Pattaya Catamaran Cruise Review: Is the GetYourGuide Island Trip Worth It?

The Pattaya catamaran cruise lasts a full day. I booked it through GetYourGuide and it cost me 100 euros per person. During the cruise we visited two islands, spending a couple of hours relaxing on the beach at one of them. There was also a lot of snorkelling, swimming and relaxing, and at the end we watched a lovely sunset over the city. The cruise makes a great activity for couples, solo travellers, and families with children roughly 7 and up.

Looking at the news coverage Pattaya usually gets, it’s hard to picture nice beaches or pleasant attractions. The city is best known for its red-light district and go-go bars. In 14 years of travelling around Thailand, I’d never once stopped in Pattaya. This time, I was on my way back from Isaan, from the Phi Ta Khon festival and Chiang Khan. I was in the mood for some beach time but didn’t feel like travelling all the way to the islands, so I stopped here instead – in Pattaya. While looking for things to do, I came across a catamaran cruise and decided to treat myself to the trip.

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Facts about the Pattaya catamaran cruise

Duration	Approx. 7 hours (pickup ~9:00 am, return ~6:00 pm)
Price	€100 / person
Booking	GetYourGuide
Route	2 islands near Pattaya
Included	Hotel pickup, buffet lunch, soft drinks, towels, snorkelling gear, speedboat transfers
Highlights	Beach time, snorkelling at a coral reef, inflatable slide, sunset over the sea
Best for	Couples, solo travellers, families with kids 7+
Rating	10/10

Booking the cruise through GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is one of my affiliate partners. I’ve worked with them for a while now and have booked tours through them several times before – for example, the Tagus river cruise in Lisbon. I generally like their offering and use them whenever they have something interesting on. The Pattaya catamaran trip caught my eye after watching a vlog by Flora and Note on YouTube about this exact cruise. Everything looked great, so I decided to spend a day out on the water myself.

I made the purchase four days before the cruise. I bought the tour through their website, then downloaded the app, where I could see my confirmation and ticket, plus the itinerary and planned stops. The whole experience was smooth and quick.

Morning and the start of the cruise

The cruise was due to start at 10:00 am. Pickup from my condominium was scheduled for around 9:00–9:30. Sure enough, an air-conditioned van arrived right on time. We picked up one or two more people along the way and headed to the marina.

At the car park where we stopped, there were sizeable groups of arrivals, but we were quickly split up and sent off to different boats. Our catamaran had maybe 15 people on board, if that. We had one foreign guide, with the rest of the crew being young Thai staff, all neatly dressed in red-and-white uniforms. We were welcomed on board like VIPs and shown to our table, which I shared with another couple. We were given drinks and towels, briefed on the itinerary and safety, and then given some time to explore the boat and relax.

The catamaran had two decks. Upstairs was a viewing terrace with comfortable floor cushions to sit on. Downstairs was a bar, tables, toilets, and a special netted area where you could lie down and feel like you were almost floating on the water. There were also beanbags and plenty of space for lying around and sunbathing.

We left the marina a little after 10. The sun was shining beautifully, and we could watch Pattaya’s glass skyline drift further and further away.

Islands, swimming and snorkelling

After almost two hours at sea, we reached the first island. The sun was still out, so the little island and its empty beach looked like something out of a postcard. On land, there was nothing but sunshades waiting just for us. No one else was around. Paradise on earth!

Before heading to the beach, though, I had lunch. We were served a buffet of delicious, fresh food. Most of it was Thai dishes, but there was also fried chicken, chips and salad. Vegetarians, meat-eaters and seafood lovers alike could all find something. Soft drinks were included too. I ate my fill and was ready to head to the island. During this stop, a speedboat was on hand to ferry us between the catamaran and the island, and it ran continuously the whole time.

An inflatable slide was an added attraction. Plenty of people chose to stay on the boat, swim and snorkel instead, while I relaxed quietly on the beach.

We stopped at the island for two hours.

After the break, we carried on to the next island. We weren’t allowed to go ashore this time, but we were given snorkelling masks. I spent the whole stop swimming and admiring the underwater world. It was beautiful and colourful – I didn’t expect there to be such a lovely reef so close to Pattaya.

The attraction here was the monkeys living on the island. The speedboat from our catamaran took anyone who wanted a closer look. Ever since Pysia got bitten by a monkey in Krabi, I’ve steered clear of these creatures, so I skipped the trip to the island.

There was another boat by this island too, but the water wasn’t crowded at all – plenty of room to swim in peace.

