Puerto Plata Party Boat Cruise | Snorkeling, Open Bar & BBQ Lunch

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

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Booked 5+ times last week!

3 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket

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Overview

What's Included

3-hour shared catamaran cruise
Snorkeling stop & equipment
Fresh BBQ-style lunch
Unlimited open bar (rum, vodka, beer, soft drinks, juice, water)
Music & onboard entertainment
Professional captain & crew
Life jackets & safety equipment
Cruise port pickup (Amber Cove & Taino Bay)
Hotel pickup & drop-off (Cofresí, Playa Bachata, Sosúa, Cabarete)
Back-to-ship-on-time guarantee

Towels (please bring your own)
Sunscreen & personal items
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

We offer cruise port pickup from both Amber Cove and Taino Bay. A dedicated guide will meet you inside the port area holding a “Boat Trips Club” sign for easy identification. You will be escorted to your transport and ensured a back-to-ship-on-time return — making this a reliable shore excursion alternative. Travelers can enter their own pickup location. Pickup begins 30–60 minutes before departure, depending on distance and group size.

Meeting point

QF6M+R9X, 57000 Sosúa, Dominican Republic
If you prefer to come directly to the meeting point, please contact us after booking to confirm your exact check-in time. Look for our staff holding the “Boat Trips Club” sign.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.11:30 am

What To Expect

Sosua Beach

Puerto Plata

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Most travelers can participate

This is a shared activity; pickups may include other travelers.
Boarding is done directly from the beach using a ladder.
Travel time to the catamaran is 30–50 minutes each way depending on traffic.
Not recommended for travelers with limited mobility.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 80 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Michael_M

We had a great day. This boat is fantastic and the crew are top notch. We felt like billionaires on this trip. The boat the food the drinks music and dancing. The crew makes a party happen. The snorkeling was also very good and I have snorkeled all over the world. The guide got the fish to come close with a little bread bribe. I saw this boat online at home but didn't book it until 2 days before. I'm so glad I did. They even picked us up right on time and drove us back. Very smooth operation. I completely recommend this trip to anyone who wants to go snorkeling anywhere near Sosua.

Reviews

3.9

based on 44 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Please do not waste your money

Amanda_S, Mar 2026

Awful, travelled 5 minutes to next bay to snorkel. Half the masks were broken and not enough snorkels for the 13 of us on board, nothing to see anyway. No ladders to boat to get back on. Boat moved back to where we started and anchored up to serve 3 tiny tiny Kabab’s of 3 small pieces of chicken and one small piece of dried bread. Music didn’t work, had to help ourselves to drink after an hour which was option of 3 drinks that ran out.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We’re very sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. We have reviewed the situation internally with the operating team. According to our records and the crew’s report, snorkeling equipment, food service, drinks, and a boarding ladder were available and provided during the excursion. That said, we understand that your personal experience may have felt different, and we regret that it left you disappointed. Your comments regarding equipment condition, food portions, and service have been shared with the team for further review to ensure standards are consistently met. — Boat Trips Club Team

