The 9 Best Dolphin Cruises With a Barbecue

1.4 Hour Big Island Dolphin Watch Boat Tour, Snorkeling & BBQ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $150Our pick

Cruise Kona’s coast aboard KIBOU with guides including Trevor, Kama, Mitch, Lena, and Tamar. Watch for spinner dolphins, snorkel at Garden Eel Cove and Manta Heaven, then enjoy a grilled beef hot dog, chips, drinks, shade, a restroom, and a floating mat.

“Trevor and Kama were wonderful! They were helpful with getting us ready to Snorkel. They knew the best place to fine fish, turtles and dolphins! The whole family had a fun day! Best boat trip ever!!”

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2.Mauritius: Benitier Island – Swim Dolphins – Speedboat & BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 40 reviews · 7 hours · from $88

Start early from Mauritius’s west coast for a speedboat search for spinner and bottlenose dolphins, then snorkel, pass Crystal Rock, and relax on Benitier Island. A crew-prepared BBQ, drinks, and guides such as Gael and Éloïc are part of the day, though dolphin encounters can be crowded.

“De schipper was erg enthousiast, alleen alle boten gingen als ramptoeristen achter de dolfijnen aan en het leek meer op een jacht op de dolfijnen dan ze op een respectvolle manier met de dieren omgingen , helaas werd mijn dochter ziek en wat erg netjes was dat de schipper ons keurig netjes weer afzette bij het beginpunt”

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3.Mauritius : Dolphins Swim and Ile Aux Bénitiers with BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 34 reviews · from $73

Meet at Tamarin Public Beach for a speedboat trip along Mauritius’s west coast. You’ll look for wild spinner and bottlenose dolphins, snorkel over coral, then eat a BBQ on Ile aux Bénitiers. Guides including Lolo and Bryan have been praised for careful boat handling and friendly help in the water.

“Lolo et Bryan ont été parfaits tout au long de la sortie. Qualité de pilotage et mise à l'eau pour les dauphins topissime. Bbq copieux. Ambiance conviviale et sortie inoubliable.”

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4.Dolphin Watch Snorkel and BBQ in Kona, Big Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 21 reviews · 3 hours · from $150

Spend three hours aboard KIBOU with Iruka Hawaii Dolphin, watching for dolphins, manta rays, and humpback whales in season. Snorkel two boat-only sites with sea turtles and reef fish, then relax on a floating mat with hot dogs, chips, juice, shade, and a restroom. Captain Amy and Tamae have been praised for their friendly help.

“Unfortunately this was of my least favorite excursions. The ad says BBQ. We each were limited to ONE hotdog. Chips and a can of soda. That's the BBQ??? The speedboat ride was looong. The trip to and from snorkel spot felt like forever. During the trip, crew stuck together like they were cool kids in the lunch room, ignoring all of us, the "paying" crew members. Only friendly and helpful crew member was the only female member. Feel bad I don't remember her name. Before getting into the water, my fin broke, the guys were oh well, shrugging.... but she actually finagled a little something to make my fin work.…”

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5.Zanzibar: Pungume island-dolphin watching – BBQ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · 6 hours · from $73

From Jambiani, Paje, Dongwe, Kizimkazi Mtendeni, or Bwejuu, you’ll ride a fiber boat with an English-speaking guide to look for dolphins, snorkel coral reefs, and eat fresh seafood on Pungume Island. Guides such as Alli, Rama, and Mussa are praised for their warm care.

“the best experience in our entire zanzibar trip. the sandbank is incredible and when we arrived no one was there. the food was also amazing and everything for an incredibly low price!”

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6.Discover Mauritius: Dolphin Watch, Snorkeling, BBQ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 6 reviews · 1 day

Spend about eight hours exploring Mauritius by catamaran, with dolphin watching near Black River, snorkeling, a stop at Crystal Rock, and time at Ile Aux Benitier. BBQ lunch, drinks, snorkel gear, and hotel transfers for two are included. Driver Dee is especially noted for warm, helpful service.

“Das Essen an Board, sowie die Zeit zum Schnorcheln war super. Ggf. gibt es bessere Spots zum Schnorcheln und die Delphinbeobachtung entspricht mehr einer Delphinjagd..die Tiere taten mir leid.”

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7.Exclusive:full-day/Dolphins watch& swimming Crystal Rock+Bbq

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $293

Join Lydia Boat Mauritius at Le Morne for a private full-day cruise with dolphin watching, guided swimming, snorkelling near Crystal Rock, sea urchins, oysters, drinks, and a seafood lunch on Bénitiers Island. Navy and the boat team guide you on the water.

“The best trip I could ask for. Do not hesitate to book this trip. Lydia boat were amazing from start to finish. It really is a once in a life time experience. From start to finish the trip was incredible. We swam with dolphins and sea turtles, snorkelled in a tropical aquarium and to top it off had the best seafood lunch on a beautiful island. We had freshly caught oysters and sea urchins as well as prawns and lobster. Book this trip it will not disappoint.”

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8.Side: Dolphin Island Boat Tour with BBQ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 5 reviews · 6 hours · from $41Best value

From Side, cruise the Manavgat River, swim in fresh and salt water, eat grilled chicken aboard, and sail toward Dolphin Island. Dolphins are not guaranteed, but pelicans, sea turtles, games, and several swimming stops fill this six-hour trip. English, German, and Russian support is available.

“this was such an enjoyable day, and it really was packed for the whole time. the starting journey was quiet but it all picked up with the swims x 3, and the entertainment. lunch was tasty and entertainment was varied and optional. staff were friendly and helpful. I think this was value for money.”

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9.Shared 10 Pax Boat Tour: Dolphin Watching, Snorkelling and BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $111

Join skipper Soonil and up to nine other people at 6 am in La Gaulette for dolphin watching and supervised swimming, reef snorkelling, Crystal Rock photos, and a BBQ lunch with drinks and flamed banana before relaxing by the lagoon.

“A wonderful sunrise and beautiful scenery. An exhilarating experience swimming with dolphins, then shallow water snorkeling for the delight of the children as we struggled to get out of the water for the barbecue on the island. Thank you to Soonil for his kindness and the attention he showed us!Auto-translated”

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