tranquilo charter cruises

Our group had an amazing cruise on the Tranquilo. Capt. Anthony and first mate Dwayne were the best. Very friendly and just salt of the Aruban earth/sea. I intend to come back.

We sailed with Capt. Anthony and First Mate Dwayne early in January while on a cruise ship with a stop in Aruba. We have been to Aruba several times and we were looking for something a bit different - and this day sail sounded just right. Our group was about 20, some from the cruise ship and others on a land based vacation. Tranquilo is at a marina located just a 7 minuet walk from the Cruise terminal and near shopping if that is a must do later in the day., Prior to boarding we were asked to sign waivers, we stowed our gear and were on our way. Sailing down the south side to a lovely private location. There were two snorkeling opportunities, the first in shallow water with ok sea life and the second in deeper water for a drift snorkle that was good. For those doing the drift snorkle Capt. Anthony motored passengers out to the starting point using a inflatable dinghy and then picked them back up at the end of the reef. Lunch on board was delish and thru out the day Dwayne was always there with Rum Punch,Local Beer as well as non alcoholic beverages. Snorkeling gear if provided, however there is no "in the water" crew assistance during the snorkeling. If you do have newbie snorkelers or timid swimmers in the group you are booking for, this might not be the right trip for you. If you are looking for a nice day on the water and enjoy a traditional sailing vessel Tranquilo will please.

The captain and the first mate, Anthony & Dwayne, took great care of us and made it a terrific day of sailing and snorkeling. The snorkeling was nothing spectacular, but it was a full day (10:00 - 3:00) and the crew was entertaining and knowledgeable. Great value and a fun time!

I have got out with Tranquilo 4 times now. Every sail has been enjoyable. The snorkeling is very good not yet trampled upon like snorkel trips that go to the other end. The service on the boat is very good, you wont get thirsty or hungry. The drift snorkel (you don't have to do it) is the best but beware it is difficult to get back in the dingy. I cant get my fat butt out of the water(humiliating) onto the rubber raft, but Captain Anthony can help. The trip starts off with a very easy calm, shallow swim for beginners with excellent shallow snorkeling. Please don't stand on the coral.This is a very good value for your money. The sail begins in the center of town behind the bargain shopping stalls at the marina. Easy to get to by public bus if staying in Aruba. For the cruisers it is a five minute walk to the right when you get off the ship.

For about the 10th year in a row my wife and I sailed with Anthony on August 12. Everything we like about going out on Tranquilo is still the same:1. Friendly crew2. Not a cattle car-on our cruise there were only 11 people3. Good food, drinks and service.4. Went to Spanish Lagoon for snorkeling and then did the drift snorkel. Different location than most of the other boats that go to the same places to snorkel as each other.This trip we had a memorable experience-we were escorted for about 15 minutes by 10-15 dolphins! They swam right next to the boat, under it and around it. I have seen dolphins before but never this many, this close or for this long. Of course, this was the trip we decided to leave the camera back in our room!I would highly recommend going out on Tranquilo. We have never been disappointed and will be back next year!

This was the second time my husband and I have taken the Tranquilo's famous south side lunch sail and we enjoyed it just as much as we did the first time back in 2010. It's about an hour sail to the area they call the Spanish lagoon. Once here we did some snorkeling and relaxing in the beautiful water. Captain Anthony then took a group out further to do a drift snorkel. We did not do the drift snorkel this time (although I have in the past) the water was kind of rough for the drift snorkel so we opted to relax on the boat. The lunch is also very good. The pea soup is yummy and I don't even like peas, lol. There were also chicken salad and ham sandwiches along with fruit. Oh and don't forget the open bar. We also had some great conversation with Captain Anthony. All together it was a great day on the water with a great crew. Thanks to Captain Anthony, first mate Dwayne and Buster the dog.

So enjoyed our snorkeling, lunch trip. This is a racing sailboat, it's a treat to sail and not have to do the work to get the boat off the dock. Split pea soup for lunch that was wonderful. Saw lots of blue and yellow fish, really, just like an aquarium. The fish were so tame, easy to enjoy them up close and personal. It's actually better than the photos, take your camera, you will love it! I love their from the air photo on their website, I use it a s screen saver, still can't believe we went there!

As part of a surprise Valentines trip down to Aruba, I booked a return private sunset sail with Anthony. We last sailed with Anthony on 29 Dec 2012 as a romantic sunset sail for two as part of our 11th Anniversary quick Holiday trip down to Aruba.We sailed late afternoon with Captn Anthony, First Mate Duane and Security via Buster (ship's dog) - same great crew as our last visit. Duane kept us well supplied with an outstanding rum punch, h'or dourves, and champagne.The wind was up on this trip, so we spent most of our time in the cockpit (typically, Anthony will let you park up at bow, in a big plush cushion at front of boat). Irrespective, we enjoyed a great sail up and down the coast just off Palm/Eagle beach, down to California lighthouse, and back. Great sunset, great view of Aruba, very chill, kick back sail, and great guys to head out with - made sure we were happy, but comp relaxed, whatever you want to do approach. More pics at www.flickr.com/photos/daviddmooreDelivered exactly what we had hoped; and, as with last visit, one of the highlights of our visit. Private sail was US$400, plus gratuities for Anthony & Duane (at your discretion, we spiffed 200). Bottom line: well priced, great fun, and very recommended.

