Aruba

Private Aruba Catamaran with Snorkeling and Refreshments

Badge of ExcellenceAruba

From $1,800.00

per group (up to 15)

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

2 to 3 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Go on a customizable private sailing tour with a captain. Choose your route and relax as the crew sail your ship. Receive personalized attention from the crew. Enjoy freshly-prepared food and unlimited drinks. Take time to swim in the sea and make use of provided snorkel equipment to explore underwater.

Eat freshly-prepared food
Customize your itinerary
Go swimming and snorkeling with provided equipment
Enjoy access to an unlimited open bar

What's Included

Captain and crew
Unlimited drinks (open cocktail bar)
Access to restroom on-board
Use of snorkel equipment and instruction
Safety Life Jackets
Certified first responder
Breakfast or lunch with champagne
Octopus souvenir

Octopus T-Shirt (available to purchase)
Power snorkel

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

Octopus Aruba Sailing, Snorkeling, Sunset & Private Tours
J.E. Irausquin Blvd 87, suitenummer 227, Palm Beach, Aruba, Noord, Aruba
Your tour departs from the Octopus Aruba beach hut, unless a pickup location is selected. Our beach hut is located on Palm Beach behind the Holiday Inn. Once you reach the Holiday Inn Hotel, walk through the lobby towards the beach. Make a left on the footpath and you will see us on your right.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.

Opening hours

Select your preferred tour option to see hours.

View tour option

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

We offer pick-up service free of charge from all High Rise Hotels which are listed. For groups 15+ staying outside of this hotel area we offer pick-up and drop-off service with our Karaoke Bus for $5 per person round trip.

What To Expect

Palm Beach (Pass By)

The Antilla

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Boca Cataavlina

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Arashi Beach (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 3 hours of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Please bring a towel and suncream
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Children are welcome and infants under two cruise free

Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
We offer free pick-up for all hotels listed (high rise hotels), if your hotel is not listed, we offer pick-up and drop-off service for $5 per person round trip.
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
Depending on which private sailing trip you will book, breakfast and/or lunch appetizers will be included
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

maurar_v

This experience was breathtaking. Just book it! Just do it. Geo and Richard were the best, made the whole experience unforgettable. We had so much fun drinking, vibing to good music and just great vibes all around. We had an amazing time. The sunset completed my birthday weekend, it was so beautiful!

Reviews

4.5

145 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 145 reviews

Not Refunded

Latoya_H, Apr 2024

I would not recommend booking with this company. They canceled on me twice due to the water not being good enough to travel on. I totally understand the cancelation. They refunded me for the first booking immediately. I'm still waiting for my second refund. I've talked to a lady several times and she keeps telling me that the finance department will issue my refund. It's been two months and no refund yet.

Terrible experience! Don't book with them!!

Julie_C, Feb 2024

This company did not come through on their end. We scheduled a private tour while in Aruba. They left us waiting 1 hour in the sun and once they showed up they did not give us any other options. I was especially upset because my 81 year old mother got over heated and we couldn't go out any longer. They would not even offer any refund for being an hour late after I confirmed with them all morning. It was a disgrace how they treated me afterward. Do not use them!!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Dear Julie, Thank you for sharing your experience, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you faced during your private tour with us. We acknowledge that the catamaran returned slightly later than scheduled due to an unforeseen issue with a stuck anchor. While such occurrences are rare, we understand the frustration they can cause. Upon reviewing the situation discussed during our meeting, it appears there was a delay of precisely 24 minutes, for which we extend our apologies. Typically, in such cases, we strive to ensure our guests receive their full allotted time. Should guests prefer not to proceed due to a delay, which is rare, we offer a refund for the lost time. It's important to note that, in this instance, you chose not to proceed with the tour. Despite the delay, the full time was made available to you, and had you chosen not to proceed, a refund for the lost time would have been provided. When circumstances result in a delay, we aim to accommodate our guests appropriately. As the entire catamaran was reserved exclusively for your group, a full refund is not feasible, similar to airline policies for delayed departures. We genuinely regret any distress caused to you and your party, particularly to your elderly mother. Please know that your feedback is valuable, and we will use it to improve our services. We hope for your understanding and remain committed to providing exceptional experiences in the future. Warm regards, Team Octopus

Breathtaking!

