Side Boat Tours with Lunch: What's Included on Board

If you have ever stood on the deck of a wooden boat as it eases out of Side Harbour, you will know that hunger arrives somewhere around the second swim stop. The sun, the salt water and a couple of hours of doing absolutely nothing have a way of sharpening the appetite. That is exactly why almost every full-day trip along this stretch of the Turkish Riviera comes with lunch built into the price - it is not a luxury add-on, it is part of the rhythm of the day. The boat drops anchor in a sheltered bay, the smell of grilling chicken drifts up from the galley, and the whole party gathers on deck with a plate in hand. It is, for many people, the part of the trip they remember most fondly.

But "lunch included" means very different things depending on which boat you book. A shared pirate cruise feeds eighty people from a buffet line; a private charter fires up a proper BBQ for your group of ten. This guide is about exactly that: what actually lands on your plate, what is and is not covered by the ticket price, what costs extra, and how to read a tour listing so the meal lives up to the photos. I have eaten my way through a good number of these boats over the seasons, and the differences are real - so let us get into the detail.

Why almost every Side boat tour includes lunch

The standard full-day boat trip out of Side runs roughly six to eight hours, and a half-day trip three to four. Once you are out at the swim stops near Dolphin Island or anchored in a quiet bay, there is nowhere to nip ashore for a sandwich. Including a meal solves an obvious logistical problem, and it also keeps everyone aboard and relaxed rather than clock-watching. For families especially, knowing the kids will be fed without a fuss is half the reason these tours sell so well.

Watching for wild dolphins on the Manavgat delta cruise.

There is a practical pricing logic too. Shared and group boat trips here start from around EUR 20-25 per person, and at that price an onboard lunch is genuinely good value - cooking for a full boat in bulk is far cheaper than feeding the same crowd at a harbour restaurant. The meal is baked into the ticket, with no hidden costs, which is one of the things that makes a day on the water such an easy sell to first-timers.

Good to know: The phrase "lunch included" on a shared tour almost always means a hot main meal served buffet-style or plated mid-trip. It does NOT usually include drinks - water, soft drinks, tea and alcohol are typically sold from the onboard bar. Budget a few extra euros per person for these.

On the classic shared cruises - the pirate boats and the larger group vessels that make up most of the fleet - lunch is a generous, no-frills affair designed to feed a big, mixed crowd of nationalities and ages. Expect a hot main built around grilled chicken or a simple meat-and-rice or pasta dish, served with bread and a fresh salad. It is honest, filling holiday food rather than fine dining, and that is exactly the point.

Aboard the Side Pirates galleon — foam parties and treasure hunts.

The typical shared-boat spread

A hot main: usually grilled or roasted chicken, sometimes a meat dish with rice or pasta.
Bread and a fresh tomato-and-cucumber salad.
Occasionally a simple side such as fries or seasonal vegetables.
Seasonal fruit or a small dessert on some boats.

Portions are designed for a full boat, so nobody goes hungry, but the choice is limited - you eat what the galley has cooked that day. If you have specific tastes, this is the trade-off you accept for the low price point. The food is served once, usually after the first or second swim stop, when appetites are at their peak.

This is where the meal changes character entirely. Private boat rental in Side starts from around EUR 45 per person, and when you charter the whole boat the lunch upgrades to a proper BBQ cooked fresh for your group alone. Instead of a buffet line shared with strangers, the crew grills to order while you swim, and you eat when you are ready rather than on the boat's schedule.

A typical private BBQ lunch includes grilled chicken and often other grilled meats, served with salads, bread, rice or bulgur, and seasonal fruit. Crucially, private charters usually bundle in soft drinks - so the "drinks extra" rule of the shared boats does not bite in the same way. Snorkelling gear is included too, which means you can hop straight from the table into the water. If you want to understand the wider gap between the two formats, my breakdown of private versus group boat trips in Side covers it in full.

Shared lunch vs private BBQ: a side-by-side comparison

The fastest way to see what your money buys is to put the two formats next to each other. The table below assumes a standard full-day trip in season.

