Cambrils: Catamaran Cruise with Drinks and BBQ Lunch Option

The best part of this Cambrils cruise is the mix of reserved personal space and time in the sea. You sail along Catalonia’s coast, settle onto your own Balinese bed, then stop between Cap Salou and La Pineda for swimming or snorkeling in clear water.

I like the generous drink selection, which includes cava, beer, wine, vermouth, soft drinks, and Aperol. I also like the simple layout of the outing: roughly an hour of cruising, a proper water stop, food on board, and a relaxed ride back. The main thing to consider is the weather. On rough or stormy days, swimming may be canceled, and the boat may use its engine rather than sails.

Key points to know

• A reserved Balinese bed comes with your booking, so you have a set place to relax rather than competing for deck space.
• The main swim stop is between Cap Salou and La Pineda, with views of the Cap Salou seabed below the clear water.
• Food and drinks are included, with BBQ lunch available and a wide choice of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks.
• The boat usually cruises for about 45 minutes to one hour before stopping, giving you time to settle in first.
• The Cambrils ticket desk is directly in front of the catamaran, where you collect the number for your assigned bed.
• Summer transport from Salou needs planning, since taxis can be hard to find and the bus takes you to Cambrils about 300 meters from the boat.

What the Cambrils catamaran cruise is really like

This is a half-day-style outing without the fuss of a full-day sailing trip. The advertised duration is 2 to 3 hours, while the main itinerary describes about 3 hours on the water. That is enough time to feel as if you have had a proper coastal break, but not so long that the sun, music, or motion becomes tiring.

You board in Cambrils and head out along the Catalonian coast. The scenery is the main attraction: open sea, the shoreline around Salou and La Pineda, and the rocky coast near Cap Salou. This is not a sightseeing cruise packed with historical commentary. It is a leisure trip built around sitting in the sun, eating, drinking, and getting into the water.

The small-group option is useful if you prefer a calmer boat atmosphere. Still, the mood can vary with the day. Music plays on board, and some departures have a lively holiday feel, while others may feel quieter, especially outside the busiest summer weeks.

Your Balinese bed changes the experience

The reserved Balinese bed is one of the strongest features here. Before boarding, go to the point of sale in front of the catamaran and collect the number of your assigned bed. This step matters. You are not simply finding an empty lounger and hoping nobody else has claimed it.

The beds give the cruise a more comfortable rhythm. You can lie back during the outward journey, return to your place after swimming, and keep your belongings close by. Some beds sit partly in the sun and partly in shade, depending on their location and the time of day.

You may also find room to move around. The front of the catamaran has beanbags, and the wide deck gives you a choice of sun and shade. The bed is reserved, but it does not mean you must stay there for three hours. You can sit forward, walk around, or spend time at the swim platform.

Bring a towel. It is not listed as provided, and you will want one after using the swim ladder. Sun protection is also sensible, though the required packing information specifically calls out a towel.

Sailing from Cambrils toward Cap Salou

The first part of the trip takes you away from Cambrils and along the coast. The boat typically travels for about 45 minutes to one hour before anchoring. This opening stretch gives you time to settle in, take in the views, and start on the included drinks and snacks.

The word sailing needs a little caution here. The catamaran may travel under engine power rather than with its sails raised. That is not a dealbreaker if your goal is a comfortable boat ride, but it matters if you picture a quiet, wind-powered trip.

One person found the engine-only ride slightly disappointing, while still recommending the outing overall. That is a fair way to frame it. You are paying for the boat, the stop, the food, the drinks, and the relaxed deck setup. You are not guaranteed a traditional sailing experience.

The route can also change with the wind. In suitable conditions, the boat may head south toward the Montroig area, where the water can take on a particularly strong blue color. If the wind points elsewhere, the crew may keep to the Cap Salou and La Pineda area instead.

The swim stop between Cap Salou and La Pineda

The main stop is where the cruise earns its place on a summer itinerary. The catamaran anchors between Cap Salou and La Pineda, giving you a chance to swim in the clear water and look toward the seabed around Cap Salou.

