Aruba and Curaçao ports

Has anyone been to Aruba and Curaçao? While looking through the Carnival offered excursions... it looks like slim pickings. Our youngest traveler is 4 years old and other travelers have some heart conditions so we have to go "gently." Ideas? Shopping? All ideas are welcomed.

Ecstasy December 2004

Triumph December 2011

Magic March 2012

Magic December 2012

Liberty August 2014

We have gone to both ports in March. We got off ship and took a tour that was $20.00 each. They took us to different spots then dropped us at a beach and then came back for us at a certain time. We had a great time and cheap cost

Have a nice cruise

In curacao look up Irie Tours. Good island tour, pop. water, and beer available all day. Good people running the operation.

You will want to check out the port of call boards. Lots of great ideas and helpful posters. Also look for the reviews of this itinerary.

Thanks. I was pretty let down by the Carnival reviews. CC members are the best!

Ecstasy December 2004

Triumph December 2011

Magic March 2012

Magic December 2012

Liberty August 2014

I Aruba, you will take the Sonny Binn tour

Excellent and a bargain

You will want to check out the port of call boards. Lots of great ideas and helpful posters. Also look for the reviews of this itinerary.

Agree! Going to the Ports of Call Broad here on Cruise Critic and checking under both Aruba and Curacao will be extremely helpful to you.

LuLu

We were there a few weeks ago.

Curacao took a taxi to the seaquarium and enjoyed it there. Aruba we took a local bus to the beach.

Port of call will have more info for you

In Aruba we walked off the ship and walking down the street took a deal $15 pp to ride in open air bus and tour island. Excellent overall tour with a stop out on a bay. Came back and had time for some shopping on Main Street. Nice island.

Curaçao we did the distillery tour and then the cave excursion. I've got a bad hip and the cave tour was tough but got through it.

We were in Aruba and Curacao in early June. I have photos and information about our tour in Aruba in the review that is linked to my signature. We used Howard Folkes Tours for Aruba. He is friends with Sonny Binns. We had such a large group, we ended up using both companies. Our ship didn't leave until 10:00 PM. We decided to go back to the ship and eat dinner and then go out shopping after our tour. About 7:30 that evening, we went shopping. Very few stores were open, so if you want to shop, you should probably do it earlier in the day. In Curacao, we just walked around the port area. It is very pretty.

We just got back 2 days ago from a cruise with these ports.

In Curacao we went to Playa Porto Mari beach which is not crowded and has restrooms and restaurant with a big tv under shade. The water is cyrstal clear but you have to wear water shoes as it has rocks on the way in. The entrance fee was $2.50 per person and $3.50 to rent each chair.

In Aruba we went to Baby beach which is great for little ones and older folks and it very very shallow and clear with soft sand-no water shoes required. In face I always wear water shoes to the beach because I don't like the feel of sand on my feet but this was so tempting I actually took my shoes off and it was wonderful. It cost $38 each way. There is no entrance fee and chairs are $8 each to rent for the day. There is a restaurant and restrooms also.

I should mention that before going to baby Beach we went to Eagle beach which looks like a postcard from a distance but was way to rough to get in for me so I don't recommend that for small children. Eagle beach is the next beach over from Palm beach-not to be confused with de Plam Island another Aruban beach that is farther away $55 each way by cab.

Just returned from the Southern Itinerary:

You have to do what is good for your group. Do you want adventure, or to relax on beach? Do you want to learn about your stop, or shop and eat? so many choices!

In Curacao we did the Irie East Side tour. They could not have made it any easier. The bus was at the end of the pier, about a city block away, all flat. Their communication via e-mail was prompt and clear. For $25 (we had a group), you learned about the island, had a fun bus ride, we could have skipped the distillery but...we still learned something, and got to see a pretty beach. It is a short tour. The beach is definitely a bar beach. It is a concrete walkway to reach the end of the sidewalk that dead ends into a flush toilet and all the beachy places.

In Aruba we took the public bus to the beach. Again, so easy. The bus terminal is at the end of the pier, again about a city block; flat well maintained. A $4 pass gets you to the beach and back (it's a two-ride, out and back, pass). We got off by the Hyatt on palm beach and had a lot of options. Blacktop driveway to within 40 feet of water.

Good luck, you will love these ports.

See my review if you think it will help: be patient...I may not be done yet!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2071859

It sounds like Tours By Locals might be the best thing for you in Aruba. We had a half day private shore excursion for 6 people with Esther as our tour guide. It was a FANTASTIC tour. We were in a small air conditioned van that was able to go to some awesome places the ship tour buses couldn't go. She knew the places where the ship tours would be going and knew the times to take us there to avoid the large crowds. She took us to one of the beaches, then to the lighthouse, the Ayo Rock formations and to the Natural Bridge. Oh my...I got some of the best beach pictures I've ever taken over by the Natural Bridge. The waves crashing on the rocks was an awesome sight. SOOOO much fun and no rush...we got to enjoy at our leisure. If you are traveling with a little one and some with heart issues you can't go wrong on a personalized tour like this...YOU set the pace and tell Esther what you want to see and she and her wonderful driver will do what they can for you.

In Curacao we did the Irie tour. We had a fantastic time on it as well but I'm not sure if it's what you are looking for... It was certainly a party bus...the free drinks were flowing and we were ALL having a REALLY good time. Enjoyed seeing the sights, touring the liquor factory (free samples, woohoo) and spending some time at the beach before the bus took us back to the ship. It was a lot of fun and very informative. I'd certainly recommend it but I know that type of tour isn't for everyone.

