REVIEW · PLAYA DEL CARMEN
3 Hours – 53′ Hatteras – Tulum, Playa Del Carmen, Riviera Maya
Book on Viator →Operated by H2OH Sun Cruises · Bookable on Viator
Big sound and big smiles, in three hours. I like this charter because it mixes a modern, remodeled 58’ Hatteras yacht (the Dos Piratas) with a full-on party setup that still feels relaxed. The crew runs a tight, friendly service rhythm, and the Caribbean cruising time is built around comfort—lots of deck room, plenty of drinks, and a meal that shows up near the end.
What I love most is the high-end sound system and the way the deck layout makes hanging out easy, even with a group. Second, I love the pacing: snacks start things off, then you get a full meal in the final hour, so your timeline stays simple. One thing to plan for: towels aren’t included, and like many yacht trips, it needs good weather to run smoothly.
In This Review
- Key Highlights Before You Go
- A 58-Foot Hatteras Yacht Charter from the Tulum Side
- The 3-Hour Schedule: Snacks First, Lunch at the End
- What the Dos Piratas Setup Means for Your Group
- Karaoke and Music: If Your Group Likes to Sing, This Works
- Drinks and Food: What’s Actually Included
- Paddle Boards: Easy Add-On for Active Moments
- The Crew Factor: Juan, Richard, Daniel, and More
- Meeting Point in Puerto Aventuras and Getting There
- Price and Value: What $1,100 Covers for Up to 15
- Best Fit: Who Will Love This Charter
- A Few Things to Bring (So Your Day Stays Easy)
- Quick Reality Check on Weather
- Should You Book This Yacht Cruise from the Tulum Side?
- FAQ
- How long is the yacht tour?
- What time does the tour start?
- What is the price and group size?
- Is this tour private?
- What’s included in the price?
- What should I bring since towels are not included?
- What happens if weather is bad?
Key Highlights Before You Go

58’ Hatteras yacht with remodeled interior and lots of deck space
Top-tier sound system for music lovers (plus you can play your own music)
Snacks at the start and a full meal served in the final hour
Karaoke, alcoholic beverages, and non-alcoholic drinks all included
Paddle boards and life jackets provided
Private charter for up to 15 people, priced per group
A 58-Foot Hatteras Yacht Charter from the Tulum Side
This is a private yacht experience based out of Puerto Aventuras, right in the Tulum area (meeting point is listed for H2OH Sun Cruises). You’ll be out on a classic 58’ Hatteras—one of the newest additions for this operator—and it’s clearly set up for groups who want space without feeling like they’re stuck in one corner.
The yacht itself is a big part of the value. The interior has been fully remodeled, and the exterior deck areas are described as customized and spacious. In real terms, that matters because you’re on a boat for three hours: you want people to spread out, grab shade or sun, and still find a spot for music, photos, and conversation.
A few more Playa del Carmen tours and experiences worth a look
The 3-Hour Schedule: Snacks First, Lunch at the End

The itinerary is simple on purpose: board, enjoy, and eat near the finish. Start time is 10:00 am, and the tour runs about 3 hours, ending back at the same meeting point.
Here’s how the time typically feels on board:
- Early portion: you’re set up with snacks and drinks right away, so nobody has to wait around hungry.
- Middle portion: this is your playtime—lounging on deck, cruising, and water activities if you want them.
- Final hour: you get a full, family-style meal for the group. It’s a smart design because you don’t hit “food” too early, then run out of steam.
This structure is great for birthdays and anniversaries, and it’s also good if your group includes a mix of energy levels—some folks want music and karaoke, others want slow cruising and shade. The meal timing keeps the energy up without forcing a whole schedule.
What the Dos Piratas Setup Means for Your Group

The yacht is marketed as newly introduced to their lineup and heavily upgraded for sound and comfort. The big standouts are:
- A highest-end sound system (the operator says it’s unparalleled in the region)
- Lots of deck space so your group doesn’t feel squeezed
- A remodeled interior for breaks when you want to cool off
If your group likes music, this is the kind of charter that actually delivers. A lot of boat trips include a speaker, but here the whole vibe is built around audio. That shows up in how the crew keeps things moving—people are fed, drinks flow, and karaoke fits naturally into the party rhythm.
One more detail I appreciate: the boat setup is explicitly geared toward comfort. That means you’re not just “transported” across water—you’re spending most of the trip living on the deck like a floating hangout.
Karaoke and Music: If Your Group Likes to Sing, This Works

Included entertainment is karaoke, and that’s more than a checkbox. On a short, three-hour cruise, karaoke can be the glue that gets people chatting and laughing. It also gives you something structured to do if weather, crowds, or energy levels shift.
There’s also a nice note from the reviews that you can play your own music, which is huge if your group has a specific playlist (or if you want to avoid the randomness that sometimes happens on shared activities). With the sound system, your playlist doesn’t feel like background noise—it’s part of the main event.
Drinks and Food: What’s Actually Included

This charter is positioned as genuinely all-inclusive for the core experience. Here’s what’s included:
- Non-alcoholic drinks like juices and water
- Alcoholic beverages
- Lunch / full meal served in the final hour
- Snacks at the beginning
- Karaoke
- Paddle boards and life jackets
And here’s what’s not included:
- Towels (bring your own)
- Private transportation
- All fees and taxes (so check what your total looks like at checkout)
The “family-style meal” detail matters. It signals that you’re not getting a sad boxed lunch on a tray. The way they time it—toward the end—also means you can spend the best part of the trip doing water and music stuff, then settle into the meal when the mood feels right.
Also, I love how the crew handles small problems. One review mentioned they made salsa when it ran out, which tells you the service is tuned to group needs, not rigid rules.
Paddle Boards: Easy Add-On for Active Moments

