Cambrils: Catamaran Cruise with Drinks and BBQ Lunch Option

Three hours, turquoise water, and your own sunbed. This Cambrils catamaran cruise is appealing because it combines a coastal boat ride with a reserved Balinese bed, swimming, snorkeling gear, snacks, and a generous drinks menu. I especially like the reserved bed system, which gives you a fixed place to relax, and the chance to stop between Cap Salou and La Pineda for a swim. The main drawback is that the boat may rely on its engine rather than actually sailing, so this is more of a laid-back motorized cruise than a true sailing trip.

I also like the price. At about $35 per person, the included drinks and food can make this good value, especially for a three-hour outing. Just keep your expectations sensible: food quality can vary, swimming depends on sea conditions, and the exact departure point depends on the option you book.

Quick points before you book

• Your own Balinese bed: Collect your bed number at the sales point before boarding, then use that reserved spot during the cruise.
• A swim stop after roughly one hour: The catamaran usually anchors between Cap Salou and La Pineda, with access to the water by steps.
• A full drinks selection: Cava, beer, wine, vermouth, Aperol, soft drinks, and snacks are included.
• BBQ lunch may be part of the selected option: Halal sausages and chicken kebabs have been served, though the food receives more mixed praise than the drinks.
• Snorkeling is available: Equipment is provided for looking at the seabed around Cap Salou.
• Allow extra time from Salou: In July and August, taxis can be hard to find, while the bus from Salou to Cambrils runs about every 20 minutes and stops roughly 300 meters from the boat.

What this Cambrils cruise is really like

This is a social, easygoing boat trip rather than a sightseeing cruise packed with facts. You leave from Cambrils, spend about an hour moving along the Catalonia coast, anchor in a swimming area, then spend time in the water before returning.

The boat has a broad deck, Balinese beds, beanbags toward the front, music, and a relaxed holiday atmosphere. You can sunbathe, sit in partial shade, have a drink, or use the snorkeling equipment. There is no need to fill every minute with activity. That is the point.

I would describe the mood as a floating beach club with a coastline view. It suits people who want sun, water, music, and food without planning a full day around a boat trip.

The catamaran is described as luxury, but keep that word in proportion. The strongest luxury feature is your reserved bed. You are not simply competing for a patch of deck when the boat leaves the harbor. The cruise is comfortable and casual, not a private yacht charter.

Leaving Cambrils and finding your place

The departure points are along the Cambrils promenade, including locations on Passeig de les Palmeres and Passeig de Miramar. Your exact meeting point depends on the option selected, so check the booking details carefully rather than heading to the first marina entrance you see.

Before boarding, go to the sales point in front of the catamaran. There, you collect the number of your assigned Balinese bed. This small step matters. The bed is part of what you are paying for, and getting the number before boarding avoids confusion once people are settling in.

The bed arrangement is one of the best practical touches. You can leave a towel or small personal items at your place and move around the boat without losing your main spot. The beds may be partly shaded or partly in the sun. One bed area described during a September trip had a mix of sun and shade, while the front beanbags offered a brighter place to stretch out.

You should bring a towel. The information provided does not list other required equipment, and snorkeling gear is available on board.

The first hour along the Catalonia coast

The opening part of the trip is about the view and the feeling of being out on the water. The catamaran follows the Catalonia coast, with the direction influenced by the wind.

The route can head north toward Cap Salou and La Pineda, or south toward the Montroig area. The crew chooses the course according to conditions, so you should not expect the exact same shoreline on every departure.

This is a good time to get comfortable, look back at Cambrils, and make use of the drinks service. The selection goes well beyond beer and cava. You can have wine, vermouth, Aperol, soft drinks, and snacks, which makes the trip feel more like a hosted outing than a simple boat transfer.

One point deserves an honest mention. At least one booking party expected the catamaran to use its sails but found that the boat traveled under engine power instead. If sailing itself is your main reason for booking, ask about the planned operation before you commit. If you mainly want a smooth ride along the coast, the engine will not necessarily spoil the experience.

The trip lasts two to three hours depending on the selected departure. The three-hour version gives you enough time for the cruise, swimming, food, and return ride without making the day feel overlong.

The Cap Salou swimming stop

After roughly 45 minutes to one hour, the catamaran usually anchors between Cap Salou and La Pineda. This is the centerpiece of the trip.

The water is described as turquoise and clear, and you can swim, jump from the boat, or use the lowered steps to enter the sea. Life jackets are available for anyone who feels unsure in open water. You can also use the snorkeling equipment to look toward the seabed around Cap Salou.

This stop works well because you are not rushed into a five-minute swim. The schedule allows a proper break in the water before lunch and the return journey. You can swim for a while, dry off on your reserved bed, and then go back in if conditions allow.

The sea is not guaranteed to be calm. On one late-season trip, a local storm created a strong current, so swimming was canceled for safety. The cruise still ran, and the onboard food and bed made it worthwhile, but the day became a boat ride rather than a swimming outing.

That is important when choosing your date. Swimming is weather dependent, and a cloudy or windy day will change the character of the trip. In good conditions, the stop is the highlight. In poor conditions, you are relying more heavily on the deck, food, drinks, and atmosphere.

Food, BBQ, and the drinks menu

Food is included, with the selected experience offering snacks and an onboard BBQ. The BBQ has included halal sausages and chicken kebabs, which is useful for mixed groups with different dietary needs.

The food earns a mixed but generally positive assessment. The BBQ has been called tasty, while another opinion found the food merely okay. I would treat lunch as a welcome part of the price rather than the main reason to book.

The drinks are a stronger selling point. You can expect:

• Cava
• Beer
• Wine
• Vermouth
• Aperol
• Soft drinks
• Snacks

For $35, this matters. A short boat ride with a reserved bed is already useful, but adding several drinks and food makes the price feel fair, particularly if you plan to stay on board for the full three hours.

