atmosphere praised by several guests. The main concern is crowding, especially since one booking reported more than 30 people despite the stated maximum of 25.

This is a social group cruise, not a quiet private sailing. You meet at Trou d’Eau Douce at 9:00 am, spend a short time at the waterfall, then have several hours around Ile aux Cerfs. The crew members Tommy, Sunny, Maria, and Kenan received warm praise for their care and good planning. Still, keep your phone and valuables with you when moving between boats, as one guest reported a stolen phone after being told belongings could safely remain onboard.

Key points to know before booking

• The trip begins and ends at Trou d’Eau Douce, so you need to arrange your own transportation to the jetty and have it waiting when you return.
• The Grande Riviere Sud Est waterfall stop is brief, about 10 minutes, but it gives you a quick look at a waterfall flowing into the Indian Ocean.
• Ile aux Cerfs gets the bulk of your time, with about three hours for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, parasailing, tubing, or simply relaxing.
• The BBQ meal and drinks are included, along with snacks, bottled water, soda, coffee, tea, wine, and rum-based drinks.
• The advertised group limit is 25 people, but one critical review reported more than 30, so ask about the expected group size if space matters to you.
• Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before departure, while poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund.

What the $82.46 price really covers

At about $82.46 per person, this is priced as a full-day water outing rather than a simple boat transfer. You are paying for roughly seven hours, the catamaran cruise, lunch, snorkeling equipment, snacks, soft drinks, water, hot drinks, and alcoholic beverages.

That package can offer good value in Mauritius. Food and drinks add up quickly on an island, and having lunch served onboard means you do not need to find a restaurant during your time at Ile aux Cerfs. The included wine and rum cocktails also make this feel more like a relaxed social cruise than a bare-bones excursion.

I would judge the value by your preferred pace. If you want a simple day with transport on the water, a meal, swimming, and a few activities, the price is reasonable. If you want a quiet catamaran with plenty of personal space, the value drops quickly. One unhappy booking described the boat as overcrowded and expected more from a premium-priced outing.

There is also an important distinction here. The tour includes snorkeling equipment, but the details do not say that parasailing or tubing is included in the price. Those activities are available around Ile aux Cerfs, yet you should expect to arrange or pay for them separately unless the operator confirms otherwise.

Meeting at Trou d’Eau Douce at 9:00 am

Your day starts at the Blue Alizé Catamaran Ile aux Cerfs meeting point at the Debarcadere in Trou d’Eau Douce. The same place is used at the end of the cruise.

This setup is convenient if you are staying nearby or already have a car. It is less convenient if you expect hotel pickup. Private transportation is not included, and your own transport should wait at the return point after the cruise. Build in enough time to find the jetty, collect your tickets, and meet the crew without rushing.

The meeting location matters because this is not a door-to-door tour. You need to solve the transport question before booking. Ask your hotel or driver about the return pickup time, since the full outing lasts about seven hours and the actual finish may shift slightly with weather and water conditions.

The cruise is scheduled for 9:00 am, which gives you a full morning and afternoon on the water. Confirmation is provided when you book. The maximum listed group size is 25 people, a manageable number for a shared catamaran, though the report of more than 30 people is worth keeping in mind.

A quick look at Grande Riviere Sud Est Waterfall

The first stop is Grande Riviere Sud Est, where the river reaches the Indian Ocean. You get about 10 minutes here, so think of it as a scenic introduction rather than a full waterfall visit.

The short pause works well as a photo stop. From the water, you can see the meeting point of river and sea, a feature that gives this part of Mauritius its character. It also breaks up the ride before the longer stay at Ile aux Cerfs.

Ten minutes is not long enough for a leisurely walk, a substantial swim, or a detailed look around. If waterfalls are your main reason for booking, this will feel too brief. If you see the stop as an extra view included in a catamaran day, it adds variety without taking time away from the island.

The itinerary lists this stop as free admission, since it is part of the boat outing. You do not need to budget for a separate entrance ticket.

Three hours around Ile aux Cerfs

Ile aux Cerfs is the main event. You have about three hours on the island, giving you enough time to shape the visit around your own mood.

You can swim, sunbathe, drink coconut water, relax on a transat, or look into water activities such as parasailing and tube rides. Snorkeling equipment is included, so you can make use of the water without bringing your own mask and fins.

The island works best for people who like choice. You are not locked into one organized activity. You can spend the whole stop doing very little, which may be exactly right after a busy sightseeing schedule. Or you can use the time for a swim and one of the available water activities.

The tradeoff is that three hours can pass quickly if you want both relaxation and several paid activities. Parasailing, tubing, and similar options may take time to arrange, and they are not listed among the included services. If those activities are central to your plan, confirm prices and availability before you go.

You should also remember that Ile aux Cerfs is a popular island stop. The tour does not promise a private beach or an empty stretch of sand. A shared boat, island facilities, and activity operators are part of the setting. You are buying easy access and a broad choice of things to do, not solitude.

