Ibiza Boat Club – Where beach club and boat trip have a rendezvous

Shortly after I finish the interview with Luisa Huegen, known to everyone as Lu, my phone rings again. Marcel Spitzer, founder and owner of Ibiza Boat Club – and thus Lu’s boss – is on the line and exclaims, “The interview won’t do!”

I freeze, wondering what was so wrong with the questions. Spitzer continues, “Lu completely undersold herself and barely mentioned her work. She is so much more: She is my personal number one privately, and the face and soul of Ibiza Boat Club. Without her, we wouldn’t be where we are now. I owe her a lot.”

His words touch me and also reflect the spirit that has made the company so successful. They certainly are one of the reasons why thousands of tourists book Marcel and Lu’s exclusive, floating beach club experience every year. Ibiza Boat Club is perfect for experiencing the beauty of Formentera, but also for partying, meeting interesting people, listening to live music and DJs, and having a fantastic day at sea.

What started over ten years ago as a successful party boat project has, together with Marcel, matured and expanded over the past decade. Even though his floating After Sun parties are still amongst the most popular on the island, exclusive day trips to Formentera have become increasingly important to him and his guests.

“Sharing the beauty of the sea, and the striking nature on Formentera with as many people as possible is a mission close to our hearts,” beams Lu. “We completely redesigned the boat and transformed it into a floating luxury beach club. There’s nothing left to be desired. The lower interior deck, the sun deck, and even the smallest corners have been renovated with great attention to detail and to reflect the Ibizan style.”

Both Marcel and Lu place great importance on environmental protection. “Cutlery, glasses, plates – everything you find on our boats is recyclable or plastic-free. We owe that to Ibiza. We have long had other environmental projects in mind that will be implemented in the coming years.”

To be respectful of Mother Nature, no music is played while the boats are within the protected nature reserve so participants of the “Formentera with Benefits” tour can enjoy their exclusive event even more.

Departing under the shining morning sun, the tour always sets off from Playa d’en Bossa. On the catamaran, which resembles more of a yacht, freshly brewed coffee and traditional Spanish pastries such as Greixonera or Ensaimadas are served. Those who wish to toast the occasion with a special tipple can also enjoy a delicious Sangria.

Comfortably settled on sunbeds and lounge furniture, you sail along the coast of UNESCO World Heritage Site and nature reserve Ses Salinas towards Formentera. This particular tour only accommodates a handful of guests, meaning there is plenty of space and privacy – but also enough friendly fellow passengers from all over the world to share the fun with. Once in Formentera, guests have a few hours of free time to enjoy as they please: whether that’s lazing on the beach, biking across Formentera or visiting the hippie market…

Towards the evening begins the most atmospheric part of the tour. Resident DJs Beon (Flavio Schiavone) and Waveshape (Joseph Creatura) provide ambient sounds to create a magical experience.

The all-inclusive service leaves nothing to be desired: Sparkling Bellinis, classic Sangria de Vino Tinto, fruity Sangria de Cava, and ice-cold beer are included throughout the boat tour. Between the super yachts at Playa Illetes, there is ample opportunity to swim. The show cooking on the catamaran is mouth-watering just to look at. Served is the famous Spanish dish, Paella. Here, too, Lu and Marcel have thought of everything: there is the classic version with seafood as well as a vegan and gluten-free alternative – contemporary and customer-oriented.

For an elegant wine pairing, the hosts focus on Spanish and explicitly Balearic grapes. Ibiza in a glass – simply wonderful!

The sunset is enjoyed at Cap d’es Falco – after all these years, it’s always a special Ibiza moment with goosebumps guaranteed for the friendly crew. To finish this incredible day in style, the traditional Café Caleta is flambéed, and by now everyone agrees: this will not be the last trip with the Ibiza Boat Club. The boats can also be booked for private events, such as birthdays or weddings.

Those keen to experience it for themselves will have to wait a little bit. Marcel and Lu use the winter season not only to bring the boats up to date, renovate and restyle them, but also to hit the reset button themselves.

The friendly couple loves Thailand, but have not yet decided on a trip for this year as Ibiza remains their favourite island. You often meet Lu and Marcel at Sa Trinxa on Salinas beach, one of their favourite places to relax. “The vibe is simply magical, unmistakable, genuine, hippie, free, unique, and familiar,” Lu enthuses. “There, you can just be who you want to be and do what you want to do. Everyone is simply themselves there. No VIP. No fuss.“

And it is precisely this Ibiza authenticity that characterises the team of the Ibiza Boat Club – here, everyone receives a warm welcome and can enjoy a piece of Ibiza, a piece of freedom!