You should still avoid thinking of the meal as a restaurant lunch. It is casual boat food served in a setting where the sea and company are doing much of the work. If your group includes someone with strict dietary needs, confirm the food arrangements before departure rather than assuming every requirement is covered.

The Balinese beds and the front deck

The reserved beds shape the experience more than the word luxury does. You have a fixed place to lie down, read, dry off, or watch the coast. This is especially useful for couples, families, and groups who do not want to spend the whole trip guarding a seat.

The beds are not all identical in sun exposure. Some sit in a mixture of light and shade. People may also move between their beds and the beanbags at the front, so you can find a brighter or more social spot during the trip.

The wide deck gives you room to change position. If you want a quieter spell, stay near your bed. If you want music and a better view forward, head toward the front. The boat atmosphere includes chilled dance music, which makes the cruise feel more like a holiday afternoon than a formal coastal tour.

That mood will not suit everyone. If you want silence, wildlife commentary, or a detailed explanation of local geography, this is not the right boat trip. The live guide can speak Spanish, English, Catalan, French, German, or Dutch, but the supplied details do not promise a long narrated sightseeing program.

How the route changes with the wind

The cruise does not follow one rigid sightseeing route. Depending on wind direction, it may go south toward Montroig, where the water can take on an intense blue color, or anchor closer to Cap Salou and La Pineda.

That flexibility is useful because the crew can choose a better area for the conditions. It also means you should not book with a fixed list of landmarks in mind. The focus is the sea, the coast, and time at anchor, not ticking off named sights.

Around Cap Salou, snorkeling gives you a closer look at the seabed. The water conditions determine how much you will actually see. Clear water can make the stop rewarding, but this is not presented as a specialist snorkeling excursion with a marine guide.

I like this balance. You can take the activity seriously if you want to swim and look underwater, or you can stay on deck with a drink. No one needs to be athletic to enjoy the trip.

Getting to the harbor from Salou

Cambrils is easy to reach from nearby resorts, but summer transport needs thought. In July and August, taxis in Salou can be difficult to find at short notice, especially when you have a fixed boarding time.

The practical advice is to arrange a taxi well in advance, with two hours suggested as a safe planning window. Public transport is another option. A bus runs from Salou to Cambrils about every 20 minutes and leaves you roughly 300 meters from the boarding area.

Your meeting and drop-off point can be one of several locations on Passeig de les Palmeres or Passeig de Miramar. Check the exact option carefully, then allow time to walk to the sales point and collect your bed number before boarding.

The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. It is also not suitable for people with a cold, according to the stated restrictions. Bring a towel, and remember that a day at sea can feel more exposed to sun and wind than a day on the beach.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this cruise most strongly to:

• Couples wanting a simple half-day outing
• Families who like swimming but want an easy onboard base
• Friends on a beach holiday
• Visitors who value included drinks and food
• People who prefer relaxing to a tightly scheduled sightseeing tour
• Anyone who wants a reserved place to sit and sunbathe

It is also a good choice for a girls’ holiday or a small celebration. The music, Aperol, cava, and open deck create a cheerful setting without requiring a full-day boat rental.

You may want to skip it if you need guaranteed swimming, serious sailing, quiet surroundings, or a detailed guided tour. It is also a poor fit if you dislike being on a boat for several hours or if your main priority is a high-end meal.

The small-group option may appeal if you prefer less crowding, but the exact group size is not stated. The reserved bed system does help prevent the boat from feeling like a scramble for deck space.

Is $35 good value?

At approximately $35 per person, I think the cruise offers solid value when the drinks, food, swimming stop, snorkeling equipment, and reserved bed are all part of your selected option.

The value is strongest for people who will actually use the inclusions. If you drink soft drinks, enjoy a BBQ lunch, and spend time swimming, the price compares well with paying separately for a short boat outing and beach activities.

The value is weaker if you only want a scenic ride and do not care about food or drinks. In that case, a simple coastal cruise might offer a better fit, though the reserved bed remains a useful extra.

Check the exact booking option for the BBQ details. The experience is described with a BBQ lunch option, while the included items also list food and drinks. Since the wording can vary by departure, confirm that the BBQ is included in the specific choice you select.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later make the booking less rigid. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date.

Final verdict: should you book it?

Book this Cambrils catamaran cruise if you want an easy, good-value afternoon with a reserved sunbed, plenty of drinks, a swim stop, and a relaxed soundtrack. The strongest features are the personal bed, friendly onboard service, and the chance to spend real time in the sea rather than simply passing along the coast.

Go in with realistic expectations. The boat may use its engine instead of sails, the BBQ is casual, and swimming can be canceled when wind or currents make conditions unsafe. For a beach holiday, though, the combination is hard to fault at $35, especially if you take advantage of the drinks and stay on board for the full three hours.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise leave from?

The departure point may vary by booking option. Listed locations include Passeig de les Palmeres and Passeig de Miramar in Cambrils.

How long does the cruise last?

The activity lasts between two and three hours, depending on the selected option and available departure time.

Is food included on the catamaran?

Food and drinks are included. The experience also offers an onboard BBQ, and the selected option should be checked to confirm the BBQ arrangement.

What drinks are available?

The drinks selection includes cava, beer, wine, vermouth, Aperol, soft drinks, and snacks.

Can I swim or snorkel during the cruise?

Yes. The catamaran usually anchors between Cap Salou and La Pineda after about one hour, where you can swim and use the available snorkeling gear. Swimming depends on sea conditions.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel. Before boarding, visit the sales point in front of the catamaran to collect the number of your assigned Balinese bed.