Tattoo Party Cruises (tel. 297/586-2010; www.arubaadventures.com/tattoo) follow the coastline nightly, offering views of the island's lights. The triple-decked catamaran features a full-service bar (with $1, $2, and $3 drinks) and a dinner buffet (barbecue or Italian). The first floor boasts the island's largest floating dance floor, a DJ, or a live band; the second deck is dedicated to imbibing, and the top floor opens to views of the moon's reflection on the water. You're encouraged to don your bathing suit and swing on a rope into the Caribbean. The crew puts on a show, and guests are invited to join various contests. The crowd is foolish and young (chronologically or at heart), but no one's under 18. The party takes place Wednesday, which is Ladies' Night, and Friday from 8pm until midnight. The ship departs at 7:15pm from the De Palm pier on Palm Beach between the Aruba Grand and Radisson. The damage is $49 per person.
Jolly Pirates (tel. 297/586-8107; www.jolly-pirates.com) boards at the Moomba pier, between the Holiday Inn and Marriott, and offers a very casual evening sea cruise. The buccaneer theme can only mean walking the plank and singing "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum." The sunset sail features an open bar and rope swing (Mon and Fri 5-7pm; $26 per person).
Romantic Dinners on the Ocean, offered by De Palm Tours (tel. 297/582-4400; www.depalm.com), is a more elegant cruise, featuring dinner prepared by the former culinary team of a well-known French/Belgian restaurant. Once aboard the catamaran, guests receive flutes of champagne at tables dressed with linen, china, and silver. Hors d'oeuvres circulate during the leisurely cruise along the coast; the route allows views of California Lighthouse and the sunset. After the ship's anchored, guests are served an appetizer, a main course of grouper in lobster sauce or lamb in wine sauce, and Bavarian custard drizzled with wild berry sauce, followed by coffee or tea. Upscale open-air dining on the sea is hard to carry off: The breezes can be blustery, and the food is prepared beforehand for logistical purposes. But a full staff of white-gloved servers caters to a mere handful of guests, so it's a must for that special occasion. The 3-hour tour departs from the De Palm pier on Palm Beach at 6pm every Thursday. The $90 price includes the cruise, dinner, and unlimited drinks. Reservations are required.
Red Sail Dinner Cruise (tel. 877/RED-SAIL in the U.S. and Canada, or 297/586-1603 in Aruba; www.redsailaruba.com) combines the best of land and sea by providing an elegant dining experience aboard a smooth-sailing catamaran. Sip champagne and nibble hors d'ouvres as you sail off into the sunset (literally). The main course is served buffet style, but there is nothing casual about the fresh spinach salad, tender steak, delicate mahimahi, and outstanding desserts catered by either Hyatt or Marriott, depending on which night you sail. All cruises leave from the Hyatt pier and will set you back $58.
