Lloret de Mar: Catamaran Sailing Cruise with BBQ and Drinks

The best part of this four-hour Costa Brava cruise is the long stop at sea. After sailing from Lloret de Mar past cliffs, caves, small beaches, and fishing villages, the catamaran anchors for about two hours, giving you time to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and eat lunch without rushing.

I like the combination of a proper swimming break and a meal served on board. I also like the choice of departures: morning trips suit families, while afternoon and Saturday options bring a younger, louder party mood. The main caution is the large-group setting, with as many as roughly 90 or more people on board, so this is social sailing rather than a quiet private boat trip.

Key points to know

• Two hours at anchor: Plenty of time for swimming, snorkeling, the floating mattress, and the boat trampoline.
• Costa Brava views: Sail past rocky cliffs, caves, secluded beaches, and coastal villages.
• BBQ included: Expect burgers, marinated chicken, pasta, salad, and fruit cocktail.
• Drinks included: Beer, sangria, soft drinks, and water are part of the package.
• Choose your mood: Morning family trips, adults-only afternoon departures, or Saturday celebration cruises.
• Bring your own snorkel: Masks are available with a refundable €10 cash deposit, but a snorkel may not be supplied.

Sailing out from Lloret’s sandy waterfront

The meeting point is at Passeig Agustí Font, 2, on the Lloret de Mar promenade, near the town hall. Boarding begins directly from the beach, which is convenient but worth planning for if you have heavy luggage or mobility concerns. You show your QR code on your phone and receive your boarding pass before getting on.

Once aboard, you can choose between the covered area, the solarium, or the large net at the front of the catamaran. The net is the prime spot for feeling the sea beneath you, though it offers little shade. Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, sandals, swimwear, and a towel. A towel is not provided.

The boat has toilets, safety vests, music, and crew on hand. It is not suitable for wheelchair users, and the beach boarding arrangement may be awkward for anyone who has difficulty stepping between shore and boat.

The first hour is mainly for sailing and sightseeing. The catamaran moves along the Costa Brava coast, giving you a changing view of steep rock faces, caves, coves, fishing villages, and beaches that are easier to appreciate from the water than from a crowded road.

An hour of Costa Brava scenery before the swim stop

This is not a silent sailing lesson. Music plays from the start, and the atmosphere builds as people settle into the boat, order or collect drinks, and find a place in the sun. You can sit back with a beer or sangria, stretch out on the front net, or stay under cover if the midday sun is too strong.

The coast is the real reason to keep looking up from your drink. Lloret de Mar is known for its busy resort center, but the view changes quickly once you are offshore. Rocky headlands, small inlets, and caves give the coast a wilder feel, while the villages and beach areas show how heavily the Costa Brava mixes tourism with older seaside life.

The exact route can vary, and one popular run reaches toward Tossa de Mar before anchoring somewhere along the coast. You should think of the cruise as a scenic coastal outing rather than a sightseeing tour with named shore stops. There is no planned visit ashore, and you will not get a guided walk through a village.

Two hours at anchor for swimming and snorkeling

The cruise becomes most worthwhile when the catamaran drops anchor at a quiet spot. You get around two hours here, which is unusually generous for a half-day boat trip. The crew prepares the food while you have time to enjoy the water.

You can enter the Mediterranean from the boat’s designated swimming area, use the floating mattress, or try the trampoline. The water is described as clear, and the stop is suitable for swimming and seeing fish close to the boat. Follow the crew’s safety instructions carefully, especially around the swimming platform and any marked entry points.

The supplied equipment is basic. Masks are available with a refundable €10 cash deposit, but you should bring your own snorkel if snorkeling matters to you. One useful detail from the practical information is that goggles may be available, while a full mask-and-snorkel setup is not guaranteed.

This long water break works well for mixed groups. Strong swimmers can spend plenty of time in the sea, while less confident swimmers can stay on the boat and use the shaded or covered areas. Families should get children’s life jackets early, since there have been departures where the supply of smaller jackets did not match the immediate rush to get into the water.

