A Waterfront boat ride is one of the best ways to see Cape Town, the beautiful Mother City. Aside from seeing Table Mountain from the water and admiring the city’s enigmatic glow, there are many reasons to look for the best boat cruise Waterfront prices.
From whale watching and sunset cruises to dinners or taking a trip to Robben Island, we’ve listed the best boat rides Waterfront has to offer!
So stick around to learn everything you need to know, from where to get a cheap boat cruise in Cape Town to their operating times and much more.
Highlights:
- Marine life sightseeing
- Intimate experience of the waterways
- Family-friendly
Know Before You Book:
- Bring sunscreen
- Some tours may be rescheduled
- Not suitable during storms
- Seasickness can occur
Experience one of the best Cape Town boat trips, and take in the serenely beautiful Cape waterways! Boat rides are an unforgettable way to see the best of Mother City, from Table Mountain and Lions Head to the popular Clifton Beach and much more.
If you want to make it a romantic outing, consider joining one of the sunset cruises from Cape Town. No matter the choice, these boat trips in Cape Town will leave you with more memories than you ever thought possible.
Waterfront Boat Rides Prices 2024
Boat cruise Cape Town prices range from R270 (14 USD) for a waterfront canal ride to R3,000 (162 USD) for a full-day whale-watching tour. You can generally find a sunset cruise, 3-course dinner cruise, whale watching, or Robben Island boat tour for less than R1,800 (100 USD).
Compare prices across the ticket providers below:
Boat Trips Cape Town Times
Cape Town boat cruise departure times vary depending on the package you go with. Some start in the early morning, while others extend through to the early hours of the night. While the departure times depend on your tour provider, you can expect to find tours running between the following hours.
Monday to Sunday: 8 am to 10 pm
Best Time to Go on a Boat Cruise in Cape Town
On most fair-weathered days, you will find all different types of boat rides from Cape Town. In summer, the sunset cruises are a great way to spend the evening. From June, whale-watching tours start to become popular. Then, there are Robben Island rides, which are popular year-round.
Note: This activity is not ideal for those who are prone to seasickness.
The Different Types of Boat Trip Waterfront Offers
Being a hub for touristy activities, the V&A Waterfront has a whole host of ocean-based activities on offer. As such, here’s a breakdown of what you can book based on your interests.
Party Boat Tours Cape Town
If you’re looking for a cheap party yacht hire, then you will find all of the best available options here! Get together with friends and family for an unforgettable party cruise along Cape Town’s famous waterways. Make memories of a lifetime, and enjoy a party out at sea.
Waterfront Boat Trips to Robben Island
A Robben Island boat cruise in Cape Town is not to be missed when visiting the Mother City. The only way to reach Robben Island is by boat or helicopter, so this is one of the most popular boat rides at the V&A Waterfront.
Sunset Waterfront Boat Cruises Cape Town
You won’t want to miss the feeling of sailing along the Atlantic Ocean with the wind in your hair and the sun warming your skin. Take some time to witness the seagulls overhead and the seals and dolphins dancing below you. This is what taking a catamaran trip from Cape Town has to offer. Taking a boat cruise in Cape Town is a must!
Waterfront Cheap Boat Rides | Cape Town Top Tours
Make the most of the best V&A Waterfront boat trip prices. These tours offer value for money and an unforgettable experience of Cape Town! We’ve handpicked our top choices to help you make an informed decision.
Private Catamaran Boat Ride Waterfront Hire
Enjoy an attractive, luxurious sailing catamaran that sails the Indian and Atlantic Oceans smoothly. This single-decked day charter catamaran sailing vessel is ideal for Clifton cruises and day charters, including those seeking extraordinary boat rides in Cape Town.
While this is just a short hour-long trip, you can always hire out the catamaran for longer ahead of time. The Cape Town boat cruises run daily between 8.30 am and 8.30 pm. There are ordinary sailing in the bay cruises, and there are champagne and sunset cruises available too.
What we liked: Great for a short boat trip in Cape Town.
- Boat tour from Cape Town Bay
- Tour add-ons are available at an additional cost
- Complimentary champagne
- Audio guide in English
Aside from sipping a complimentary drink, there are a few things for you to enjoy during the cruise. You can take part in some marine animal sightseeing from the covered cockpit while listening to your tour guide point out some iconic landmarks like Table Mountain.
