Octopus Afternoon Catamaran, Lunch

Premium Catamaran Afternoon Sail: Snorkeling and Lunch

★ 4.7 657 reviews

from $74.99 per person

Opens the live booking listing with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.

Duration: 3 hours
Meeting point: Octopus Aruba beach hut, Palm Beach
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Meal: Included
Run by: Octopus Aruba

Overview

This three-hour afternoon sail from Octopus Aruba combines two in-water snorkel stops with an open bar and lunch on board. Check-in happens at 12:30 PM at the company's beach hut on Palm Beach, behind the Holiday Inn, and the catamaran departs at 1:00 PM. A shuttle boat carries guests from the beach out to the catamaran, a short ride across water the listing describes as lake-calm for most of the year.

The first stop is Malmok Reef, with about 45 minutes in the water, followed by roughly the same amount of time at a second site listed with Adventure Sports Aruba. Several reviewers describe one of the stops as a shipwreck in deeper, choppier water and the other as calmer. Use of snorkel equipment and instruction are included, safety life jackets are provided, and a certified first responder sails with the group.

Lunch, an open cocktail bar and a souvenir are included, and the boat carries a maximum of 34 travellers. Children are welcome and infants under two cruise free. It suits swimmers and hesitant snorkelers alike; multiple reviewers said crew members spent extra time helping nervous guests into the water. It is not wheelchair accessible, and hotel pickup is not included.

What's Included

Included

Captain and crew
Professional guide
Lunch
Unlimited drinks (open cocktail bar)
Access to restroom on-board
Use of snorkel equipment and instruction
Safety life jackets
Certified first responder
Octopus souvenir

Not Included

Souvenir t-shirt (available to purchase)
Power snorkel

Itinerary

Check in at Palm BeachArrive at the Octopus Aruba beach hut on Palm Beach behind the Holiday Inn by 12:30 PM. Boarding begins at 12:45 PM.
Shuttle to the catamaranA shuttle boat carries up to 15 guests at a time on a short 30-meter ride out to the catamaran.
Sail at 1:00 PMThe catamaran departs at 1:00 PM for the snorkel sites along Aruba's coast.
Malmok ReefAround 45 minutes of snorkeling at Malmok Reef, with admission included and gear provided. Reviewers describe this as the choppier of the two stops, near the shipwreck.
Adventure Sports Aruba siteA second 45-minute stop, with admission included. Several travellers said the water here is calmer, with more fish and sea turtles.
Return to Palm BeachThe tour ends back at the beach hut where it began, after roughly three hours on the water.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points help set expectations before booking this trip.

Getting there. Hotel pickup is not included, so travellers make their own way to the beach hut behind the Holiday Inn on Palm Beach. The listing gives walking directions through the hotel lobby to the beach footpath, and reviewers say the meeting spot is easy to find.
Bring and wear. The listing recommends a towel and sunscreen. Swimwear is the obvious choice, since both stops involve getting into the sea.
Water conditions. Life jackets are provided for anyone who wants one.
Food and drink. Lunch and an unlimited open cocktail bar are included, and reviewers repeatedly praise both. A souvenir t-shirt and power snorkel are optional purchases.
Group feel. The catamaran carries a maximum of 34 travellers. Reviewers frequently mention attentive crew who keep food and drinks coming throughout the trip.
Nervous snorkelers. Multiple reviewers described crew members patiently helping hesitant swimmers into the water. Non-swimmers on board also reported being entertained and well fed.

Common issues. The tour requires a minimum number of travellers and good weather, and in either case the operator offers a different date or a full refund rather than the original sailing. Booking changes are not accepted within 24 hours of departure. The boat is not wheelchair accessible, and hotel pickup is not included, so travellers must arrange their own transport to Palm Beach.

Common Questions

Are Lunch And Drinks Included?

Yes, lunch and an unlimited open cocktail bar are included, and reviewers praise both. A souvenir t-shirt and power snorkel can be purchased separately.

Where Does The Tour Start And Is Hotel Pickup Included?

Hotel pickup is not included. Check-in is at 12:30 PM at the Octopus Aruba beach hut on Palm Beach behind the Holiday Inn; walk through the hotel lobby to the beach, turn left on the footpath, and the hut is on the right. Boarding is at 12:45 PM and departure at 1:00 PM.

What Snorkel Equipment Is Provided?

The listing includes use of snorkel equipment and instruction, plus safety life jackets. No specialized gear of your own is required for the tour.

Is The Tour Suitable For Children?

Children are welcome and infants under two cruise free. The listing says most travellers can participate, though the minimum drinking age for the open bar is 18 years.

Is It Accessible For Limited Mobility?

No, the tour is not wheelchair accessible. Guests reach the catamaran via a shuttle boat ride of about 30 meters from the beach, and both snorkel stops require entering the water from the vessel.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time, with no refunds or changes accepted after that. If the operator cancels for weather or low traveller numbers, you are offered a different date or a full refund.