This Freebird excursion is usually referred to as the booze cruise by virtue of it's free bar once on board. Although booze cruise may conjour up images of drunken madness this late afternoon boat trip is just as capable of being an easy going chill out.
The Freebird fleet is made up of large catermarans. This design makes them more stable and provides a large deck area for passengers. To the relief of the concerned ladies infront of me waiting to board the boat, there is a toilet, through a hatch and down some steps into the hull but space is limited.
Having been picked up by the coach and dropped off at the marina, your host for the cruise, "Captain Jack Swallow" aka the amiable DJ Lee Jackson from Branigans bar, Starco takes to the microphone. Captain Jack starts off with the serious stuff about safety and rules on the boat and then gets things going with the music and a near barrage of jokes and Lee's reknown humour, which are just a warm up for the games. Photo's and video of the cruise with you your mates and fellow passengers are available in Branigans later on in the night.
Bar choice is simple, Lager, Wine, Sangria but you can have as much or as little as you want. There's a good stock of baguette sandwiches too if you're feeling hungry.
Although not specifically a whale watching trip, conditions permitting there is a very good chance of spotting some whales along the way once you leave the marina. Unfortunately on this occaision sea conditions were just a little choppy and didn't permit.
The boat heads down the coast towards Los Cristianos where it will usually drop anchor for a while. Those that feel like jumping in the ocean for a swim can then do so. Unfortunately again for this particular cruise the captain (the other one) decided sea conditions weren't right and safe enough for anchoring and swimming.
All the while captain Jack keeps the tunes going with party games thrown in for good measure. The old sex position game takes on another shape altogether when performed on netting just above the waves and the boat rocking about.
From Los Cristianos you head back to port. By now everyone was just enjoying the ride, relaxing and chatting in the sun with a drink... and those up front on the nets and wooden deck were getting soaked as the waves crashed against the boat and laughing with every wave.
As you get back into Colon marina, you can hardly believe that you've been out on the boat for three hours, I found it passed so quickly but then they do say time flies when you're having fun. A popular and really great way to spend the late afternoon before getting ready to go out for the night.
Don't forget to slap on some sun cream, you don't half catch the sun out there. The seating area is covered though. You might also want to take a towel, you could get wet but only if you want to. Hold onto your hats too, it gets a bit breezey and you might end up losing it overboard. A pirate bandana is the perfect alternative ;o)
Excursion Reviews
Price paid per person
contact booking agent
Overall rating:
8.5
Value for Money:
8.0
Fun Factor:
9.0
Reviewed by Garry
July 15, 2008
User reviews
Average user rating from: 2 user(s)
Overall rating:
9.8
Value for Money:
9.5
Fun Factor:
10.0
AWSUM
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
THIS WAS A BIT SCARY I HATE BOATS LOL. BT IT WAS AWSUM THE MUSIC THE CRACK OH AND THE DRINK!!!!! WENT WITH 3 M8S MET LOADS OF FUN LOVING CRAZY PARTY PEOPLE THAT BOAT ROCKED OH AN JACK SPARROW IS HOT LOL X
Myself and 3 friends booked this trip whilst on hols in tenerife. Am so glad we did, it was fab. Meet some great people, everyone was really friendly. Got 2 c the whales, had a swim in the sea, loads of booze, something 2 eat, what better way 2 spend a afternoon. Went 2 brannigans on the nite time, were we meet up with a lot of the others from the cruize, 2 c pics and a dvd of u all, sooooooo funny. Bought the dvd as a nice souvenior. Brilliant trip well worth the money. Best trip of my hols.
