Tour Comparisons

De Palm Tours Aruba: Morning vs Afternoon Snorkel vs Sunset Sail — Which Palm Pleasure Cruise Should You Book?

De Palm Tours VBA Aruba runs three different sails on the same spacious 70-foot Palm Pleasure catamaran — a 4-hour morning snorkel with lunch buffet, a 3-hour afternoon snorkel happy-hour sail, and a 2-hour sunset sail with open bar. The boat is the same, but the experience, the food, the time on the water, and the price are all very different. If you are still deciding between operators, our broader pirate ship vs catamaran in Aruba guide and the wider Aruba sunset cruises roundup are good starting points — but if you already know De Palm is the operator you want, here is how their three Palm Pleasure cruises actually compare so you can pick the right one for your trip.

Quick verdict

All three sails are on the same Palm Pleasure catamaran with the same friendly De Palm crew. Book the morning snorkel if you want the most water time and a lunch buffet, the afternoon happy-hour if you want a shorter snorkel day at the lowest price, and the sunset sail if you want unlimited drinks and Aruba’s golden hour without any snorkeling.

Most water time · lunch buffetCheapest snorkel · happy hourOpen bar · sunset views

Book the Morning Snorkel Sail on Viator Book the Afternoon Snorkel Sail on Viator Book the Sunset Sail with Open Bar on Viator

Affiliate Disclosure: Some booking links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

Morning Snorkel

Aruba Morning Snorkel Sail aboard Palm Pleasure Catamaran

$124· 4 hours· ★ 4.7(683 reviews)

Check Availability

Afternoon Snorkel

Aruba Afternoon Snorkel Sail aboard Palm Pleasure Catamaran

$85· 3 hours· ★ 4.6(296 reviews)

Check Availability

Sunset Sail

Aruba Sunset Sail with Open Bar

$112· 2 hours· ★ 4.5(382 reviews)

Check Availability

Side-by-side comparison

Compare	Morning Snorkel	Afternoon Snorkel	Sunset Sail
Duration	4 hours	3 hours	2 hours
Price from	$124	$85	$112
Snorkel stops	3 stops (incl. Antilla shipwreck)	2 stops (incl. Antilla shipwreck)	No — sunset focus
Food	Lunch buffet on board	Snacks only	Snacks only
Drinks	Open bar (incl. beer)	Open bar	Open bar (unlimited)
Best time of day	Half-day morning	Afternoon / happy hour	Sunset / golden hour
Time on water	Most (longest sail)	Mid	Least (sail-only)
Rating	4.7 (683 reviews)	4.6 (296 reviews)	4.5 (382 reviews)
Free cancellation 24h+	Yes	Yes	Yes
Minimum age	3 years	3 years	3 years

What These Three Palm Pleasure Sails Actually Feel Like

Morning Snorkel: Half-Day Antilla Adventure with Lunch

The morning snorkel is the fullest experience of the three. You leave the dock with calm morning seas, head north past Palm Beach, and over four hours hit three different snorkel stops — including the famous Antilla shipwreck, the largest wreck in the Caribbean and visibly outlined under 30 feet of clear blue water. Crew set up fins, masks, and floating noodles for nervous swimmers, then ring the bell when it is time to swim back to the boat. Between stops the 70-foot Palm Pleasure has a big shaded cabin, an expansive sun deck, and a lower swim platform that makes getting in and out of the water effortless. Around the second stop the kitchen rolls out a hot lunch buffet — chicken, fish, rice, salads, fruit — and the open bar serves cold beer alongside soft drinks. This is the De Palm sail to book if Aruba snorkeling is the whole point of the day.

