Ile aux Cerfs catamaran from Trou d’Eau Douce or Mahebourg
Choose between two departures using the details that affect your day, from meeting times and child age rules to lunch arrangements and hotel transport.
A catamaran on a turquoise lagoon with mountains along the southeast coast of Mauritius
Choose Trou d’Eau Douce for an explicitly listed waterfall visit and lunch ashore, provided everyone is at least eight. Consider Mahebourg for younger children, subject to confirming suitability. For either departure, weigh the journey from your hotel alongside the programme: hotel transfers are not included.
Good to know
FAQ
Is either departure automatically better for my hotel?
Not without checking your starting point. Compare the proposed pickup time and complete return journey, then weigh that travel against the itinerary features your group actually wants.
Can a child under one join the Mahebourg departure?
No under-one rule is provided. Obtain explicit confirmation of eligibility and suitable safety equipment before making a booking that includes a baby.
Does swimming not being required mean there is nothing else to check?
No. Tell the booking team about non-swimmers and ask which parts of the day suit them, including boarding and boat transfers. Swimming ability is only one consideration.
Should I reserve dinner soon after the scheduled return?
Leave flexibility for disembarkation, the hotel journey and time to change. A tightly timed reservation is a poor match for an excursion whose programme can change with conditions.
Start with the constraints that can rule a departure in or out: your group’s ages, the meeting point and the schedule. These details come from the two excursion listings, checked on 14 October 2026.
From Trou d’Eau Douce, meet at the Debarcadere jetty at 08:45 for a 09:00 departure and a return around 16:00. The published minimum age is eight. From Mahebourg, the meeting point is the jetty of Pointe des Regates and the published schedule is 09:30 to 16:30. The age bands are one to three for toddlers, four to eleven for children and twelve and above for adults. Confirm the Mahebourg arrival time in your booking details.
Plan for a full day with either departure. Avoid attaching a fixed-time afternoon appointment to the advertised return, particularly when you still need to travel back to your hotel. Mahebourg’s listing does not give a separate check-in time, so confirm when you must be at the jetty rather than using the sailing time as your arrival time.
Compare the complete hotel-to-jetty journey, not simply the town names. Request the exact meeting pin and ask where your driver should stop. This also helps distinguish your excursion’s meeting place from a general waterfront drop-off.
Check where lunch fits into the itinerary
The Trou d’Eau Douce programme specifies barbecue or Indian-style lunch on Ile aux Margenie, a Grand River South East waterfall visit and time on Ile aux Cerfs. Notice that the named lunch island is not Ile aux Cerfs; keep that distinction in mind when comparing programmes.
The Mahebourg trip follows the southeast coast towards Grand River South East and Ile aux Cerfs, with the route and swimming stops dependent on sea and access conditions. Lunch is served aboard and includes fish, chicken, salads, bread and fruit. A vegetarian menu is available by advance request. If you have an allergy or another dietary requirement, Andeor can check the arrangements with the partner before you book.
Match age rules and equipment to your group
For Trou d’Eau Douce, swimming is not required, and life jackets are included for boat transfers and water activities. Mahebourg lists a limited number of snorkelling sets and allows guests to bring their own.
Those are different provisions. Life jackets are included for the Trou d’Eau Douce programme, but that is not a promise of a snorkelling set. Mahebourg has a limited supply of snorkelling equipment, so bring your own if having a set is essential. For younger children, mobility needs or non-swimmers, tell Andeor before booking so we can confirm suitable arrangements with the partner.
Pack for boarding and time on the water
Pack swimwear, a towel and sun protection. Mahebourg also recommends non-slip shoes, a light jacket and a waterproof bag.
As a practical extra, keep your booking confirmation and driver’s contact details accessible without unpacking everything. Separate items you need while boarding from those you will use later, and keep valuables with you. If you bring personal snorkelling equipment, consider how you will carry it alongside your day bag rather than relying on shared sets.
Arrange hotel transfers separately
Neither excursion includes hotel transfers. Andeor can arrange a separate transfer through Seke. It is quoted separately from the cruise and becomes part of your arrangements only when confirmed.
A useful transfer request includes your hotel name, chosen jetty, party size, children’s ages and any child-seat requirement. Confirm the return pickup point and how you will contact the driver if the boat schedule changes. Do not assume excursion checkout also secures transport unless your confirmation expressly includes it.
Conditions can affect the plan: the Trou d’Eau Douce programme may change or stop for safety, while Mahebourg’s captain may adjust the route or reschedule.
Compare the actual booking terms before paying, particularly how schedule changes are communicated and what happens if the planned outing cannot proceed. Keep the excursion and transfer confirmations together so a change to one can be checked against the other.
Andeor arranges excursions through its partners; it does not operate the boat. Choose your departure and book through Andeor.
Before you book
Check eligibility for every child in your group.
Save the exact jetty pin and confirmed arrival time.
Choose lunch ashore from Trou d’Eau Douce or aboard from Mahebourg, and tell Andeor about dietary needs.
Confirm any essential water equipment.
Keep hotel transport and excursion arrangements clearly distinguished.
