Alanya/Side: Starcraft Boat Trip w/ Unlimited Beer and Wine

Six decks turn a swim day into a party. The Alanya Starcraft cruise combines a clean, spacious yacht with swimming stops at Cleopatra and Ulas beaches, plus views of Alanya Castle and three famous sea caves. I especially like the multiple swim breaks and the boat’s showers, restrooms, and changing cabins. The lively DJ, dance shows, and foam party are another strong point for anyone who wants more than a quiet coastal cruise.

The main caution is the party atmosphere. Music may lean heavily toward Russian songs, and one passenger found the beer cups surprisingly small, around 250 milliliters, with soft-drink cups even smaller. The stairs between decks can also feel steep, so this is not a good match for people with mobility impairments.

Key points to know before booking

• Six-deck Starcraft yacht: A large fiberglass boat with roomy decks, high passenger capacity, restrooms, showers, changing cabins, and sunbathing areas.
• Three main swimming areas: You can swim near Cleopatra Beach, Ulas Beach, and in the open sea during several water breaks.
• Alanya’s sea caves: The route passes Pirate Cave, Lovers Cave, and Phosphorus Cave along the castle-side coastline.
• Lunch included: Barbecue chicken, salad, pasta, seasonal fruit, and soft drinks are served onboard.
• Party-focused entertainment: Expect a DJ, live music, dance shows, and a foam party rather than a quiet sightseeing cruise.
• Drink package depends on your booking: Unlimited beer and wine are included only with the option that specifically lists them.

A big white yacht at Alanya Harbour

The day begins either with a hotel pickup or at the Starcraft meeting point in Alanya Harbour, depending on the option you choose. Pickup is available from a long list of resorts and districts, including Side, Çolaklı, Okurcalar, Konaklı, Mahmutlar, Avsallar, Ilıca, Kızılağaç, Kargıcak, and Payallar.

If you choose transport, do not rely only on the general time printed on your ticket. Your exact hotel pickup time is provided after booking, and you need to wait at the assigned hotel meeting spot on time. The transfer is included only when you select the pickup package.

At the harbour, the boat is hard to miss. Starcraft is a modern, six-deck fiberglass yacht, often described as Alanya’s white swan. That design matters. Traditional wooden boats and pirate-style vessels can feel charming, but this one gives you more open deck space, more facilities, and room for a large group.

You should expect a busy boat rather than a private yacht outing. The high passenger capacity is part of the appeal for a party crowd, but it also means the atmosphere can become loud and active. If you want a calm, small-group sailing trip, this is probably the wrong choice.

The boat has restrooms, showers, changing cabins, and rest areas. Those details make a real difference on a five-hour cruise. You can swim without worrying about spending the rest of the day in a wet swimsuit, and you have somewhere to clean off salt water before the return transfer.

Sailing below Alanya Castle

Once the Starcraft leaves the harbour, the first views are along Alanya’s coastline and around Alanya Castle. From the water, the castle gives the cruise a strong sense of place. You are not simply floating offshore with no idea where you are. The cliffs, old fortifications, harbour, and shoreline help you understand Alanya’s layout from a different angle.

Keep your camera ready, but protect it from spray during the swimming stops and foam party. A sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a towel are essential. Comfortable shoes are also useful because you will move between decks, and the stairs can be steep.

The route then reaches several well-known sea caves. The exact sightseeing pace is not given, so you should think of these as scenic stops along the boat route rather than a cave exploration on foot. You remain on the yacht while the boat passes the rock formations.

Pirate, Lovers, and Phosphorus caves

The three cave names give each stop a little character.

Pirate Cave is connected with the old pirate stories tied to Alanya’s coast. Lovers Cave has a more romantic name and is a popular photo point. Phosphorus Cave is known for its unusual name and the stories attached to the dark opening and water inside.