Check Availability

Afternoon Snorkel: Happy-Hour Antilla Sail

The afternoon sail is the budget-friendly snorkel option and feels noticeably more relaxed than the morning. It is three hours total with two snorkel stops — the Antilla shipwreck is still one of them — and the energy onboard leans into a happy-hour vibe rather than a half-day excursion. Snacks come out instead of a full lunch buffet, the open bar pours steadily, and Caribbean music plays softly on the deck speakers. Because departures are later in the day, the sun is warmer, the breeze is stronger, and the deck dries faster between dips. It is the De Palm sail most groups of friends and budget travelers pick when they want to tick Antilla off the list without committing to a 4-hour morning — and it pairs well with a classic Aruba sunset cruise later in the week.

Check Availability

Sunset Sail: 2-Hour Open-Bar Coast Cruise

The sunset sail is the pure-vibe option — no snorkeling, no swim stops, just two hours coasting along Aruba’s western shoreline as the sun goes down. Departure is timed so the sky starts shifting from gold to pink within the first 30 minutes, with the California Lighthouse and Palm Beach high-rises silhouetted on one side and open Caribbean on the other. The open bar runs the entire sail with unlimited beer, wine, and cocktails, snacks circulate, and the crew dims the deck lights as it gets dark so the colors stay vivid. Best for couples, honeymooners, families with younger kids who do not want a snorkel day, and anyone who has already done a separate snorkel tour and just wants the most photogenic ending to the day. For broader context on how Aruba sunset sails differ from themed pirate cruises, see our pirate ship vs catamaran in Aruba guide.

Check Availability

About De Palm Tours

See all De Palm Tours tours →

De Palm Tours is one of Aruba’s longest-running tour operators and runs the Palm Pleasure catamaran — a 70-foot twin-hull sail boat departing from L.G. Smith Boulevard 142 in Oranjestad. The vibe is structured and resort-friendly: bilingual EN/NL crew, big shaded cabin, generous sun deck, and a low swim platform that makes the boat easy to board for kids, older travelers, and anyone less comfortable in the water.

Where competitors like Red Sail Sports lean premium-sailing and Jolly Pirates leans themed-party, De Palm sits in the middle as a reliable, mid-priced operator with consistent reviews across all three of its Palm Pleasure cruises and free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

Same 70-foot Palm Pleasure catamaran on all three sails
Departure: L.G. Smith Boulevard 142, Oranjestad
Minimum age 3 on all three cruises
Free cancellation up to 24h before departure

Choose the Morning Snorkel if…

You want the most water time on Aruba (4-hour half-day)
Snorkeling the Antilla shipwreck is a trip priority
You want a real lunch buffet on board, not just snacks
You like having three snorkel stops rather than one or two
A more substantial half-day experience matches your travel pace

Check Availability

Choose the Afternoon Snorkel if…

You want Antilla snorkeling at the lowest De Palm price ($85)
A 3-hour sail fits your day better than a 4-hour morning
You are happy with happy-hour snacks instead of a full lunch
You want the snorkel experience without committing to a half-day
Late risers who would skip a morning departure

Check Availability

Choose the Sunset Sail if…

You only want vibes — Aruba sunset, open bar, no snorkeling
You already snorkeled earlier in your trip
You are traveling with young kids or non-swimmers
A 2-hour relaxing cruise is the right length for your evening
You want the most “romantic Aruba sunset” version of De Palm’s catamaran

Check Availability

Best Palm Pleasure Sail for Different Travelers

Traveler type	Better pick
First-time Aruba visitors (one big water day)	Morning Snorkel
Budget snorkelers	Afternoon Snorkel
Antilla shipwreck snorkelers	Morning Snorkel
Couples wanting a romantic golden-hour cruise	Sunset Sail
Families with young kids / non-swimmers	Sunset Sail
Honeymooners	Sunset Sail
Groups of friends after a snorkel + party day	Afternoon Snorkel
Travelers who want lunch included on board	Morning Snorkel
Travelers who already snorkeled separately	Sunset Sail

More Aruba tour comparisons

Pirate Ship vs Catamaran in Aruba

Catamaran cruises (14 tours) vs Jolly Pirates schooner — boat style breakdown.

