If you want a boat party in Palma, Barca Samba is the option with the most experience: it bills itself as "original since 1995" and it is the only big boat with a DJ and dance floor sailing daily from the centre. It is not for anyone after a quiet cove or for an afternoon with children, and the bar is extra.
Score
- Price
- 4/5From €39.90 with food; drinks extra
- Transparency
- 3/5Different prices on its website, bar menu not published
- Cancellation
- 4/5Free up to 24 h before
- Boat
- 4/5Two decks, 4 toilets, awnings for rain
- Rules
- 4/5Age, fancy dress and stag/hen parties, explained in its FAQ
For
- Pizza or buffet and water included on every trip
- Sunset and night trips for over-18s only
- Central boarding, opposite the Auditòrium
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before
Against
- Drinks are paid separately and the bar menu is not published
- Sunset swim only from June to August
- No wheelchair access; steep stairs
- Quay affected by a tender that would exclude party boats
What Barca Samba offers
Barca Samba SL has its registered office in El Arenal, but boards in Palma, at the Muelle de las Golondrinas on the Paseo Marítimo (Av. Gabriel Roca), opposite the Auditòrium. It sells four trips:
| Trip | Times | Duration | Direct price | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahía de Palma Sail | 11:00, Thursday to Sunday | 3 h | from €39.90 | Families, with a swim stop |
| Sail Experience | 14:30 daily; also 10:00 Friday and Saturday | 4 h | varies by page on its website (see below) | Adults, buffet, DJ, 60-minute swim |
| Sunset | 19:00 to 22:00 | 3 h | from €49.90 | Over-18s only |
| Palma by Night | 22:30 to 01:30 | 3 h | from €39.90 | Over-18s only |
The 11:00 trip stops in a marine reserve area; you can hire a snorkel kit on board or bring your own. According to its own FAQ, the Sail Experience is aimed at adults aged 25 to 50 and is not recommended for children. The night trip runs on Fridays and Saturdays, and daily in summer.
The boat: capacity, dance floor and bar
The boat is 23.10 m by 7 m, with two 200 hp engines and a speed of 9 knots. It has two decks linked by steep stairs, an 18 m bar (other pages say 16 m), a 25 m² dance floor, 3 swim ladders, 4 toilets and rain awnings on every deck.
Capacity is up to 112 passengers according to its FAQ; the technical sheet says 115 places. With 112 people dancing, it is a full boat: if you want space, look at the alternatives below.
Barca Samba prices: direct and on booking platforms
What the ticket includes: homemade pizza or a buffet, depending on the trip, and water. The bar is extra, cash or card, and opens 15 minutes after departure until 15 minutes before the return. You cannot bring food or drink on board.
Barca Samba does not publish its bar prices. Some older reviews mention a free drink, and an old offer page from the company included one; the current listings do not. Budget for drinks separately.
Its website shows different figures for the same trip: when we checked, the Sail Experience was listed "from €69.90" on the tickets page, "from €59.90" on the home page and "from €44.92" in the booking engine. We don't know which applies to your date: check the final price at the payment step, not the headline.
Platforms such as GetYourGuide list sunset trips with music from Palma; they don't always say which company runs them. Barca Samba says its direct price and resellers' prices are the same, but warns that at short notice some websites may show places that are no longer available:
GetYourGuide3 - 4 hours
Leaves from Palma
Palma de Mallorca: Sunset Boat Tour and Music
4.4 (3,445)
from €44.91Check availability
GetYourGuide2 hours
Leaves from Palma
Palma: 2-Hour Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Appetizer & Canapés
4.8 (267)
from €99Check availability
GetYourGuide4.5 hours
Leaves from Palma
Mallorca: Premium Catamaran Sunset Trip with Food, Swim & VIP Area Option
4.6 (345)
from €76.50Check availability
See all on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 6 October 2026
Rules on board and the Muelle de las Golondrinas
What to know before you go, taken from its FAQ:
- Boarding opens 20 minutes before and closes 5 minutes before departure. Anyone who arrives late loses their ticket and their place goes to the waiting list.
- No fancy dress; stag and hen parties are asked to come without costumes.
- No pets, no luggage storage and no wheelchair access on the boat.
- The decision to sail in bad weather rests solely with the captain.
Parking near the quay is difficult and the company warns of roadworks in the area. Magic Catamarans, which boards at the same quay, recommends the Marquès de la Sènia pay car park. Better to take a taxi or walk from the centre.
Balearic law also bans boats with alcohol and music from picking up passengers in Magaluf, Playa de Palma or S'Arenal, or from coming within one nautical mile of those areas. Barca Samba boards in central Palma, outside them. We explain this in our guide to boat parties in Mallorca.
- 1Paseo Marítimo (Auditòrium)PierDirections ↗
- 2MagalufBeachDirections ↗
- 3Playa de PalmaBeachDirections ↗
- 4Club Nàutic S'ArenalPierDirections ↗
What travellers say
According to its own website, Barca Samba has a rating of 4.9 from 6,904 reviews (on the home page) and 4.4 out of 5 from 315 reviews on Tripadvisor (widget on its tickets page). These are figures the company displays, not checked by us, so treat them as a rough guide. The gap between the two is a good reason to read recent reviews on Tripadvisor or Google before you book.
How to book and cancel
You book on barcasamba.com or on platforms. Cancellation is free up to 24 h before. If you are booking on the day or the day before, book direct, as the company itself recommends: that is where availability is up to date.
How to book Barca Samba without surprises
- Choose your trip: 11:00 with children; sunset or night only if everyone is 18 or over.
- Check the final price at payment, not the "from" price.
- Bring money for the bar: the ticket only includes food and water.
- Get to the Muelle de las Golondrinas at least 20 minutes early: boarding closes 5 minutes before departure.
Alternatives to Barca Samba
- Cheap sunset with children: the Sunset trip on Magic Catamarans, 90 minutes for €20 with a drink.
- Quieter adults-only sunset: the Oasis catamarans, €78 to €82.
- Catamaran with DJ and buffet: Attraction Catamarans, €85, with a swim at Cala Blava.
- Every trip compared in sunset cruise in Palma and in the boat trip comparison.
How much does Barca Samba cost?
From €49.90 for the sunset trip and from €39.90 for the night trip or the 11:00 day trip. Pizza or buffet and water are included; drinks are extra.
Where does Barca Samba leave from in Palma?
From the Muelle de las Golondrinas on the Paseo Marítimo (Av. Gabriel Roca), opposite the Auditòrium. Boarding closes 5 minutes before departure.
Can under-18s go on Barca Samba?
Not at sunset or at night: those trips are for over-18s only. The 11:00 trip, Thursday to Sunday, is suitable for families.
How many people fit on Barca Samba?
Up to 112 passengers according to the company; its technical sheet says 115 places.
Are drinks included on Barca Samba?
Only water, with the pizza or buffet. The bar is extra, cash or card, and you cannot bring drinks on board.
Can you swim on the sunset boat?
Only from June to August, with a 45 to 60-minute stop. The rest of the season it is a cruise with a DJ and no swim.
