Turtle Cruise with Lunch in Cyprus: BBQ Boat Tours from Ayia Napa Harbour

Most turtle cruises in Cyprus give you a swim, a snorkel, and a packed sandwich. We do something different — a proper BBQ cooked on the boat and served as we cruise from the Konnos Bay area toward Protaras, between the day's two swims, with the smell of the grill drifting across the deck. It's the part of the day a lot of our guests end up remembering more than they expected to. This page covers what's actually on the menu, how we run the food side of things, why a BBQ at sea is more involved than it sounds, and what you should know before booking.

Why a BBQ on Board Changes the Whole Day

Cooking lunch on board changes the rhythm. After the first swim stop in the Konnos Bay area — where most of our turtle encounters happen — we fire up the grill and serve hot food as we cruise toward Protaras. The boat doesn't have to head back to port for lunch, which means more time in the water and a slower, more relaxed day. It's the difference between a boat trip with food on it and a meal you happen to be eating on a boat.
A few specifics on how we do it:
  • Cooked fresh, not reheated. We bring the food on raw and grill it during the cruise, after the Konnos swim stop.
  • Real grill, not a hot plate. Proper charcoal-style BBQ on the back deck, not the kind of glorified sandwich press you sometimes see on smaller tours.
  • Served properly. Plates and cutlery, not paper bags. There isn't a dining table for every passenger, but the food's served properly — you eat where you're sitting.

What's Actually on the Menu

We don't change the menu often because we've worked out what people on a swim day actually want to eat — protein-heavy, salt-replacing, easy to eat in swimwear with salty hands. A typical morning cruise BBQ includes:
  • Freshly grilled meat — cooked on the charcoal grill on the back deck. Our chicken is certified halal, so the menu works for guests with halal requirements.
  • Halloumi — grilled in slices, the squeaky Cypriot kind that holds its shape on the BBQ.
  • Pourgouri — bulgur wheat, a traditional Cypriot side that's been on Cyprus tables for centuries.
  • Fresh bread.
  • Salad — fresh, alongside the grill.
  • Tzatziki — the traditional Cypriot yoghurt-and-cucumber sauce.
Vegetarian and vegan options are available — let us know when you book. We can also handle gluten-free and other dietary needs with advance notice; just don't spring it on us at the harbour. Drinks aren't included in the cruise price, but there's a bar on board for water, soft drinks, beer, and wine.

How the Cooking Works on a Catamaran

This is the part most people don't think about until they're on board. Cooking on a boat is harder than cooking on land — the surface moves, there's wind, there's salt in the air. Our setup is built around that:
  • Galley with refrigeration so the raw food stays at the proper temperature from the harbour to the cooking time
  • Charcoal grill mounted on the back deck, set away from the seating area so the smoke drifts off the back
  • Prep station for plating up
  • One crew member dedicated to the food during the cooking window — not the same person navigating or running snorkelling
Food safety isn't glamorous to write about, but it matters more on a boat than in a restaurant. We work to the Cyprus health regulations, the galley is inspected, and the crew handling food has the appropriate training. We've never had a guest get sick from the BBQ, and we'd like to keep it that way.

How the Day Fits Together

The food doesn't run on its own schedule — it's woven into the rhythm of the cruise. Roughly how a morning trip unfolds:
  • 9:30 am — Departure from Ayia Napa Harbour.
  • Coastline route — Past Ayia Napa Caves, Love Bridge, the Sea Caves at Cape Greco, the lighthouse, and Royal Bay. These are the cliffs and formations you came to Cyprus to see.
  • First swim stop — The Konnos Bay area (the spot operators often call Turtle Bay). Around an hour: swimming and turtle spotting. This is where most of our sightings happen.
  • BBQ served — Fresh from the grill as we cruise from Konnos toward Protaras. The smell of charcoal is the cue.
  • Second swim stop — Blue Lagoon, on the way back. Around an hour.
  • Coastline route past Green Bay, Fig Tree Bay, and along to Protaras — the eastern part of the coast, viewed from the deck. We turn back at Protaras (we don't go further toward Famagusta).
  • 2:00 pm — Back at Ayia Napa Harbour.
This rhythm matters because the BBQ lands at the right moment — after the first swim and the turtle stop, eaten between the two swims as the coastline drifts past.

