Day cruise to the Cerbicales & Lavezzi Islands with lunch

Sea days do not get much fuller. This long cruise from Porto Vecchio packs the Cerbicales Islands, Lavezzi Islands, Bonifacio cliffs, and several swimming stops into one outing. I like the generous coastal route and the chance to see famous beaches and sea caves without arranging several separate trips. I also like that lunch, drinks, a morning snack, and live guiding in English, French, or Italian are included. The main tradeoff is the size: this is a big ship carrying up to 180 passengers, so you should expect a shared excursion rather than a quiet little boat ride.

The $129 price is reasonable if you want a full day at sea with food and several stops. It is less compelling if your main goal is a long, peaceful visit to Lavezzi, since the schedule divides your time between cruising, swimming, lunch, and island time. Weather can also change the plan, so keep some flexibility in your Corsica schedule.

Key points at a glance

• A full 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. sea day: You get a broad view of southern Corsica rather than a short transfer to one island.
• The route covers major coastal sights: Look for the Cerbicales Islands, Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, Rondinara, Sperone, Bonifacio, and the Island of Cavallo.
• Lavezzi includes both swimming and walking time: You can choose between entering the water or exploring the island, though the stop is not especially long.
• Lunch is served onboard: Three menu choices are available, but you need to contact the supplier ahead of time to choose yours.
• The boat holds up to 180 people: This helps explain the relatively broad route and included meal, but it limits privacy and quiet.
• Captain Vincent Chiocca brings family sea knowledge: The Chiocca family has shared these waters for four generations, and Vincent has about 40 years at sea.

Leaving Porto Vecchio early

Your day begins at the port of Porto Vecchio. Boarding opens at 8:15 a.m., when the crew serves a small snack, and departure is scheduled for 9 a.m. sharp. The meeting point is listed as H7RM+FF Porto-Vecchio, France, so check the exact dock details before you go and arrive with time to spare.

That early start matters. The boat has a lot of coastline to cover, and a late departure would cut into the island and swimming stops. In high season, some departures also operate from Pinarello, but Porto Vecchio is the main departure point described for this outing.

The morning snack is a useful touch, especially since lunch does not arrive until noon. It is not a substitute for a full breakfast, so I would eat before boarding if you need a substantial meal early in the day.

Along the beaches of southern Corsica

Once underway, the boat follows the coast toward the Lavezzi Islands. Depending on weather conditions, the route passes the cliffs of Bonifacio. The captain points out beaches and coastal landmarks as you go, including Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, Rondinara, Sperone, and the Cerbicales Islands.

This is one of the strongest parts of the trip. Instead of seeing one beach from a road or parking area, you get a changing view from the water. The boat gives you a sense of how the coast fits together, from broad sandy bays to rocky islands and pale cliffs.

The Cerbicales Islands are especially important to the character of this cruise. They are part of the marine protected area south of Corsica, and the trip gives you a broad look at that island group before returning to it for a later swim. You are not simply being taken from point A to point B. Much of the day is about seeing the coastline from different angles.

Still, keep your expectations in check. The captain’s commentary adds context, but this is not described as a formal nature lecture or a small private charter. With as many as 180 people onboard, the experience will feel social and organized. If you want an intimate boat ride where every passenger gets a long personal conversation with the captain, this is not that kind of outing.

Bonifacio cliffs and sea caves

The route may pass Bonifacio, depending on the weather. From the water, the town is known for its dramatic limestone cliffs, shaped by wind and waves, along with famous sea caves.

This is a valuable part of the day even if you have already visited Bonifacio by land. The view from the sea shows the cliffs as a single wall above the water, while the caves reveal the force of the Mediterranean from below. The exact route is weather dependent, so do not treat the Bonifacio section as guaranteed in every condition.

The captain and the Chiocca family add a human side to the scenery. The family has worked these waters for four generations. Vincent Chiocca has about 40 years of experience at sea, and his son, Vincent Chiocca Junior, became a captain at 17 after attending the Merchant Marine school in Sète. He later worked as a fishing boss and supplied his father’s boat with his catch.

That background gives the trip more local character than a simple sightseeing circuit. The family story is tied to fishing, working boats, and the coast itself. You are not getting a polished resort presentation alone. You are also hearing from a family whose life has been shaped by the sea.

Lunch in a Lavezzi cove at noon

Around 12 p.m., the boat stops in a cove near the Lavezzi Islands, and lunch is served onboard. You can choose from three menus, but you need to contact the supplier to select your menu before the trip.

Lunch includes drinks, which adds real value to the $129 cost. A full day on the water can become expensive if you have to buy every meal and beverage separately, so having food included keeps the day simpler. Feedback about the meal has been generally positive, with particular praise for a tasty main meal. One useful caution is that the dessert may be fairly light.

The stop is also a practical pause before the afternoon island visit. You can eat without giving up your first chance to see Lavezzi on foot, and you do not need to search for a restaurant on a small island.

The possible downside is that the meal is part of a large-ship operation. Do not expect a long restaurant-style lunch with a wide range of personal service. One comment specifically noted that there was no music onboard, which some people will see as a benefit. I would rather hear the sea and the captain than sit through forced entertainment, but passengers looking for a lively party cruise may find the atmosphere restrained.

Lavezzi Islands from 1:30 p.m.

The boat reaches the islands around 1:30 p.m. You then have time for swimming or an island visit. This is the part many people will look forward to most, but it also calls for realistic planning.

Lavezzi is best treated as a short taste of a protected island setting, not a full-day hiking visit. You can walk around, look at the rocky shoreline, and enjoy the clear water, or choose the easier reward of a swim. Snorkeling equipment is not included, so bring your own if you want to look underwater.

