We walked the plank and drank "pirate's brew" aboard the half-day sailing cruise on the high seas. The captains dropped us off at three locations to snorkel: coves, a sunken shipwreck (The Antilla), and along the coral reef. Depending on your skill level and whether or not you had snorkeled before, there was a spot for everyone. Tropical fish swam in schools around you, but it was hard to capture good pictures with a cheap disposable camera.

One word of caution: if you have never snorkeled before (like us), you may want to take your time near the sunken ship since it is in deep, rough waters. I preferred to float around the beautiful coral reefs and coves, where the water was much calmer. Guides are nearby at all times to assist you, so have no fear.

I highly recommend having a good underwater camera to capture the essence of the tropical waters. It was like floating in paradise, so tranquil and serene. The underwater cameras that we used only produced 10 decent pictures, so it is worth it to buy a good model.

We sunbathed on the ship's deck all day and tried to reapply sunscreen as much as possible without frying. It is also a first-come, first-serve basis for getting a prime location on the deck to lie down. It was a little stiff and sore on the back and bottom, I must say, but the "pirate's" music and booze kept us alive and distracted from the pain!

Before heading back to land, everyone had the opportunity to swing from the ship's rope into the sea for a large dunk. The "pirates" of the boat demonstrated their stunts and gymnastics ability while everyone watched in amazement. Everyone has the opportunity to swing off the rope and plunge into the serene bay below, but we were both a little scared to take the risk. People of all ages, young and old, and all nationalities boarded the ship, and we had a great morning/afternoon together.

Heading back, we were caught in storm, but it had passed by the time we docked; storms blow in and out quickly in Aruba because of the trade winds, which makes your activities much more enjoyable.

Overall, it was an amazing first snorkeling experience for my husband and I. I had done research online prior to going for the best snorkeling cruise with entertainment, and booked our reservation online before arriving to receive a discount for early reservation--and it was worth every penny! We paid $40/per person for a half-day snorkeling retreat on the high seas, which included all you could drink and eat. I would recommend this snorkeling trip to any beginner and any honeymoon couple looking for a half-day adventure!

I booked the "Something’s Fishy" snorkel tour (a three-hour version of their half-day tour) using their web site - www.jollypirates.com - a few days before my vacation. A friend recommended it, and it was praised on many of the Aruba bulletin boards. The tour was $30 per person, but booking online earned you a 15% discount. (However, if you get the Aruba guides at the hotels or airport, there’s a $10 coupon in there).

The giant sailboat (which is also motorized) was captained by Julio and crew – all very friendly, funny, and really into their jobs. J There was an open bar, and snorkeling gear (including life-jackets) was provided.

The first stop was the sunken 1940s German freighter, the Antilla. When I jumped into the water, I encountered what I would consider an intermediate to expert snorkel environment. The water was VERY choppy. I made the decision to forgo the shipwreck and spare my life for the next two, calmer, snorkeling stops. However, my new friends on board (who were stronger swimmers) assured me that what they saw there was amazing.

Our second stop was Malmok beach. Ahh, now here it was the calm, clear water I had come to know and love in Aruba. This time the going was much easier, and I got to explore more. We saw lots of fish, but they mostly kept their distance.

At the third stop, Boca Cantalina, it was again calm, clear water. However the Jolly Pirate features a rope swing, and that was the main attraction at this juncture - but snorkeling was still an option. Right around the boat there wasn’t a whole lot to see (though I did see a large starfish on the bottom). However, we swam toward the rocky edge of the beach and found the best snorkeling on the trip. There was a reef growth around the rocks, with many, many fish – who seemed not to be afraid of us. As a matter of fact, we were the curiosity here. Many of the butterfly fish would follow us around and came very close! I’m so glad I passed on the rope swing and chose the snorkel option instead!

My mom, even though she didn’t snorkel and just went along for the ride, agreed that this was a fun activity. The boat took you along the shores of Aruba, all the way to the north edge of the island and the California lighthouse. There was a deck for sunbathing and a covered area for those of us who had already had too much of that equator sun. The drinks were always flowing and a good time was had by all.

I would highly recommend a Jolly Pirates cruise to anyone in Aruba. The "Something Fishy" tour runs on Thursdays and Saturdays from 3-6pm. They also have a sunset cruise and a half-day snorkel cruise (see the web site for more on days and times.) Make sure to bring your underwater camera!