Why Ayia Napa Harbour Is the Easier Start

Most BBQ cruise operators leave from either Ayia Napa or Protaras harbour. Protaras is geographically a bit closer to Cape Greco, but the more important difference is the route. Cruises leaving from Protaras head out in the opposite direction from Ayia Napa, which means they miss the stretch of coastline most people actually came to see: the Ayia Napa Caves, Love Bridge, the Sea Caves at Cape Greco, and the lighthouse. Our route from Ayia Napa Harbour passes all of these on the way out before reaching the swim stops.
The harbour itself is straightforward: parking outside peak hours is easy, the boarding ramp makes getting on the catamaran simple, and there are cafes nearby if you arrive early. Protaras-based guests have a 15-minute drive over; we tell people to leave 30 minutes early in summer because the coastal road backs up around 9 am.

Who are the BBQ Day Suits

The morning cruise works well for families on holiday — kids who'd otherwise pick at a restaurant lunch tend to dig into the grilled food on a boat. It works for couples on a longer Cyprus trip who'd rather not eat another taverna meal. It works for groups of friends who want a proper day out together with food that doesn't feel like an afterthought. We don't really have a "wrong" guest for this trip, as long as you're up for spending the afternoon on the water and don't mind a livelier vibe than a quiet lunch restaurant.

Honest Notes on Turtle Sightings

Since this is a page about lunch, we'll keep this brief but say it clearly: turtle sightings aren't guaranteed on any cruise, ours or anyone else's. Sea turtles are wild animals, and they don't check booking systems. What we can tell you honestly is that our sighting rate sits above 90% across the season, we know the bays around Konnos and Blue Lagoon well, and on the rare day the turtles don't show up, the BBQ, the swims at Blue Lagoon and Konnos, and the coastline still make the day worthwhile. Operators who promise "guaranteed turtles" are either bending the truth or counting on you not noticing when the turtles don't appear. We'd rather tell you upfront and over-deliver.

What's Included in the €45

For the morning cruise with BBQ:
  • 4.5-hour catamaran cruise (typically 9:30 am — 2:00 pm; exact time can shift seasonally)
  • Coastline route past Ayia Napa Caves, Love Bridge, Sea Caves, Cape Greco, lighthouse, Royal Bay, and Protaras
  • Swim stop in the Konnos Bay area (around an hour, with turtle spotting) — first stop
  • Swim stop at Blue Lagoon (around an hour) — on the way back
  • Full BBQ lunch cooked and served on board between the swims, with vegetarian, vegan, and halal options available
  • Life jackets for anyone who wants one
  • Multilingual crew (English and Greek)
Snorkelling masks are provided on board against a refundable cash deposit of €20 per mask. The deposit is returned when you hand the mask back at the end of the cruise — we use proper-quality masks rather than the cheap kind, so the deposit covers us if one is lost. Please bring €20 in cash if you'd like to use a mask; cards aren't accepted for the deposit. Your own mask is welcome, no deposit needed. Drinks aren't included in the price — there's a bar on board for water, soft drinks, beer, and wine.

FAQs

What time does the cruise leave?

Typically, 9:30 am from Ayia Napa Harbour, back by 2:00 pm (a 4.5-hour cruise). Departure times can shift slightly through the season — check the current schedule when booking. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before departure.

Is the BBQ really cooked on board?

Yes, freshly grilled on the back deck during the cruise. Not pre-cooked, not reheated.

Are drinks included?

No — drinks aren't part of the cruise price. There's a bar on board with water, soft drinks, beer, and wine.

Are turtle sightings guaranteed?

No — and we'd be lying if we said otherwise. Sighting rate is over 90%, but turtles are wild animals. The food, swims, and coastline are guaranteed; the wildlife is what it is.

Is there a sunset version with food?

The sunset cruise (typically 4:00 pm — 8:00 pm, 4-hour version, €35) doesn't include the BBQ — it's a livelier evening format with music, dancing on deck, the same two swim stops (Konnos first, then Blue Lagoon), a slow sunset return over the deep water, and a serving of seasonal fruit on board. If lunch is the priority, take the morning cruise.

Book Your Morning Cruise

Morning cruise with BBQ: €45, typically 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (4.5-hour cruise). Departure times can shift slightly through the season — check the current schedule when booking. WhatsApp +357 97 719 450 or DM @scubacat.cy on Instagram. We leave from Ayia Napa Harbour. Book ahead in peak season — summer mornings fill up days in advance.