Aruba vs Curacao

we have to skip one port day _ would you skip Aruba or Curacao?

Curacao I was looking at Irie Tours

Aruba I was looking at Barcelo Occidental day pass

Due to $$ and tired parents we should choose one only.

We like beaches.

Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance.

If you like beaches, then Aruba is really nice! Love the beaches there. Didn’t go in Curaçao. Many on our cruise liked the beaches, but they seemed farther way based on what I saw on the map. Aruba, the beaches are a 5-10 bus or taxi ride. Very enjoyable.

We were tired at the Aruba/Curacao ports on one of our port intensive cruises. Did an island/beach tour on Aruba and a laid back day on Curacao.

On Curacao we walked around town seeing the bridge, the church with the embedded cannonball and the colorful buildings. Didn’t spend any money, took our time walking with many stops. No need to skip the port to save money and rest.

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Aruba is more about beaches and shopping.

Curacao does have the historic synagogue and a unique cave and a few other sites to see.

It all depends on what you enjoy.

Keith

Curacao is a place where you can walk around town for free- better than Aruba.

So we would go to a beach in Aruba and walk around Willemstad, Curacao.

Since you like beaches, Aruba would be a great choice! :D

we have to skip one port day _ would you skip Aruba or Curacao?

Curacao I was looking at Irie Tours

Aruba I was looking at Barcelo Occidental day pass

Due to $$ and tired parents we should choose one only.

 

We like beaches. Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance.

Had to laugh as we're doing both when we visit the ABCs in January, and we've added a Sunset Tour in Curacao as well. :) I would recommend keeping the day pass in Aruba, and leaving the parents onboard while you visit Curacao on your own. Beautiful port to just walk around and enjoy the area, without paying for a tour.

If your parents might be tired, you might look into this for them:

https://m.viator.com/tour/Curacao/Curacao-Shore-Excursion-Curacao-TukTuk-City-Tour/0-7560P3/info.htm?pref=02&aid=gmmdsa1&mcid=40810&tsem=true&supag=43057352129&supkl=kl&supsc=s&supai=223127239860&supap=1t1&supdv=m&supnt=g&supti=dsa-19959388920&suplp=9022265&supli=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl7as7bei1wIVxUCGCh0NMglmEAAYASAAEgIoBPD_BwE

This is a one hour city tour, they also have a 2 hour tour which allows more time to explore the sights. We're doing the 2 hour tour in February...

Aruba's beaches are incredible. I would definitely go to the beach in Aruba. If your parents want to skip Curacao, I suggest that you walk around the town for a few hours while they relax on the ship. The town is very easy to get to from the ship, and there are lots of stores and cafes.

Thanks everyone! Appreciate all your help

Curacao has beautiful beaches, but your looking at $100 or so round trip for a cab ride, and admission to a beach which was included in our cab fair. Need to take a ride to see the nice beaches in Curacao. Basically our cab driver dropped us of, and asked when we wanted to be picked up. He showed up a little early while I was at the beach bar so I had a beer with him.

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Had to laugh as we're doing both when we visit the ABCs in January, and we've added a Sunset Tour in Curacao as well. :) I would recommend keeping the day pass in Aruba, and leaving the parents onboard while you visit Curacao on your own. Beautiful port to just walk around and enjoy the area, without paying for a tour.

How was the sunset tour in Curacao? We are in Curacao 1:30-10:30 ugh. We were hoping to do Blue Room Cave, but I think it wouldn't be that enjoyable so late afternoon. So maybe a sunset cruise would be cool. Who did you do your tour with and what was included.

How was the sunset tour in Curacao? We are in Curacao 1:30-10:30 ugh. We were hoping to do Blue Room Cave, but I think it wouldn't be that enjoyable so late afternoon. So maybe a sunset cruise would be cool. Who did you do your tour with and what was included.

Haven't done it yet, we don't cruise until January. I've booked with Bounty Adventures.

http://www.bountyadventures.com/Curacao_Sunset_Sail.html

Curacao has beautiful beaches, but your looking at $100 or so round trip for a cab ride, and admission to a beach which was included in our cab fair. Need to take a ride to see the nice beaches in Curacao. Basically our cab driver dropped us of, and asked when we wanted to be picked up. He showed up a little early while I was at the beach bar so I had a beer with him.

 

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What beach did you go to and how was it?

If your parents are too tired to venture out, the ship makes a lovely day. No reason you can't take off for a couple hours in either place and see a bit of the country!

We took a bus to the Holiday Inn / Pelicans Nest Pier in Aruba. It is a really easy walk from the cruise ship, just cross the street! You can ask the guards at the exit -entrance to the cruise ship pier where the bus station is. It cost $5.00 round trip an

d the buses were running every fifteen minutes, we were there this past Sunday. Also, a lounge chair rental under a palapa is $5.00 per chair and you get to see a lot of boats coming and going to the pier to drop people off and pick them up for boat tours or para sailing which you can but right there. The restaurants on the pier looked good, the water was fantastic. Really....for ten dolllars, I can’t think of a better day, and so easy, very little walking. We were in Curacao today, Monday, just walked around.... it was a very long walk for us as the Celebrity Reflection docked at the farthest possible end of the cruise pier. We walked over the pontoon bridge....loved that, and walked around downtown Curacao. They give out free walking tour maps, I loved being immersed in their culture. LOVED the floating marketplace and all they musicians and little parks all around the tiny down town area. It was hot and humid, but when you walk along the water you get a breeze and the streets going from one end of the island to the other width wise had a wind tunnel effect again a cool breeze. This wklking around is not for people who are tired but there are so many gorgeous restaurants and a casino along the way, some are very upscale nad modern and others are more like a laid black island vibe. Something for everyone. I would not skip either place.

Lots of great info in here as we will be at both next July and starting to make plans as to what we want to do.

Cheers!

Aruba is more about beaches and shopping.

 

Curacao does have the historic synagogue and a unique cave and a few other sites to see.

 

It all depends on what you enjoy.

 

Keith

Are these, the synagogue and cave within walking of the town. sorry if this sounds silly but we just booked a cruise for this Friday and this is one of the ports and we would very much be interested in seeing the Synagogue.

Thanks for any help

Cheers

Len