From City of Side and Alanya: Legends and Pirates Yacht Tour

Pirate hats, castle views, and a foam party. This seven-hour yacht trip mixes a short Alanya sightseeing stop with swimming, lunch, music, and water games aboard the Legend Big Kral. I like the chance to see Alanya Castle and the Red Tower during free time, then return to the boat for a very different kind of Turkish coast outing.

I also like the strong family focus. Children can have their faces painted as mini pirates, receive a free bandanna, and join activities led by the onboard team. The main thing to consider is the party atmosphere: the music, foam, and crowded swim stops may be too lively for anyone seeking a quiet sail.

Key points at a glance

• Two experiences in one day: You get free time in Alanya harbor as well as a full boat program with swimming, lunch, music, and entertainment.
• Castle-side swimming: The first swim stop is near Alanya Castle and Cleopatra Beach, giving you a memorable setting for your first jump into the Mediterranean.
• A real family angle: Face painting, pirate bandannas, children’s animation, and crew attention make this more than an adults-only party boat.
• Lunch and soft drinks included: An open buffet lunch and unlimited cold soft drinks help keep the $35 price reasonable.
• Foam party with a DJ: The final part of the cruise shifts into a floating disco, complete with popular music and foam.
• Crowd behavior matters: Seating disputes and rushed exits from the water have caused frustration, so this tour rewards flexible, good-natured passengers.

What kind of day is this?

Think of the tour as a floating family party with a sightseeing break, not a quiet coastal cruise. You spend part of the day looking at Alanya from the water, part of it walking around the harbor, and the rest eating, swimming, listening to music, and joining boat entertainment.

The price is about $35 per person, which is strong value if you use the full package. Hotel pickup and return, insurance, lunch, unlimited cold soft drinks, swimming stops, and the foam party are included. You pay extra for alcoholic drinks, personal purchases, and optional photos or a DVD.

I would not choose this boat if your main goal is a peaceful sail or a small-group trip. The boat program is designed to keep things moving, and the DJ, children’s shows, jumping demonstrations, and foam party create plenty of noise and activity. For families and social groups, that is likely the point.

The current rating is 4.2 from 43 reviews, which fits the experience well. The most consistent praise goes to the swimming stops, food, DJ, crew, and children’s entertainment. The main complaints concern passenger behavior rather than the basic program, especially people reserving seats with bags or pushing to leave the water first.

Morning pickup and the trip to Türkler port

Pickup runs between about 7:20 and 8:30 in the morning. The listed pickup areas cover a wide stretch of the Antalya coast, including Gündoğdu, Çolaklı, Evrenseki, Kumköy, Side, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kızılağaç, Kızılot, Çenger, Örenşehir, Okurcalar, İncekum, Avsallar, Türkler, Payallar, and Konaklı.

That wide service area is useful if you are staying around Side or Alanya, but it also means the morning transfer can vary by hotel. You will want to be ready at the stated pickup point rather than waiting inside your room. One passenger specifically found pickup at the security gate smooth, so check your hotel’s pickup instructions carefully.

The boat is called Legend Big Kral, and departure from Alanya or Türkler port is scheduled for about 9:00. Look for the boat name when you arrive. The activity lists English, German, and Russian as available languages, which is helpful for the safety briefing and basic communication with the crew.

The boat itself is part of the attraction. It is built around the pirate theme, and the atmosphere begins soon after boarding. Children can have their faces painted, receive a free pirate bandanna, and take part in the day’s activities. A ship cat has also become one of the memorable details for some passengers, a small bonus for children who like animals.

The first swim near Alanya Castle and Cleopatra Beach

The first swimming stop comes near the shores of Alanya Castle and Cleopatra Beach. You get around 30 minutes here, so it is long enough for a swim and a quick look around, but not a leisurely beach visit.

This is one of the prettiest parts of the schedule because the setting gives your swim some visual drama. Instead of jumping into open water with nothing nearby, you are swimming with Alanya Castle and the coast as your backdrop. If you enjoy taking photos, this is a good time to have your camera ready before entering the water.

Bring a towel, as it is specifically listed among the things to pack. You can also bring your own snorkeling equipment. Snorkeling is permitted during the swimming stops, although the tour information does not promise special snorkeling sites or equipment rental.

The 30-minute limit keeps the day on schedule, but it can feel brief if your group takes time getting changed or organizing children. I would put your towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, and any swim gear somewhere easy to reach. That saves time when the boat announces the stop.

You should also be comfortable in the sea before choosing this trip. One account describes children being pushed or people rushing to exit the water, along with anxiety during a wave. The crew cannot control every passenger’s behavior. If someone in your group is not a confident swimmer, stay close and use sensible caution rather than treating the stop like a free-for-all.

Ninety minutes in Alanya harbor

After the first swim, the boat anchors at Alanya Harbor for roughly one and a half hours. This is the most independent part of the day, and it gives the excursion a useful change of pace.

You can visit the Alanya Historical Bazaar, see the Red Tower, or walk toward Alanya Castle. The stop is not a guided historical tour, so you are responsible for choosing how to use the time. That freedom works well if your group has mixed interests. Some people can shop or walk, while others can simply stay near the harbor.

The Red Tower is one of Alanya’s best-known landmarks, and the castle area gives you a chance to see more of the city than you would from the boat alone. The port stop also helps break up the day. Seven hours on a party boat can feel long, but an hour and a half on land gives you space to stretch your legs and reset.

Be realistic about what fits. Ninety minutes is enough for a focused walk, a quick look at the bazaar, or a visit to one nearby sight. It is not enough for a relaxed tour of every part of Alanya Castle. If you want to explore the castle in detail, this excursion will leave you wanting more time.

