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Oranjestad
Welcome to Aruba, our One Happy Island. Most people picture the beaches first, and fair enough: Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are hard to beat in December. But when friends ask us how to make Christmas in Aruba feel special, our answer usually has nothing to do with a beach chair. We love showing people the other side of paradise, and during the holidays that side is out on the water, glass in hand, as the sun drops into the Caribbean Sea.
Consider this your insider guide to celebrating Christmas in Aruba on a sunset or dinner cruise: which boat fits your group, what each one costs, where they leave from, and a few things we wish we'd known the first time around.
Why a Cruise Is the Best Way to Celebrate Christmas in Aruba
The holidays are one of the busiest times of the year on the island. Restaurants fill up, families are in town, and everyone wants the same sunset table. A cruise solves a lot of that in one booking. You get the view, the drinks and often the food, without fighting for a reservation on the beach.
It also works for almost every kind of group. Couples can go all in with a private chef and live music. Families can bring the kids along for a swim stop and a water slide. And if your crew just wants to dance, there is a Cuban-themed cruise with a salsa instructor on board.
Our tip: decide first what kind of evening you want, romantic, relaxed or festive, and then pick the boat. The comparison below makes that easier.
Christmas in Aruba: Sunset and Dinner Cruises Compared
These are the five cruises we recommend most for the holiday season. All prices are in USD per person.
| Cruise | Provider | Adult | Child | Days | Start time | Departs from | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Cruise incl. open bar | Pelican Adventures | $79 | $59 (ages 4 to 11) | Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun | 5:30 PM | Pelican Pier | 2 hours |
| Catamaran Dolphin Sunset Adventure Cruise incl. open bar | Delphi Watersports | $50 | $35 (ages 5 to 11), | Every day | 4:30 PM (Oct to Jan 14) | Delphi Watersports Hut | 2 hours |
| Tropical Sailing Experience | Tropical Sailing | $135 | $75 (12 and under) | Every day | 9:00 AM, 3:00 PM | Varadero Aruba Marina | 4 hours |
| Havana Sunset Cruise incl. open bar | Pelican Adventures | $84 | $64 (ages 4 to 11) | Thursday | 5:30 PM | Pelican Pier | 2 hours |
| Exclusive Dinner Cruise | Pelican Adventures | $180 | Adults only (18+) | Mon, Thu, Sat, Sun | 5:00 PM | Pelican Pier | 3 hours |
One thing to keep in mind: holiday schedules can differ from the regular week. Before you set your heart on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year's Eve, check the booking calendar for your exact date.
Best for Couples: A Christmas Dinner on the Water
Exclusive Dinner Cruise by Pelican Adventures
If you want one evening of your Christmas in Aruba to feel like a proper celebration, this is it. The Exclusive Dinner Cruise is a three-hour, adults-only sail with a four-course dinner prepared by a private chef. You're welcomed with Prosecco, and after that there's an unlimited premium open bar with handcrafted cocktails, wine and local beers.
Live music sets the tone, with guitar, saxophone or violin on board, and the crew takes care of the service so you can simply enjoy the evening. At $180 per person it's the priciest option on this list, but it replaces both a holiday dinner reservation and a night out.
Practical details: it sails on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:00 PM, with check-in at 4:30 PM at Pelican Pier. Guests must be 18 or older.
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Best for Families: Sunset Fun With the Kids
Catamaran Dolphin Sunset Adventure Cruise by Delphi Watersports
Traveling with children over the holidays? This two-hour catamaran trip is the easiest win on the list. The Delphi catamaran sunset cruise includes a short swim stop, a rope swing and a water slide, so the kids have something to do while the adults enjoy the open bar, snacks and Caribbean music.
It's also the most budget-friendly choice: $50 for adults and $35 for children aged 5 to 11. Kids aged 4 and under ride free. Between October and January 14 it leaves at 4:30 PM, with check-in at 4:00 PM at the Delphi Watersports Hut, on the beach behind the Hyatt Regency towel hut.