Feature	Shared group tour	Private charter
Starting price	EUR 20-25 per person	From EUR 45 per person
Lunch style	Buffet / plated, served once	Fresh BBQ, cooked to order
Main dish	Grilled chicken / meat with rice or pasta	Grilled chicken and assorted grilled meats
Soft drinks	Usually extra (onboard bar)	Usually included
Alcohol	Extra, from the bar	Often BYO or arranged on request
Eat on your schedule?	No - set serving time	Yes
Special diets	Limited	Can be arranged in advance

For luxury yacht charter, lunch is fully bespoke. A whole-boat yacht starts from around EUR 600 and the catering is tailored to your party, so the menu becomes a conversation rather than a fixed list. If that is the level you are after, the luxury yacht charter guide walks through what to expect.

River tours vs sea tours: does lunch differ?

Side has two distinct departure scenes, and the dining experience shifts slightly between them. Sea tours leave from Side Harbour and head out toward Dolphin Island and the Temple of Apollo for open-sea swimming, with lunch served at anchor in a sheltered bay. River cruises set off down the Manavgat River to the two-waters delta, where the river meets the sea, and often pause at the Grand Bazaar.

On the river route, the calm water makes for a very steady, comfortable lunch - no swell, no rocking plates - which is part of why families and anyone prone to seasickness lean toward it. The menu itself is broadly the same hot-main-plus-salad formula. The bigger decision is really the setting, and my comparison of Side Harbour versus the Manavgat River lays out which suits you.

Good to know: River boat tours sail downstream to the delta and the sea - they do NOT go up to the Manavgat Waterfall, which is a separate land attraction upstream. Do not book a "river cruise with lunch" expecting to dock at the falls; that is a different excursion entirely.

What lunch does NOT cover - and the extras worth knowing

The single most common surprise is drinks. On shared tours your meal is included but your beer, soda or bottled water usually is not - the onboard bar runs as a separate tab. Prices are reasonable, but they add up over a full day in the sun, so carry some cash. A few other things to keep in mind:

Drinks: Extra on most shared boats; usually included on private charters.
Tips: Not compulsory, but the crew works hard over the grill and a small tip is appreciated.
Snacks between meals: Lunch is one sitting; bring a few of your own snacks if you graze.
Transfers: Most shared tours already include round-trip hotel transfer from Side, Kumkoy, Sorgun, Colakli and Manavgat (Belek and Antalya on request) - this is part of the package, not an extra.

For a full pre-departure checklist, see what to bring on a Side boat tour, linked at the end. And if you want the broader cost picture across every tour type, the dedicated Side boat tour prices guide breaks down exactly where your money goes.

Dietary needs, kids and special requests

Turkish boat catering is naturally fairly accommodating - grilled chicken, salad, rice and fruit are easy for most eaters, and pork is essentially never on the menu. That said, the shared-boat kitchen cooks one meal for everyone, so vegetarians can usually fill up on salad, bread, rice and vegetables but should not expect a dedicated vegetarian main. Vegan, gluten-free or allergy-specific needs are difficult to guarantee on a packed shared cruise.

This is where private charters genuinely shine. Because the crew is cooking for your group alone, you can flag dietary requirements when you book and have them planned into the BBQ. Children are easy everywhere - the chicken-and-rice base is a reliable kid-pleaser, child life jackets are standard, and kids are usually discounted on the ticket price. Families weighing their options will find the best family boat tours guide helpful.

Who a lunch-included tour is perfect for

Families who do not want to organise a separate meal stop.
First-timers who want a fuss-free, all-in day on the water.
Anyone on a budget - the included meal makes a EUR 20-25 ticket exceptional value.

Who might want to upgrade or skip the buffet

Foodies and anyone with specific dietary needs - choose a private BBQ instead.
Couples after a quiet, romantic meal - look at a private or sunset charter.
Anyone wanting to eat on their own schedule rather than the boat's.

