Cambrils: Catamaran Cruise with Drinks and BBQ Lunch Option

The best part of this Cambrils cruise is the combination of a reserved Balinese bed and a proper swim stop. You are not simply packed onto a boat for a slow coastal ride. After sailing for roughly 45 minutes to an hour, the catamaran anchors in clear water near Cap Salou, La Pineda, or farther south toward Montroig.

I like the easygoing setup: your own numbered bed gives you a place to return to, and the drinks include more than the usual beer and soft drinks. Cava, wine, vermouth, and Aperol are part of the selection. The main drawback is that the boat does not always sail under its sails. Wind and operating conditions may mean a motor-powered ride instead.

Key points at a glance

• Reserved Balinese bed: Collect your assigned bed number from the sales point before boarding.
• Swimming after about one hour: The boat anchors near Cap Salou and La Pineda, with time for swimming and snorkeling.
• Drinks included: Cava, beer, wine, vermouth, Aperol, and soft drinks are available onboard.
• BBQ lunch option: Food may include sausages and chicken kebabs, with halal choices available on some sailings.
• Three hours on the water: The cruise is long enough for a swim and lunch without taking up your whole day.
• Transport warning: In July and August, arrange a taxi early from Salou or use the bus to Cambrils.

A relaxed three hours off the Cambrils coast

This is a leisure cruise, not a sightseeing tour packed with landmarks and commentary. You leave Cambrils, spend time looking back at the Catalonian coast from the water, then head toward a swimming area before returning to port.

The pace suits a holiday afternoon. Music plays, drinks are served, and you can shift between sun and shade. The wide catamaran deck gives you more room than a small speedboat, while the assigned Balinese bed means you do not need to fight for a lounger.

The stated price is about $35 per person, though the exact cost can change with the selected option and date. At that level, the value is strong if you plan to use the food, drinks, and swim stop. A simple boat ride may cost less, but it will not necessarily include a reserved bed, BBQ food, snorkeling gear, and an open bar-style selection.

Finding the boat and claiming your bed

Several meeting and return points are listed along Passeig de les Palmeres and Passeig de Miramar in Cambrils. Your exact meeting point depends on the option you book, so check the confirmation rather than assuming every sailing leaves from the same spot.

Before boarding, go to the sales point directly in front of the catamaran. You collect the number of your assigned Balinese bed there. This small step matters. If you walk straight to the boat, you may not yet have your bed allocation.

The beds are one of the most useful features on this cruise. You have a clear base for your towel, drink, and personal items, instead of spending the whole trip looking for an empty place. Some beds are partly shaded, while others sit more fully in the sun. You may also find open beanbag seating near the front of the boat, but the assigned bed is the part you can count on.

Take a towel. It is specifically required, and you will want one after swimming. You should also expect strong sun exposure on deck, although the supplied information does not list sunscreen as a required item. Plan your personal sun protection accordingly.

The first hour: Cambrils to the swimming area

Once the catamaran leaves Cambrils, the first section is mainly about the ride and the coastal views. The boat travels for around 45 minutes to one hour before anchoring, depending on the route and conditions.

The usual swimming area is between Cap Salou and La Pineda. From the water, you get a different view of the coast than you would from the promenade. The stop also gives you the chance to appreciate the seabed around Cap Salou, although visibility will naturally depend on the weather and water conditions.

The direction is not fixed. If the wind allows, the catamaran may head south toward Montroig, where the water can appear an intense blue. This flexible route is practical rather than dramatic. The crew can choose a suitable area based on the day’s conditions, but you should not book this expecting one guaranteed beach or viewpoint.

One point worth knowing: sailing is not guaranteed. A verified booking described the boat running on its engine instead of setting sail, which was the only notable disappointment in an otherwise positive outing. If the romance of sails catching the wind is your main reason for booking, keep expectations modest. The core experience is the catamaran, the deck, the food, and the water stop.

Swimming and snorkeling near Cap Salou

The anchor stop is the heart of the trip. You can enter the water for a swim, use the available snorkeling gear, or stay on deck and watch others enjoy it.

The water is described as turquoise and clear, with the chance to look for marine life around Cap Salou. This is not presented as a guided marine biology session, so you should think of snorkeling as a casual extra rather than a full reef tour. Bring patience and keep your expectations suited to a short coastal stop.

Getting into the water is made easier by lowered steps. Life jackets are available for anyone who feels nervous. That makes the stop more approachable for mixed groups, especially when one person wants to swim and another is less confident in open water.

The weather can change the plan. On one stormy day, the boat continued with the trip but skipped swimming because the current and sea conditions were unsafe. That is the right tradeoff, though it means the cruise can feel quite different in rough weather. You still have the bed, food, drinks, and views, but the main activity may become a stay-onboard afternoon.

The boat may give you plenty of time in the water before lunch. Exact timing can vary, so do not treat the stated schedule as a minute-by-minute promise. The route, wind, and sea state all matter.

Food, BBQ choices, and the drink selection

Food and drinks are included in the cruise package, with a BBQ option available. The onboard spread includes snacks plus soft drinks, beer, vermouth, wine, and cava. Aperol is also available, which gives the drinks selection a more holiday-focused feel than a basic boat excursion.

The BBQ has received particularly strong praise for its family appeal. Food can include halal sausages and chicken kebabs, a useful detail if your group has dietary requirements that are often overlooked on casual excursions. Still, the available information does not promise a full menu for every departure, so confirm the exact food option when booking.