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Boat Ride in Waterfront With 2-Course Lunch
If you’re looking to take your boat trip to the next level, look no further than this stunning hour-long cruise. It’s not just a boat trip, though, as your hosts will take you to one of the fabulous restaurants at the V&A Waterfront.
From admiring Table Mountain at Table Bay to spotting a pod of dolphins, there’s plenty to enjoy during this boat cruise in Cape Town.
What we liked: Great for a short boat trip with a tasty lunch included.
- 1-hour boat cruise
- 2-course meal at a V&A Waterfront restaurant
- Hotel pickup and dropoff
- Drinks (available for purchase on board and at the restaurant)
Although drinks aren’t included in the tour price, you can purchase them from the Catamarans bar and at the restaurant. As for the restaurants, you get to pick from the North Indian-inspired The Raj or the South African-inspired City Grill. No matter the choice, it’s bound to be a great experience.
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Marine Wildlife Boat Ride Cape Town
For an opportunity to explore the wonderful world of Cape Town’s marine wildlife, you won’t go wrong booking this tour. For an hour and a half, you’ll be taken to Table Bay to see the vast array of species that call this sanctuary home.
You’ll witness it all, from the Cape fur seals sunning on the rocky outcrops to the African penguins hopping into the water from their breeding grounds on Robben Island. If you’re lucky, you may even spot humpback whales breaching and pods of dolphins as they swim to their next meal.
What we liked: Great for a half-day of marine wildlife spotting.
- Hotel pickup and dropoff
- One-and-a-half-hour boat tour
- Professional tour guide
- Meals and drinks
Be sure to bring your camera, as there will be plenty of photo opportunities. Also, remember to pack sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sunhat, as the sun can get pretty intense.
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FAQs About Yacht Trips in Cape Town
Before you head off and book your tour, here are some common questions with all the short answers you need.
Where Do Waterfront Boat Rides Start?
The boats all leave from the Waterfront in Cape Town.
As well as the boat rides mentioned above, there are also speedboat rides available from the V&A Waterfront and kayaking adventures, too. You will also find private luxury cruises that we have not mentioned.
What Do You Wear on a Waterfront Boat Cruise?
This depends on the type of tour you’re taking, but you can wear casual clothing. For some tours, like the marine wildlife trips, you may want to opt for comfort over appearance, but that truly depends on you. Generally speaking, though, a good pair of sunglasses and a sunhat are always a good idea.
How Far Away Is Waterfront From Robben Island?
The average trip length will last 30 minutes if traveling from the V&A Waterfront to Robben Island. While many tours ride past Robben Island, not all of them stop there. If you want to visit the island, you’ll need to book one of the Robben Island tours.
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Last updated on May 27th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
Fantastic
Traumhaft! Diese Tour ist ein Muss wenn man zur richtigen Zeit in Südafrika ist. Wir waren eine kleine Gruppe, unser Tourguide war super gut drauf und es war auch eine deutsch sprechende Begleiterin mit, die übersetzt hat. Auf dem Weg nach Hermanus hat uns der Tourguide sehr viele Informationen gegeben, wir haben ein Quiz gemacht und es war einfach eine total entspannte Atmosphäre. In Hermanus angekommen (vorher kurzer Stop im botanischen Garten) kann man sich optional ein Ticket für die Bootstour kaufen. Dieses kostet zwar nochmal knapp 50 Euro aber es lohnt sich! Haben sehr viele Wale gesehen, manche kamen bis zu 10 Metern an unser Boot ran. Es war einfach unglaublich. Von der Küste aus konnte man zwar auch paar Wale sehen aber die waren zu weit weg, deshalb empfehle ich die Bootstour! An Bord gab es für jeden ein kaltes Getränk und eine kleine Tüte Chips. Crew war sehr nett. Bei der Weinverkostung konnte man auch was anderes trinken, war im Preis inclusive.
We originally booked this tour because it was one of the few that included Robben Island, however we were not expecting the eye-opening experience that we would go through. The personalized township tour was something we will never forget and made us realize a different side of Cape Town. We would highly recommend this tour as you see the past and present of the city’s history. Sam and Shake were also great guides who were very honest and recperive to any questions.
Exceptional Great tour, very well organized. The pick up was at the time agreed. We arrived in Gansbaai and we did one of the most beautiful experience. The tour operator(Ivanhoe) has great experience and they are also very professional and what I like more is their passion and attention to respect the whales. We had a very lucky day with 6 whales around the boat. Great experience. I recommend it.