maurar_v, Feb 2024

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Hi, Thank you for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that your experience with us was breathtaking and unforgettable. Gio and Richard will be delighted to know that they made your time with us so special. It's fantastic to hear that you had fun, enjoyed good music, and soaked up the great vibes onboard. We're honored to have been a part of your birthday weekend, and we're thrilled that the sunset added an extra touch of beauty to your celebration. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for more memorable experiences in the future! Team Octopus Aruba

Excellent

Timothy_P, Jan 2024

Crew was amazing. Very fun experience and the drinks were amazing. Snorkeling was great and the fish were beautiful.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Thank you for the excellent review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing experience with our crew. It's fantastic that you enjoyed the fun atmosphere and the amazing drinks. We're glad the snorkeling was great, and you got to witness the beauty of the fish. Your positive feedback motivates us to continue providing exceptional experiences. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for more fantastic moments on the water!

Captain Gio and Juan do better

aderonke_s, Dec 2023

This was a terrible experience for my family. it was supposed to be a highlight for us but how we were treated made it terrible. I had booked this tour because their reviews indicate that they were friendly and were willing to help those who were new to snorkeling. This crew did not care about us. Captain Gio; Juan and the lady did absolutely nothing to ensure we were able to snorkel. I reiterated to them that we were not strong swimmers and needed help and none of us had snorkeled before. Even the basics of putting the snorkel on was not explained to us. To make matters worse they were 10 minutes late to pick us up and 15 minutes early at drop off. In short they acted like they were doing us a favor the entire and they didn’t want to be there. We had also wanted 3 stops but only did 2 as usual they were in such a hurry to just be done.

Aruba sail

Janet_K, Nov 2023

We loved the “private” experience Crew was very attentive to everyone’s needs Only disappointment was the lunch Sandwiches were not good with very little meat inside 2 family members of 6 fed to the fish For what we paid we were expecting more

Amazing sunset catamaran cruise!

Jennifer_L, Oct 2023

The staff was absolutely amazing! So kind, went above and beyond to make our experience memorable. Beyond my expectations! Thank you so much for making my bachelorette trip stunning!

50th Birthday 🥳 Celebration 🎉

Damian_W, Oct 2023

One of the highlights of our trip, celebrating my Wife’s 50th Birthday 🥳! Team was great and very accommodating to our party of 16 👌🏽 Best Sunset fir great pics too!

Birthday catamaran experience

Robyn_O, Aug 2023

This catamaran was absolutely wonderful. The two guys on board were great, very friendly and approachable. I was in Aruba for my birthday. Several of my friends came to celebrate with me. This was a surprise and they absolutely loved it. The food was pretty good. They started right away with the drinks, mimosas and then on to the harder stuff. The snorkeling spots were nice. The cure helped my then boyfriend with the perfect spot to propose to me. We all where excited and happy. My friends and I drink tequila and they did run out of it. That was the only downside to the whole experience. I would do it again.

Excellent private Boat experience

Torren_G, Jun 2023

Geo and Sandra were amazing, could not have asked for better captain and first mate!!! They were kind, efficient and made us feel like we owned the boat

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hi Torren, Thank you for your excellent review! We're delighted to hear that you had an amazing private boat experience with Capt Geo and First Mate Sandra. Their exceptional service and dedication to ensuring your satisfaction are truly commendable. We're thrilled to know that they made you feel like you owned the boat, creating a welcoming and personalized atmosphere throughout your journey. Their kindness and efficiency are traits that we value in our team, and we're glad that they exceeded your expectations. Thank you for choosing us for your boat experience, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future for another exceptional adventure on the water. Our sincere thanks to Capt Geo and First Mate Sandra for their outstanding hospitality! Greetings Team Octopus Aruba

Fantastic

Joanna_B, Jun 2023

This excursion was absolutely amazing! From start taking a taxi from the port to finding Jose to check-in. His magic tricks were something else! :) Our crew Gio, Demi, and Sandra were absolutely awesome catering to us with drinks, snack, etc! We had so much fun and really enjoyed the small group feel! This is definitely a 10 out of 10!!! :)