The harbor stop can also be a practical moment to buy anything you need for the rest of the day. Personal purchases are not included, so keep some money available if you plan to shop or buy food beyond the included meal.

Lunch on board and the open buffet

After the harbor break, lunch is served on the boat. The meal is an open buffet, and freshly grilled seafood is highlighted as part of the onboard food offering. One of the strongest comments about the day praised the food, so lunch appears to be more than a basic afterthought.

Because the food is included, the $35 price becomes easier to justify. You are not paying for a boat ride and then adding a costly meal and drinks later. Cold soft drinks are unlimited and free throughout the cruise, while alcoholic drinks cost extra.

The exact buffet selection is not specified, so I would not book this expecting a particular dish or a specialized menu. If you have dietary restrictions, ask the provider before departure rather than assuming the buffet can meet them. The supplied details only confirm the open buffet and grilled seafood.

Lunch is also a good time to slow down before the afternoon activities. The program becomes more energetic later, with the Lovers Cave, jumping show, children’s animation, and foam party. Eat enough to enjoy the rest of the day, but remember that more swimming follows.

Lovers Cave, jumping show, and the second round of entertainment

After lunch, the boat continues along the coast near Alanya Castle. You will pass the Cave of Lovers, a named coastal feature that gives the sightseeing portion another point of interest.

The boat presents a high-jumping show near the cave. This is entertainment rather than a formal historical presentation, so the value is in the spectacle and the setting. It also gives passengers something to watch between swim stops.

Children’s animation continues during this section. The crew’s attention to children is one of the best reasons to choose this tour for a family. Face painting and bandannas create the pirate theme early in the morning, while the later shows help keep younger passengers engaged.

There is a useful distinction here. The children’s activities make the boat friendlier for families, but they do not turn it into a quiet children’s cruise. Music, public shows, and water activities happen around everyone. Parents should expect to stay involved, especially at swim stops and during busy moments on deck.

The foam party and final swim stop

The afternoon foam party is the tour’s biggest burst of energy. Popular music plays, and the boat turns into what the operator describes as a floating disco. A DJ received especially strong praise, so music is not just background noise on this trip.

Children are likely to enjoy the foam more than adults, but the party is open to the whole boat. You can join in, watch from the side, or simply use the time to enjoy the sea views. The foam party gives the day a clear party identity, so anyone hoping for a quiet afternoon should take this feature seriously.

After the foam, there is another swimming break. This final stop lets you cool off and rinse away the foam before the return trip. You may use your own snorkeling equipment here as well.

The schedule gives you several chances to swim, but each stop is shared with the rest of the boat. Passengers have reported frustration when people rushed to get out of the water or treated seating as a competition. I would keep your expectations relaxed, avoid leaving valuables or bags to claim a seat, and let the crew manage the boarding flow.

What the $35 price really buys you

At $35, this is a low-cost way to combine transportation, food, sightseeing, and recreation in one day. If you booked each part separately, hotel transfers, a harbor visit, a boat trip, lunch, and drinks could quickly cost more.

The strongest value comes from the inclusions:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from a long list of Side and Alanya area hotels
• A seven-hour program
• An open buffet lunch
• Unlimited cold soft drinks
• Several swimming opportunities
• The foam party and onboard shows
• Full insurance
• Children’s entertainment and pirate face painting

The price does not include alcohol, personal spending, photos, or a DVD. Those exclusions are normal for this type of excursion, but you should not arrive expecting every drink or souvenir to be covered.

I see the tour as especially good value for families because children receive extra attention and organized entertainment without a separate children’s ticket being listed. Couples looking for romance or visitors who dislike loud music may find the value weaker, even with the low price.

Who should book this boat?

I would recommend the Legend Big Kral tour to families with children, groups of friends, and anyone who wants an active day rather than a serious sightseeing excursion. The combination of castle views, harbor time, lunch, swimming, a DJ, and foam gives you variety without requiring several separate bookings.

It also suits people staying around Side who want to see Alanya but do not need a full historical tour. The 90-minute harbor stop gives you a quick taste of the city, while the boat provides the main entertainment.

I would be more cautious if you are a weak swimmer, need a quiet environment, or dislike crowded group activities. The tour information does not list a special accessibility program, and the passenger age restriction only says it is not suitable for people over 95. That does not tell you how easy the boat is to board or move around, so ask the provider directly if mobility is a concern.

Alcohol is not included, and fishing is not allowed. Bring a towel, use sunscreen, and pack your own snorkeling gear only if you want it. Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Should you book the Alanya pirate yacht tour?

Book it if you want good value, plenty of activity, and a family-friendly party boat with Alanya scenery built into the day. The castle-side swim, free harbor time, included lunch, unlimited soft drinks, and well-liked DJ make the package unusually full for $35.

Skip it if your ideal boat trip means calm water, a small group, or long, quiet time at each swimming site. This is a lively shared excursion. Go in expecting noise, music, foam, children’s shows, and some crowd management, and you are more likely to enjoy the day.

FAQ

How long is the Alanya pirate yacht tour?

The tour lasts about seven hours.

What is the boat called?

The boat is called Legend Big Kral.

Where does the boat depart?

The excursion boat departs from Alanya or Türkler port at approximately 9:00.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are available from listed hotel areas around Side and Alanya, including Side, Sorgun, Kumköy, Türkler, Avsallar, Konaklı, and other nearby areas.

Is lunch included?

Yes. An open buffet lunch is included.

Are drinks included?

Unlimited cold soft drinks are included. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes. Children can have their faces painted as mini pirates, receive a free bandanna, and join children’s animation and shows.

Are swimming stops included?

Yes. The itinerary includes a swim near Alanya Castle and Cleopatra Beach, another stop near the Cave of Lovers area, and a final swim after the foam party.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.