Day cruise to the Cerbicales & Lavezzi Islands with lunch

Sea days do not get much prettier than this. This full-day cruise from Porto-Vecchio links Lavezzi and Cerbicales with beaches, Bonifacio’s cliffs, swimming stops, and lunch served on board. I especially like the long coastal route, which strings together Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, Rondinara, Sperone, and Bonifacio in one outing. I also like the family connection behind the boat, led by captain Vincent Chiocca, whose family has worked these waters for four generations.

The main consideration is size. This is a large boat carrying up to 180 people, not a quiet little sailing trip. The schedule also gives you limited time on Lavezzi itself, since swimming takes part of the afternoon. At $129 per person, the price is fair if you want a full day at sea with lunch and drinks, but less appealing if your main goal is a long island walk.

Key points to know before booking

• A full 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. sea day: You get a broad tour of southern Corsica rather than a quick ferry ride to one island.
• Bonifacio may be the visual high point: The boat passes the town’s pale limestone cliffs and famous sea caves when conditions allow.
• Lunch is served on board: You choose from three menus, but you need to contact the supplier before departure to select yours.
• Two swimming opportunities are built in: One comes near Lavezzi, and another is planned later at Carratoghju or the Cerbicales Islands.
• The boat is large, with room for 180 passengers: That can make boarding and movement easier, but it limits the intimate feel.
• Captain Vincent Chiocca brings a family sea tradition: His story adds a human touch to what might otherwise be a standard sightseeing cruise.

Starting early from Porto-Vecchio

Your day begins at the port of Porto-Vecchio, at the meeting point listed as H7RM+FF Porto-Vecchio. Departure is at 9 a.m. sharp, so I would treat that time literally. The crew welcomes you aboard from 8:15 a.m. and serves a snack before the boat leaves.

That early arrival matters. It gives you time to find the boat, settle in, and enjoy the welcome without rushing. It also helps you claim a comfortable place before the day gets underway, though the 180-passenger capacity means you should not expect a small-boat atmosphere.

Some high-season departures leave from Pinarello instead. Check the departure point carefully when you book, since Porto-Vecchio and Pinarello are not interchangeable starting locations.

The cruise is offered with live commentary in English, French, and Italian. That makes the coastal sightseeing more useful than simply watching the shore slide past. The captain points out beaches and landmarks as the boat moves south, giving the route some shape and context.

Following Corsica’s southeast coast

The morning route is a long visual introduction to the south of Corsica. Depending on the weather, the boat heads toward the Lavezzi Islands by way of Bonifacio and its cliffs. The captain identifies the beaches and islands along the coast, including the Cerbicales Islands, Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, Rondinara, and Sperone.

I like this part of the cruise because it gives you scale. From land, each beach can feel like its own destination. From the water, you see how these coves, headlands, and islands fit together along the coast. It is a broad survey of the area, not just transport from Porto-Vecchio to Lavezzi.

The tradeoff is that most of these places are viewed from the boat. You should not expect to step ashore at Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, Rondinara, or Sperone. Their value here is visual, with the captain’s running description helping you understand what you are seeing.

The boat also passes through waters associated with Corsica’s southern nature and marine parks. The coast is the main attraction, so keep your attention outward. The point is not a formal museum-style lesson. It is the chance to see a long stretch of protected-looking shoreline and island scenery in one continuous ride.

Bonifacio’s cliffs and sea caves

The approach toward Bonifacio is one of the strongest parts of the day. Its limestone cliffs are famous for their pale, wind-shaped faces, and the view from the water shows why the town is so closely tied to the sea.

The boat passes near the cliffs and famous sea caves, though the exact route depends on weather conditions. I would not treat every feature as guaranteed in every season. Wind and sea conditions can change the captain’s plan, and one scheduled cruise was canceled because of bad weather, with notice given the day before.

That weather caution is important. A boat trip in Corsica is only as good as the sea allows. If conditions force a change, you may lose access to certain cliffs, caves, or swimming coves. The operator did offer another date in the case of a cancellation, but that is less helpful if your holiday is already ending.

Still, on a calm day, Bonifacio provides a strong middle section to the cruise. You get a different view of the town than you would from its upper streets or harbor. The cliffs appear as a natural wall, shaped by wind and water, and the caves add a sense of drama without requiring a separate excursion.

Lunch at a Lavezzi cove around noon

At about noon, the boat stops in a cove near the Lavezzi Islands. Lunch is served on board, with three menus available. You need to contact the supplier to choose your menu ahead of time, so do not leave that detail until the morning of departure.

Lunch and drinks are included in the $129 price. That helps the value, since you are not paying separately for a meal while spending the day on the water. The food has received strong praise, with one recent comment calling the meal succulent and praising the crew.

Expect a practical boat lunch rather than a long restaurant service. The schedule has a 1:30 p.m. island arrival, so the meal has to fit into a fairly tight window. One comment found the dessert light, while still describing the meal as correct overall. That is a fair way to think about it: lunch is a useful and well-placed part of the day, but it should not be the sole reason you book.

The menu choice is worth planning for. Since the exact choices are not provided here, contact CHIOCCA croisières directly before going. If you have food preferences or restrictions, this is the moment to ask what the three menus contain.

Lavezzi Islands: swimming or exploring

The boat reaches the Lavezzi Islands around 1:30 p.m. This is your main chance to get into the water or walk around the island. The stop gives the day a welcome change of pace after a long morning of coastal viewing.

Lavezzi is known for its rocky island scenery and clear water, and the cruise is built around both uses. If you want to swim, bring your own towel and any personal water items you need. Snorkeling equipment is not included, so you would need to arrange that yourself if you want to look below the surface.

