Choose a Snorkel or Sunset Cruises aboard the Jolly Pirates.

●●○○#7 of 83 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Oranjestad

Jolly Pirates Cruises

Name: Jolly Pirates Cruises
Rating: 4.7

★★★★½4.7 out of 5 · 3,813 reviews

water

outdoor

Photo: © Management via TripAdvisor

Jolly Pirates Cruises is a water activity in Aruba rated 4.7/5 by 3,813 TripAdvisor reviewers; from about $90 per person; lasts 4 hours.

About

Jolly Pirates runs a four-hour catamaran cruise out of Hadicurari, the fishing pier on the northwest coast near the high-rise hotels. The boat is ranked #7 among Oranjestad water sports for a reason: multiple snorkel stops, rope swings off the stern, and a crew that keeps the vibe relaxed without being forced. You'll hit at least two reef sites, and the water is shallow enough that kids can snorkel comfortably—this is the lowest-intensity water activity in the category. Morning departures include a full meal; afternoon trips are drinks only, so check the schedule when you book. At $90, it's positioned between De Palm Tours' beach club package with slides and banana boats and the pricier land-based jeep safaris. If you want open water over a beach club, and sailing over driving through Arikok, this is the call. Book direct through their site. Cash tip for the crew is standard.

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Boat Trips & Catamaran Cruises: compare the 3 ways to do it

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Snorkeling in Aruba: compare the 5 ways to do it

At a glance

Category: water
Duration: 4 hours
Price: $90
Minimum age: None
Intensity: ●●○○○
Setting: outdoor
Booking partner: direct
Product ID: —

How to decide

✓You want a water-based catamaran experience with swimming, snorkeling, and rope swings instead of land-based UTV or jeep tours
✓Your group includes young children and you need the lowest intensity level among water activities
✓Morning cruise with full meal service matters more than the slightly lower price of De Palm Tours
✓You prefer a dedicated sailing experience over beach club activities with water slides

You're booking the afternoon departure and want included meal service, not just drinks
You prefer the beach club amenities and water slides offered by De Palm Tours at $15 less
Your group wants land exploration through national parks like ABC Tours or Around Aruba Tours provide

Jolly Pirates offers a dedicated catamaran sailing experience with multiple snorkel stops at $90, positioning between De Palm Tours' $75 beach club activities and ABC Tours' $150 comprehensive land safaris. While De Palm Tours provides beach-based water fun with slides and banana boats, Jolly Pirates focuses on open-water snorkeling with attentive staff and rope swings, though meal inclusion depends on your chosen departure time.

Photos

Don't miss the boat or the online savings. Jolly Pirates Aruba

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Visiting in October?

You're visiting during shoulder season when crowds are moderate and construction is common at several resorts. Weather is warm and humid, with occasional rain showers, but beaches remain beautiful. October sees returning visitors enjoying quieter beaches and Eagle Beach's exceptional calm waters.

Based on 150 traveler reports

Travelers are asking…

Live questions from the community.

Visitors sought catamaran or sailing trips that pair snorkeling stops with open bar and sunset views
The short answer: Jolly Pirates is the standard—4.7 rating, $$ tier, four hours including snorkeling, open bar, and meal. Blue Melody & Black Pearl run similar itineraries with a 4.9 across 2,000+ reviews. Octopus is the shorter option at three hours. All depart from Palm Beach area; book ahead in high season.
- Jolly Pirates runs four-hour cruises with snorkeling, open bar, and BBQ from Hadicurari pier
- Blue Melody and Black Pearl Sailing offer combined sunset and snorkeling with strong reviews
- Octopus Sailing Charters provides three-hour trips with positive repeat experiences
Asked by 10 travelers this week

Recent Pulse

What travelers are saying.

Cooling

Low confidence

Travelers say the Jolly Pirates crew creates a party atmosphere with interactive shenanigans like double flips off the boat, keeping guests of all ages—including a 71-year-old repeat visitor—engaged and smiling throughout the four-hour sail. The combination of rope swings, drinks, and dancing delivers a relaxed but energetic vibe that leaves everyone in high spirits.

Standing out

Crew orchestrates interactive stunts like the double flip with shipmates, engaging all ages including seniors
2 mentions
“At 71, I still do the double flip with the crew every year”
Party atmosphere with dancing and drinking maintains energy across the full sail
3 mentions
“Two hours of nonstop drinking and dancing before rope jumps”
Every guest departs visibly happy, with universal smiles noted by repeat visitors
2 mentions
“Everyone walked off the boat grinning after the shenanigans”

Watch-outs

None surfaced.

Tips from travelers

Join the double flip stunt with crew members for the full experience
Expect a high-energy party vibe rather than a quiet scenic sail

More activities

OutdoorFrom $100© Management via TripAdvisor

Around Aruba Tours

Around Aruba Tours runs UTV excursions out of Noord, and the #1 ranking among outdoor activities in the area reflects thousands of trips without drama. This is a four-hour route through Arikok and the natural sites on the east side—caves, the Natural Bridge ruins, Alto Vista Chapel—straightforward land touring without the add-ons some operators bundle in. The price sits at $100, which puts it between the budget half-day trips and the seven-hour safaris that include natural pool swims and cruise port coordination. What you're paying for is reliable organization and the UTV format itself, which handles the dirt roads better than most rental cars and feels more hands-on than riding in a van. The 4.9 rating across 7,600-plus reviews suggests the operation runs consistently. If you want the longer day with natural pool access, ABC Tours offers that at a higher tier. If you just want the backcountry without committing to a full-day schedule, this is the middle option that works.

land

Exploring the hidden treasure only accessible on our tour.

