Did anyone on the WB Panama Repo Book Jolly Pirates in Aruba?

[sejejoemmiev]

I was thinking of doing this. Are there any age restrictions? My youngest will be almost 3. I didn't see an age requirement on their website. Right now I am booked for DePalm Island through DCL but I really want to snorkel while in Aruba. Any info would be great. Thanks!

 

[Sailingpartyof10]

We did it with our 5YO DS and 3YO DD, and we had a great time. You can take a cab from the pier, or you can take a public bus from the bus terminal right across the street from the pier. We took the bus, and it was very easy (and Jolly Pirates included directions on the reservation confirmation). When we first arrived, it was a little windy and cool, and I was having cold feet about the excursion, but I can say that it got better and better as the morning went on. DH loved snorkeling at the 3 stops. The kids got in the water one at a time and swam around with him for a few minutes, but they mostly were on the boat, and I stayed on at the snorkeling stops, too. I did go in the water to do the rope swing off the bow, and that was a blast. It was also fun to watch the crew go off the swing and do some acrobatics.

The crew was very good with the kids, like they'd taken a few pages from the Disney handbook, lol. They didn't start out that way, necessarily, but they really warmed up to them in the course of the trip. They let them hold the steering wheel a few times and let them try out the bartender's soda dispenser (one of those hoses with a faucet attached and several buttons to select Sprite, Coke, etc.). DS loved creating his own mixed drink of cranberry juice and Sprite and called it his "delicious Aruba mix-up."

There was another child there who was about 2, I'd guess, so I think you would be okay in that regard. Have fun! Oh, if you do reserve, be sure to specify the age of your child, because they have a lower rate for kids. When we checked in, they refunded part of our fee because they had charged us full fare, not knowing the ages. I don't know if I missed a spot on the online registration form or if you have to make a special note of it.

 

[sejejoemmiev]

Did you find this an enjoyable excursion, even with young kids? Or do you feel like you missed out on alot? I know my husband and I both want to snorkel. Is their enough time at each snorkeling spot for us to take turns in the water? Our oldest 2 (DD8, DS 10) will want to snorkel for sure. DS 5 is a maybe. Is their life vests for snorkeling? Also, do you have the option to just swim and sit on the beach at each stop? If we have to stay on the boat with DD 3, will she be bored at the snorkeling stops or is their stuff for the kids to do?

 

[Sailingpartyof10]

There are life vests in different sizes for snorkeling. I think there is enough time for parents to take turns snorkeling at each stop, but it would not be a whole lot of time at at least one of the stops. I didn't snorkel because DH lives for snorkeling right now, and I knew he'd enjoy it the most (I got plenty of other indulgences from him, like spa treatments).

Your 3YO could swim a little in the water close to the boat with you, but I think most 3YOs (and 5YOs, unless they are pretty experienced in the ocean) would spend most of the time in the boat. The older kids would probably love the rope swing, but the younger two would probably be too scared to go on it (I don't know your kids, of course, but my 5YO DS is fairly adventurous and was too scared of it). The youngest two might be a little bored, and I was afraid mine would be miserable when I first got there, but they did have fun. The crew is good with the kids, but there's not really anything to do on the boat itself except move around a bit, eat lunch, drink juice, watch the snorkelers and people swinging, etc.

The bottom line is that it would probably be really fun for the older kids and you, not as much fun for the little ones, but I think it's very family friendly, and the younger kids would probably do fine. It would probably rank lower on their favorites list than say, a dolphin encounter. The toddler who was on our boat was extremely mellow and slept half the time on a bench with a towel draped over him. A more active toddler would be harder to deal with. DD3 is pretty mellow in group situations so was fine.

BTW, there is definitely both shade and sun, so that is nice.

 

[smeecanada]

There is quite a large group of people from the EB Repo doing this excursion. There are someone people staying on board and not snorkelling. Come join us.