Kemer Pirates Boat Trip

The big draw here is simple: you spend a full day on the Mediterranean, moving between ancient ruins and clear swimming bays rather than sitting beside a hotel pool. The pirate ship adds music, dancing, and a foam party, while Mount Tahtali and the rugged coast provide the scenery.

I like the two substantial swimming stops, especially the hour at Cleopatra Bay, and I like that lunch, hotel transport, toilets, showers, and insurance are included. The main catch is that drinks cost extra and can be expensive, and one delayed departure showed that pickup and boat timing may not always run smoothly.

Key points

• Three memorable coastal stops: Visit Phaselis Bay, Cennet Bay, and Cleopatra Bay, with time for swimming at each.
• Phaselis adds history: Swim near the ancient Greek and Roman ruins, or pay separately to enter the archaeological site.
• A full activity day for $19: Hotel transfers, lunch, guiding, insurance, and a foam party are included.
• Lunch is practical rather than fancy: The buffet includes schnitzel, salads, pasta, and rice, with vegetarian food available if requested ahead.
• Bring your own snorkeling gear: Equipment is not listed as included, but you can bring your own.
• Expect a party atmosphere: Music, dancing, animations, and a foam party suit families and social groups more than quiet-seeking visitors.

A pirate ship start from Kemer

Pickup takes place between 9 and 9:30 in the morning, with return to your hotel expected between 4:30 and 5. The vehicle collects you at the hotel’s main security gate, not at the lobby or reception desk. That small detail matters, especially at large resorts where the gate may be some distance from your room.

Once you reach the marina, you board an impressive pirate-style boat for a seven-hour cruise. The ship has toilets, outside showers, and a bar, so you are not stuck searching for facilities every time you leave the coast.

This is a social boat trip, not a quiet sailing excursion. Music and onboard entertainment are part of the day, and a foam party is included. If you enjoy dancing, swimming, and meeting other people, the mood should suit you well. If you want long stretches of silence and a small boat, this is probably the wrong choice.

The coastal views are the reward for simply being on the water. You will see beaches, mountain slopes, caves, and the broad profile of Mount Tahtali on the return journey. The ship itself gives you several ways to spend the day: sit in the sun, stay near the bar, join the entertainment, or wait for the next swimming stop.

Phaselis Bay combines ruins and swimming

The first main stop is Phaselis Bay, where the ancient city of Phaselis sits beside the sea. Phaselis was founded as a port city and later used by Greek and Roman communities. Its position is what makes the stop special: you can look toward old ruins while standing beside a swimming bay.

A swim break takes place here, and lunch is served on board. If you are a strong swimmer, you may be able to reach the shore from the boat, but that depends on your ability and the conditions. Do not treat the swim from boat to land as guaranteed access to the ruins.

You should also know that entering Phaselis Antique City costs extra. The boat stop lets you see the setting and enjoy the water, but it does not automatically cover the archaeological entrance fee. If exploring the ruins is important to you, carry cash and confirm the current entrance arrangement before you go.

The site itself is best appreciated for its unusual setting. Ancient streets, harbor remains, and stone ruins sit close to the Mediterranean, giving you a chance to combine a beach stop with a little history. Still, the time is shared between swimming, lunch, and the rest of the day, so this is not a full archaeological tour.

Lunch with a simple buffet

The included meal is a buffet served on board. The stated menu includes schnitzel, three types of salad, pasta, and rice. It is the sort of food that works well after a swim: filling, familiar, and easy to serve to a large group.

Vegetarian alternatives are available, but you need to request them when booking. Do not wait until you are standing at the buffet. Drinks are not included, so budget separately for water, soft drinks, beer, or cocktails.

The price is important here. At $19 per person, a seven-hour boat day with transfers and lunch is unusually inexpensive. That low rate makes the extra cost of drinks more noticeable. A bottle of beer has been reported at £7, and a cocktail at £15, so the bar can change the total cost quickly.

My practical advice is to bring cash, take your own water if allowed, and ask about drink prices before ordering. The supplied information lists drinks as excluded, so you should not expect complimentary soft drinks with lunch.

Cennet Bay brings another swim break

After Phaselis and lunch, the boat continues to Cennet Bay for a second swimming stop. The name suggests a peaceful corner, but the experience remains part of a group boat day, with music and onboard entertainment continuing around the swim.

This is a useful break in the schedule because you get another chance to swim without needing to spend the whole day at one beach. You can bring your own snorkeling equipment, which is worthwhile if you prefer exploring the water rather than only floating and cooling off.

No snorkeling equipment is included, so pack your own mask and fins if you have them. The details do not promise a guided snorkeling session or special underwater sites. Think of the gear as a way to make your personal swim more interesting, not as part of a formal activity.

The repeated swim stops are one of the strongest parts of the day. They break up the long time on board and give you a reason to bring proper swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a hat. Sunglasses are also listed as useful, though you will want to secure them carefully around the water.

Cleopatra Bay gives you the longest swim

The final stop is Cleopatra Bay, with about an hour for swimming. This is the most generous water break and a good point in the day to settle into the warm Mediterranean rather than rush in and out.

The bay is linked by legend with Cleopatra, who is said to have swum there. Treat that as a local story rather than a proven historical fact. The appeal is the combination of turquoise water, mountain scenery, and the idea that you are stopping at a famous place along the Turkish Riviera.

You will need to return to the ship when the hour ends. That sounds obvious, but on a boat day it is easy to lose track of time while swimming or sitting in the sun. Keep your towel and belongings in one easy-to-find place, and listen for instructions from the crew.

