15 hours in Aruba, how would you fill this time?

15 hours is a very long port stop! I will be there with two girlfriends in May 2017. 8am-11pm. They have left most of the planning up to me and I am perplexed of how to fill our time!

We would like to do a private tour so we can call the "stops"! Thinking of stops at the fallen bridge, Casibari rock formations, Gold Smelter ruins, lighthouse, the little church...what else is there?

Thinking maybe a lunch stop at Zeerovers. We stopped for a drink when we did our trike tour and the seafood looked incredible.

I am a huge beach/snorkel lover, but Unfortunately one of my BFF's is a red head. IF we did any beach time, it would probably be Palm Beach to ensure we get an umbrella.

So all that could take 5-6 hours. Maybe go back to the ship for showers and then go back out for dinner; any good restaurants in the port area? And can we watch the sunset from port?

Usually we are constantly rushing on port days, this will be nice to have some extra time if we can figure out what to do with it! I hate to be on the ship when we can be off the ship!!

Thanks

Lauri

I would do what I want, and not worry about staying ashore the entire time! There's no rule you must, you know!

Read up on Aruba....pick what strikes your fancy, and do it! It's a docked port, so you can come and go as you please! Go do something "beachy" in the morning....head back to the ship for the afternoon..and go eat out that night...maybe gamble a bit....everything is within walking distance, as far as casinos, and restaurants at night....

Our stop was until 2am....so we had a TON of time there! No rushing, no fussing...plenty of time!

Your ideas sound great. A private tour of the island will take you to most of the places that you want to see. Zeerovers is in Savanetta. We really like it. Just so you know, all of the fish is fried. When you eat the shrimp, most of the fried stuff comes off when you peel them, so they don't taste greasy. I don't know of any of the public tours that would include a stop at Zeerovers, since it's pretty far away from most of the sights that they go to, so you will need to book a private tour. You can get the driver to drop you off at a beach when you are finished. Later, after going back to the ship, you could go to dinner around the port area. My favorite for sunset dining downtown are Barefoot and Pinchos. You will also be able to view the sunset from the ship. There are casinos open downtown at night. Another option would be to take a taxi back to Palm Beach, have dinner there, and walk around to the shops and nightlife. Palm Beach is where the action is at night. There are lots of good restaurants in that area, and some fun bars, especially Bugaloe and Moomba. You will have a great time.

Your ideas sound great. A private tour of the island will take you to most of the places that you want to see. Zeerovers is in Savanetta. We really like it. Just so you know, all of the fish is fried. When you eat the shrimp, most of the fried stuff comes off when you peel them, so they don't taste greasy. I don't know of any of the public tours that would include a stop at Zeerovers, since it's pretty far away from most of the sights that they go to, so you will need to book a private tour. You can get the driver to drop you off at a beach when you are finished. Later, after going back to the ship, you could go to dinner around the port area. My favorite for sunset dining downtown are Barefoot and Pinchos. You will also be able to view the sunset from the ship. There are casinos open downtown at night. Another option would be to take a taxi back to Palm Beach, have dinner there, and walk around to the shops and nightlife. Palm Beach is where the action is at night. There are lots of good restaurants in that area, and some fun bars, especially Bugaloe and Moomba. You will have a great time.

Great info! Going to Palm Beach sounds like a lot of fun! I did not know of the nightlife there! Great to walk through the shops and have a bite to eat and some drinks. Can we see the sunset from Palm Beach? I will put Barefoot and Pinchos in my notes as well, just in case we have worn ourselves out by then and just want to go out for a nice dinner!

About Zeerovers...I think we will skip this time. One of my friends has a touchy stomach and fried foods are not good for her. Thank you for reminding me of that! One of my girlfriends is Dutch...maybe we will find a nice Dutch pancake place instead. Suggestions?

My DH and I will be back in Aruba in Feb 2018 so we will go to Zeerovers then. Have you rented a car on Aruba? Do they drive on the right? Maybe my DH and I will do that when we go since Zeerovers is off the beaten track a bit.

Thank you

Lauri

15 hours is a very long port stop! I will be there with two girlfriends in May 2017. 8am-11pm. They have left most of the planning up to me and I am perplexed of how to fill our time!

 

We would like to do a private tour so we can call the "stops"! Thinking of stops at the fallen bridge, Casibari rock formations, Gold Smelter ruins, lighthouse, the little church...what else is there?

 

Thinking maybe a lunch stop at Zeerovers. We stopped for a drink when we did our trike tour and the seafood looked incredible.

 

I am a huge beach/snorkel lover, but Unfortunately one of my BFF's is a red head. IF we did any beach time, it would probably be Palm Beach to ensure we get an umbrella.

