Cannes Boat Tours and Tickets Compared
Nine Cannes boat tours sit on this page, priced from EUR 21 to EUR 2,350, sorted into four groups: shared group boat tours, ferry and transfer tickets, a luxury yacht cruise, and private charters. I have ordered them from the catamaran cruises most visitors picture first, through the cheaper ferry and transfer tickets, up to the small-group luxury yacht cruise and finally the fully private charters, so you can compare within a tier before deciding whether to spend more or less.
Which Shared Cannes Boat Tour Should You Book?
The Cannes Half-Day Catamaran Cruise is the strongest all-round pick at EUR 84 for about 3 hours 15 minutes, with masks, snorkels, a kayak and a paddleboard included near Fort Royal. The Cannes Full-Day Catamaran Cruise stretches the same sail across a full day for EUR 160, adding a cold buffet lunch and a second stop at the Esterel coast. The Cannes Esterel Boat Excursion skips the Lerins Islands entirely for EUR 75, using a small RIB boat that noses into coves the catamarans cannot reach. The Cannes Royal Regatta Catamaran Cruise only sails during late September's racing week, EUR 103 with Champagne and lunch but no swimming. I would start with the half-day cruise unless a specific date pulls you elsewhere.
Popular pick Group boat tours
Cannes Full-Day Catamaran Cruise
Full day at sea with lunch and two swim stops
✓ Free cancellation available
★ Top pick Group boat tours
Cannes Half-Day Catamaran Cruise
Broadest-appeal shared cruise with swim stop
✓ Free cancellation available
Group boat tours
Cannes Esterel Boat Excursion
Small-group cliffs and coves route, not the Lerins Islands
✓ Free cancellation available
Group boat tours
Cannes Royal Regatta Catamaran Cruise
Watching classic sailboat racing up close
✓ Free cancellation available
Is a Ferry or Transfer Ticket Better Than a Cruise?
A ferry or transfer ticket buys transport, not an organized activity, and it is the cheapest way onto the water. The Cannes Ferry to Sainte-Marguerite Island costs EUR 21 for a 15-minute crossing each way, with no swim stop or snorkel gear, just a round-trip seat and total freedom to explore Fort Royal on foot; dogs are welcome on a leash. The Cannes to Saint-Tropez Boat Transfer runs EUR 83 for a 75-minute crossing each way plus five hours of free time in the village, more a day trip than a Cannes-based cruise. I would book the ferry if the Lerins Islands are your only goal, and the transfer only if you want a full day away from Cannes.
ferry from cannes to the island ste marguerite
Ferry & transfers
Cannes Ferry to Sainte-Marguerite Island
Cheapest way to the Lerins Islands
✓ Free cancellation available
Ferry & transfers
Cannes to Saint-Tropez Boat Transfer
Day trip to Saint-Tropez without driving
✓ Free cancellation available
Is the Luxury Yacht Cruise Worth the Upgrade?
The Cannes Luxury Yacht Cruise to the Lerins Islands is the one step up from a shared catamaran without going fully private. At EUR 210 per person for a half-day trip aboard a Fairline Targa 42, it includes a professional skipper, proper sunbeds, a paddleboard and a swim stop near Sainte-Marguerite Island, with a choice of a daytime or sunset departure. You still share the boat with other paying guests, so it suits couples or small groups who want a more upscale feel than the catamaran cruises without paying for full exclusivity. I would choose it over a private charter unless privacy for your group alone is the entire point of your day.
Luxury yacht cruises
Cannes Luxury Yacht Cruise to the Lerins Islands
Small-group luxury without a full private charter
✓ Free cancellation available
When Does a Private Charter Make Sense in Cannes?
A private charter is worth it once your group is large enough to make the fixed cost reasonable per person. The Cannes Private Boat Tour to the Lerins Islands starts at EUR 472, but a mandatory EUR 300 cash skipper fee pushes the real cost closer to EUR 772, with a flexible itinerary and an onboard fridge, shower and toilet. The Cannes Private Yacht Charter with Skipper costs EUR 2,350 for up to 7 people over 4 hours, with the skipper's fee already included and a choice of three anchorages: the Lerins Islands, the Esterel or Cap d'Antibes. I would only book the private Lerins tour for six or more people, since below that the shared cruises deliver similar water time for far less.
Popular pick Private charters
Cannes Private Boat Tour to the Lerins Islands
A boat entirely to yourselves near the Lerins Islands
✓ Free cancellation available
Private charters
Cannes Private Yacht Charter with Skipper
Ultra-private, fully customizable Riviera route
✓ Free cancellation available
How Are These Cannes Boat Tours Compared?
The comparison table above uses each operator's own per-person price as of 2026-08-09, along with the duration stated on their own listing. Some of these are fixed time slots, like the half-day catamaran cruise running 14:00 to 17:15, while the ferry to Sainte-Marguerite Island has no fixed return time at all: you simply catch a later boat when you are ready. The group boat tours and the luxury yacht cruise run across the regular season, while the Royal Regatta cruise only exists during a single week of racing in late September. Check the specific dates and departure time on each listing before you book.
