Hatteras51

On 11/24/2024 at 8:47 PM, Zerog33 said:

Is there golf cart or scooter rental near by?   I have trouble walking long distances and hoping for something like that to help me get around.  Was also counting on taxis as an option, hate to hear they are hard to impossible to get.   

 

There are no golf cart rentals.  I've never noticed scooter rentals in Aruba.  There are electric bike rental sites, but I don't know if there are any close to the cruise port.  Traffic in that area is terrible,  and honestly,  I don't think that I would attempt to get around on a scooter or a bike in that area.  Probably waiting for a taxi or renting a car would be the best solution. 

On 11/1/2024 at 1:03 PM, sullycruise said:

Lady Berard- at Reflexions was there sea grass in the water? i heard there's a few channels without the sea grass that you can walk out into the water?

Usually,  there areas that are clear of seagrass at Reflexions. . Further down Surfside Beach, the seagrass (Sargassum) is much thicker. 

1 hour ago, atakkat said:

We are interested in this option as well. We are in port on weekday so hopefully the air traffic will not be too bad. Just wondering about the atmosphere on a weekday vs party weekend. Do they have happy hour and music?

There's a steady amount of flights into Aruba every day of the week.  We actually enjoy watching the planes flying in for a landing, but you can also hear the ones that are taking off. We've gotten so use to it that we hardly notice. They do have music there and good food and drinks at reasonable prices. 

New Years is a very big deal in Aruba, with fireworks everywhere,  and I mean everywhere,  on New Year's Eve. Even the residents set off massive fireworks around their homes. From a balcony, one can see them going off in every direction.  Most locals will be spending the day with their families,  and probably there won't be many taxi drivers working.  The busses will operate on a holiday schedule,  and waits will be longer. I try to avoid ship excursions,  but this would be a good time to book one, if they are available.  You could also check with Reflextions Beach Club and see if they will be open. Even if you go to a local beach,  there's a good chance that some of the chair vendors won't be there. Good luck!

Passions is definitely more romantic.  In my experience,  the food at Barefoot is better than Passions,  but the atmosphere can't be beat. The reason that I never recommend Passions is because there is a waste treatment plant nearby, and sometimes the stench from it carries all the way to the beach.  The resort that owns Passions has filed multiple lawsuits against the government about the issues at the waste treatment facility.  It has really hurt their business over the years.  Sometimes, it's just unbearable in that area. 

We spend 2 -3 weeks in Aruba every year,  and there are many restaurants that I visit every visit. I haven't been to Opus, but I have been to their sister restaurant,  Wilhelmina,  which is one of the finest and more popular restaurants on the island.  We go to Barefoot for the atmosphere, which is dining right on the beach. I  have several friends, however,  that don't enjoy Barefoot because there are people in front of them, wading in the water, and music from the beach club, Reflextions,  can be loud. The last time that we were there, children were playing soccer right next to our table. It is on what is considered a  "locals" beach, and they continue to enjoy themselves while people eat. That doesn't bother us,  but it does bother some people.  The food at Barefoot is good, but it is not considered on the same fine dining level of Opus and Wilhelmina. 

Taxis don't hang around Barefoot.  They will call one to pick you up.  There's no telling how long it will take.  We've waited 30 minutes for a taxi,  and have also had one arrive in less than 10 minutes. We vacation in Aruba every year, and go to Barefoot every visit.  One thing that we discovered, on our last trip in February, was that it was extremely difficult to get a taxi anywhere on the island.  Drivers told us, that they are so busy during the day, that a lot of them are going home early,  and a lot less drivers are working at night. It was very frustrating, and we were late to many reservations. 

We always use our friend, Bully, for island tours, and have recommended him to many people. He gives outstanding tours,  and will customize it to your preferences.  However,  he can only take 5 passengers, by law.  Rates are by tge hour. His email is bullytaxi79@hotmail.com. His reply email will probably be under the name,  Amador Lacle. Bully is his nickname.  Check your spam because a lot of email from Aruba often goes to spam.

7 minutes ago, Purplsmurf said:

I don’t think the sunset cruise offers snorkeling…….but I can be wrong

Hi Purplsmurf! It's been awhile since we have chatted.  For the last several years, we've been spending time in your neck of the woods, spending a week or two at ABC before moving to our timeshare at Renaissance.  I believe that you guys stay at Casa Del Mar?? We were there last February when most of the beach was washed away. It made for an interesting and very different experience. 

We've been on Black Pearl for the sunset cruise.  They do offer snorkeling during that sail. I highly recommend it.  Sorry to hear about your experience at Pinchos.  We love it, but if we'd had your experience,  we'd never go back. 