There are rules to keep the stop safe. Do not arrive intoxicated, and do not bring alcohol, drugs, glass objects, food, or personal coolers. The rules also prohibit jumping, so use only the entry points and activities the crew allows, even though the boat includes a trampoline.

A simple BBQ served while you stay on the water

The food is ready roughly an hour and a half after departure, once the boat has anchored. That timing matters: you should not expect lunch immediately after boarding. The first part of the cruise is for sailing, and the meal comes during the long swimming stop.

The self-service meal includes:

• Beef burgers
• Marinated diced chicken
• Pasta
• Salad
• Sweet fruit cocktail

The food is straightforward rather than gourmet. I would describe it as practical boat barbecue fare, designed to feed a large group efficiently. You may find the burgers and chicken satisfying after swimming, while the pasta and salad give you lighter choices. The menu is stated to be gluten-free, but if you have a serious allergy, confirm preparation details with the crew before eating.

Food portions and service are organized for a large boat, not a small restaurant. That is part of the tradeoff. You get a filling meal without leaving the water, but there is no optional menu and no room to order something different. If food quality is your main reason for booking, this is not the strongest choice. If you want lunch included during a day at sea, it adds useful value.

Drinks include beer, sangria, soft drinks, and water. Some departures use a set number of drink vouchers, with extra drinks available for purchase, while the general package describes complimentary drinks during the cruise. Check the exact arrangement for your selected departure. Do not assume wine or spirits will be available. Beer and sangria are the main alcoholic options, which suits the party format but may disappoint you if you prefer white wine or cocktails.

The return trip turns into a floating party

The ride back to Lloret de Mar is usually louder and more energetic than the outward journey. After the swim and meal, the DJ turns up the music, and the open areas become a place to dance. Crew members encourage participation, organize the atmosphere, and keep an eye on safety.

Julio and Silvester are among the crew names associated with this experience. The staff role is important here because a large catamaran can feel impersonal if nobody helps people find their way around or explains the rules. The strongest part of the operation is the friendly, active crew presence, with music, games, and dancing used to bring the group together.

The mood depends heavily on the departure you choose. The morning cruise is intended for families with children and has a more relaxed tone, though music and some dancing still feature on the return. The afternoon cruise is for people aged 18 and over and has a younger, livelier feel. Saturday celebration departures are also adults-only and are aimed at groups marking birthdays, anniversaries, or similar occasions.

Bachelor groups need to read the restrictions closely. Groups in costumes or carrying sexual objects are not accepted, and bachelor groups are forbidden on the family morning departure. The celebration option is the better fit for an adult group, provided it follows the operator’s rules.

Choosing the right four-hour departure

The schedule matters more than it might appear. The same boat and route can feel like different experiences depending on the people on board.

Choose the morning cruise if you are traveling with children. It is designed for families under 18 and gives you the same core mix of sailing, swimming, BBQ, and drinks without the adults-only party setting.

Choose the afternoon cruise if you want music and social energy. It is restricted to people aged 18 and over and is better suited to couples, young adults, and friends who want dancing after lunch.

Choose the Saturday celebration cruise for a group event. It includes a DJ, BBQ, and five drinks according to the listed format. It is adults-only and fits birthdays, anniversaries, and organized group celebrations.

The boat can feel crowded while everyone is waiting to board, but the deck has enough room for a large group once people spread out. Do not panic if the queue looks long. Getting on early may help you choose a preferred spot, but you do not need to sprint for space.

Is $59 a fair price?

At $59 per person, this is good value if you make use of the full package. You receive a four-hour round-trip catamaran cruise, crew and captain, food, several drink options, swimming time, music, toilets, safety equipment, and access to the floating mattress and trampoline.

The value comes from the amount of time at anchor. Many coastal boat trips offer a short swim stop before heading back. Here, you get roughly two hours for swimming and lunch, plus about an hour of sailing in each direction. The meal is basic, but buying lunch and drinks separately in Lloret de Mar, then paying for a boat trip, could easily push the total above $59.