The food quality may not be the main reason to choose this trip. It has been described as tasty and satisfying, but also simply okay by one passenger. That sounds fair. You are eating lunch on a moving boat, with drinks and a swim stop included. Expect convenient BBQ fare rather than a restaurant meal.

The drinks are a stronger selling point. You are not limited to one type of beer or a single soft drink. Cava, wine, vermouth, and Aperol make the trip feel more like a social afternoon on the water. If you do not drink alcohol, soft drinks are available.

Eat sensibly before swimming, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time in the water. The order of the swim stop and lunch can vary, but the cruise generally gives you time to enjoy the sea before settling into the food service.

Music, space, and the mood onboard

This is not a silent sailing. Chilled dance music and a lively holiday atmosphere are part of the experience. That suits a group of friends, a birthday outing, or anyone who wants a social afternoon rather than a quiet nature trip.

The catamaran is designed for lounging. Your assigned bed gives you a personal space, while the front beanbags and wider deck allow you to move around. The boat can still feel busy during popular summer departures, but the bed allocation helps prevent the usual scramble for seating.

A small group option is available, although the exact group size depends on the booking. Do not assume a private charter. You are booking a place on a shared cruise unless your selected option specifically says otherwise.

The atmosphere is also shaped by the crew. The staff have been consistently described as friendly and helpful, including during a poor-weather sailing when they continued the trip despite the lack of swimming. That practical, good-natured service matters on a short excursion, because the crew controls the food, drinks, boarding, safety, and timing.

Getting to Cambrils from Salou

If you are staying in Salou, allow extra time to reach the boarding point. During July and August, taxis can be hard to find at short notice, and a late arrival could mean missing the boat.

The practical advice is to arrange a taxi well ahead of departure, with two hours suggested as a safe planning window. Public transport is another option. The bus from Salou to Cambrils runs approximately every 20 minutes and leaves you around 300 metres from the boarding place.

That short walk sounds easy, but give yourself enough time to find the sales point and collect your bed number. Boarding is not the moment to start searching for the correct promenade address.

The tour returns to one of the listed Cambrils points around Passeig de les Palmeres or Passeig de Miramar. Since pickup and drop-off points can vary, check the exact location before you set off.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want several holiday pleasures in one outing: a sea view, a reserved lounger, swimming, casual snorkeling, music, lunch, and drinks.

It works especially well for:

• Couples who want a relaxed afternoon without a full-day commitment
• Families who value an assigned place to sit and easy water access
• Friends looking for an inclusive social activity
• Visitors who want to swim from a boat rather than visit another crowded beach
• Anyone staying in Cambrils or nearby Salou who can reach the port on time

The cruise may be less suitable if you want detailed coastal commentary, a quiet sailing, or a guaranteed sailing experience under canvas. It is also not suitable for wheelchair users, according to the activity information, and people with a cold are advised not to take part.

If swimming is essential to your plan, check the forecast closely. The trip can still operate in poor weather, but the water stop may be cancelled for safety. You will have the onboard food, drinks, music, and bed, but not the full experience you may have pictured.

Booking value at around $35

At roughly $35 per person, this is one of those outings where the inclusions make the price easier to judge. You are paying for two to three hours on the catamaran, a reserved Balinese bed, food, several drink choices, and access to snorkeling equipment.

The value is best if you stay onboard for the full trip and make use of the drinks and swimming stop. If you do not drink, do not want lunch, or plan to spend only a short time on the boat, the price may look less attractive.

The three-hour length is another advantage. It gives you enough time to leave Cambrils, reach the swimming area, eat, and return without losing a whole day. You can still plan an evening meal, a beach visit, or a walk along the promenade afterward.

Flexible booking terms also help. You can reserve and pay later, and cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Check the exact conditions attached to your chosen option, especially if you are booking the BBQ version.

Should you book the Cambrils catamaran cruise?

Book it if you want an easy, good-value afternoon with a guaranteed place to lie down, a swim from the boat, and drinks included. The reserved bed is the feature that makes this more comfortable than many basic boat trips, while the Aperol, cava, wine, and BBQ option add useful value at the price.

Skip it if you need a quiet cruise, a fully guaranteed sailing route, or a formal guided tour of the coast. Also think twice if your day depends on swimming in the sea, since wind and currents can cancel that part.

For most holidaymakers in Cambrils, this is a sensible choice for a relaxed three hours on the water. Arrive early, collect your bed number, bring a towel, and use public transport or arrange a taxi well ahead if you are coming from Salou.

FAQ

How long does the Cambrils catamaran cruise last?

The activity lasts approximately two to three hours. The sailing, swimming stop, food, drinks, and return journey are included within that time.

Where does the catamaran leave from?

Departure points are along Passeig de les Palmeres and Passeig de Miramar in Cambrils. The exact meeting point depends on the option booked, so check your booking details.

Is a Balinese bed included?

Yes. Each participant is assigned a Balinese bed. Before boarding, collect the bed number from the sales point in front of the catamaran.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. The experience includes snacks and drinks such as soft drinks, beer, vermouth, wine, and cava. Aperol is also available. A BBQ lunch option is offered.

Can I swim or snorkel during the cruise?

Yes. The catamaran usually anchors between Cap Salou and La Pineda, or may head south toward Montroig depending on the wind. You can swim and use snorkeling gear when sea conditions are safe.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel. You may also want personal sun protection because much of the activity takes place on the open deck.

Is the cruise suitable for wheelchair users?

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