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Thank you so much for your amazing review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an absolutely amazing time on our excursion. From the moment you arrived, our team made sure you had a fantastic experience. We're glad you enjoyed Jose's magic tricks and that our crew members Gio, Demi, and Sandra provided excellent service, catering to your needs with drinks and snacks. Creating a small group atmosphere where everyone can have fun and feel special is something we strive for. Receiving a 10 out of 10 from you means the world to us! We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another unforgettable adventure soon! Greetings Team Octopus

Avoid if on Cruise ship

Colleen_D, Mar 2023

If arriving by cruise ship, AVOID! We had booked this excursion, but our cruise ship changed times in port on the way to Aruba. The company refused to believe that the cruise ship changed docking times, I reached out 20 hours prior to the tour to see what options we had and they were unwilling to make an accommodations, as they refused to believe the cruise ship arrival time changed. Even pulling into the dock, 1.5 hours after planned, they suggested we just go late… yes, of course they wanted to make $1800 for less than an hour of work. Viator, said they reached out to the company, but was just to get me off chat, they said they couldn’t get a hold of the company, then I get an email that tells me I am within penalty time, and nothing can be done 2 minutes later. Terrible service all around.

Book it!

Maryam_A, Feb 2023

Gina and our captain were AMAZING! Friendly and above and beyond service. They were both professional and yet felt like friends.

DO IT! Don’t think just get on the boat.

Sara_S, Feb 2023

This boat was so much fun. The captain is amazing! The open bar was great! We ate before and after the boat so we didn’t have much space for the finger food. The sunset was breathtaking. We brought fruits on board and had a great time feeding the birds on the ocean. I would do this every single day if I could.

Amazing experience...great crew, delicious food, and fantastic with food allergies

Sylvia_I, Dec 2022

This was the first time we've ever done something like this...a private catamaran! For those who aren't sure if the price is worth it...it's definitely worth the money, especially if you have family members who don't like crowds. We were picked up on the beach front of our hotel in a small shuttle boat and taken to the catamaran. Everything about this experience including the food, drinks, music, and atmosphere was fantastic. The crew - Manual, Sandra, and Jafros (captain) were friendly and constantly serving us drinks and food. We did the morning slot so we weren't drinking too much, and Sandra did a great job with toning down the drinks for us upon request. My oldest has a lot of food allergies and the crew did a fantastic job of making alternative foods and snacks or him. He loved that Octopus Aruba cared enough to find GF, DF, egg-free, nut-free, and shellfish free food and snacks. We did two snorkel stops and the first one was the best. My youngest found over 15 turtles! The two add-ons that we selected was the cream cake and drone. The cream cake was DELICIOUS! Haven't looked through the drone pics and video yet, but was just sent the link about a week and a half later. Look forward to watching it. We loved this experience so much that we tried to book another private catamaran for the last day of our trip...but they were completely booked. If you're even considering a private catamaran, definitely choose Octopus Aruba. This was a highlight of our vacation!

Response from Host, Mar 2023

How wonderful of you to take the time to write us such a detailed review! We do all we can to make you as comfortable and safe as possible at the same time, so we're delighted to hear that the food options were to your satisfaction, and according to the dietary restrictions we received from you. And it's fantastic to even spot one turtle, but to count as many as 15! that is a unique experience indeed. I'm glad our staff made this experience so great for you. We are looking forward to your next visit, as we are sure we will give you another wonderful experience and some lasting memories that you can look at when you're home again! Thanks for your kind words, we appreciate it so much and it motivates us to keep doing what we do best :)

Thumbs Down

Tameika_C, Aug 2022

I will never book with them again. Everything about the experience was horrible. The boat, the drinks and the food. Nothing we expected and the boat was definitely not the boat we paid for.

Good

Trent_M, Jul 2021

Trip was great. The captain was extremely knowledgeable and cared about the safety of his guests. All was great until the mate decided to drop our party off on the boat pier instead of the beach. One member of our party was injured. It was too windy and not safe. Number 1 priority should be our safety. Period.

Great trip

Jeanne_D, Mar 2020

Wonderful trip! Great day in the sun. Enjoyed the tour guides and the entire experience. Would definitely repeat.

Horizon ❣️❣️

J_P, Nov 2022

We hebben enorm genoten van de cocktails 🍹, de lekkere hapjes , het uitzicht maar vooral de warme gastvrijheid van de bemanning . Het voldeed volledig aan onze verwachting. Zeker een aanrader!!