 

So all that could take 5-6 hours. Maybe go back to the ship for showers and then go back out for dinner; any good restaurants in the port area? And can we watch the sunset from port?

 

Usually we are constantly rushing on port days, this will be nice to have some extra time if we can figure out what to do with it! I hate to be on the ship when we can be off the ship!!

 

Thanks

Lauri

I'm jealous !!! Our Aruba stop on the Island Princess next spring is only for five hours ! What's up with that ? Hardly worth the effort, if you ask me .

...VTX-Al

My DH and I will be back in Aruba in Feb 2018 so we will go to Zeerovers then. Have you rented a car on Aruba? Do they drive on the right? Maybe my DH and I will do that when we go since Zeerovers is off the beaten track a bit.

Thank you

Lauri

When my wife and I stayed in Aruba a few years ago we rented a car for the week and it was great having the freedom of a car. It was actually a small suv.

They do drive on the right in Aruba.

Great info! Going to Palm Beach sounds like a lot of fun! I did not know of the nightlife there! Great to walk through the shops and have a bite to eat and some drinks. Can we see the sunset from Palm Beach? I will put Barefoot and Pinchos in my notes as well, just in case we have worn ourselves out by then and just want to go out for a nice dinner!

 

About Zeerovers...I think we will skip this time. One of my friends has a touchy stomach and fried foods are not good for her. Thank you for reminding me of that! One of my girlfriends is Dutch...maybe we will find a nice Dutch pancake place instead. Suggestions?

 

My DH and I will be back in Aruba in Feb 2018 so we will go to Zeerovers then. Have you rented a car on Aruba? Do they drive on the right? Maybe my DH and I will do that when we go since Zeerovers is off the beaten track a bit.

 

Thank you

Lauri

You can see beautiful sunsets from Palm Beach. Moomba and Bugaloe would be great places to see it. Cars drive on the right in Aruba. If we rent a car, we just rent it for a few days. Most of the places that we go we can walk to, or take a cab or the bus. A cab ride to Zeerovers is expensive if you are staying in the resort area, so renting a car is a better idea.

You can see beautiful sunsets from Palm Beach. Moomba and Bugaloe would be great places to see it. Cars drive on the right in Aruba. If we rent a car, we just rent it for a few days. Most of the places that we go we can walk to, or take a cab or the bus. A cab ride to Zeerovers is expensive if you are staying in the resort area, so renting a car is a better idea.

Perfect! I think we have port stops in 2017 and 2018 covered! Will read up on Moomba and Bugaloe for sunset dinner!

Thank you again for all your suggestions!

Lauri

Perfect! I think we have port stops in 2017 and 2018 covered! Will read up on Moomba and Bugaloe for sunset dinner!

 

Thank you again for all your suggestions!

Lauri

Moomba and Bugaloe are great bars. They do serve food but I suggest just having a drink at one of them for sunset, and having dinner at one of the better restaurants in Palm Beach.

Moomba and Bugaloe are great bars. They do serve food but I suggest just having a drink at one of them for sunset, and having dinner at one of the better restaurants in Palm Beach.

A restaurant that we ate dinner in Palm Beach that we enjoyed was the Pelican Pier.

A restaurant that we ate dinner in Palm Beach that we enjoyed was the Pelican Pier.

I will have to check out Pelican Pier!

Thanks

Lauri

Pelican Pier serves the same type of food as Moomba and Bugaloe. All are good if you are looking for a light meal.

Is the Atlantis Submarine worth doing? Would you choose to do it here in Aruba or at a different port?

I was just in Aruba in December and did the Atlantis Submarine tour. It was really good! You go down about 130ft. You see 2 ship wrecks and a coral reef. I wish I had my camera photos in my phone to attach them now. Maybe I can do that after work today. But you see many different species of fish and sea creatures.

If you have back problems I don't recommend this tour as you really have to lean quite a bit forward to get a good look out the windows sometimes. Also if you have difficulty doing stairs the staff will assist you but I believe there is like 7-9 stairs that are really steep to get into the submarine and it's through a small hole where many hit there back or rears on...

Overall though there is a lot of windows and alot to see. The 8 we had in our group all loved it!

Also be careful where you wander in Aruba. We found ourself only a few blocks away from the ship and did not feel comfortable in the neighborhood and were offered drugs numerous of times. Follow crowds...

Kyser

I was just in Aruba in December and did the Atlantis Submarine tour. It was really good! You go down about 130ft. You see 2 ship wrecks and a coral reef. I wish I had my camera photos in my phone to attach them now. Maybe I can do that after work today. But you see many different species of fish and sea creatures.