BBQ lunch, rum drinks, and the social side

The meal is one of the strongest parts of the package. BBQ lunch is included, along with snacks, soda, bottled water, coffee, tea, wine, and alcoholic drinks. Several high-scoring comments praised the food, the generous drinks service, and the cheerful mood onboard.

One French-speaking guest called the BBQ excellent and praised the crew. Another described the day as perfectly organized from check-in through arrival, with Tommy, Sunny, Maria, and Kenan providing attentive service. Those details suggest that the human side of the trip can make a real difference.

The atmosphere is likely livelier than a quiet sailing cruise. A shared catamaran, included alcohol, music or group conversation, and a full day around a resort island tend to encourage a social mood. That can be fun if you want an easy day with other people around you. It may not suit you if you want a calm, low-noise boat ride.

Weather can also shape the meal and the mood. One happy booking specifically enjoyed the day despite a rain shower at Ile aux Cerfs. Mauritius weather can change, so pack a light cover and protect your phone. Poor weather may cause the company to cancel and offer a different date or a full refund.

Snorkeling and water activities

Snorkeling equipment is included, which is useful if you do not want to pack your own gear. The description places snorkeling among the activities available during the Ile aux Cerfs visit, but it does not give a precise snorkeling location or describe a guided snorkeling session.

That distinction matters. You can expect access to equipment, not necessarily a dedicated instructor-led snorkel program. If you are an experienced swimmer, this may be all you need. If you want structured guidance, ask the operator exactly where snorkeling takes place and how much time is set aside for it.

Swimming is also part of the island stay. You can combine a short swim with lunch and some time in the sun. Take care with your belongings while you are in the water or moving between boats.

The phone theft report deserves direct attention. A guest said the crew advised leaving belongings on the catamaran while transferring to a smaller boat, then reported that a phone was stolen. The company apologized and offered to investigate, but you should still keep phones, wallets, passports, and other valuables with you or in a secure personal bag whenever possible.

Group size, service, and comfort

The stated maximum is 25 people. That is large enough for a friendly group but small enough to keep the crew accessible in normal conditions. The boat can feel comfortable at that size, especially when people spread out between the deck, meal area, and island stop.

One complaint reported more than 30 passengers and described the boat as far too crowded. I would not ignore that point. Capacity can change because of operating arrangements, boat substitutions, or group bookings. If you care about personal space, contact the operator before departure and ask how many people are booked on your date.

The crew receives stronger praise than the boat receives criticism. Guests singled out the friendly service, good planning, food, drinks, and atmosphere. That is important because a seven-hour shared cruise depends heavily on how well the crew handles meals, transfers, timing, and general care.

The company also offers a separate luxury Ile aux Cerfs catamaran cruise for people seeking a more premium setup. That does not mean this tour is poor value. It simply shows that this product is better understood as the social, included-food-and-drinks option rather than the top-end choice.

Who should book this Mauritius cruise

I would recommend this outing if you want an easy day on the water with plenty included. It suits couples, friends, families with older children, and solo visitors who enjoy a sociable setting. The short waterfall stop, island time, BBQ, and drinks create a good mix without requiring you to plan each part yourself.

It is especially useful if you want to visit Ile aux Cerfs but do not want to arrange separate boat transport, lunch, snorkeling equipment, and drinks. The package reduces the number of decisions you need to make once you reach the jetty.

I would be more cautious if you need wheelchair access, since the tour is not wheelchair accessible. I would also choose another option if you want a private boat, a very quiet day, or a carefully guided snorkeling program.

For families, the included soft drinks, water, food, swimming, and island time are helpful. Alcohol is included too, so the overall mood may be more adult and social than a family-only outing. For older visitors or anyone with limited mobility, the boat transfers and island conditions deserve careful thought.

Book at least a few weeks ahead if your schedule is fixed. The typical booking lead time is about 13 days, which suggests this is not always a last-minute purchase. Free cancellation applies when you cancel at least 24 hours before the 9:00 am start. Changes made inside that window are not accepted, and the payment is not refunded.

My final take on the Blue Alizé day

I see this as a good-value, full-service catamaran day with two very different parts: a quick waterfall view and a much longer Ile aux Cerfs stay. The included BBQ, drinks, snorkeling equipment, and friendly crew give it real appeal.

The main question is space. The official group limit is 25, but the report of more than 30 people creates a reasonable concern. Ask about the expected headcount before paying if crowding would spoil the day for you.

Book it if you want food, drinks, swimming, island time, and a cheerful shared boat at one clear price. Skip it, or consider the separate luxury option, if privacy and room to stretch out matter more than the all-inclusive social atmosphere.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran tour start and finish?

The tour starts and ends at the Blue Alizé Catamaran Ile aux Cerfs meeting point at Debarcadere, Trou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 9:00 am.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours.

Is transportation to Trou d’Eau Douce included?

No. Private transportation is not included. You need to arrange your own transportation to the meeting point and have it wait for you at the end.

What food and drinks are included?

The package includes lunch, snacks, bottled water, soda, coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages. The meal is a BBQ lunch, and wine and rum cocktails are included among the drinks.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded. If poor weather causes the company to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.