Cruising to Aruba...One day there...what to do?

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_me_

Aruba is a very small island. The shopping district is a very short walking distance from the cruise ship dock. So are the rental car places. If I remember correctly, we rented from Avis. We drove around the entire island in 2-3 hours. However, the road is not all paved and it is very bumpy going through their "national park" on the far side of the island. It was worth it, though, to see the natural bridge. We stopped to snorkel at Arashi Beach on the north end of the island. The water is very clear and the snorkeling is great. Wear water shoes and be careful not to step on the sea anemones - I hear they hurt very badly. Not many people go to Arashi Beach so it is nice and quiet. Most people go to Baby Beach on the south end, and that is where the cruise excursions usually go. There is not much else to do on Aruba unless you are into the hotel bar/club scene. The infamous Carlos & Charlie's bar is just off the dock. We had a peek but didn't stay. Getting wasted and dancing on the tables seems to be very popular there. It is where Natalie Holloway spent her last evening and made the foolish choice to get in a car with strange men.

I would recommend either taking a Jeep tour offered by Royal Caribbean, or renting a Jeep or SUV and touring on your own. I highly recommend snorkeling too. I am not a water sport type (I don't even swim) but I do find snorkeling easy and very enjoyable.

For other ideas I recommend you ask your waiter and busboy on the ship while you are having dinner. They usually have the "inside scoop" since they are there weekly and get time off duty to enjoy the island too.

Kelsâ™¥

well it all depends on how long you will be docked there, i went on a cruise this past christmas, it was Holland America. We didn't go to aruba, but we went to Nassau, Bahamas ; La Ramona, Dominican Republic ; St. Criox, U.S. Virgin Islands ; Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. All simuilar islands to Aruba. Have you ever been on a cruise before? We relized that the best thing to do is not to do any all day excersions because it takes up all of your time there and you don't get to see all the best parts. I would recomd to find someplace that intersets and and somewhere where there is a lot going on, then when you get there, there will be tons of taxis just waiting for you, and tell them where you want to go and then just walk to your other places if there close because you might stumble on something else fun. Hope you have a great time!

Allen A

Your safest way to see Aruba is to book a tour through your cruise line which they provide at a price at every port of call. You will also be within walking distance of a very unique small city with great shopping. If you are into jewelry try a place called Little Switzerland. Do not try to organize your own tour. In the end it will cost you more head ache.

berlingoffer

See the page below which has a good link to tourist site.

momsezno

Go to "Boards" at Cruiseritic.com. There is a category called "Ports of Call" that can answer your questions.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

I have been to Aruba, but not on a cruise ship.

Aruba is a very nice place to visit. It has great beaches and hotels and plenty of nice restaurants. It also has a few casinos in several of the hotels. There is not much to do in Aruba other than beach stuff. You can tour the island in half a day; youâ€™ll see the lighthouse, a national park thatâ€™s kinda like wilderness, a cave with some petroglyphics, and a natural bridge where the water comes under it and washes onto a small beach. There is a tour that takes you in a jeep across some of the desert areas but I would skip this. You really don't need a car in Aruba, there's not that much to drive to see. Baby Beach is kinda nice but don't feel disappointed if you don't get there. Its not that special. You can easily take a public bus to town from the beach areas. There are lots of water sports in Aruba including jet skis, snorkel and scuba, parasailing and wind surfing and just lounging on the beaches. The casinos are nice, but small. Restaurants are rather expensive.

I say skip the rental car and the ship's tour and just go to the beach. You will not miss much and it will cost less.

Penguin Gal

Book a shore excersion directly with Royal Caribbean--if you go on their web site you should be able to reserve. Do not go off on your own--those islands are very dangerous if you are not familiar with the area

cackywalker

The snorkeling was great there.

sicilianpride

swim

visit natalee holloway. ;)

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