Day cruise to the Cerbicales & Lavezzi Islands with lunch

The best part of this cruise is the long, slow look at southern Corsica from the sea. You pass beaches, rocky islands, Bonifacio’s wind-carved cliffs, and sea caves before reaching the Lavezzi Islands. I like the generous route and the way Captain Vincent Chiocca brings a family fishing tradition to the day. I also like that lunch, drinks, and swimming stops are included in the $129 price.

The main drawback is the ship’s size: up to 180 passengers. This is a full-capacity boat outing, not a quiet little sail. You should also know that time on Lavezzi is limited, and the swimming stops may appeal less if your main goal is exploring the islands on foot.

Key points to know before booking

• Bonifacio from the water: The route can pass the limestone cliffs and famous sea caves, weather permitting.
• A full-day southern Corsica route: You see the Cerbicales Islands, Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, Rondinara, Sperone, Cavallo, and Lavezzi.
• Lunch is served on board: Choose from three menus by contacting the supplier before the cruise.
• Two swimming opportunities: One comes after the Lavezzi stop, and another is planned near Carratoghju or the Cerbicales Islands.
• A large ship with a local captain: The boat can carry 180 passengers, while Vincent Chiocca brings 40 years of sea experience and four generations of family knowledge.
• Good booking flexibility: You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later.

A full day on Corsica’s southern coast

This is not a quick shuttle to Lavezzi. It is a full-day coastal cruise, planned from about 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., with the journey itself treated as part of the experience.

That matters in southern Corsica. Many of the best views are not on a single beach or island. They appear as a sequence of coves, cliffs, reefs, and pale beaches along the coast. From a boat, you can see the shape of places that are harder to understand from land.

The ship leaves from Porto Vecchio. A few high-season departures also operate from Pinarello, but you should check the exact departure point when booking. For the main departure, the meeting point is listed at H7RM+FF Porto-Vecchio, France.

The crew welcomes you on board from 8:15 a.m. with a snack. Departure is scheduled sharply for 9 a.m., so this is not the morning for a slow hotel breakfast or a last-minute coffee stop. Give yourself time to reach the port and be ready before the boat leaves.

Vincent Chiocca and a family fishing tradition

The cruise is led by Vincent Chiocca, who has about 40 years of experience at sea. His family has shared the waters around Corsica for four generations, and that background gives the outing a local character that a standard sightseeing boat may not have.

Vincent Chiocca Junior, born in 1977, followed the same path. He left school at 14, studied for three years at the Merchant Marine school in Sète, became a captain at 17, and worked as a fishing boss at 18. Those details help explain the family’s close connection to the sea and to the waters around the island.

You are not simply getting a transfer between Porto Vecchio and Lavezzi. The captain’s role includes pointing out beaches and coastal landmarks as the boat moves south. The supplied information names English, French, and Italian as available languages, so you can expect multilingual guidance rather than a French-only trip.

The family story is a genuine strength, but keep your expectations sensible. This remains a large-capacity cruise. The personal knowledge of the captain does not turn the boat into a private excursion.

The morning route past beaches and island parks

After leaving Porto Vecchio, the boat follows the coast toward the Lavezzi Islands. The route may go past the cliffs of Bonifacio, depending on the weather. The captain points out the beaches and coastal areas along the way, including the Cerbicales Islands, Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, Rondinara, Sperone, and Bonifacio.

For me, this is one of the strongest reasons to book. You get a broad look at the southern end of Corsica instead of spending the whole day in one cove. The Cerbicales Islands bring the marine-park setting, while beaches such as Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, and Rondinara show why this part of Corsica is so popular.

The tradeoff is that this is a passing view, not a series of shore visits. You should not expect to stop at every beach named during the cruise. The value is in seeing how the coast fits together, with the boat providing a moving viewpoint.

Bonifacio is the morning’s dramatic highlight when weather allows. Its limestone cliffs have been shaped by wind and sea, and the famous sea caves are best appreciated from the water. A boat also gives you a clear view of the town’s position above the cliffs, though the exact sightseeing time depends on the route and conditions.

Weather is important here. The cruise was canceled at least once because of poor weather, with notice given the day before and another date offered. If your holiday schedule is tight, keep this in mind. A sea trip around exposed cliffs cannot simply run as planned in every condition.

Lunch in a Lavezzi cove

Around noon, the boat stops in a cove near the Lavezzi Islands and serves lunch on board. You can choose from three menus, but you need to contact the supplier ahead of time to select yours. Lunch and drinks are included in the advertised price.

The meal is a useful part of the package because a full day at sea can become expensive once you add food and drinks. Several comments praised the meal, with one particularly strong note about the quality of the food and the crew. Another comment called the meal correct but found the dessert light. That sounds like the right way to frame it: lunch is an important convenience and a well-liked part of the day, but this is not a restaurant cruise built around elaborate desserts.

Do not wait until boarding to sort out your menu. The instruction is specifically to contact the supplier, and that small step can prevent confusion on the morning of departure.

Lunch is served on a large boat, so the atmosphere may feel more like a shared excursion than an intimate meal. One person specifically noted the lack of music. I would count that as a minor positive if you prefer conversation and sea sounds, but a drawback if you expect a lively party atmosphere.

Lavezzi Islands from 1:30 p.m.

After lunch, the boat reaches the Lavezzi Islands, with arrival planned for about 1:30 p.m. You then have time to swim or visit the island.