Whether you opt to sit on the deck or snorkel, you will be completely satisfied. The sailing is grand, the views are spectacular, the air is fresh, the drinks are never ending, the sandwiches and soul are tummy warming and filling and the snorkeling is the best. When you head South, you see a whole different side of the Island and the snorkeling is so different from Malmok and Baby Beach. I have been several times and like to invite all of my American visitors to partake. Take the Tranquilo, you will.Not be disappointed!!

Captain Anthony and his First Mate Dwayne created an unforgettable sail and dinner. We felt at home the entire time and were given a great amount of private time as we sailed to surf side beach. Captain Anthony is a self proclaimed foodie and created a feast for us that was no less than perfect. This was by far the most memorable dinner of our lives.

We had a wonderful snorkeling day with Anthony, his incredibly funny dog Buster and Duane. We've snorkeled many times in Aruba, both off shore and from different excursion boats but all the other excursion boats take you to the same places. Anthony brought us out to Mango Halto and we got to see sea-life that we don't usually see here. The boat is great and the included sandwiches, pea soup and drinks were delicious. The first area we went to was an easy snorkel experience.. The second area was a bit more challenging and best suited to stronger swimmers since the currents are strong and you're drifting quite a bit. Anthony, Duane, and Buster made for great company and were very focused on everyone having a good time. Anthony knows what he's doing; the weather at one point became very overcast and his boating experience guided us out and over, even when it seemed that we might be hitting Argentina soon. Highly recommended.

A great day on the water as usual with Anthony and the Tranquilo. The underwater beauty of Mango Halto is some of the best snorkeling on the island. Sailing back was a very peaceful end to our day. Anthony's Dutch pea soup and sandwich lunch was tasty. Buster the boat dog kept watch as we sailed back to the dock. The drift snorkel was the best part of the trip! An excursion you should try while in Aruba!

Just got back from Aruba and a trip on the Tranquilo. Everything about the boat is great, the captain is personable and greets you at the dock. His deck hand Duane was awesome, this kid never stopped working, making sure everyone was happy with drink and food in hand and watching out for folks while snorkeling. We set sail at 10 and by 10:10 I had the most fantastic rum punch in my hand (Island time says it's okay to start drinking!) It was the best punch I had on the island because it wasn't overly sweet, hawaiian punch tasting stuff, it was great. The novelty of having a small Jack Russell as first mate, complete with life jacket was fantastic! Buster roamed around the ship, with Captain Anthony keeping a good eye on him, as he's been known to leap overboard while chasing seagulls or flying fish! Overall the Tranquilo was a great time, it's a small group, so you get to talk to people and it doesn't feel crowded. My only slight disappointment was the snorkeling itself, while we went to a reef that was without other boats, there wasn't much all that exciting to see, I really would have enjoyed doing the shipwreck more, I think. It may have just been an off day for fish. Otherwise this trip is great, and if you don't feel like doing the unique "drift snorkel" you can hang out on the boat eating great food and enjoying the beautiful aruba sun and sea!

This was my first snorkeling experience and I loved it. Although it was a super windy day and the sea was very rough, we could enjoy the beauty of the Spanish Lagoon and a great service by Anthony and Dwayne. The pea soup and chicken curry sandwiches were yummy, and Dwayne kept the Balashis flowing throughout the trip. Another plus about the tour is that no other company goes to Spanish Lagoon, so it’s just you, the Tranquilo and the sea!

I did not choose this excursion via Trip Advisor but I am eager to report about the excellent time we had. I wanted a more personal intimate feel so I ventured down to the Marina to try to identify a charter that met our needs. It was not long before I got a chance to meet Captain Anthony and had a chance to see his boat the Tranquilo first hand. I liked the fact it was an owner operator and that his boat was a traditional Mono-haul in lieu of a cat. We talked price and set up our excursion. We decided on the 5 hour sailing and snorkel trip and we were delighted with the experience. It was obvious that Captain Anthony was quite capable and had many years of experience. We sailed to an excellent place where we snorkeled for about and hour and did a drift snorkel in deeper water. We saw many fish and some of the most interesting coral reefs I have seen. All drinks were provided and Captain Anthony's homemade sausage split pea soup was outstanding. On the way home we shut off the engines and got to sail which was quite relaxing and serene. All in all we were very satisfied. He is a local guy born and raised in Aruba and we were treated very well.