Taxis can only carry 5 passengers,  by law. There is some talk about changing that, but time will tell if that will happen.  You would need 2 taxis. The current rate from the downtown area to Baby Beach is $35.00 per taxi, one way. Because you are coming from the cruise port, there will be an additional  surcharge.  We own a timeshare in Aruba,  and have been vacationing there for years.  We used to love Baby Beach,  but it has become so crowded that we now avoid it.

The butterfly farm is very nice.  We enjoy it. You could take the bus there or taxis. It is only about 15 minutes from the port.

I have several friends who go there every time that they vacation in Aruba.  All of them love it. I've walked through there several times.  It's rather small,  with a nice, calm beach, and a small swimming pool.  My friends say that the food and drinks are good. 

Montforte and Tranquilo might be what you are looking for.  Black Pearl does sailing tours, but goes to all of the snorkel stops that all of the other boats go to. None of these are party boats.

Barcelo in Palm Beach has day passes. Eagle Aruba Resort on Eagle Beach also has day passes. Another good option is Reflections Beach Club on Surfside Beach. 

On 9/4/2024 at 5:38 PM, RET P3 FE said:

Distance from Barefoot restaurant to the cruise port (roughly)

To walk from the ship would take close to 30 minutes. It would be much better to take a taxi. 

There has been a ton of growth since you were there, with lots of new condos, hotels, and lots of traffic. However,  the attractions and things to do are basically the same.  Beautiful beaches, good snorkeling,  island tours, etc.

The ship docks in the downtown area,  so no beaches are close by. There are several good restaurants/ bars located in that area. My favorite is Lucy's Retired Surfer's Bar. You can sit out back and view the boats in the harbor.  Another good one is Iguana Joe's. It is located across from the harbor and upstairs,  but has nice views of the ships. The shopping area that it is in is being converted to condos.  Iguana Joe's has opened a new location in Palm Beach,  and has limited hours now in the downtown location.  I'm not sure if the construction downtown has started yet, but it might not be open when you are there. 

I have rented cars many times in Aruba,  but never as a cruiser, so I can't answer all of your questions.  Royal usually has larger vehicles.  I'm not sure if they come to the cruise port.  You might have to go to them. I believe that Jay's has cars at the cruise port.  We've rented from them before when we vacation in Aruba,  and they are very reliable.  I don't know if they have the size vehicle that you need. I strongly suggest that you book ahead of time. Aruba is a very popular vacation spot for land vacationers, and they often run out of cars.

The price used to be $55.00 per hour. I don't know if there has been a price increase.  His tours typically last 3 - 4 hours.

You could try Occidental or Riu. I'm not sure if either are selling day passes right now.

Since Willem's is located along the strip in Palm Beach,  which is the busiest area on the island,  and full of hotels,  expect it to be very busy during breakfast and lunch hours.

The current taxi rate is $16.00, which includes $3.00 fee from inside the cruise port.  Taxi rates haven't increased in about 6 years, and there is talk that they will be increasing soon, so this may change somewhat by the time that you get there.  There is a taxi stand in the port. Get off of the ship as soon as you can because there will be lots of people looking for a taxi. There are places to hang out if you arrive early. It is very important to know that taxis will not take you back to the ship if you have on wet bathing suits. If they suspect that one of your suits is wet at all, you will be refused. Make sure that you are completely dry and take some clothes to put on over your suits before you try to get a taxi. Allow plenty of time to wait for a taxi to arrive.  The island is full and taxis are extremely busy. On our last Aruba vacation in February,  we usually had to wait around 30 minutes for a taxi to arrive. 

The beaches along the resort areas aren't good for shelling.  At the most, you will find small broken pieces.  It is important to know that Aruba does not permit tourists to remove shells, coral,  or sand. I don't know how that pertains with security at the port, but at the airport they remove people from the line and charge them huge fines.

You will need a taxi to go to Barefoot.  The busses don't stop near there. Make sure that you have a reservation for dinner. They book up quickly. 

We've toured with Bully many times. We vacation every year in Aruba,  and Bully has become a good friend.  His island tours are outstanding.  Be sure to check your spam.  His email will come under his name, Amador Lacle. Bully is his nickname.  His  correct email address is bullytaxi79@hotmail.com. It may take a few days for him to get back to you.  He has a huge following of regular customers, and stays incredibly busy.  Also, he usually vacations in May, so he might not be working right now,  but he is worth the wait. 

Tranquilo and Black Pearl do private charters. I think that Monforte does also.  All 3 are great options.