| Tour or ticket | Duration | Best for | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Full-Day Catamaran Cruise Group boat tours Full day, mid-morning departure, returning to the Old Port of Cannes by 5:15 PM | Full day, mid-morning departure, returning to the Old Port of Cannes by 5:15 PM | Full day at sea with lunch and two swim stops | 160EUR per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Cannes Half-Day Catamaran Cruise Group boat tours About 3 hours 15 minutes (14:00 to 17:15) | About 3 hours 15 minutes (14:00 to 17:15) | Broadest-appeal shared cruise with swim stop | 84EUR per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Cannes Private Boat Tour to the Lerins Islands Private charters Half-day, itinerary flexible to your group and sea conditions | Half-day, itinerary flexible to your group and sea conditions | A boat entirely to yourselves near the Lerins Islands | 472EUR per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Cannes Ferry to Sainte-Marguerite Island Ferry & transfers 15 minutes each way, plus as much time on the island as you want | 15 minutes each way, plus as much time on the island as you want | Cheapest way to the Lerins Islands | 21EUR per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Cannes Esterel Boat Excursion Group boat tours About 2.5 hours | About 2.5 hours | Small-group cliffs and coves route, not the Lerins Islands | 75EUR per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Cannes Luxury Yacht Cruise to the Lerins Islands Luxury yacht cruises Half-day, daytime or sunset departure available | Half-day, daytime or sunset departure available | Small-group luxury without a full private charter | 210EUR per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Cannes Private Yacht Charter with Skipper Private charters 4 hours, for a group of up to 7 | 4 hours, for a group of up to 7 | Ultra-private, fully customizable Riviera route | 2350EUR per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Cannes Royal Regatta Catamaran Cruise Group boat tours About 3 hours 45 minutes (11:15 to 15:00) | About 3 hours 45 minutes (11:15 to 15:00) | Watching classic sailboat racing up close | 103EUR per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Cannes to Saint-Tropez Boat Transfer Ferry & transfers About 1 hour 15 minutes each way, plus 5 hours free time in Saint-Tropez | About 1 hour 15 minutes each way, plus 5 hours free time in Saint-Tropez | Day trip to Saint-Tropez without driving | 83EUR per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
Prices checked: 2026-08-09 · prices may vary
What Does a Cannes Boat Tour Fare Actually Include?
Every fare on this page covers the boat itself and whatever equipment is listed under its highlights: masks and snorkels on the catamaran cruises, a paddleboard on the luxury yacht and both private charters, a cold buffet lunch only on the full-day catamaran and the Royal Regatta cruise. None of these fares include entrance to Fort Royal and its Maritime Museum on Sainte-Marguerite Island, a separate ticket bought on-site if you take the ferry or a catamaran stop there. Extras like the Seabob underwater scooter on the private Lerins charter, or the optional aperitif package on the private yacht charter, are selected and paid for at checkout, not bundled into the advertised price.
- Free cancellation available
- Secure booking
- No hidden fees: pay at GetYourGuide checkout
How Should You Choose Between These Cannes Boat Tours?
Start with how much time you want to give up: the ferry and the half-day catamaran cruise both fit into an afternoon, while the full-day cruise and the private charters ask for most of a day. Next, weigh budget against group size, since the private charters only make sense once the fixed cost splits across enough people, typically five or six. If you are traveling with young kids, a shorter, calmer option usually beats a longer one; my family boat tour cannes guide breaks down which of these nine tours suit children best. Match the tour to your actual time and budget rather than the one that photographs best.
How Does Booking a Cannes Boat Tour Work?
Every tour on this page is booked directly through GetYourGuide's checkout, where you pick a date and time, pay by card, and receive a mobile ticket to show at check-in, no printing required. Most listings allow free cancellation up to a set window before departure, shown on the specific tour's booking page rather than repeated here, since policies differ by operator. Booking through the links on this page earns us a small commission from GetYourGuide at no extra cost to you, which is how this independent comparison stays free to use. Payment and customer support for your booking are handled by GetYourGuide, not by us directly.
FAQs
Can I bring a dog on a Cannes boat tour?
Yes, on the Cannes Ferry to Sainte-Marguerite Island. Dogs are welcome on board and on Sainte-Marguerite Island itself, as long as they stay on a leash throughout the visit. None of the other eight tours on this page mention pets in their inclusions, so check directly with the operator before booking a catamaran cruise or a charter with an animal.
How many people can join the Cannes Private Yacht Charter with Skipper?
Up to 7 people share the boat exclusively, with the full charter price covering the group rather than each seat. Splitting the EUR 2,350 fare across a full group of 7 brings the per-person cost to around EUR 336, which is why this charter suits larger groups far better than a couple or two.
Which Cannes boat tour only runs part of the year?
The Cannes Royal Regatta Catamaran Cruise only operates during the Regates Royales de Cannes, a week of classic-yacht racing typically held in late September. It is not bookable outside those race days, unlike the other eight tours on this page, which run across the regular season.
Can I choose a sunset departure for a Cannes boat tour?
Yes, the Cannes Luxury Yacht Cruise to the Lerins Islands offers both a daytime and a sunset departure, timed for golden-hour light over the Croisette. None of the other tours compared here publish a sunset-specific time slot.
Is the skipper fee included in every Cannes private charter?
No. The Cannes Private Boat Tour to the Lerins Islands charges a mandatory EUR 300 cash skipper fee on top of its EUR 472 advertised price. The Cannes Private Yacht Charter with Skipper folds the skipper's fee into its EUR 2,350 price, so there is nothing extra to pay the crew on the day.
Does any Cannes boat tour include a shower or toilet onboard?
Yes, the Cannes Private Boat Tour to the Lerins Islands is the only tour on this page with a freshwater shower and a private marine toilet, along with a fridge for drinks you bring aboard. None of the shared cruises or the luxury yacht cruise list these onboard facilities.
Can I add an underwater scooter to a Cannes boat tour?
Yes, on the Cannes Private Boat Tour to the Lerins Islands, where a Seabob underwater scooter is available as a paid extra on top of the included stand-up paddleboard and snorkeling gear. No other tour compared here lists this option.
Is snorkeling equipment included on every Cannes boat tour?
No. The Cannes Half-Day and Full-Day Catamaran Cruises and the Cannes Luxury Yacht Cruise all include masks and snorkels. The Cannes Esterel Boat Excursion does not, so bring your own mask if you want to look beneath the surface during its two swim stops.