Lavezzi is known for its exposed rocks, clear water, and protected island setting. The appeal here is simple: get off the boat, look around, and enjoy a very different piece of Corsica from the beaches and cliffs seen earlier in the day.

The schedule gives you a defined stop rather than an open-ended stay. That makes the day easy to manage, but it also creates the cruise’s clearest compromise. If you want a long island walk, quiet beach time, or a careful exploration of the rocks, the available time may feel short.

One comment specifically preferred removing the swimming stop in favor of more time on Lavezzi. That is useful advice for deciding what kind of day you want. If your priority is seeing as much island as possible, you may find the schedule frustrating. If you like alternating sightseeing with a swim, the plan should suit you better.

Bring what you need for both choices. The tour includes swimming stops, but snorkeling gear is not included. If you want to look below the surface, bring your own equipment rather than expecting it on board.

Cavallo and the afternoon swim

At about 3:30 p.m., the boat leaves the Lavezzi area and returns toward Porto Vecchio, passing the Island of Cavallo. This keeps the afternoon moving instead of leaving you with one long return trip.

The final planned swim comes around 5 p.m. in a cove with turquoise water, either at Carratoghju or near the Cerbicales Islands. The exact location depends on the day’s conditions. This second swim gives you another chance to get in the water after the island stop, though it also reduces the amount of time available for visiting Lavezzi.

The boat is scheduled to reach Porto Vecchio around 6 p.m. That makes this a serious full-day commitment. You will be at sea for much of the day, with a mix of cruising, sightseeing, lunch, shore time, and swimming.

I like that the final swim breaks up the return journey. Still, anyone who gets bored on long boat rides should think carefully before booking. Much of the value comes from the route and the changing views, not from a series of long shore excursions.

What the $129 price really gives you

At $129 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach the Lavezzi Islands. But the price includes more than transport. You get the coastal cruise, lunch, drinks, a Lavezzi stop, and planned swimming stops.

The value is strongest if you want one organized day that combines several southern Corsica highlights. Paying separately for a boat transfer, a meal, drinks, and additional coastal sightseeing could make a self-planned day less simple, even if it gives you more control.

The value is weaker if you only want Lavezzi. In that case, the long coastal route and included meal may be extras you do not care about. You may also prefer a smaller boat if personal space and a quieter setting matter more than the broad route.

The boat’s capacity is the key price consideration. With up to 180 people on board, this is a mass-market excursion in practical terms. That does not make it poor value, but it does mean you should not compare it with a private charter or a small-group sailing trip.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this day to you if you want to see a lot of southern Corsica without arranging several separate outings. It suits people who enjoy coastal scenery, scheduled stops, a hosted lunch, and swimming in clear water.

It is also a good match for first-time visitors who want an overview of the Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio area. The route puts many famous names into one day, and the captain’s commentary adds local context as the boat passes each section of coast.

Families and mixed groups may appreciate the choice between swimming and visiting Lavezzi. The listed languages are English, French, and Italian, and the activity is advertised as wheelchair accessible.

You may want another type of excursion if you dislike large groups, want a quiet boat, or plan to spend most of your day walking around Lavezzi. The schedule is fixed, and the ship’s capacity can make the experience feel busy.

Practical details that affect your day

Plan to arrive before the 9 a.m. departure. The crew welcomes you from 8:15 a.m. and serves a snack, but that early welcome does not change the need to be ready for a sharp departure.

Contact the supplier before the trip to choose one of the three lunch menus. Drinks are included, while snorkeling equipment is not.

The tour is offered with live guidance in English, French, and Italian. It is listed as wheelchair accessible, though anyone with specific mobility needs should confirm the boarding arrangements directly with the supplier before paying.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, with a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is helpful when weather may affect a sea outing.

The overall rating is 4 out of 5 from 132 reviews. The strongest praise centers on the meal, the crew, and the overall beauty of the excursion. The less positive points are also clear: the ship can feel like a large group cruise, the dessert may be modest, and the time on Lavezzi may not satisfy people who want a longer island visit.

Should you book the Cerbicales and Lavezzi cruise?

Book it if you want a big-picture day on the water with Bonifacio views, several coastal landmarks, lunch, drinks, and two chances to swim. At $129, the package makes sense when you value convenience and a broad route more than privacy.

Skip it if Lavezzi is your only goal, or if you want a small boat and plenty of unstructured time ashore. For everyone else, this is a practical way to cover a large section of southern Corsica in one day, with enough local character from the Chiocca family to keep it from feeling like a simple island transfer.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart?

The main departure is from the port of Porto Vecchio, at the meeting point listed as H7RM+FF Porto-Vecchio, France.

What time does the boat leave?

Departure from Porto Vecchio is scheduled for 9 a.m. The crew welcomes you on board from 8:15 a.m. and serves a snack.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts about one full day, from the morning departure until the planned return to Porto Vecchio around 6 p.m.

Which places can I see from the boat?

The route can include the Cerbicales Islands, Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, Rondinara, Sperone, Bonifacio, the Lavezzi Islands, and the Island of Cavallo.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch and drinks are included. You should contact the supplier before the cruise to choose from the three available menus.

Are swimming stops included?

Yes. The tour includes swimming stops. One is planned after the Lavezzi visit, and another is scheduled later near 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.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.