The Worst

Robert_T, Mar 2026

Do NOT book this excursion. Everything from beginning to end was absolutely horrible. Probably one of the most sketch things in my entire adult life. We tried to communicate with Viator about a mix up (our fault) very early on about not knowing that ship time and island time would vary by 1 hr which would make us late for the planned excursion. I had sent messages before the appropriate 24/hr cancel time and they took too long to respond and made us unable to cancel. They pressed us hard to be on time for a 10:15 am pick up which by some miracle we were able to get off the ship early by getting cleared by customs earlier than expected. They sent us a picture of a cab driver holding a sign and said he was waiting for us at "gate 5" - which did not exist and we had to walk very very far to outside the safe cruise port area. Then got mobbed by supposed police and locals trying to upsell us to go onto another excursion. At this point we lost all communication w viator due to loss of wifi and had some local guy drive us to the meeting point location which was about 45 mins away. I did not feel comfortable with the situation whatsoever but due to the pressure of being on time, felt like we had to hurry to make it. We hit lots of unexpected traffic and made it there only about 5 minutes late. The meeting point is very concerning, there were no other cruisers in sight or any tourist looking people like ourselves wanting to snorkel. They took us to some office and made us sign waivers and I had immediately wanted to leave. They were all very confused regarding our arrival and were not understanding we would need transportation back to the ship and I had to show them the description of the tour, stating transportation was included and that it guaranteed back to ship on time. The other thing viator fails to mention is that this tour does not include english speaking hosts, not even one person to translate. The kicker here, is we waited over 30 mins in this "office" for another group to arrive due to being stuck in traffic. After the tour guides waited, ultimately decided to leave w o them. The tour was supposed to start at 11:30, we did not get onto the boat until past 12. The crew did not speak english and used their phones to translate language through a program or app. They did connect my husbands phone to wifi and had him play the music? My 5 year old daughter needed to go to the bathroom, they were completely unacceptable and disgusting. Once on the boat, we sailed for maybe 5-7 minutes around the corner from the beach and "snorkeled" and there were literally no fish to be seen, my girls were sorely disappointed. Then after snorkeling for only maybe 15 mins bc we gave up on seeing anything, they drove us back to the same beach we loaded up at and then just anchored. Another side note, is there is no ladder to get back on the boat once off to swim or snorkel, and my husband injured his shin getting up out of the water and was bleeding. They did have a first aid kit and tried to help but it was still the point of not having anyway to get back in other then being pulled up out of the water by staff, which was fine for myself and the tiny kids, but my husband is a big guy. The girls did go down the slide a few times and we were trying to make light of the situation and smile, just to make sure they didnt feel stressed about the situation being extremely uncomfortable. We docked and did the slide for maybe 45 mins and during that time were offered food, which was surprisingly ok but never offered any alcohol. However, not sure we would have drank it - it was 2 bottles or run and half empty 2L of warm soda. They did have juice and water for us and the kids. They did have a photographer who was very kind and did take some good photos, but then tried to charge $200 for them, which seemed a little steep considering the overall experience.The tour ended very abruptly and we were on the cab back to the ship by 2 pm - making the entire experience approx 1.5 hrs. I was thankful to be back on the cab ride back to the ship port area. We have done other viator tours in the past, which have been absolutely fantastic, but this was probably one of the worst experiences you could ask for, do not book.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. We are truly sorry to read about your experience and understand how concerning and frustrating the situation must have felt for you and your family. We regret the confusion regarding pickup logistics, communication challenges, language barriers, and the overall organization of the excursion. What you described does not reflect the standard of coordination and clarity we aim to provide. Your comments regarding safety, facilities, snorkeling expectations, and overall duration are being taken seriously and will be reviewed thoroughly with our local operating team. As a gesture of goodwill, a 10% refund will be issued in recognition of the inconveniences you experienced. While we understand this does not change your experience, we hope it reflects our commitment to acknowledging your concerns. We genuinely appreciate your feedback, as it helps us address areas that require improvement. - Boat Trips Club Team

Drive from the ship port...

DeborahD_G, Jan 2026

Drive from the ship port to excursion is almost an hour. Just an fyi. On that particular day, they had trouble starting the engine twice and could not bring us to shore so they had to get a small boat to take us to shore. The crew were wonderful.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for your review and for the helpful heads-up about the drive time from the port. We’re sorry about the engine trouble that day and the inconvenience of needing a small boat to get everyone to shore, but we’re glad the crew took care of you and made the experience as smooth as possible 🌊. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again. — Boat Trips Club Team

AWFUL - don't book with this tour operator.

Robert_J, Jan 2026

Awful experience. Never again. Tour operator unprofessional, did not show after we walked miles trying to locate them, then they canceled after we spent an extreme effort trying to locate them.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for your feedback, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and frustration this caused. Due to last-minute sea conditions, local naval authorities suspended operations for safety reasons, and the tour had to be canceled. This decision was outside of our control, and we truly regret the effort you made trying to locate the meeting point before being informed. A full refund has been processed and should reflect in your account within 1–2 business days. We appreciate your understanding and apologize again that we were unable to host you as planned. — Boat Trips Club Team

Best Day Ever on the best boat with the best crew

Michael_M, Dec 2025

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for such an incredible review! We’re thrilled to hear that your Puerto Plata Catamaran Cruise with Snorkeling, BBQ & Open Bar felt like the best day ever and that our crew helped create such a fun and memorable experience. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the snorkeling near Sosúa, along with the food, drinks, music, and smooth pickup service. Your recommendation truly means a lot to us, and we’re so glad you decided to book. We hope to welcome you back again for another unforgettable day on the water. Warm regards, Boat Trips Club Team