If your group wants a bit of movement, you’ll have paddle boards available along with life jackets. That’s one of the best “included but optional” perks on this kind of charter, because you can go from lounging to playing without leaving the boat.
One practical consideration: paddle boarding takes space and attention, even with life jackets. If your group includes beginners, keep the first try calm and short. And if everyone’s more into music and photos, you can skip it—there’s plenty to do on deck.
The Crew Factor: Juan, Richard, Daniel, and More

On a three-hour private charter, the crew makes or breaks the experience. This operator clearly leans hard on service: attentive, friendly, and responsive without being intrusive.
Several review names show up again and again:
- Captain Richard
- Juan
- Daniel
- Bryan
- Dylan
- Roberto
- Carlos
- Manuel
- Adrian
What you should take from those shout-outs is the pattern: the team checks in, helps people feel at ease fast, and does little extras to keep the vibe going. One review called out how they were helpful and made a birthday day one of the best memories in Tulum. Another mentioned the crew felt respectful and thoughtful—more like hosts than workers.
If you want a day that feels like your group planned it, but you didn’t have to micromanage anything, this is the kind of crew you’re aiming for.
Meeting Point in Puerto Aventuras and Getting There

The meeting point is listed as H2OH Sun Cruises at a location in Puerto Aventuras (near the Tulum side). The start time is 10:00 am, and the tour ends back at the same meeting point.
Two practical notes:
- It’s described as near public transportation, which can help if you’re not bringing a private driver.
- Private transportation isn’t included, so if you need a ride arranged, you’ll have to plan that separately.
If your group is traveling from downtown Playa del Carmen or from hotels closer to the coast, I suggest building in buffer time. Yacht check-in tends to be time-sensitive, and you’ll want to arrive calm, not rushing.
Price and Value: What $1,100 Covers for Up to 15
The price is $1,100 per group, up to 15 people. That’s not cheap at first glance, but the value depends on how you use the boat.
At full capacity (15 people), the math is about:
- $1,100 ÷ 15 ≈ $73 per person
Now, compare that to the fact that you’re getting:
- alcoholic drinks
- non-alcoholic drinks
- lunch / a full meal
- snacks
- karaoke
- paddle boards and life jackets
- a private yacht experience for three hours
If your group is small—say 4 or 6 people—the per-person cost climbs fast. But you still get a real private setting (no sharing the boat with strangers) and a sound-and-deck setup aimed at making the time feel like a party, not a slow sightseeing chore.
This is best value when you have:
- 10–15 people who want to celebrate together
- a group that actually uses the included drinks and music
- people who don’t want to spend half the day coordinating food and activities
Best Fit: Who Will Love This Charter
This charter is a strong match if you want a party-friendly private yacht without complicated planning. It’s especially suited for:
- birthdays (there are multiple birthday celebrations mentioned)
- anniversaries and milestone trips
- friend groups who want karaoke and a playlist
- mixed groups where some people want to relax and others want water time
It may be less ideal if your group wants long stops, snorkel-heavy itineraries, or a strict sightseeing plan. This is three hours, so the emphasis is on comfort, vibe, and food timing—not long excursions.
A Few Things to Bring (So Your Day Stays Easy)
Because the trip is only about three hours, packing smart matters. Based on what’s not included and what helps on deck:
- Bring your own towels
- Bring sun protection (especially if you plan to lounge outdoors)
- Wear comfortable deck-friendly footwear (or go light and pack for bare feet if that’s your style)
Also, if you have a birthday playlist or special music, consider bringing it ready to go so you can use the onboard setup quickly.
Quick Reality Check on Weather
This experience needs good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor conditions, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. If you cancel for personal reasons, it’s non-refundable and can’t be changed.
So my advice is simple: check the forecast the week-of, and if your plans are flexible, you can feel more confident booking.
Should You Book This Yacht Cruise from the Tulum Side?
If your group wants a private, music-forward yacht hangout with drinks, karaoke, paddle boards, and lunch all built into a short schedule, I’d say this is a smart booking. The combination of upgraded sound, spacious deck layout, and real meal timing makes it feel like a full experience instead of just “time on a boat.”
Book it if you’re celebrating something with friends, want to control the vibe, and you’ll likely use the included extras. Skip it only if your priority is low-cost public sightseeing or long multi-stop cruising.
If you do book, remember the two practical keys: bring towels and treat weather as part of the plan. Do that, and you’ll get the kind of three-hour Caribbean memory that sticks.
FAQ
How long is the yacht tour?
The tour is about 3 hours.
What time does the tour start?
The start time is 10:00 am.
What is the price and group size?
It costs $1,100 per group, up to 15 people.
Is this tour private?
Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, so only your group participates.
What’s included in the price?
Included are non-alcoholic drinks, alcoholic beverages, lunch, snacks at the beginning, paddle boards and life jackets, and karaoke.
What should I bring since towels are not included?
You should plan to bring your own towels. Private transportation is also not included.
What happens if weather is bad?
The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.



