ABC Tours Aruba

ABC Tours Aruba operates out of Oranjestad and has held the #3 spot among outdoor activities in the capital for a reason — it's a full-day commitment. The standard safari runs seven hours, which is longer than most competitors, and covers Arikok National Park, the natural pool, caves, and a handful of beaches in one loop. That scope explains the $150 price point, which is about double what shorter half-day land tours charge elsewhere on the island. The back-to-back Travelers Choice awards and the volume of reviews point to consistent execution, and the guides get mentioned often — not just for driving, but for pacing the day so it doesn't feel like a forced march. Families book this because the private routes skip the roughest terrain and can accommodate infants, which matters if you're trying to see the interior without bounce-testing a car seat. If you're on a cruise, ABC coordinates timing around port schedules. If you'd rather spend half the day at a beach club, this isn't that.

land

Palm Pleasure Sailing and Snorkeling trips

De Palm Tours

De Palm Tours runs a private beach club on the west coast near Oranjestad, and it's built around water activities — think slides, banana boats, snorkeling gear, and a roped-off swimming area. The #5 ranking among Oranjestad transportation reflects that this isn't just a shuttle service; most visitors book the half-day beach package that includes cabanas, towels, and food service. The back-to-back Travelers Choice awards suggest consistency, and the 4.8 rating across 26,000+ reviews backs that up. The setup skews family-friendly. Kids get underwater activities in shallow zones, parents get palapas with shade and beverage service. It's beach entertainment, not wilderness — no natural pools or cave hikes like the UTV tours that head into Arikok. Duration runs around four hours, which is enough for the slides and a meal without burning the whole day. Note that the flamingo interactions cost extra, and cabana rentals are mandatory with the package. If you want inland exploration, this isn't it. If you want a contained beach day with activities included, it does the job.

water

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Pairs well with

Around Aruba Tours

The Butterfly Farm

The Butterfly Farm sits just off the main Palm Beach hotel strip, a climate-controlled mesh enclosure where hundreds of tropical butterflies from Central and South America move through their full life cycle. It's ranked #3 among Oranjestad activities and has back-to-back Travelers' Choice awards, which makes sense once you're inside — the guides walk you through metamorphosis in real time, pointing out pupae about to hatch and explaining which species migrate thousands of miles in the wild. The space is small enough to cover in 30 minutes, but most people stay longer. Butterflies land on you if you wear bright colors or stay still near the feeding stations. It's one of the few indoor nature experiences on an island that's mostly beaches and desert, and it works for kids without talking down to adults. Your ticket is good for return visits during your stay, so some people come back early in the morning when the butterflies are most active.

Kukoo Kunuku

Kukoo Kunuku runs adults-only party bus tours out of Noord, hitting multiple bars across the island over about three hours. The #3 ranking among Noord's food and drink options reflects steady execution — it's not a club or a restaurant, just an efficient way to see a few nightlife spots without sorting transport yourself. The bus vibe is the whole point; if you're after a quieter tasting experience, this won't suit. Tours include drinks at each stop and the onboard atmosphere leans loud and social. Private bus bookings start around $750 if you're organizing a group event. The 2025 Travelers Choice signals consistent reviews, though some visitors note the bus itself is tight on space and drinks don't flow during transfers between venues. If you're spending an evening in Aruba and want structure plus a built-in crowd, this handles it. Just know it's evening entertainment, not a daytime adventure — the intensity rating reflects bar hopping, not hiking.

Beaches nearby

Palm Beach

Palm Beach runs along the high-rise hotel strip on the northwest coast, and the location is the whole selling point. You're steps from restaurants, bars, and nightlife — Bugaloé Pier alone has rentals, food, and drinks without leaving the sand. The beach ranks #7 among Palm–Eagle Beach attractions and pulls a Travelers Choice Best of the Best nod, so the crowds show up. That means limited towel space and a lively atmosphere that skews resort-entertainment rather than quiet escape. The tradeoff: water quality takes a hit from watersport boat traffic. Reviewers flag visible fuel and oil in the shallows, and the ocean floor can look murky. If snorkeling or pristine swimming matters, Baby Beach or Eagle Beach will serve you better. Palm Beach makes sense if you want convenience — walk off the sand to dinner, catch July 4th fireworks from the high-rises, or grab a cocktail without moving your car. The wind stays calmer here than on other parts of the island, which helps for floating but doesn't fix the boat residue.

Noord

Malmok Beach

Malmok Beach sits on the northern tip of the island past the high-rise strip, and most people drive right by it on the way to the California Lighthouse. The #6 ranking among Palm-Eagle Beach attractions comes entirely from what's underwater — this is a snorkeling beach, not a lounging beach. The rocky shelf drops into calm water where several small wrecks sit close to shore, and the fish density is noticeably higher than anything you'll see off Eagle or Palm Beach. The entry requires water shoes; the sand quality doesn't compete with Eagle Beach a few miles south. There are no chair rentals, no shade structures, no beach bar. You park on the shoulder, walk over the rocks, and swim out. If you're renting a car and you care more about seeing parrotfish and sergeant majors than having a perfect sand day, Malmok delivers something the resort beaches can't. Baby Beach on the southern end offers easier wading and comparable marine life if the rocky bottom here is a problem.

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.