 

If you have back problems I don't recommend this tour as you really have to lean quite a bit forward to get a good look out the windows sometimes. Also if you have difficulty doing stairs the staff will assist you but I believe there is like 7-9 stairs that are really steep to get into the submarine and it's through a small hole where many hit there back or rears on...

 

Overall though there is a lot of windows and alot to see. The 8 we had in our group all loved it!

 

Also be careful where you wander in Aruba. We found ourself only a few blocks away from the ship and did not feel comfortable in the neighborhood and were offered drugs numerous of times. Follow crowds...

 

Kyser

WOW! My wife and I walked all around Aruba during our week at La Cabana Resort and never once felt the least bit threatened. The crime rate in Aruba is pretty low. We found the natives living on the island to be very friendly. In fact we liked it so much we booked the Resort for 2 weeks in 2017.

I was just in Aruba in December and did the Atlantis Submarine tour. It was really good! You go down about 130ft. You see 2 ship wrecks and a coral reef. I wish I had my camera photos in my phone to attach them now. Maybe I can do that after work today. But you see many different species of fish and sea creatures.

 

If you have back problems I don't recommend this tour as you really have to lean quite a bit forward to get a good look out the windows sometimes. Also if you have difficulty doing stairs the staff will assist you but I believe there is like 7-9 stairs that are really steep to get into the submarine and it's through a small hole where many hit there back or rears on...

 

Overall though there is a lot of windows and alot to see. The 8 we had in our group all loved it!

 

Also be careful where you wander in Aruba. We found ourself only a few blocks away from the ship and did not feel comfortable in the neighborhood and were offered drugs numerous of times. Follow crowds...

 

Kyser

Many thanks for your excellent review of the Submarine. It sounds wonderful but you've raised a few issues re mobility that we hadn't considered. Will need to think this through carefully or be very careful on the day.

look into Royal Car Rental, we rented from them, great to deal with

Grand occidental resort for the day booked through Shore Excursioner. Wonderful day

15 hours is a very long port stop! I will be there with two girlfriends in May 2017. 8am-11pm. They have left most of the planning up to me and I am perplexed of how to fill our time!

 

We would like to do a private tour so we can call the "stops"! Thinking of stops at the fallen bridge, Casibari rock formations, Gold Smelter ruins, lighthouse, the little church...what else is there?

 

Thinking maybe a lunch stop at Zeerovers. We stopped for a drink when we did our trike tour and the seafood looked incredible.

 

I am a huge beach/snorkel lover, but Unfortunately one of my BFF's is a red head. IF we did any beach time, it would probably be Palm Beach to ensure we get an umbrella.

 

So all that could take 5-6 hours. Maybe go back to the ship for showers and then go back out for dinner; any good restaurants in the port area? And can we watch the sunset from port?

 

Usually we are constantly rushing on port days, this will be nice to have some extra time if we can figure out what to do with it! I hate to be on the ship when we can be off the ship!!

 

Thanks

Lauri

We had a long stop like this and took a cat sail to the wreck for snorkeling there and at another spot closer to the beach, then had lunch at Bugaloe on Palm Beach, great way to start the day! We then took a horseback ride along the beach and through the quieter area of the island, then returned to the ship to get cleaned up. Went into town and enjoyed the evening. You could do the daysail (through the ship or an independent operator) then head back to one of the beaches for 4 - 5 hrs. Bugaloe is a fun spot for happy hour and dinner.

We had a long stop like this and took a cat sail to the wreck for snorkeling there and at another spot closer to the beach, then had lunch at Bugaloe on Palm Beach, great way to start the day! We then took a horseback ride along the beach and through the quieter area of the island, then returned to the ship to get cleaned up. Went into town and enjoyed the evening. You could do the daysail (through the ship or an independent operator) then head back to one of the beaches for 4 - 5 hrs. Bugaloe is a fun spot for happy hour and dinner.

These are all great ideas! One friend is a non-snorkeler but we talked her into coming with us in Bonaire so I don't think we will snorkel in Aruba, but I will save that info for when DH and I return! We live to snorkel! Horseback riding sounds fun too!!thanks for the ideas.

Lauri

We're thinking of doing the Sunset Sail/Dinner that Pelican Adventures offers...has anybody done that & how was it?

How far is Palm Beach from the cruise port?

How far is Palm Beach from the cruise port?

Depends on traffic a little bit but usually not bad from the pier to there. So not more than 10 min. Traffic from the pier the other direction will be a bit heavier but no better beach than baby beach. Probably a 20 min ride from the pier.