Private Catamaran Booze Cruise & Snorkeling

A private catamaran, your own group, an open bar and a stop at a natural pool: this Punta Cana cruise is built for a celebration on the water. You’ll spend about three hours with a captain and crew, moving between music, drinks, swimming and snorkeling along the coast.

I like two things in particular: you’re not sharing the boat with strangers, and the price includes snorkeling gear, flotation devices, snacks and unlimited drinks. The main caveat is that snorkeling depends on sea conditions. Some days bring clear, calm water; rougher seas can mean a shallow stop and little to see beneath the surface.

What to Know Before You Go

• Private boat for up to 15: The listed rate is $759 per group, so the per-person cost falls as your party grows.
• Three hours on the water: Expect a coastal cruise, time to swim and snorkel, and a stop at a natural pool, a shallow sandbar area.
• Open bar included: Drinks include vodka, tequila, beer and rum, plus juices, soda and bottled water.
• A crew-led party atmosphere: Music, snacks and an animation team make this more of a social outing than a quiet sailing trip.
• Hotel transport is offered: Pickup and drop-off are included in Punta Cana, though your hotel may have rules about where a vehicle can collect you.
• Snorkeling is weather-dependent: The water can be too rough or too shallow for the kind of reef viewing you may have in mind.

A Private Boat Changes the Feel

This is a group outing first and a sightseeing cruise second. Booking the boat for your own party means you can settle into the music and conversation without being mixed in with another group. That privacy is a real part of the value for birthdays, family get-togethers and bachelor parties.

The listed price is $759 for up to 15 people. At full capacity, that works out to about $51 per person. With 10 people, it is about $76 each; with five, about $152 each. The smaller your group, the more you are paying for the private setting rather than simply for the cruise itself.

The stated group limit is 15, so check the details with the operator if your party is larger. Some large-party accounts describe a much bigger group, but the listed rate and capacity are for up to 15. Don’t assume that a larger group can board under the same terms.

The crew’s role is more than steering and serving drinks. A captain and crew look after the outing, while a guide and animation team help keep the atmosphere lively. You can ask questions and hear commentary about the marine environment, though this is not presented as a formal naturalist tour.

Coastline, Coral Reef and Natural Pool

The plan is a coastal cruise from Bávaro Beach, with time for swimming and snorkeling and a stop at a natural pool. The pool is described as a sandbar, so think of a shallow place to get in the water and relax, not a deep-water swimming stop.

Snorkeling gear and life jackets are included, as are floating devices. You won’t need to bring your own mask and snorkel to take part. Still, keep expectations sensible: one of the stops is specifically shallow, and the route or water conditions may not deliver the clear reef views you hoped for.

The snorkeling experience can vary with the sea. On a calm day, you may get clear water and colorful fish around the reef. If the sea is rough, the boat may stay closer in, and you could find yourself in water around five feet deep, with limited snorkeling. The operator notes that it cannot control sea conditions and may offer another date or a refund if poor weather cancels the trip.

This is the central trade-off. If reef snorkeling is the main reason you’re booking, the conditions matter as much as the boat. If you’d be happy with a swim, drinks and time at a shallow sandbar, the outing has more to offer even when underwater visibility disappoints.

Music, Drinks and Snacks on Board

The open bar is a substantial part of the appeal. Unlimited drinks include vodka, tequila, beer and rum, along with juices, sodas and bottled water. The minimum drinking age is 18, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tropical fruit, nachos and sauces are included, which gives you something to snack on between swims and drinks. A beach lunch is not included, so don’t treat the snacks as a meal. Photos and souvenirs are also extra, and it is sensible to ask the price before agreeing to a photo package. Some people have found the photos expensive, and knowing the cost in advance avoids an awkward surprise at the end.

Dance music and an animation team set the tone. This is meant to be fun and sociable, not hushed or formal. If your group has strong music preferences, bring a playlist and ask whether you can connect it to the boat’s sound system. The connection is not guaranteed, so think of that as a useful question rather than a promise.

The crew is one of the most consistently praised parts of the experience. Families, birthday groups and bachelor parties describe staff who are both professional and playful, helping keep the mood up even in rain. Raphael is singled out by name in one account, but that does not mean he will be assigned to every departure.