The value here is the view from the sea. You see parts of the coast that are difficult to appreciate from land, and the boat lets you pause near the rock formations. Still, do not expect a guided archaeological visit or a long stop inside each cave. This is a boat sightseeing route, with the caves forming part of a larger day of swimming and entertainment.

The trip works best if you treat the caves as short scenic highlights rather than the central reason to book. The main event is the mix of coastline, water breaks, lunch, and music.

Swimming near Cleopatra and Ulas beaches

The Starcraft includes several swimming breaks. One is near Cleopatra Beach, another near Ulas Beach, and another takes place in the open sea.

Cleopatra Beach is one of Alanya’s best-known stretches of coast, and seeing it from offshore gives you a useful change of angle. The water stop lets you cool down after time in the sun, though you should remember that you are swimming from a boat rather than stepping onto the beach.

Ulas Beach provides another chance to get into the water. The open-sea stop is likely to feel the most spacious, with no beach directly beside you. If you enjoy swimming in clear water, these breaks are among the strongest parts of the day.

Bring your towel and swimsuit in your hand luggage, not buried in a transfer bag. You may want to change before boarding or use the onboard changing cabins later. The boat has showers, but sunscreen, salt water, and foam can still make a towel very useful.

Swimming stops are also where the trip becomes less suitable for everyone. You need to be comfortable getting into the sea from a boat and climbing back aboard. The activity information specifically says the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Lunch with a side of sea views

Lunch is served onboard and includes barbecue chicken, salad, pasta, and seasonal fruit. Soft drinks are included with the meal and during the cruise.

This is practical rather than fancy dining. The menu is broad enough to give you a main dish, a side, fresh food, and something sweet or refreshing afterward. One passenger described the lunch as good, while another praised the food overall. You should still choose this trip for the boat day, not as a special culinary outing.

The buffet or serving arrangement is not specified, so it is sensible to arrive without expecting a restaurant-style meal. If you have strict dietary needs, the available information does not confirm special menus. Personal expenses are not included, so carry some money if you want anything beyond the stated package.

The drinks require careful attention when you book. Unlimited beer and wine are included only with the package that says so. Other options include unlimited soft drinks, but alcoholic drinks are not automatically part of every booking. Check the selected option before you pay.

Also, unlimited does not necessarily mean large servings. One person found the beer cups to be around 250 milliliters and the soft-drink cups smaller than expected. With several decks and steep stairs, carrying a small cup can be inconvenient, especially when you are moving around during the party.

Foam, music, and a very active afternoon

After the swimming and lunch, the boat turns up the energy. A professional animation team provides live music, dance shows, DJ sets, and a foam party.

The foam party is the clearest sign of what this experience is trying to be. This is not a silent cruise where you sit with a book and listen to the waves. You can sunbathe between activities, but music and organized entertainment shape the day.

The party setup will suit you if you like dancing, group entertainment, and a social atmosphere at sea. It is also a good choice for a mixed group where some people want to swim and others want music and drinks. You can move around the decks instead of staying in one seat all day.

Music taste is personal, but one useful point came through clearly: the playlist may contain a lot of Russian music, with fewer English songs. The onboard languages are English, Russian, and Turkish, so the crew can communicate across a mixed group, but the entertainment does not promise a balanced international playlist.

The foam party creates another practical issue. Keep your phone and camera protected, and do not take sunglasses or valuables into the mess unless you are prepared to lose track of them. Sunscreen is still important, even when clouds or foam make the deck feel cooler.

How the five to eight hours usually feel

The stated duration is five to eight hours, with the boat cruise itself listed at about five hours. The wider range likely reflects pickup and return time from different resort areas, though exact timing depends on your departure point and the schedule that day.

From a hotel in Alanya, the day should feel like a straightforward half-day or longer excursion. From Side or another resort farther away, transfers will take more of your day. That makes the optional pickup especially valuable if you do not want to arrange transport to Alanya Harbour yourself.

At the end of the cruise, the return transfer takes you back to your hotel if you selected that option. The same practical rule applies in reverse: keep track of the assigned meeting instructions and do not assume every package includes transport.

