North of Mauritius: Sunset Catamaran Cruise, Drinks & Snacks

The best part of this two-hour catamaran cruise is its timing. You leave Grand Baie while there is still light, sail out across the lagoon, and watch the northern coast change as the sun drops toward the horizon. The return trip takes place under the first evening darkness, giving the outing a pleasant beginning, middle, and end.

I like the large catamaran and the easygoing setup. You get room to settle in, take photos, and enjoy the sea without committing to a full-day boat trip. I also like that drinks and snacks are included, with rum, wine, beer, soft drinks, juice, and water available. The main drawback is that the snack selection is fairly simple, and the cruise is not a good fit if you are prone to seasickness or have limited mobility.

Key points at a glance

• Sunset timing changes by season: Meet at 4:45 pm for a 5:00 pm departure from October through March, or at 4:15 pm for a 4:30 pm departure from April through September.
• Grand Baie is both the meeting point and return point: Find the Blue Safari, Sportfisher, Croisieres Australes office at Sunset Boulevard, facing the sea near the jetty.
• Drinks are part of the fare: Expect local rum, red, rosé, and white wine, Phoenix beer, juice, soft drinks, and mineral water.
• The food is light rather than a full meal: Snacks and canapés include tomato chatini with croutons, nachos with dips, moolkoo, and banana chips.
• The green flash is a bonus, not a promise: It can appear just after sunset under the right conditions, but you should treat it as luck.
• The cruise runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays: Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own way to Grand Baie.

Setting out from Grand Baie at the right hour

This cruise is built around one simple idea: get you on the water at the best part of the day. Grand Baie is on the northern coast of Mauritius, and the boat leaves from Sunset Boulevard near the jetty. You meet the crew at the Blue Safari, Sportfisher, Croisieres Australes office, facing the sea.

The schedule shifts with the season. From October through March, you meet at 4:45 pm, sail at 5:00 pm, and return around 7:00 pm. From April through September, the meeting time is 4:15 pm, departure is 4:30 pm, and the boat returns around 6:30 pm.

That half-hour shift matters. You are not simply booking a generic evening cruise. The departure is set to give you a reasonable stretch of daylight before the sun goes down, then enough time to enjoy the return ride after sunset. Arrive early enough to locate the office and jetty without rushing. Hotel transport is not included, so you need to arrange your own route to Grand Baie.

The cruise is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If your stay in Mauritius is short, check those days before building the rest of your plans around this outing.

What the northern coastline looks like from the water

Once the catamaran leaves the bay, the focus changes from town to open water. You will be looking across the lagoon and along the northern coast as the afternoon light softens. The appeal is less about reaching a single landmark and more about the changing view during the sail.

A boat gives you a different angle on Mauritius than a road trip or beach afternoon. You can watch the coastline recede while the catamaran heads toward the horizon. The quiet water and wide view make this a good choice if you want a gentle evening rather than another busy sightseeing stop.

The route can change if the sea becomes rough or unsafe. The captain may alter direction for safety, so do not treat the advertised course as a rigid promise. That is sensible on a boat trip, and it may mean the view differs slightly from what you expected. The cruise still aims to give you the sunset experience from the water.

This is also a useful choice for people who want a short sailing outing. Full-day catamaran trips can take up most of your schedule and often focus on swimming, snorkeling, or island stops. Here, you get two hours, no lengthy transfer, and a clear purpose: enjoy the sea at sunset.

A spacious catamaran with a relaxed mood

The catamaran is described as large, and that is one of its practical strengths. A larger boat generally gives you more room to sit, move around, and find a useful angle for photographs. It also suits a sunset cruise better than a tightly packed small craft, since the point is to relax while the view changes.

The atmosphere is intended to be social but calm. Drinks, snacks, and music or conversation may shape the mood, but the main attraction remains the sea and sky. The crew speaks French and English, making basic communication easier for a wide range of visitors.

You should bring non-slip shoes. Boat decks can become wet, and sensible footwear helps you move safely. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a cover-up are useful while the sun is still up. Once the light fades, a jacket or waterproof jacket becomes more important, especially with wind across the water.

A waterproof bag or backpack protects your phone, camera, and spare clothing from spray. Pack a change of clothes and a towel if you prefer to be prepared, even though this is not presented as a swimming trip. Insect repellent and motion sickness tablets are also listed as useful items. If you know you get seasick, take that warning seriously. This outing is not recommended for people prone to seasickness.

Drinks and snacks: useful, but not dinner

The included refreshments add real value, but you should understand what they are. Drinks include local rum, red, rosé, and white wine, Phoenix beer, fruit juice, soft drinks, and mineral water. Cocktails are also advertised, so the beverage service is broader than a simple bottle of water and a packet of crisps.

The food is a light selection of canapés and snacks:

• Tomato chatini with croutons
• Nachos with dips
• Moolkoo
• Banana chips

These items suit a sunset aperitif. They give you something to nibble while you watch the sky, but they should not replace dinner. One useful caution is that the snack selection may feel modest if you arrive hungry. A few guests found the food the weakest part of the outing, while the drinks, crew, and setting drew the strongest praise.

I would eat a normal late lunch before meeting the boat. Then you can treat the snacks as part of the experience rather than counting on them for a full meal. If you have dietary needs, the supplied information does not specify alternatives, so ask the operator before booking.

The sunset and the possible green flash

The central moment comes when the sun reaches the horizon. The sky may shift through warm evening colors, and the water gives you an open foreground with few obstructions. That is the time to have your camera ready, but do not spend the whole sunset staring at a screen.