You can enter the water from the boat, and steps are lowered to make getting in and out easier. Life jackets are available for anyone who feels unsure in the sea. That is helpful for families and for anyone who wants to enjoy the water without pretending to be a strong swimmer.

Snorkeling gear is available, so you can look for marine life below the surface. The information does not promise a particular species or a major reef, so keep your expectations sensible. This is a coastal swim with the chance to see the seabed and small marine life, not a specialist snorkeling expedition.

You get time to swim before or around the meal service, depending on the day’s schedule. The stop may be the most active part of the trip, but you are free to stay on deck if you would rather sunbathe. On rough days, the crew may decide that swimming is unsafe. One October departure continued in poor weather but skipped the water because of strong currents. That is the right call, even if it changes the plan.

Food, BBQ lunch, and the drinks list

Food and drinks are included, with a BBQ lunch option offered during the cruise. The exact service can vary by booking choice, so check that the BBQ is included in the option you select.

The drink list is unusually broad for a short boat trip. You can expect snacks plus soft drinks, beer, vermouth, wine, cava, and Aperol. That makes the experience feel more like a floating lunch than a simple boat transfer.

The food receives mixed but generally favorable treatment. The BBQ can include sausages and chicken kebabs, with halal choices available on at least some departures. That is a useful detail if your group has different dietary needs. Some people find the meal tasty and filling, while others consider it merely fine.

My advice is to value the meal as part of the package, not as the sole reason to book. The combination of lunch, drinks, a reserved bed, and a three-hour coastal outing gives the $35 price strong value. If you expect restaurant-level cooking, you may be underwhelmed. If you want an easy meal without leaving the boat, it does the job well.

Music, mood, and space on deck

The atmosphere leans toward relaxed holiday fun rather than quiet luxury. Music plays during the cruise, often with chilled dance tracks and an upbeat feel. That suits a group of friends, a family looking for an easy afternoon, or anyone who wants a drink in the sun.

The reserved beds help prevent the boat from feeling like a scramble for deck chairs. People can spread out, move to the beanbags, or take a place in the sun. Still, this is a shared catamaran, not a private charter. You should expect other groups, background music, and a social setting.

The mood also depends on the number of people booked. Some departures can feel lively, while quieter dates may leave more room to breathe. The small-group option is worth considering if available, but the supplied information does not give a fixed maximum group size, so do not assume every cruise will feel intimate.

The value of $35 per person

At $35, this is one of the easier coastal activities to justify if you plan to use the inclusions. You receive a catamaran cruise, a reserved Balinese bed, food, drinks, and a chance to swim or snorkel. Even the shorter 2-hour version gives you several elements that would cost extra on separate outings.

The value is strongest for three kinds of passengers:

• You want a simple afternoon with no need to plan lunch.
• You enjoy swimming but also want a comfortable place to dry off and relax.
• You are traveling with friends or family and want an activity that mixes food, drinks, music, and scenery.

The value is weaker if you want a serious sailing lesson, a long coastal voyage, or detailed natural-history commentary. The trip is about leisure, not instruction. It also becomes less attractive if poor weather cancels the swim, since the water stop is a major part of the appeal.

The included Aperol, vermouth, cava, and wine make the package more generous than a basic beer-and-soft-drink cruise. Just remember that the headline price may depend on the booking option and whether you select the BBQ lunch. Check the final inclusions before paying.

Getting to the boat from Cambrils or Salou

The meeting point can vary slightly with the option booked. Several listed starting points are along Passeig de les Palmeres and Passeig de Miramar in Cambrils, so read the exact meeting instructions carefully.

Once you reach the waterfront, the ticket desk is in front of the catamaran. Go there before boarding to collect the number of your assigned Balinese bed. Allow enough time for this rather than arriving at the last minute.

If you are coming from Salou in July or August, transport deserves special attention. Taxis can be hard to find, and trying to arrange one shortly before departure may leave you rushing. The practical advice is to book a taxi well ahead, around two hours before departure, or take public transport.