The boat schedule includes enough activity to fill the time. You have the coastline, caves, swimming breaks, lunch, music, and foam party. The pace may feel full for someone seeking rest, but it should not feel empty if you enjoy an organized day on the water.

Is the $29 price good value?

At $29 per person, this is a strong value if your selected package includes the boat trip, lunch, hotel transfers, and unlimited beer and wine. Even without the alcohol option, the price covers a long cruise, several swimming stops, onboard food, entertainment, and access to facilities that smaller boats may not offer.

The value depends heavily on your departure area and package. A person staying near Alanya Harbour may not need the transfer. Someone staying in Side or farther along the coast may see the round-trip transport as one of the most useful parts of the deal.

The large boat also helps explain the low price. You are sharing the yacht with a high number of people, not paying for private service. If you prefer personal attention and quiet, the price will not solve the basic mismatch in style.

For a party boat with lunch and several water stops, $29 is reasonable. I would check the drink wording, transfer inclusion, and pickup details before booking. Those small differences can change the value more than the headline price.

Who will enjoy the Starcraft most?

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a social day at sea with plenty of structure. It suits couples who like scenic stops and entertainment, groups of friends, and families with older children who can handle swimming from a boat and a lively onboard setting.

You will get the most from it if you pack lightly, wear your swimsuit under your clothes, and accept that the day is built around shared fun. The clean yacht, good facilities, and repeated swimming stops received the strongest praise, so those should be your priorities when deciding.

I would be cautious if you want a quiet sailing trip, a small group, a carefully balanced music selection, or a long visit inside the caves. The steep stairs, small drink cups, and strong Russian music presence may also bother some people.

The crew received praise for being friendly and helpful, and the pickup service was described as on time or early. That reliability matters when you are leaving from a resort and need to reach the harbour without stress.

What to pack for a smoother boat day

Bring comfortable shoes, swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and a camera. Those are not optional extras on this itinerary. You will spend time in direct sun and have several chances to swim.

Keep valuables to a minimum. The boat has changing cabins and rest areas, but the information does not promise personal lockers. A waterproof phone pouch is a sensible addition, particularly during the foam party and open-sea swimming stop.

Pets are not allowed. If you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility, this is not an appropriate choice because the experience includes steep stairs and access to swimming areas from the boat.

Should you book this Alanya boat trip?

Book it if you want a clean, large yacht, several swimming stops, lunch, and a proper party atmosphere for around $29. The combination of Alanya Castle views, sea caves, Cleopatra and Ulas beaches, onboard facilities, and foam-party entertainment gives you plenty for the price.

Skip it if you want peace, privacy, or a small traditional boat. Before paying, confirm whether your option includes hotel pickup and unlimited beer and wine. If those details match what you want, the Starcraft is a practical, high-energy way to spend a day along the Antalya coast.

FAQ

Where does the Starcraft boat trip take place?

The cruise departs from Starcraft Boat at Alanya Harbour and follows the coastline around Alanya, including Alanya Castle, Pirate Cave, Lovers Cave, Phosphorus Cave, Cleopatra Beach, and Ulas Beach.

How long does the boat trip last?

The activity lasts between five and eight hours, depending on the selected option and pickup arrangements. The boat cruise itself is listed as five hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

Round-trip hotel transfer is included only when you select an option that includes it. Pickup is available from several areas, including Alanya, Side, Çolaklı, Okurcalar, Konaklı, Mahmutlar, Avsallar, Ilıca, Kızılağaç, Kargıcak, and Payallar.

Are beer and wine included?

Unlimited beer and wine are included only with the package that specifically lists them. Other options include unlimited soft drinks, so check the selected package before booking.

What food is served onboard?

Lunch includes barbecue chicken, salad, pasta, seasonal fruit, and soft drinks.

Is the boat suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and the boat includes stairs between decks as well as swimming access from the yacht.