Private Boat Tour on Royal Ocean Yacht, Tenerife

The Atlantic does the entertaining here. This private Royal Ocean trip gives you three hours on a roomy yacht off southern Tenerife, with whale and dolphin spotting, swimming in clear water, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and a generous spread of Spanish food. I especially like the space on board, including several seating areas, a restroom, towels, and room to move around.

I also like the personal feel. Your group of up to eight has the boat to itself, and Captain Lui and the crew have earned strong praise for their warm service. The drinks and food are another real plus, with jamón, meats, cheeses, tapas, fruit, and snacks served during the outing. The main caution is the sea itself: one family had several people feel sick, so bring seasickness medicine if you are prone to it.

Key Points Before You Book

• Whale watching begins from Las Galletas: The boat heads from Marina del Sur toward waters known for sightings of whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
• A private boat keeps the day relaxed: Your group alone joins the tour, with space for up to eight people.
• Lunch is more than a token snack: Expect jamón, meats, cheeses, Spanish tapas, fruit, and drinks during the trip.
• Swimming takes place in a sheltered bay: The boat anchors near the cliffs of Los Cristianos for snorkeling, swimming, and paddleboarding.
• Captain Lui and the crew set the tone: Friendly service is one of the strongest parts of the experience.
• The total price favors larger groups: At $900.18 for up to eight, the cost works out far better for six to eight people than for a couple.

Setting Sail From Marina del Sur in Las Galletas

The tour begins at Royal Ocean in Puerto Deportivo Marina del Sur, in Las Galletas. The listed pickup point is the main entrance of X-Sur Mall, and the activity returns to the same marina when the three hours are over. Pickup is offered, so check the exact arrangement at booking rather than assuming door-to-door service from every hotel.

Las Galletas is a useful starting point for a yacht trip because you are already close to Tenerife’s southern whale-watching waters. There is no long land transfer before the main event. Once on board, you can settle into one of the seating areas, find a spot at the front, or use the shaded and open sections as the weather changes.

The yacht has a restroom, which matters on a three-hour outing. It also has air conditioning, towels, bottled water, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and snorkeling equipment. These are small comforts, but they make the trip feel less like a bare boat ride and more like a proper half-day outing.

The vessel is described as spacious, with plenty of seating. That is useful for a private group with mixed tastes. Some people can sit and watch the coast, while others head toward the front, prepare for the water, or keep an eye out for marine life.

The First Hour: Searching for Whales and Dolphins

The first part of the route takes you from Las Galletas toward the area where whales and dolphins are often seen. The exact wildlife encounter depends on the day, the sea, and the animals. You should treat sightings as a possibility, not a promise.

That said, the trip has produced memorable encounters. One outing saw perhaps nine whales along with dolphins. Other sightings included pilot whales and porpoises. These animals can appear in the distance, so bring patience and keep your camera ready. A phone zoom may not give you a perfect photograph, but the sight of a whale surfacing beside the boat is the real prize.

This is also the stretch where sitting at the front can be most rewarding. You get a clear view over the water and a stronger sense of speed as the yacht rides the waves. It can also be the bumpiest place on board, so I would choose a middle seating area if you are worried about motion sickness.

The crew adds value here by helping you watch the sea rather than simply pointing the boat offshore and leaving you to guess. Captain Lui has been praised for explaining parts of the island and showing scenic places along the coast. The tone sounds friendly rather than formal, which suits a private trip.

The first hour is not only about wildlife. Tenerife’s southern coast looks different from the water, with cliffs, marinas, and stretches that are hard to appreciate from a road. You get a broad coastal view without the stop-and-go rhythm of a bus tour.

Los Cristianos Cliffs and the Turquoise Bay

After the wildlife search, the yacht makes a short transit toward a wild bay near the cliffs of Los Cristianos. During this part, the crew serves drinks, fruit, and snacks. The change of pace is welcome. You have had time to watch the sea, and now the outing shifts toward food and water activities.

The boat anchors in clear turquoise water for swimming and snorkeling. Use of the snorkeling gear is included, along with towels. A stand-up paddleboard is also available. The bay gives you a chance to leave your seat and enjoy the water instead of spending the whole trip looking at it.

The conditions can change, though. The crew chooses a swimming place based on the weather, so the exact bay and water feel may not be fixed. That is a sensible approach, especially for a private boat where the captain can respond to the day’s conditions.

A short walk along the cliffs includes entering caves before the group heads back toward the port. This adds a little land-based exploration to the trip, but you should not expect a long hike or a major coastal trek. The appeal is the combination: boat views, a swim stop, cliffs, and a quick look inside the caves.

Families may appreciate this section most. Children can use the water equipment, adults can enjoy the food and scenery, and anyone who prefers not to swim can remain on board. Since the boat is private, your group can set a more comfortable rhythm than on a large shared excursion.

Spanish Food Served on the Water

Food is one of the best reasons to consider this trip instead of a basic whale-watching cruise. At the bay, the crew serves quality food including jamón, assorted meats, cheeses, and Spanish tapas. Earlier in the trip, you can expect fruit and snacks, and drinks are available throughout the outing.

The package includes alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, bottled water, coffee, and tea. The phrase unlimited drinks is part of the experience description for the swimming stop. You should still pace yourself, especially in the sun and on a moving boat.

This is not a restaurant meal with a printed menu, and the precise selection may vary. But the food is substantial enough to make the outing feel like lunch on the sea rather than a tour where you need to eat before leaving. For a birthday, family celebration, or relaxed day with friends, that detail carries real weight.