Snorkelling near Pattaya – extra details

I really love snorkelling and have been on plenty of trips like this before. Koh Tao is probably the most famous spot in Thailand for it. For me, the snorkelling around that island was fine but not spectacular. I actually thought it was much nicer here, near Pattaya.

That afternoon there wasn’t much sun, so the water looked a little dark. But once I put my mask on, the underwater world turned out to be wonderful. The coral reef around this island was very well kept. Plenty of colourful fish were swimming around, and the seabed had beautiful coral to look at.

Since I swim slowly, I never made it to the spot my guide recommended – apparently it’s even more beautiful closer to the island’s rocks. Still, I’d say this was the best snorkelling spot I’ve been to in Thailand so far.

Evening and sunset

After swimming, we headed back towards Pattaya. Unfortunately, there was no sun to be seen – heavy clouds were gathering over the city. It was June, the start of the rainy season, so that kind of weather wasn’t much of a surprise.

Just before sailing into the harbour, we stopped out at sea. Somewhere far off, you could just make out a red-orange ball sinking below the horizon. It made for some nice photos. Many people bought cocktails and beer and admired the sunset from the catamaran’s deck. Pattaya looked beautiful in that light too.

We were back at the marina around 6:00 pm and were driven home in the same van that had picked us up.

Summary of the Pattaya catamaran cruise

I’d rate the whole trip 10/10. Everything was genuinely well organised, from buying the tour to the entire cruise itself. I didn’t have to worry about a thing. I felt looked after and safe.

The catamaran wasn’t huge, but it was very comfortable for the number of people on board. There was no crowding, and it never felt like a typical mass-tourism trip. At any point I could find a spot to relax and unwind. Nobody pushed any activities on me either – I could spend the time exactly as I wanted.

Credit is also due to the crew, who were genuinely excellent – I felt the whole time that they cared about every detail of the trip.

It was worth spending the money on this cruise, and I’d really recommend it if you’re ever in Pattaya.

Pattaya catamaran cruise – FAQ

Where can I book the tour?

I booked mine through the website, via GetYourGuide and this link.

How much does the cruise cost?

The full day costs 100 euros. This includes transport to the boat, lunch, soft drinks, towels, snorkelling gear, and speedboat transfers.

How long does the whole cruise take?

Around 7 hours.

Is it worth booking through GetYourGuide?

If you want to do this particular tour, then yes, I think it’s worth it. You’ll find other offers around the city too, but in my opinion, this one is genuinely good.

What should I bring?

• Swimwear/beachwear
• A hat or cap
• Sunscreen
• Snacks – lunch is included, but I was still hungry afterwards

Pattaya – practical information

How to get there

Getting to Pattaya is very straightforward. From Bangkok, you can take a van or a bus. I travelled from Don Mueang airport by van, and the journey took two hours. You can buy a ticket at the airport (the counter is right by the baggage claim exit, or head to the bus stop) or you can book your ticket on 12GoAsia. I bought mine at the airport.

Buses also leave from Mo Chit in Bangkok.

For around 50 euros (about 2,000 THB), you can hire a private taxi. You can also book this on 12GoAsia.

Where to stay

I’m assuming you don’t want to stay right in the centre, in all the noise. I’d recommend staying in Jomtien Beach instead. There’s a beach nearby without huge crowds, plus restaurants and shops, but none of the red-light district and a bit more peace and quiet.

I’d recommend booking an apartment or villa on Booking.com. It’s worth having a pool – Pattaya’s beach isn’t the cleanest or most pleasant for sunbathing, in my opinion. Relaxing by the pool will be far more enjoyable, especially if you’re travelling with children.

What to do before you go

It’s worth getting vaccinated before your trip. Get in touch with a travel medicine doctor and ask about the vaccinations you might need.

Also get travel insurance. I’d recommend HeyMondo or Genki for a shorter stay. If you’re planning to stay longer than 30 days, go for something aimed at nomads, like SafetyWing.

What else is worth doing in Pattaya?

Pattaya has a fairly limited number of attractions, but I’d recommend heading south to Sai Kaew Beach and Hat Sai So – they’re much quieter and feel closer to the paradise-like beaches of Krabi and Railay Beach.

Another big attraction is the Sanctuary of Truth. It’s a stunning temple-museum, but visiting is quite exhausting. Once you’ve bought your ticket, you’re taken on a very long, slow tour of the building. It’s hot, loud, and by the end you might regret going at all. That said, the building itself is genuinely majestic and makes a huge impression.