After Cleopatra Bay, the ship returns toward the marina. Mount Tahtali becomes the main visual feature on the way back, offering one of the clearest views of the dramatic mountains behind the coast. The boat aims to reach the marina between 4:30 and 5, after which vehicles take you back to your hotel.

Music, dancing, and the foam party

The entertainment is central to the character of this trip. The crew runs music, dancing, and various animations, finishing with a foam party during the cruise. Families with children have enjoyed this part, and it gives the day a cheerful holiday feel.

Specific crew personalities can shape the mood. Metin is known for welcoming guests and working the music, while Ali is noted for his energy as a representative and dancer. Staff names and roles can change, but the trip clearly depends on an active entertainment team rather than a silent cruise.

The foam party also affects what you should bring. Keep phones and cameras protected, and do not wear anything you would hate to get wet or soapy. A camera is listed among the recommended items, but it should be used with care around the water and foam.

Not everyone will want this style of entertainment. One assessment of the day found too much dead time and too many swimming breaks, with little explanation of the places being seen. That is a fair warning: the boat provides atmosphere and scenery, but historical commentary may be limited compared with a dedicated Phaselis excursion.

What the $19 price really covers

The $19 rate is the strongest financial argument for booking. You receive hotel pickup and return, the boat ride, guiding, full insurance, lunch, and the foam party. Even after allowing for the separate entrance fee and drinks, it remains a low-cost way to spend most of a day on the coast.

The tradeoff is that this is a budget group excursion. You are paying for a broad mix of transport, food, swimming, and entertainment, not a private boat or a detailed archaeological guide. The low price also means the bar is an important extra-cost area.

Pickup reliability deserves attention. One booking had a serious problem when the vehicle did not collect the party as agreed. Another departure started roughly two hours late because the boat had not been fueled, and there was poor communication while people waited. These incidents do not define every departure, but they show why you should keep your morning flexible and confirm the pickup point clearly.

The standard pickup point is the main security gate of your hotel. Hotels do not allow tour vehicles inside their grounds, so wait at the gate at the stated time. If you are staying at a large resort, ask the hotel where the correct security entrance is before the morning of the trip.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a low-cost, active day at sea with several swim stops and a lively group atmosphere. Families may like the foam party and easy buffet, while couples and friends can split their time between music, sun, swimming, and the coastal views.

It is also a good fit if you want to see the setting of Phaselis without paying for a separate full-day history tour. You get the chance to swim near the ruins and see the bay from the water, though you will need to pay the entrance fee if you want to walk through the archaeological site.

You may want another option if you have heart problems, since the activity is specifically not suitable for people with heart conditions. It is also not suitable for wheelchair users.

I would think twice if your main goal is quiet sightseeing, careful historical explanation, or a premium food-and-drink service. The trip can include waiting, the commentary may be limited, and drinks are extra. The ship is designed for fun and volume, not a refined private cruise.

What to pack for the boat

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat. You can bring your own snorkeling equipment, and doing so avoids having to rely on anything available on the boat.

Take a camera if you want photos of the coast, Mount Tahtali, the bays, and the ship. Protect it during the foam party and swimming stops. Cash is useful for drinks, personal spending, and the separate Phaselis entrance fee.

If you need vegetarian food, request it when booking. The included buffet is built around schnitzel, salads, pasta, and rice, but a vegetarian alternative is available with advance notice.

Guiding and audio support are available in English, Russian, and Turkish. The live guide languages and audio guide languages match, so you can select the option that suits you when arranging the activity.

Booking flexibility and practical limits

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Availability determines the exact start time, although the normal hotel pickup window is 9 to 9:30.

The tour includes insurance, but that does not change the need to follow crew instructions around the water. You should be comfortable boarding a boat, using swimming stops, and managing your own belongings during a busy day.

The boat has toilets, an outside shower, and a bar, which makes seven hours on the water much easier. Still, bring the basics with you because the included package does not cover drinks, photos, videos, or personal purchases.

Should you book the Kemer Pirates Boat Trip?

Book it if you want a cheap, cheerful boat day with three coastal stops, lunch, hotel transfers, and a foam party. The swimming time is generous, the Phaselis setting is memorable, and the $19 price is hard to beat.

Skip it if you need dependable minute-by-minute timing, quiet surroundings, detailed history, or included drinks. The occasional pickup or fueling problem is worth taking seriously, and the bar prices can surprise you.

For most people, the best approach is to treat this as a fun Mediterranean day with a little archaeology, not as a serious history tour. Bring your own snorkeling gear, arrange vegetarian food in advance, wait at the hotel security gate, and set aside money for drinks and Phaselis. With those points covered, this is a good-value way to get on the water around Kemer.

FAQ

How long does the Kemer Pirates Boat Trip last?

The activity lasts seven hours. Hotel pickup is planned between 9 and 9:30 in the morning, and return to the marina is expected between 4:30 and 5 in the afternoon.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and return to your hotel are included. You must wait at the hotel’s main security gate, since tour vehicles do not enter the hotel grounds.

What languages are available?

Live guiding is available in English, Russian, and Turkish. Audio guides are also available in English, Russian, and Turkish.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served as a buffet with schnitzel, three types of salad, pasta, and rice. Vegetarian alternatives are available if requested when booking.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included, and personal spending is separate. The boat has a bar.

Do I need to bring snorkeling equipment?

Snorkeling equipment is not included, but you can bring your own. The tour includes swimming stops at Phaselis Bay, Cennet Bay, and Cleopatra Bay.

Is the Phaselis entrance fee included?

No. The entrance fee to Phaselis Antique City is separate from the tour price.

Is the trip suitable for wheelchair users or people with heart problems?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with heart problems.