Good to know: this is a sunset cruise without snorkeling. If snorkeling is high on your family's list, plan that as a separate trip.
Sunset Cruise incl. open bar by Pelican Adventures
The classic Pelican sunset cruise is another solid family option. It's a relaxed two-hour sail along the beaches with professional guides, snacks and an unlimited open bar. Adults pay $79 and children aged 4 to 11 pay $59. The minimum age is 4.
It departs at 5:30 PM from Pelican Pier on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Want to turn it into a full holiday evening? You can add dinner at Pelican Nest Seafood Grill after the cruise.
Best for a Festive Night Out: The Havana Sunset Cruise
Not every Christmas needs to be quiet. The Havana Sunset Cruise swaps carols for Latin music and comes with mojitos, Cuban snacks, an unlimited open bar and a salsa instructor on board. Trust us on this: it's the most fun option if you're traveling with friends or a group that likes to dance.
It sails on Thursdays only, at 5:30 PM from Pelican Pier, for two hours. Adults pay $84 and children aged 4 to 11 pay $64. Like the regular Pelican sunset cruise, you can add dinner at Pelican Nest Seafood Grill afterwards.
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Best for a Full Day on the Water: Tropical Sailing Experience
Some families prefer to spend their holiday together in one long, easy day rather than a quick evening sail. The Tropical Sailing Experience lasts four hours and runs every day, with departures at 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
It's more than a sunset sail: snorkeling gear is included, along with a fruit bowl, a premium open bar and either a BBQ lunch or a BBQ sunset dinner. There's a kids menu too. Adults pay $135 and children 12 and under pay $75. Free pickup is offered from certain hotels, 30 minutes before departure, and the exact meeting point is confirmed when you book.
Practical Tips for Booking a Christmas Cruise in Aruba
- Book early. The holiday weeks are busy, and the most popular evenings sell out first.
- Check your exact date. Several cruises only sail on certain days, and holiday schedules can differ from the regular week.
- Arrive on time. Pelican Adventures asks guests to be at Pelican Pier, on the beach behind the Holiday Inn Resort, at least 15 minutes early.
- Plan your own transport. The Pelican and Delphi cruises don't include hotel pickup. Tropical Sailing offers pickup from certain hotels only.
- Mind the age rules. The Exclusive Dinner Cruise is 18+, and the Pelican sunset cruises have a minimum age of 4.
- Our tip: combine a sunset cruise with dinner at Pelican Nest Seafood Grill and your whole holiday evening is sorted in one booking.
What to Pack for Your Holiday Cruise
Evening cruises are relaxed, but a few small things make a big difference:
- This reef-safe SPF, especially for the afternoon departures and the full-day sail
- A waterproof phone case for sunset photos and the swim stop
- A waterproof bag to keep towels, cash and keys dry
- A wide-brim sun hat for the daytime sailing trip
- A power bank, because you'll take more photos than you think
- A reusable water bottle to stay hydrated between cocktails
- After-sun for when you're back at the hotel
Our Honest Recommendation
What we'd actually book: for couples, the Exclusive Dinner Cruise. It's the closest thing to a complete Christmas dinner on the water, with a private chef, live music and the sunset as your backdrop. For families, the Delphi catamaran gives you the most fun per dollar, with a water slide for the kids and an open bar for the grown-ups.
If you're celebrating with friends, the Havana Sunset Cruise is the one people talk about afterwards. And if you'd rather spend a whole relaxed day together, the Tropical Sailing Experience gives you snorkeling, food and drinks in one trip.
Whichever you choose, book as soon as your travel dates are fixed. The holidays are when everyone wants to be on the water.
Ready to plan your Christmas in Aruba? Compare the sunset cruises in Aruba, reserve a romantic dinner cruise in Aruba, or book a family-friendly catamaran cruise directly through our site. Bon bini, and welcome to a merry Christmas on One Happy Island.