The green flash is mentioned as a possible highlight. This rare optical effect can appear just after the sun slips below the horizon. It is not guaranteed, and nobody can promise that the weather or viewing conditions will cooperate. Think of it as a lucky extra, not the reason to book the cruise.

Clear conditions will help, but the experience still has value if the flash does not appear. You are on the water at sunset, with drinks in hand and the coast around you. The green flash is best treated like spotting a dolphin or finding an unusually clear star: wonderful if it happens, but not a failure if it does not.

For photography, a phone or camera is enough for casual shots. Bring a waterproof case or bag, and keep a hand free when moving on deck. Sunsets change quickly, so take a few pictures, then put the camera away and watch the final light.

Returning to Grand Baie after dark

The boat returns to Sunset Boulevard at about 7:00 pm in the warmer-season schedule and 6:30 pm in the cooler-season schedule. By then, the main work of the cruise is done. The return gives you time to relax after sunset rather than being rushed straight back to the jetty.

Because the tour ends where it begins, there is no complicated second meeting point. You will need your own plan for dinner and your onward journey, since hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Grand Baie is a convenient place to continue your evening, but the cruise operator does not provide a transfer.

The schedule also gives you a useful planning advantage. You can book a dinner after the cruise, but leave some flexibility rather than choosing a reservation immediately after the stated return time. Sea conditions can affect the route and timing, even though the normal return schedule is clear.

Is $55 a fair price?

At $55 per person, the cruise offers reasonable value if you want a short evening on the water. The fare covers two hours of sailing, the catamaran, the sunset setting, snacks, and a range of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. That makes the price easier to justify than a bare sightseeing boat ride where every drink costs extra.

The value is strongest for couples, friends, and solo visitors who want a memorable final evening without spending a whole day at sea. It can also work well during a longer Mauritius stay, when you have already done beach time and want a slower change of scene.

The value is less convincing if you expect a substantial meal, a long coastal tour, swimming, snorkeling, or a private boat. None of those are the main purpose here. This is a short shared sunset cruise with refreshments, not a full marine adventure.

The included drinks are a particularly useful part of the price. You can choose from rum, wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, and water rather than paying separately for each item. Still, drink responsibly. The boat and sea conditions matter more than squeezing every possible beverage out of the fare.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this outing to anyone who likes scenic experiences that do not require a full day of activity. It suits people who want:

• A simple two-hour boat trip
• A sunset view from the lagoon
• Included drinks and light snacks
• A relaxed evening with a friendly crew
• A large catamaran rather than a small, fast craft
• A convenient departure and return in Grand Baie

It is also a good fit for a final night or late-afternoon slot in your Mauritius plans. The timing leaves most of the day free, and the sunset gives the cruise a clear sense of occasion.

I would be more cautious if you suffer from motion sickness, have mobility impairments, or need a substantial meal. Pets are not allowed, apart from assistance dogs. You must not litter or touch marine life, which is basic good practice on the water but worth knowing before you arrive.

The tour has a very high rating based on 14 reviews, and the strongest themes are consistent: friendly staff, a pleasant atmosphere, a large catamaran, generous drinks, and a satisfying way to finish a holiday. The only clear reservation concerns the snacks, so set your expectations correctly.

Practical tips for a smoother evening

Wear comfortable clothes that can handle sea spray and a cooling breeze. Bring a swimsuit if you like, but the supplied details do not promise a swim stop. A cover-up and spare clothes are more useful than packing as if this were a beach excursion.

Use sunscreen even for a late departure. The sun remains strong in the hours before sunset, and reflections from the water can catch you off guard. Sunglasses and a hat or cap help during the first part of the cruise.

Keep your phone and camera in a waterproof bag. The boat may be calm, but spray is always possible. Non-slip shoes are the safest choice, and a light jacket or waterproof jacket is worth carrying for the return.

If the sea looks rough, listen to the crew and captain. The direction may change for safety, and that is a normal part of a responsible boat operation. You cannot control the exact route or guarantee the green flash, but you can control your preparation.

The operator allows cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms give you some flexibility if your plans are still moving around.

Should you book the North of Mauritius sunset cruise?

Book it if you want an easy, scenic evening with a strong sense of place. The large catamaran, northern coastline, included drinks, and sunset timing create a pleasant package for $55. The crew and atmosphere are the main reasons to choose it, with the green flash serving as a delightful possibility.

Do not book it expecting dinner, a private sailing, or a full day of water activities. Eat beforehand, bring a jacket and waterproof bag, and accept that the sea may alter the route. If you are comfortable on boats and free on a Tuesday or Thursday, this is a sensible way to watch Mauritius turn from afternoon to night.

FAQ

Where does the sunset catamaran cruise depart from?

It departs from the Blue Safari, Sportfisher, Croisieres Australes office at Sunset Boulevard in Grand Baie, facing the sea near the jetty.

How long is the cruise?

The cruise lasts two hours, including the outward sail, sunset viewing, and return to Grand Baie.

What time should I meet the crew?

From October through March, meet at 4:45 pm for a 5:00 pm departure. From April through September, meet at 4:15 pm for a 4:30 pm departure.

What time does the boat return?

The scheduled return is 7:00 pm from October through March and 6:30 pm from April through September.

What drinks are included?

Included drinks are local rum, red, rosé, and white wine, Phoenix beer, fruit juice, soft drinks, and mineral water. Cocktails are also included in the experience description.

What food is served?

The snack selection includes tomato chatini with croutons, nachos and dips, moolkoo, and banana chips.

Is the green flash guaranteed?

No. The green flash is a rare optical event that may appear just after sunset, but sightings depend on the conditions.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must make your own way to Sunset Boulevard in Grand Baie. The cruise ends back at the same meeting point.