Aruba

[Joan1]

Question for the WB Panama Canal cruisers and anyone else that has been to Aruba

What did you do during your time there and what did you think of your choice?

Thanks

 

[littleaussie]

Question for the WB Panama Canal cruisers and anyone else that has been to Aruba

What did you do during your time there and what did you think of your choice?

Thanks

We had no plans when we got off the ship (we left the ship about 2 hours after we docked). My parents talked to a pair of tourist guides and bargained for an island tour at $15 per person (6 of us). We had an a/c van and toured the island for about 2 1/2 hours. It was a great experience, we would do it again to get an overview of the island. The guides were friendly and asked us our opinion of where we would like to go. These tour guides were inside the guarded gates. Once you get outside the gates, there were more operators there too. Don't know if it makes a difference or not. . .
It really was a nice way to see most of the island hot spots and my little girls (6 and 3) were not bored because we got out at quite a few places and walked around.
I would do it again. Yes, they were the same people who harass you as you walk out the building but we took a chance with them and liked it.
Did the same thing in PV and also enjoyed that.

 

[crystald]

In August we are going to do a horseback riding tour to the natural pool and on the beach. It's only 64. PP and my kids under 12 can do it. It got really great reviews on tripadvisor.com. It's called Rancho Daimari. Price includes pickup at the port. We are very excited about it.

 

[Skallywag]

We have decided to hire a car and do our own thing in Aruba in August, we have found a donkey sanctuary and we can do the island at our own pace.

 

[vossjemi]

We booked our own private snorkel excursion with Jolly Pirates. Cab price to Moomba beach was $10 I think. Really enjoyed it a lot. http://www.jolly-pirates.com/

 

[Joan1]

Thank you

 

[zerog]

Joan, do you have children? If so, I might like to recommend de Palm Island and/or the submarine ride.

 

[Joan1]

Joan, do you have children? If so, I might like to recommend de Palm Island and/or the submarine ride.

Yes I do thank you - We aren't planning on doing anything that has to do with getting on a smaller boat or a submarine. DD gets deathly ill on small boats so we need to stay on dry land. She is fine on cruises

I did look into DePalm Island but I didn't want to spend $300 on an excursion to just go to a small water park, it seems small from the photos.

Thanks - we are now tossing the idea around of renting a car and going on our own somewhere. Does anyone know where you can rent umbrella's and beach chairs on the different beaches there?

 

[Joan1]

bringing this back to page 1 - hopeful for more comments

 

[NewportCat]

Since we are in port for a long day (morning - 11:30 pm) I rented a hotel room at the Marriott at Palm Beach. I got a cheapo rate on Priceline - $110. I figured it was a good value considering the amount of time we are in port. It was cheaper to rent a room than buying day passes for a family of 4.

My DD 8 and DS 6 love the beach and swimming so we'll hang out there for the day, then use the room to shower and relax until going out for the evening. There is a Ruth's Chris at the resort and also a casino, so DH is happy too!

 

[Joan1]

Since we are in port for a long day (morning - 11:30 pm) I rented a hotel room at the Marriott at Palm Beach. I got a cheapo rate on Priceline - $110. I figured it was a good value considering the amount of time we are in port. It was cheaper to rent a room than buying day passes for a family of 4.

My DD 8 and DS 6 love the beach and swimming so we'll hang out there for the day, then use the room to shower and relax until going out for the evening. There is a Ruth's Chris at the resort and also a casino, so DH is happy too!

Thanks - we will look into this option

 

[scottishwee35]

How about hire jeep for the day?

We had it and it was great times.

Just a thought.

Scottishwee35

 

[scottishwee35]

We booked our own private snorkel excursion with Jolly Pirates. Cab price to Moomba beach was $10 I think. Really enjoyed it a lot. http://www.jolly-pirates.com/

We almost booked it on line for our kids for 3 to 6 pm but turn out that we had to back to cruise before 6 pm as the ship was leaving by 6 pm.

Hopeful you book it for morning not afternoon. Just let you know.

or otherwise maybe I think different times for August, should be okay. Please double check it.

Scottishwee35

 

[Sailingpartyof10]

We did Jolly Pirates, too, and really enjoyed it. The staff were really great with our 5 and 3YO kids.

We took a public bus there using instructions from the Jolly Pirates reservation, and it was super easy. The bus terminal is right across the street from the ship. I know a cab wouldn't have been terribly expensive, but this way we didn't have to deal with car seats for the kids, and we got a little more local experience as well as saved a few dollars.

I know this excursion isn't for the poster who's avoiding smaller vessels, but it was definitely fun, and the Jolly Pirates' rope swing is a blast! It's the kind of thing I wish Disney had at Castaway Cay for adults, since the rope playground thing is only for kids.

 

[carolsherman]

Crystald

the horseback riding sounds great but I am alone and feel kind of funny doing an excursion away from disney (does that make sense). Did you already book it????

 

[bonnielynn]

we did the 4x4 safari which is basically a tour of the island with a bit of off road.. you get a great view of the ocean in contrast to the rocky terrain...
We then wend over to DePalm Island.. my 11 loved the water park part.. although its not huge, but just enough to enjoy and still keep you eye on them..

All in all was a very good day..

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Since we are in port for a long day (morning - 11:30 pm) I rented a hotel room at the Marriott at Palm Beach. I got a cheapo rate on Priceline - $110. I figured it was a good value considering the amount of time we are in port. It was cheaper to rent a room than buying day passes for a family of 4.

My DD 8 and DS 6 love the beach and swimming so we'll hang out there for the day, then use the room to shower and relax until going out for the evening. There is a Ruth's Chris at the resort and also a casino, so DH is happy too!

Great idea! I'll have to check into this as an option.

 

[vossjemi]

We almost booked it on line for our kids for 3 to 6 pm but turn out that we had to back to cruise before 6 pm as the ship was leaving by 6 pm.

Hopeful you book it for morning not afternoon. Just let you know.

or otherwise maybe I think different times for August, should be okay. Please double check it.

Scottishwee35

I did it back in 05 when we took a PC cruise w/RCI. Yes, we did the morning snorkel cruise w/lunch. Absolutely loved this excursion!

 

[crystald]

I did already book the horseback ride for my family.They don't require payment till 2 weeks before your date. All the cruise people are picked up at the port so you wouldn't be alone. I'm not worried about being 30 min away from the ship cause Disney cruise is there so late that date.You also get to gallop the horses on the beach.

 

[lotsofboys]

Did anyone try sailing on their own? We were fortunate enough on the 2005 EB repo to have a referral from a WB repoer who had rented a private sailboat in Curacao. We are looking to do the same thing in Aruba and are wondering if anyone on the WB repo did this?

Thanks!