HAL Jeep Excursion in Aruba

[cruisecache&squash]

Hi there! Does anyone have experience with the 4 X 4 tour booked through the ship? We really wanted to visit the natural pool but it's not in the description so we assumed they didn't.

We were thinking about using ABC Jeep Tours but as the ship isn't scheduled to get there until 12 and the tour starts at 1, I'm afraid we will miss it and lose our money.

I'd love to hear your experiences! We are confused as to what we should do. I know we don't want to rent our own Jeep! Too much responsibility! Thanks!!

[terrydtx]

Have you tried to search jeep tours on the CC Shore tour boards? Go to the Aruba board and do a forum search with “jeep”. I have found many good ideas from this forum as the posters are not just HAL but all cruise passengers so you get many varied perspectives and opinions. Good Luck and see you next week.
Terry.

[fuzzywuzzy]

Hello: Just to comment on your question. We have been to Aruba and did rent a jeep for a day a few years ago. It was awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed it but we did get a bit lost but not to worry as the island is small. The maps and roads were not signed very well but that was part of the fun as the roads were small and not much traffic through the countryside. It was great to get away from the commotion of the city. Check out Baby Beach. It is truly a sight to behold - the colours are incredible.

[cruisecache&squash]

Thanks! Yes, I have done lots of searches with Jeep Tour and natural pool, both on these boards and the internet in general, but I haven't seen anything specific regarding arrangements in this particular situation. I also posted a question on the Aruba board but as it's a lot slower than this one, I posted here. I was mainly wondering if there would be vendors selling their Jeep tours once you get off the ship, so we wouldn't have to worry about sticking to a certain time when it's out of our control.

Fuzzywuzzy, (I love that name!), did you go to the Natural Pool? I guess I'm afraid of blowing a tire getting to the natural pool if we rent our own Jeep. I'm glad you had such a good time!!

[fuzzywuzzy]

We were staying at a resort at the time so we walked to a rental office and booked our jeep in advance. I imagine there will be reps at the dock. But I'm not sure what we paid now. No I don't think we will be going to the Natural Pool. I haven't heard of that. We went to the Natural Bridge, and the abandoned gold mines, the lighthouse area, Baby Beach. The huge Yucca plants are amazing and there were wild green parrots flying all around. So pretty. Lots of photo ops. (you like my fuzzywuzzy name? tsk tsk. I was thinking of nursury rhyme names and this popped into my head).

[cruisecache&squash]

Wow-wild parrots? That's really cool! I'm really intrigued by the whole "desert island in the Caribbean" thing. Cactus in the Caribbean!

From what I've read, the natural pool is something else, but you have to have a Jeep to get there because of the big rock piles. Well, where there's a will, there's a way, I guess. Thank you!