I also like the balance between active and easygoing parts. You can swim, snorkel, or use the paddleboard, then return to the boat for tapas and a drink. If your ideal boat trip involves lying back with food while the coast passes by, you do not have to take part in every water activity.

How Private Space Changes the Experience

The boat is reserved for your group, with a maximum of eight people. That changes the feel of the day. You are not trying to find a seat beside strangers, and you can spend the trip with your own family or friends.

A private boat also makes the price easier to understand. The total is $900.18 per group, not per person. At eight people, that is about $112.52 each. At six, it is about $150 each. For four people, it is roughly $225 each, and for just two people, the cost is about $450 per person.

That is not a bargain for a couple. For a larger group, though, it compares more favorably with premium half-day activities, especially since the price includes food, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, snorkeling equipment, towels, paddleboarding, and the private setting.

A private trip is also useful for groups with different energy levels. One person can swim, another can take photographs, and someone else can stay seated with a drink. The boat is not organized around a large crowd’s timetable.

The tradeoff is that you pay for the whole boat, even if your group is small. Two people celebrating a birthday may still find the privacy worth it, but you should make that choice with open eyes.

Service From Captain Lui and the Crew

The human side of the trip receives some of its strongest praise. Captain Lui is described as welcoming and attentive, and the crew is repeatedly credited with making the outing comfortable. Dmitri also receives praise for handling the booking in a friendly way.

That matters because a private boat trip can feel awkward if the crew is distant or the service is disorganized. Here, the available feedback points to a crew that notices what people need, serves food and drinks without fuss, and helps the group settle into the day.

One especially useful detail is that the captain may adjust the swimming location to suit the weather. You are not locked into one exact patch of sea if conditions are less favorable. On the other hand, you should not assume that every stop will look identical to the photographs or match another group’s route.

The service seems particularly well suited to birthdays and family trips. One birthday outing for a couple was described as calm and relaxing, while another family outing included whale sightings, dolphins, swimming, and paddleboarding. Kids appear to have plenty to keep them busy, but the boat also offers enough comfort for adults who want a slower day.

Seasickness, Safety, and Comfort

The main practical warning is motion sickness. The boat moves into open water for wildlife watching, and the sea can be rough enough to affect some people. One group still enjoyed the trip despite a wife and child becoming seasick, but that experience is a reminder to prepare.

If you know you get seasick, take your usual medicine before departure, as the activity information advises. Choose a stable seat, avoid staring at a phone for long periods, and keep some fresh air nearby if possible. The front of the boat offers the best ride and views for some people, but it may feel lively in choppier water.

The boat has a restroom and air conditioning, which make a noticeable difference. Towels and snorkeling gear are supplied, so you do not need to pack those items. You should still bring swimwear and any personal medication you need, since those are not listed as included.

Most people can take part, but anyone with a medical concern should judge their own comfort around open water. The tour is not recommended for people prone to seasickness unless they take suitable medicine.

Who Will Enjoy This Yacht Tour Most

I would recommend this trip to families, couples marking a special occasion, and groups of friends who want a private day rather than a large shared cruise. It works especially well for people who want several experiences in one outing: wildlife watching, coastal views, lunch, swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and caves.

It is also a good match for anyone who values service and space. You are not simply paying for transport across the water. You are paying for a crewed private setting, food and drinks, and the freedom to spend the day at your own pace.

I would hesitate if you dislike boats, struggle with seasickness, or mainly want a guaranteed close-up wildlife encounter. Nature decides what appears, and a three-hour trip cannot promise whales or dolphins on every departure.

The experience is also less attractive for a very small group on a strict budget. A couple may prefer a shared excursion that costs less. But if privacy is central to your plans, the higher price may feel justified.

Booking Details and Cancellation

Confirmation is provided at booking. The tour is offered in English, and mobile tickets are available. It starts and ends at Royal Ocean, Puerto Deportivo Marina del Sur in Las Galletas, with the listed pickup point at the main entrance of X-Sur Mall.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. The activity depends on good weather, so Royal Ocean may offer another date or a full refund if conditions force a cancellation.

Should You Book the Royal Ocean Private Yacht Tour?

Book it if you can fill much of the eight-person capacity and want a polished private day on the water. The mix of whale and dolphin watching, a sheltered swimming stop, Spanish tapas, open bar service, and friendly crew gives the outing more substance than a simple boat ride.

For a couple, the decision is more personal. The price is high, but the privacy and special-occasion feel may be exactly what you want. For families and friend groups, the cost spreads out well and the range of activities keeps the day from feeling repetitive.

My practical advice is simple: prepare for motion sickness, confirm the pickup details, and judge the price by the number in your group. If those points work for you, this is a strong choice for seeing Tenerife from the sea.

FAQ

Where does the private yacht tour start?

The tour starts at Royal Ocean S.L. in Puerto Deportivo Marina del Sur, 38631 Las Galletas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Las Galletas.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is offered, with the listed pickup detail being the main entrance of X-Sur Mall.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private boat can accommodate a group of up to eight people.

What wildlife might I see?

The route offers opportunities to see whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Sightings depend on natural conditions and are not guaranteed.

Is food included?

Yes. The experience includes lunch, snacks, fruit, jamón, meats, cheeses, and Spanish tapas.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, bottled water, coffee, and tea are included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, towels, and a stand-up paddleboard are included.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.