Red Sail vs Jolly Pirates Aruba (operator hub)

Operator comparison cluster — Red Sail catamaran vs Jolly Pirates schooner.

Red Sail Sunset Sail vs Jolly Pirate Sunset Sail

Head-to-head on the two most-booked Palm Beach sunset cruises.

Jolly Pirates vs Dolphin Catamaran (family snorkel)

Family snorkel head-to-head — rope swing, water slide, Antilla shipwreck.

Best Budget Sunset Cruises in Aruba

Sub-$60 sunset sails if De Palm sunset ($112) is over budget.

Best Budget Snorkel Cruises in Aruba

Sub-$70 snorkel cruises if De Palm morning snorkel ($124) is over budget.

Best Private Catamaran Charters in Aruba

Includes De Palm Fortunata private sail yacht — whole-boat charters for groups.

Best Romantic Cruises in Aruba (Pelican Premium)

The luxury alternative — Pelican dinner cruise, Monforte III, Luxury Lagoon.

All Aruba Sunset Cruises

Every sunset cruise operator on the island compared.

Snorkeling in Aruba

Best snorkel sites, Antilla shipwreck guide, and shore-vs-boat options.

Aruba for First-Time Visitors

Plan your trip — flights, hotel areas, beaches, what to book first.

Aruba Family Travel

Kid-friendly beaches, calm-water activities, and easy family planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which De Palm Tours Aruba sail is best for snorkeling?

The 4-hour morning snorkel sail is the best De Palm option for snorkelers. You get three snorkel stops including the famous Antilla shipwreck, a lunch buffet, open bar with beer, and the most overall time on the water. The 3-hour afternoon snorkel is the budget-friendly alternative with two snorkel stops (also including Antilla) but only snacks instead of lunch.

What is the difference between the De Palm morning and afternoon snorkel sails?

Both run on the same 70-foot Palm Pleasure catamaran and both stop at the Antilla shipwreck. The morning sail is 4 hours, includes 3 snorkel stops, a full lunch buffet, and starts at $124. The afternoon happy-hour sail is 3 hours, includes 2 snorkel stops, snacks (no lunch), and starts at $85. Pick morning if snorkeling is the whole day; pick afternoon for a cheaper, shorter snorkel.

Does the De Palm sunset sail include snorkeling?

No. The De Palm sunset sail is a 2-hour pure cruise with open bar and snacks — no snorkel stops. If you want snorkeling, book either the morning or afternoon Palm Pleasure snorkel sail instead. For other sunset-only options on the island, see our all Aruba sunset cruises guide.

How much do the three De Palm Palm Pleasure sails cost?

Prices start at $85 for the afternoon snorkel sail (3 hours), $112 for the sunset sail with open bar (2 hours), and $124 for the morning snorkel sail (4 hours). Live Viator pricing can shift by season — use the booking links on this page for current rates.

Is the De Palm sunset sail good for couples?

Yes. The 2-hour sunset sail is the most couples-friendly of the three: it has open bar, the Palm Pleasure catamaran’s wide deck for sunset photos, and no snorkeling pressure. For honeymooners or anyone wanting a calmer romantic evening, the sunset sail beats the two snorkel options.

Are all three De Palm sails on the same boat?

Yes — all three sails operate on De Palm Tours’ 70-foot Palm Pleasure catamaran with the same crew and the same departure point (L.G. Smith Boulevard 142, Oranjestad). The difference is the route, time of day, food, and how long you are on the water.

Can families with young kids do the De Palm snorkel sails?

Yes. All three sails have a minimum age of 3 years. The morning snorkel works for families with older kids who can snorkel safely, while the afternoon snorkel suits families who want a shorter day. For families with toddlers or young kids who do not snorkel, the 2-hour sunset sail is the easiest pick.

Do De Palm sails offer free cancellation?

Yes. All three Palm Pleasure cruises offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and they also free-cancel for bad weather. That makes them flexible early-trip bookings if you are not sure when you will fit a boat day into your Aruba itinerary.