The bus from Salou to Cambrils runs about every 20 minutes and leaves you roughly 300 meters from the boarding point. That is likely the safer choice during the busy summer period, especially if you have a fixed departure time.

Who should book this boat trip

I would choose this cruise for a relaxed beach day with a little structure. It suits couples, families, and groups of friends who want to spend time outdoors without organizing separate transport, lunch, drinks, and a swim stop.

It is particularly good for people who like having a guaranteed place to sit. The Balinese bed removes one common irritation on shared boat trips, and the wide deck gives you room to change position during the ride.

Families should appreciate the lowered steps and available life jackets. The swim stop can be skipped if the sea is too rough or if someone in your group prefers to stay on deck.

This is not suitable for wheelchair users, and it is not a good choice if you have a cold. The boat’s motion, open deck, and water activity can make a cold feel worse. People who get seasick should also think carefully, though no specific seasickness provision is given.

Weather can change the whole outing

The sea is the deciding factor. On a calm, sunny day, the combination of blue water, swimming, music, and drinks can make the cruise feel like excellent value. In unsettled weather, the crew may keep you out of the sea, change the route, or run the boat under engine power.

An October departure went ahead during a local storm, but the group agreed not to swim because the current and sea conditions were unsafe. The food and reserved beds still made the trip worthwhile for that group, but the experience was naturally different from a sunny summer cruise.

If swimming is your main reason for booking, choose your date with care and keep an eye on the forecast. If you mainly want a coastal ride with lunch and a comfortable deck, the trip can still work in less-than-perfect conditions, provided the boat operates.

Languages and practical booking details

The live guide service is available in Spanish, English, Catalan, French, German, and Dutch. That makes the cruise accessible to a broad mix of visitors, though the supplied information does not name individual guides.

The duration is listed as 2 to 3 hours, with the main program described as a 3-hour cruise and sightseeing outing. Starting times depend on availability. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.

The activity is not wheelchair accessible. Your meeting point depends on the chosen option, so check it before setting off. Bring a towel, arrive with enough time to collect your bed number, and plan your transport from Salou well ahead during July and August.

Should you book the Cambrils catamaran cruise?

Book it if you want an easy, good-value coastal afternoon with a reserved bed, plenty of drinks, a BBQ lunch option, and a proper chance to swim. The strongest features are the personal deck space, the friendly service, the broad drinks list, and the chance to combine relaxation with time in the water.

Think twice if you want a fully sail-powered trip, quiet nature watching, or a food-focused cruise. You should also accept that wind and sea conditions can remove the swim stop.

For $35, this is a sensible choice for a sunny day in Cambrils. Plan your transport, collect your bed number before boarding, bring a towel, and treat the meal as a useful part of the package rather than a gourmet event. If those expectations fit, this catamaran outing gives you a pleasant slice of the Catalonian coast without taking over your whole day.

FAQ

How long is the Cambrils catamaran cruise?

The activity lasts between 2 and 3 hours. The main itinerary describes about 3 hours, including sailing, sightseeing, the swim stop, and the return to Cambrils.

What is included in the price?

The package includes the catamaran cruise, food and drinks, and a Balinese bed. A BBQ lunch is available as an option, so check the exact booking choice before paying.

Where does the cruise depart?

Departure points are in Cambrils, along Passeig de les Palmeres and Passeig de Miramar. The exact meeting point may vary according to the option booked.

Do I get my own sun bed?

You receive an assigned Balinese bed. Before boarding, visit the point of sale in front of the catamaran to collect the number of your bed.

Can I swim or snorkel during the cruise?

Yes. The catamaran normally anchors between Cap Salou and La Pineda, where you can swim and use snorkeling gear. Swimming depends on sea and weather conditions.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Included drinks can include soft drinks, beer, vermouth, wine, cava, and Aperol, along with snacks.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel. You may also want sun protection for time on the open deck.

Is the catamaran accessible for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. It is also not recommended for people with a cold.