My hubby and I are staying at the occidental, and will be going out to eat 2 of the 7 nights we are there. we already booked the flying fishbone, and I am torn between going on a sunset cruise or Madame Janette's the other night we go out. Any suggestions? If you have a sunset cruise dinner to recommend, please do! Which would be more $? Thank you!

We have not done the sunset cruise but Madame Jeannettes is wonderful! I can't imagine going to Aruba and not going to M J's.

Hello,

I'd opt for the sunset cruise! Madame Janette's can get crowded, hot, and stuffy. The last time we ate at MJ's there were so many people waiting for our table that the servers were literally shoving the main course on us before we were done with the appetizer. OUR relaxing evening turned out to last 40 minutes, even with a bottle of wine!!! Speaking of sunsets, when is the sun setting in Aruba this time of year? My son will be on his honeymoon on August 24th and we would like to send them to the Flying Fishbone and the sunset cruise. Enjoy Aruba, Susan

Sunset Cruise or Madame Janette's ? I think they are both great but are two completely different experiences.

My wife and I also book AIP vacations to help keep costs down. Since we love variety and romantic meals we will plan 3 nights out during a 10 day stay. My wife and I have gone to MJ’s and we had a great meal. Sunsets are a big thing to us and although MJ’s is a nice restaurant it does not offer a waterfront sunset view. This last trip we ate at the Sunset Beach Bistro at the Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort. It’s a beautiful view with great food. They have a good variety of seating from covered inside, outside café, to platforms on the beach that support your table and chairs.

I think the idea of a sunset cruise is great. We are both sailors, boats and water have a magic of their own and can really make a moment special. The island offers a variety of sunset cruises. I think you need to identify what type of experience you want; wild, romantic or somewhere in between. There is Tattoo a large party boat http://www.arubaadventures.com/tattoo/ , 50 ft catamarans http://www.city-discovery.com/aruba/tour.php?id=1154 , pirate ships and one of my favorites 43ft sailboat called Tranquilo http://www.tranquiloaruba.com/.

Don’t forget while on a sunset cruise you will see and experience Aruba the way islands need to be seen, from the water. On one side the setting sun on the other silhouettes and twinkling lights with the wind and the waves embracing you.

If you can, do both. If you can’t, plan a second trip.

We found MJ's two years ago and it is a awesome dining experience for the food but not the ambiance. We will go each year to MJ's one time over our two week vacation!

We will also want to eventually try a sunset cruise for something new. The Tatoo boat is really a booze cruise but is fun.

Greg