The choice between swimming and walking is useful for mixed groups. Strong swimmers can enter the water while others remain on land. Families or friends with different interests can split up for a while and meet again before departure.

The drawback is time. One piece of feedback suggested dropping the swimming stop to allow more time on Lavezzi. That is a fair criticism. The cruise offers many sights, but every extra stop reduces the time available at the islands. If your first priority is exploring Lavezzi slowly, a trip focused mainly on that island would suit you better.

Cavallo and the late-afternoon swim

At about 3:30 p.m., the boat begins the return toward Porto Vecchio, passing along the Island of Cavallo. This keeps the return journey scenic rather than turning it into a straight ride back to port.

Around 5 p.m., there is another swimming stop in a cove with clear turquoise water, either at Carratoghju or among the Cerbicales Islands. This final stop gives you another chance to get in the water after the Lavezzi visit.

Two swimming opportunities make the cruise appealing if you want an active day. They also explain why the itinerary does not give you more walking time ashore. You are paying for variety: coastal views, island time, lunch, and swimming, all in one day.

Swimming conditions and the exact cove depend on weather and the captain’s judgment. Bring a swimsuit, towel, sun protection, and dry clothing. Snorkeling gear is not supplied, so pack your own if that matters to you.

The boat is scheduled to arrive back in Porto Vecchio around 6 p.m. That makes this a full-day commitment. I would not pair it with an important evening reservation that begins soon after the planned return, since marine conditions can affect timing.

What the 180-passenger boat means

The capacity is one of the most important facts to understand before booking. A boat carrying up to 180 people can offer a broad itinerary and onboard lunch at a lower price than a private charter, but it will not feel personal at every moment.

You may need to arrive early if you care about your preferred place onboard. The supplied details do not specify seating arrangements, so I would not assume every seat offers the same view. A large vessel can also make boarding, lunch service, and getting off for a stop feel more organized than spontaneous.

For many people, this is a fair exchange. You get a long day at sea, a captain-led route, food and drinks, and several major sights for $129. A small boat might feel more special, but it would likely offer less space and a different price structure.

The experience works best if you enjoy being part of a group and want a dependable sightseeing framework. It is a weaker match if you dislike crowds, want silence, or picture yourself lingering alone on Lavezzi for several hours.

The value of $129

At $129 per person, the price covers a lot: the full cruise, swimming stops, lunch, drinks, the morning snack, and live guiding in English, French, or Italian. You also get a route that links several famous parts of southern Corsica in one day.

The main value is convenience. You do not need to coordinate separate transport to Bonifacio, Lavezzi, Cavallo, or the coastal beaches. You also avoid the hassle of arranging food while moving between stops.

The price is harder to justify if you plan to spend most of the day sitting quietly on one beach. In that case, a simpler beach outing may offer better value. But if you want a broad introduction to the coast and islands, the included meal and long route make the cost sensible.

A rating of 4 out of 5 from 132 ratings fits the experience well. The strongest praise centers on the food, the crew, and the overall day at sea. The lower marks point to weather cancellations, a cruise atmosphere that can feel somewhat ordinary, and the limited time available for visiting Lavezzi.

Weather, cancellations, and practical planning

The captain can cancel the cruise because of poor weather, and one scheduled outing was canceled the day before for that reason. A replacement date may be offered, but that does not help if you are leaving Corsica soon. I recommend booking early enough in your trip to leave room for a weather change.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now-pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. These policies make it easier to keep the booking flexible, though weather-related changes should still be watched closely.

The cruise is listed as wheelchair accessible. Since the exact arrangements for getting ashore or entering the water are not specified, contact the supplier before booking if you need detailed assistance at the island stops.

Who should book this cruise?

I would choose this outing if you want one substantial day covering several coastal highlights. It suits people who like scenic boat rides, included meals, swimming, and a guide who can connect the sights to local fishing history.

It is also a good choice for a first visit to southern Corsica. You can see the coast from the sea and decide which places deserve a longer land visit later.

I would hesitate if you want a small, quiet vessel or if Lavezzi is your sole reason for going. The 180-person capacity and packed schedule mean the cruise favors variety over solitude. You should also reconsider if you are uncomfortable with a weather-dependent plan or cannot spare a backup day.

Final verdict: book it for variety

Book this cruise if you want one well-filled day with Bonifacio views, the Cerbicales Islands, Lavezzi, Cavallo, lunch, and two chances to swim. The Chiocca family connection gives the trip a local identity, and the included food and drinks help the $129 price make sense.

Skip it if your perfect island day means a small boat, long quiet hours ashore, and little structure. For everyone else, this is a practical way to see a wide sweep of southern Corsica by water, with enough variety to keep the day moving.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart?

The main departure point is the port of Porto Vecchio, at the listed meeting point H7RM+FF Porto-Vecchio, France. Some high-season departures also leave from Pinarello.

What time should I arrive?

Boarding begins at 8:15 a.m., with a snack served by the crew. Departure from Porto Vecchio is scheduled for 9 a.m. sharp.

What time does the cruise return?

The planned arrival back in Porto Vecchio is around 6 p.m.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch and drinks are included. You can choose from three menus, but you must contact the supplier to select your menu onboard.

Are swimming stops included?

Yes. The cruise includes a swimming stop at Lavezzi and another afternoon stop at Carratoghju or the Cerbicales Islands.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkeling gear is not included, so bring your own if you want to snorkel.

How many people can the boat carry?

This is a large-capacity ship with space for up to 180 passengers.

Which languages are available?

Live guiding is available in English, French, and Italian.