The price is less attractive if you want quiet sailing, a small group, premium food, or a wide choice of drinks. This is a social catamaran with music and a party element. You are paying for a day at sea with entertainment, not for a refined sailing charter.

Transfers are not included, so you need to reach the promenade yourself. The central meeting point makes that relatively simple if you are staying in Lloret de Mar, but it is an extra planning point if you are based elsewhere on the Costa Brava.

Practical details that can make or break the day

Check the weather before you go. The cruise can be canceled because of rough seas, heavy rain, an unexpected catamaran problem, or too few participants. If the operator cancels, the activity may not run, but your own late arrival is different: missing the departure does not qualify for a refund.

You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some flexibility. Still, do not leave your arrival until the last minute. The departure point is on the promenade, and boarding from the beach may take time.

Pack light. The most useful items are:

• Swimsuit and towel
• Sunscreen and a hat
• Sunglasses
• Sandals or flip-flops
• Cash for the refundable mask deposit
• A phone with the QR code ready

You may bring a phone for photos, but protect it from spray around the swimming areas. Food and drinks from outside are not permitted, and glass objects are banned. Pets are also not allowed.

The host service is available in English, Spanish, and French. You can expect the crew to explain the basic arrangements, but this is not a formal guided tour with constant commentary about every coastal feature.

Who will enjoy this catamaran cruise most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a simple way to combine Costa Brava scenery, swimming, lunch, and music without organizing separate activities. It works particularly well for couples, groups of friends, families on the morning run, and adults celebrating together.

It is also a useful choice if you are finding Lloret de Mar’s town center too busy or repetitive. A few hours offshore changes the pace completely. You get sunshine, open water, and a chance to meet people from other groups, while the crew handles the food, drinks, route, and entertainment.

I would steer you elsewhere if you want a peaceful sail, serious snorkeling, a small boat, or a quiet meal. The music gets louder on the return, and the social atmosphere is central to the experience. People who prefer personal space should choose a covered seat or the edge of the deck, but they cannot remove the party atmosphere entirely.

Should you book the Lloret de Mar catamaran cruise?

Book it if your ideal Costa Brava day includes clear water, a long swim stop, a simple BBQ, beer or sangria, and dancing on the way home. At $59, the package offers a lot for a four-hour outing, especially because the swimming break is long and the crew keeps the day moving.

Pick the morning departure for a family trip, the afternoon for an adults-only group, and the Saturday celebration option for a louder special occasion. Bring your own snorkel, arrive sober and on time, and keep your expectations focused on fun rather than luxury. For the right crowd, this is one of the easiest ways to turn a stay in Lloret de Mar into a full half-day on the Costa Brava.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise leave from?

The meeting point is Passeig Agustí Font, 2, on the Lloret de Mar promenade near the town hall. Boarding takes place from the beach.

How long does the cruise last?

The experience lasts four hours. About one hour is spent sailing along the coast, followed by roughly two hours anchored for swimming, snorkeling, and lunch, with the return journey completing the trip.

What food is included?

The self-service BBQ includes beef burgers, marinated diced chicken, pasta, salad, and sweet fruit cocktail. The menu is stated to contain no gluten, and there is no optional menu.

What drinks are included?

Included drinks are beer, sangria, soft drinks, and water. The celebration departure lists five drinks, while other departures may use a different serving arrangement. Wine is not listed as an included option.

Are snorkeling masks provided?

Masks are available with a refundable €10 cash deposit. A snorkel is not guaranteed, so bring your own if you want to snorkel properly.

Which departure is best for families?

Morning departures are designed for families with children under 18. Afternoon departures and Saturday celebration cruises are for adults aged 18 and over.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The cruise may be canceled because of rough seas, heavy rain, an unexpected catamaran breakdown, or too few participants. You can cancel your own booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, but late arrival or missing the departure does not qualify for a refund.