Enjoy your trip!

Denise

In Aruba go on the Banana Bus tour. It is a 4 hour tour for $25.00 per person. You go to the Casi Bari Rock Formations, Alto Vista Chapel, California Lighthouse, and a stop at Palm Beach.

It was a wonderful tour. I would book it again in a second

I second Sonny Binns in Aruba! Awesome tour! We are going back to Aruba and Curacao next Feb and am excited!

We are doing an itinerary with Aruba nd Curacao in 2015, so I am interested in reading everyone's ideas, too!

Thanks for posting

In Aruba go on the Banana Bus tour. It is a 4 hour tour for $25.00 per person. You go to the Casi Bari Rock Formations, Alto Vista Chapel, California Lighthouse, and a stop at Palm Beach.

It was a wonderful tour. I would book it again in a second

Same here. We are going back in Feb and will do this again.

I went on a cruise last year that went to Aruba,Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, and Grand Turk. This was my all-time favorite itinerary.

In Aruba, we spent the day on Eagle/Manchebo Beach ( called the low-rise area). This is the most beautiful beach ever, and you share it with few people. It has big waves, though, which I love but not for small children. The area by the Aruba Beach Cub is especially nice.

Palm Beach (called the high-rise area) is much calmer, but very crowded. This is the area with the really nice hotels, so it is very popular. I have been there while on a land vacation.

I have not been to Baby Beach, but it is highly recommended by those with small children. The water is supposed to be shallow and calm.

In Curacau, we just walked around and admired the architecture. If I had a young child with me, I would plan something different, though.

You will love these ports! Have fun!

I went on a cruise last year that went to Aruba,Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, and Grand Turk. This was my all-time favorite itinerary.

 

In Aruba, we spent the day on Eagle/Manchebo Beach ( called the low-rise area). This is the most beautiful beach ever, and you share it with few people. It has big waves, though, which I love but not for small children. The area by the Aruba Beach Cub is especially nice.

 

Palm Beach (called the high-rise area) is much calmer, but very crowded. This is the area with the really nice hotels, so it is very popular. I have been there while on a land vacation.

 

I have not been to Baby Beach, but it is highly recommended by those with small children. The water is supposed to be shallow and calm.

 

In Curacau, we just walked around and admired the architecture. If I had a young child with me, I would plan something different, though.

 

You will love these ports! Have fun!

We are doing this itinerary in 4 weeks. Do you know if there are casinos within walking distance from Eagle beach? We know some of the people in our group will want to go to a casino instead of the beach, but I would like for everyone to be able to go together. If Eagle beach isn't a good option, then does anyone know which one is? Thanks!

TxStacey, the Alhambra Casino is just across the street from the best part of Eagle Beach (sometimes called Punta Brabo Beach or Manchebo Beach). Just ask your taxi driver or bus driver ( only a 10-minute ride from the port). He or she will know where to drop you off.

I have not been inside the casino myself.

I also nominate Sonny Tours while in Aruba. Great guy and great tour!

TxStacey, the Alhambra Casino is just across the street from the best part of Eagle Beach (sometimes called Punta Brabo Beach or Manchebo Beach). Just ask your taxi driver or bus driver ( only a 10-minute ride from the port). He or she will know where to drop you off.

 

I have not been inside the casino myself.[/quote

 

Just a heads up that the Alhambra Casino is very smokey. All of the casinos are somewhat, but Alhambra is very bad.

In Curacao, we rented a car from Avis on the pier. We booked in advance and were glad we did. In the time that we were filling out the paperwork, at least a half-dozen customers came in looking for a car, only to find out that they were all spoken for.

After that, it is sort of up to you and what type of thing you want to do. We drove up to the North West point and found a great beach to relax and snorkel. Then on the way back, as it was the World Cup semi-finals and the "home" team was playing, we found a roadside "bar" (more of an outdoor shack, really) and watched the 2nd half, AET and penalties with the locals.

We would have liked to have had more time to walk around the local port area when we got back. We ended up with just enough time to walk across the pedestrian bridge and back.

I can't help you for Aruba (because of your party make-up), but for anyone else who is interested, we couldn't give any stronger recommendation to Segway Tours Aruba. They took our family of 4 on a tour (with no one else) that lasted at least 2 hours. They also booked us a boat to take us out snorkeling in the afternoon.

Dear experts,

i am traveling on both those days on a cruise. we will be arriving Christmas day in Aruba 8 to 5. we have four kids 22-11. we are a semi active family so beach activities are best.

For Curacao, we are there 8-4- I believe the only ship in port, but on boxing day?

I have a car held for the 6 of us at the cruise port in Curacao, but i have read there is no guarantee??

Normally we are the kind of family that hops on the local bus and heads out, but I am concerned the whole town will be closed, and i hate to have to reserve shore excursions for the whole family. I have been to Aruba twice, so if it costs too much to just get to the beach, i'll just walk around the port.

any ideas in planning these two days would be greatly appreciated with a family of six costs has to always be considered. Thanks so much in advance!!

In Aruba your family can take the public bus to Palm Beach. Palm Beach offers lots of activities to keep your kids content.

More beach info http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2030062

In Curacao we were a family of 10 (on a Christmas cruise) and spent the day at Playa Porto Mari. I was unsuccessful in renting a car for the day so we just opted for a taxi from the cruise terminal to PPM. No problem prearranging a return pick up with the same driver.

PPM was an excellent option because it offered about the best of what serves for a beach in Curacao but it also offered snorkeling.