How to make sure your boat lunch is actually good

Listings can be vague, so a little reading between the lines pays off. First, check whether the description says "lunch included" and confirm whether drinks are separate - if it only says "BBQ" with no mention of food, ask. Second, match the format to your appetite: if a generous-but-basic buffet is fine, a shared tour is unbeatable value; if you care about the meal, book private. Third, look at the timing - a full-day trip gives the galley time to do a proper hot lunch, whereas some short half-day cruises serve only light snacks.

Mornings are the calmest time on the water and the best window for spotting wild dolphins and the occasional loggerhead turtle - though neither is ever guaranteed - so an early start often means a smoother, more pleasant lunch at anchor too. If you are still deciding which trip to take overall, start with the ultimate guide to boat trips in Side, which ties all of this together.

Hungry for a day on the water?

Browse the group boat trips that include hotel transfer and a hot onboard lunch - the easiest, best-value day out in Side.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is lunch always included on Side boat tours?

On full-day shared and private tours, lunch is almost always included in the price. Shorter half-day cruises sometimes serve only light snacks, so always check the specific listing before booking.

What food is served on a shared boat tour?

Typically a hot main of grilled chicken or a meat dish with rice or pasta, plus bread and a fresh salad, served buffet-style or plated once during the trip.

Are drinks included with the lunch?

On shared tours, usually not - water, soft drinks, tea and alcohol are sold separately from the onboard bar. Private charters typically include soft drinks in the price.

What is the difference between the shared lunch and a private BBQ?

The shared lunch is cooked in bulk and served once to the whole boat. A private BBQ is grilled fresh for your group alone, with more variety and the freedom to eat when you like.

Can vegetarians be catered for?

On shared boats vegetarians can fill up on salad, bread, rice and vegetables, but there is rarely a dedicated vegetarian main. On a private charter you can request a vegetarian menu in advance.

Is the food suitable for children?

Yes. The grilled-chicken-and-rice base is reliably kid-friendly, and children are usually discounted on the ticket price. Child-size life jackets are standard on board.

How much does a boat tour with lunch cost?

Shared group trips start from around EUR 20-25 per person with lunch included. Private charters start from about EUR 45 per person, and a whole luxury yacht from around EUR 600.

When is lunch served during the trip?

Usually after the first or second swim stop, when appetites peak. On private charters the crew cooks to order, so you eat on your own schedule rather than a fixed time.

Do river tours include lunch too?

Yes. Manavgat River cruises serve the same hot-main-plus-salad style meal, and the calm river water makes for a particularly steady, comfortable lunch.

Can the boat handle allergies or special diets?

Shared boats cook one meal for everyone, so specific allergies or diets are hard to guarantee. A private charter can plan around your requirements if you flag them when booking.

No. Pork is essentially never served on Turkish boat tours. Mains are built around chicken and other grilled meats, with salads, bread and rice.

Should I bring my own snacks?

Lunch is a single sitting, so if you like to graze through the day, pack a few snacks of your own. Bottled water from the bar is wise in the heat.

Is the lunch good quality?

On shared boats it is honest, filling holiday food rather than gourmet dining - great value for the price. For a higher-quality, made-to-order meal, choose a private BBQ charter.

Do I need to tip the crew for lunch?

Tipping is not compulsory, but the crew works hard at the grill and a small tip is genuinely appreciated.

Are hotel transfers included with a lunch tour?

Most shared tours include round-trip hotel transfer from Side, Kumkoy, Sorgun, Colakli and Manavgat, with Belek and Antalya available on request - all part of the package.

The bottom line

A Side boat tour with lunch is one of the great-value days out on the Turkish Riviera: a hot meal, a transfer, a few swim stops and a chance to spot dolphins, all wrapped into one ticket. Choose a shared cruise for unbeatable value and a generous buffet, or step up to a private charter for a fresh BBQ, included soft drinks and the freedom to eat on your own terms. Whichever you pick, read the listing, budget a little extra for drinks on the shared boats, and you will come home full, salty and very happy.

Side Boat Tours with Lunch: What's on the Menu and What's Included