Snorkeling Excursion

Vladimir_R, Dec 2025

On many levels, this excursion did not achieve the advertised activity. The company was efficient in communication and pick up. Upon arrival at the beach, we were met by our “guide” who was pleasant. We boarded the catamaran to be greeted by an unfriendly crew except for the photographer (for six people on board). The boat facilities were not appropriate. The female bathroom was out of order and the male bathroom had water on the floor and a toilet that did not flush. This was to be a snorkeling and party excursion with drinks and a Caribbean BBQ lunch. 1. Snorkeling – we went out about 10 minutes from shore for our first stop. While other boats were throwing “food” into the water to attract fish for us to see, our guide did nothing. We had to ask three times for the snorkeling equipment (and we speak Spanish). Swimming around in the area, we saw nothing. Had it not been for the photographer who got in the water and directed us to an area, we would not have seen anything. Of course, he wanted to get good videos to sell to us with some fish. Second stop – was almost back to the beach on which we had boarded the boat. There were no fish there at all but we did swim. After a while we traveled the extra five minutes to dock the boat. 2. Cocktails – the bar selection was completely limited – vodka and rum with coke and sprite as mixers. Water was available. 3. Snacks were to be served. As the boat approached the shore for our return, a tray of watermelon and pineapple was passed around. 4. Food – certainly no Caribbean BBQ – the plate consisted of one small skewer of chicken, one small skewer of meat – both cold, two grilled hot dogs and three slices of toasted round Italian bread. After the tip bucket was passed around, the crew acted as if they were doing us a favor by them being there. They offered no assistance in disembarking which was needed as the first step on to the descending ladder was extremely steep. It was a boring and mostly unfriendly experience. Fortunately, the other group aboard was pleasant and fun so we made the best out of the situation. I truly feel that I am entitled to some sort of compensation as the trip was not as it was promoted by any stretch of the imagination. I do not recommend this particular company/crew/or excursion.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Hi there, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations and appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention. We take comments regarding service, onboard facilities, snorkeling experience, and food quality very seriously, and your feedback has been shared with our operations team for review. To allow us to properly look into your experience and address your concerns in detail, we kindly ask that you contact us through Viator’s messaging system and provide your booking ID. This will help us review the specifics of your tour and determine the appropriate next steps. Thank you again for your feedback. We value all guest input and welcome the opportunity to follow up directly. Kind regards, Boat Trips Club Team

Hijacked in the DR

Matthew_G, Dec 2025

Viator generally is a good option but not this time. We were met outside the cruise port after a 30 minute walk to the meeting point where we were taken to an old bus. We sat on the bus for about twenty minutes before we were told we would be waiting for another group to join us. These people were coming from a different cruise ship which docked an hour later than us. After another twenty minutes we were told the group would arrive soon. We were now in this old bus for an hour when the people showed. Hot old bus it was. We attempted to cancel at this point because we would be starting our excursion over an hour past the advertised time. A supervisor assured us that we would be fine and stated that the ride would be 15 minutes. He pressed us to remain on the bus. This was a big lie but we went along with it. It turned out to be a 50 minute drive. We were now realizing that we may very well not be back to the port in time but we were on our way. We realized enroute we were lumped in together with these other people, a family of 15, and their tour was scheduled for an hour after ours was to begin. So we show up at the place and it was completely disorganized. The other family didn’t get what they reserved and they were not expecting us to be on board with them. Ultimately the entire excursion was canceled and everyone went back to the cruise port. We didn’t receive anything back. The total time wasted was 3 and 1/2 hours. This pretty much ruined our day in Puerto Plata DR.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Dear Matthew, We are genuinely sorry for the experience you described and for the frustration it caused during your day in Puerto Plata. We understand how disappointing it is to lose valuable vacation time, especially when arriving on a cruise with a limited schedule. The delays, transportation conditions, and lack of coordination you encountered fell short of the standards we strive to deliver. We regret the inconvenience this caused and the impact it had on your visit. A full refund has been provided for your booking. While this cannot replace the time lost, we hope it reflects our commitment to being fair and taking responsibility when an experience does not meet expectations. Your feedback has been taken seriously and shared with our operations team so improvements can be made to prevent this from happening again. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we sincerely regret that we were unable to provide the experience you deserved. Kind regards, Boat Trips Club Team

Waste Of Money

kimberly_e, Nov 2025

Well for starters they wanted us to be at the pick up location before the ship was even scheduled to be cleared for passengers to get off…then they changed it to 15 minutes after the ship was cleared and said if we were 5 minutes late the driver would not wait…what they don’t tell you is the meeting point at Taino Bay is every bit a 20 minute walk at a fast pace…you must go thru the entire port shopping area to get to the exit they pick you up at…we were in the first group to get off the ship and were almost running to get to the meeting point on time. They also don’t tell you in the description that it is another 30-40 minute ride each way to where the boat is docked. Once you get there you are then taken to an office area where you sign a waiver and have your picture taken before you are escorted out to the boat. If you have any physical challenges with steps you will want to avoid this tour as the boat is docked on the beach so you must climb up the steps with the boat sliding back and forth and no handrails for support. Once onboard we were introduced to the crew…a “chef”, the captain, and a couple of other people. Didn’t consume any alcohol ourselves but the soft drinks consisted of previously opened 2 liter bottles of flat Sprite and Coke. The “chef” prepared BBQ lunch was just gross to put it plainly. Two overcooked and nasty tasting hot dog weinies, some skewers of mystery meat and three slices of bread. No chips or salsa or “fruit salad” as was mentioned in the description…we did have 1 pineapple that they cut on top of the seating area on the boat. There were two snorkel stops…the first stop would have been ok if you have never snorkeled before as there were several different fish to see and some coral below, the second stop was literally just out from where the boat was docked and the only thing there to see was the sandy bottom. As the trip was coming to an end then they come around with a basket wanting tips for everyone and stand there until you give them something. Overall this trip for us was a complete waste of money.