If you prefer land, you can visit the island instead. The available time is limited, however. A practical complaint about the schedule is that the island visit could use more time, with swimming taking away part of the stop. I agree that this is the central choice of the day: do you want water time, or do you want to see more of Lavezzi on foot?

You may not be able to do both at a relaxed pace. Families and swimmers will likely appreciate the stop as planned. If you are visiting Lavezzi mainly for walking, rocks, and island scenery, you may wish the itinerary gave you a longer shore visit.

The afternoon return through Cavallo

Around 3:30 p.m., the boat begins its return toward Porto-Vecchio and passes along the Island of Cavallo. This keeps the afternoon from becoming a simple ride back over the same route.

Cavallo adds another island view to a day already packed with coastal scenery. The overall route works best for you if you enjoy seeing many places from the water, even when you do not get off at each one. The boat keeps the focus on the coast, the islands, and the changing views rather than on a single long stop.

The return leg also gives you time to rest after the Lavezzi visit. On a boat this size, you may find the open deck lively at times, while other areas offer a quieter place to watch the water. One useful detail from the onboard experience is that there is no music, which some people will appreciate and others may find a little quiet.

A final swim near Carratoghju or Cerbicales

At about 5 p.m., the boat makes another swimming stop in a cove with turquoise water. The planned locations are Carratoghju or the Cerbicales Islands, with the final choice depending on conditions.

This second swim is a good feature for anyone who wants more than sightseeing. It breaks up the return trip and gives you one last chance to enjoy the water before arriving in Porto-Vecchio around 6 p.m.

The stop is also why the schedule may feel tight for island walkers. The operator has chosen to give you several different experiences: a coastal cruise, Bonifacio views, lunch, Lavezzi, and two swims. That variety is the strength of the tour, but it means no single stop gets an enormous amount of time.

If swimming is not your priority, you may find the final stop less useful than extra time on Lavezzi. If you like alternating between views and water, it helps the day finish on a high note.

The Chiocca family’s connection to the sea

The family story gives this cruise a stronger sense of place. Vincent Chiocca has about 40 years of experience on the sea, and the Chiocca family has shared these waters with visitors for four generations.

His background is not a decorative footnote. Vincent grew up in a fishing family, left school at 14, studied for three years at the Merchant Marine school in Sète, and became a captain at 17. At 18, he became a fishing boss and helped supply his father’s boat with the family catch.

His son, Vincent Chiocca Junior, was born in 1977 and followed a similar path. That history helps explain why the cruise is tied so closely to the coast and fishing culture of the extreme south of Corsica. You are not just looking at beaches on a chart. You are hearing about waters known by a family whose work has long depended on them.

The exact captain on your departure may vary, so I would not assume that Vincent Chiocca himself will personally narrate every cruise. Still, the family identity remains an important part of CHIOCCA croisières and adds an authentic local angle.

What $129 includes, and where the value lies

At $129 per person, this is not a cheap short boat ride. It is a full-day experience, running roughly nine hours from Porto-Vecchio departure to return, with lunch, drinks, and swimming stops included.

I see the value in the amount of coastline covered. You get views of several beaches, the Cerbicales, Bonifacio’s cliffs and caves, Lavezzi, Cavallo, and a second swimming cove. Booking separate transport and meals for all those places would be difficult, even if you could not reach every site by land.

The price makes the most sense if you want an easy, all-day plan with transport and food handled for you. It is less compelling if you prefer a small boat, a private outing, or a long independent visit on Lavezzi.

The group size is the clearest value warning. A 180-passenger ship can carry more people comfortably than a small craft, but it will not deliver the hush or personal attention of a private tour. You are paying for access to a wide route and a full schedule, not solitude.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want to see a lot of southern Corsica from the sea in one day. It suits swimmers, families, first-time visitors to the Porto-Vecchio area, and anyone who likes a planned outing with lunch and drinks already included.

It is also a good match if Bonifacio’s cliffs and Lavezzi are both on your wish list. The cruise lets you combine them without arranging separate outings, and the multilingual commentary helps if you do not speak French.

I would hesitate if your top priority is a quiet boat or a long Lavezzi walk. The capacity is large, the schedule is busy, and the island stop is shared with a swim break. You should also build in weather flexibility if possible, since sea conditions can cancel or alter the route.

CHIOCCA croisières offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now while paying later. The boat is listed as wheelchair accessible, but you should still confirm the practical boarding arrangements for your needs before booking.

Final verdict: a broad, well-fed day at sea

I like this cruise because it makes southern Corsica easy to experience in one sweep. The scenery, lunch, and swimming stops give you a full day rather than a single transfer, and the Chiocca family story adds a welcome local connection.

The main weakness is the limited time on Lavezzi and the large capacity of the ship. If you accept those limits, $129 is a reasonable price for the route covered and the food included. Book it for variety, sea views, and convenience. Skip it if you want a small, quiet boat or a long independent island visit.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

The main departure point is the port of Porto-Vecchio, listed at H7RM+FF Porto-Vecchio, France. Some departures leave from Pinarello during high season, so check your specific departure point.

What time does the cruise leave?

The boat departs at 9 a.m. sharp. Boarding and a snack served by the crew begin from 8:15 a.m.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts about one day, from the 9 a.m. departure until the planned return to Porto-Vecchio around 6 p.m.

Is lunch included?

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

Can I swim during the cruise?

Yes. A swimming opportunity is planned at the Lavezzi Islands, followed by another stop around 5 p.m. at Carratoghju or the Cerbicales Islands.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkeling gear is not included, so you need to bring or arrange your own equipment.

How many people can the boat carry?

This is a large-capacity ship with space for up to 180 passengers. The tour offers live commentary in English, French, and Italian and is listed as wheelchair accessible.