Three Hours, With Hotel Pickup

The advertised cruise lasts about three hours, and the activity ends back at its starting point at Bávaro Beach, C. Chicago, Punta Cana. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in Punta Cana. Confirm the pickup details for your accommodation, especially if the hotel restricts vehicles from collecting people at its front door. One party found that the hotel’s pickup rules made the transport less straightforward, though the boat portion still ran for the full three hours.

Three hours is enough time for a short cruise, water stops and a lively stretch on board, but it is not a full-day sailing trip. A few people would have preferred a longer outing. If your group wants a half-day at sea, this may feel brief; if you want a contained activity that fits neatly into a vacation day, the duration is convenient.

The boat returns to the meeting point, so you are not ending at a different beach or port. That makes the outing easier to plan around, particularly if you have a group to coordinate. Pickup is offered, but check where the driver can meet you rather than assuming every hotel allows collection at its entrance.

Is $759 Good Value for Your Group?

The price makes the most sense when you can fill much of the boat. At 12 people, the cost is about $63 per person; at 15, about $51. That includes private use of the boat, crew, open bar, snacks, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, flotation devices and hotel transport in Punta Cana.

For a small party, the arithmetic changes. At five people, you are paying about $152 each before any optional purchases. You may still value the privacy and flexibility, but compare that cost with the kind of shared cruise you would be willing to take. The private format is the defining feature here, not a guarantee of more snorkeling time or a longer route.

The value also depends on what your group wants from the day. For a birthday crew, family celebration or bachelor party, having the boat to yourselves can be worth more than a pristine snorkel stop. For a small group focused on marine life, the weather-dependent snorkeling and limited underwater viewing may make the price harder to justify.

Remember that a beach lunch, photos and souvenirs cost extra. If you want photos, ask about the price before the photographer starts. That simple step helps you keep control of the total spend.

Who Will Enjoy This Cruise Most?

I’d put this near the top of the list for a group that wants a private, easygoing party on the water. Birthdays and family celebrations are a natural fit, as are groups of friends who would rather share music and drinks together than join a larger public cruise. Families can bring children, but anyone under the legal drinking age should not expect to join the bar service.

It can also work for a mixed-age family group. The boat offers more than alcohol: you have soft drinks, snacks, flotation devices and the chance to swim. But the party atmosphere and dance music are central to the outing, so it may not suit a group seeking a quiet sail or a long educational snorkel session.

If your priority is excellent snorkeling, treat that as a bonus rather than the whole point. If your priority is spending a few hours together on a private boat, with a chance to get in the water, this is a better match.

Booking, Weather and Small Practical Details

The tour is commonly booked well ahead, with an average lead time of 46 days. That is a useful signal for planning a group outing: set a date early, particularly if your vacation has only a few flexible days.

You receive confirmation when booking. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not accepted, and a late cancellation is not refunded. If bad weather forces the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Pack for a few hours in the sun and water, and bring only what you are comfortable taking on a boat. Snorkel gear and life jackets are provided, so personal equipment is optional. Keep your expectations flexible: the crew can provide a good time, but they cannot promise calm water, long snorkeling or sunshine.

Should You Book It?

Book this if you have a group of friends or family, want the boat to yourselves, and see the open bar, music and sandbar stop as the main event. The crew’s lively, professional service and the private format are the strongest reasons to go.

Think twice if your group is small and mainly wants high-quality reef snorkeling. The price per person rises quickly with fewer people, and rough water can limit the snorkeling stop. For a celebration with swimming and drinks as the focus, it’s a good fit. For a dedicated marine-life outing, choose a tour built around snorkeling instead.

FAQ

How long is the catamaran cruise?

The activity lasts about three hours.

How much does the private cruise cost?

The listed price is $759 per group, for up to 15 people.

Is the boat shared with other groups?

No. It is a private activity, so only your group participates.

Is hotel transportation included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in Punta Cana.

Where does the cruise start and end?

It starts at Going Party Boat on Bávaro Beach, C. Chicago, Punta Cana, and ends back at the meeting point.

What drinks are included?

The open bar includes vodka, tequila, beer and rum, as well as juices, sodas and bottled water.

Is food included?

Tropical fruit, nachos and sauces are included. A beach lunch is not included and may be available to purchase.

Are snorkeling gear and life jackets provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear, life jackets and flotation devices are included.

Can children join the cruise?

Children must be accompanied by an adult. The minimum drinking age is 18.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather leads to cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.