Aruba what to do with one day and limited mobility

[jonj]

One of the stops on our cruise will be Aruba

We are a group of 9 people with one being on oxygen and two children age 12 & 9.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do?

Obviously we can't do anything too strenuous, is an island tour through the ship worth it or should we get one on our own after getting off the ship? Or is there not enough to see on the island itself. Maybe just go to a beach and the casino for a while (without the kids)

 

Any other suggestions?

[ashleysmm]

You can hire a taxi and ask for an island tour, make sure to set the price prior to leaving. Aruba is an arrid island and looks more like the desert than your typical Caribbean island.

 

There are wonderful beaches where you can spend the day if that's something you'd like.

 

Just outside the cruise terminal approx 1 1/2 blocks is a small shopping area with some stores inside an air conditioned bldg. The local craft stalls are about 4 blocks from the ship and most of them have the same merchandise but not the same prices. Across from the craft market is your typical upscale tourist shops and eateries.

 

You can also rent a car/van for the day picking it up right next to the pier but remember they drive on the opposite side of the road than in the states.

 

You might want to check out the possiblity of renting a wheelchair (prearranged either with the cruiseline or with an independent renter) for the length of your cruise making mobility less of an issue.

 

Carol

[Arubalisa]

You can hire a taxi and ask for an island tour, make sure to set the price prior to leaving. Aruba is an arrid island and looks more like the desert than your typical Caribbean island.

Just as an added note, taxis are limited by law to 5 people per vehicle irregardless of type of vehicle. Prices quoted by drivers are per vehicle, not per person.Taxi rates are set by the government.

 

You can also rent a car/van for the day picking it up right next to the pier but remember they drive on the opposite side of the road than in the states.

"Driving in Aruba is on the right-hand side of the road. Local laws require drivers and passengers to wear seat belts and motorcyclists to wear helmets. Children under 5 years of age should be in a child safety seat; if older they should ride in the back seat. Right turns on red are prohibited in Aruba."

 

When visiting various islands, our family of 10 tours with my 90+ year old grandmother. We make arrangements on our own, stipulating with the tour guide/driver, that during any stops, she will remain in the vehicle, and would need the air conditioning running. Never had a problem.

[PhillyTom]

The bus ride could be uncomfortable for larger (taller and/or heavier) people. The seats a very close together and cramped. Getting off and on the bus could present a challenge for larger individuals. You need to be flexible and able to manuever your body to wiggle into the seats on the bus. The bus is has bench seating going from one side of the bus to the other, with no center isle. There are only a few double seats, with narrow isles seperating them from the other seating. Think of a school bus with wooden bench seating.