Familycruisers20

We did it on the Breeze over Christmas...there were 28 of us (family). It was a terrible experience. I have heard of many good experiences, but this sadly, was not one of them. We were a multi generational family, and after taking a family picture from the upper balcony so we are all looking waaaaay up, he took us to a night club with cages in them and strobe lights on the ceiling for our individual pics. In some, the Exit sign is clearly in the pic, as well as the red rope poles and the DJ booth computer. I politely asked if we could please go to a more appealing location, not a night club, and he seemed offended. I backed off until a brother in law finally asked for us to be taken back to the atrium where the pretty Christmas tree was. He finally relented.

Getting the pics was a nightmare. We had to wait until the last night of the cruise to get them...We showed up where and when we were told, to be told they were not ready. We came back later, and were handed stacks of photos to sift thru in the poor lighting of the Pixels gallery with a TON of people milling around and no where to sit. We finally asked to go in the library bar. The photographer showed up finally and we wnet thru them. They are pricey, and we were aware of that. It ended up feeling much like a used car deal...you buy that and I will throw in this. He could tell how unhappy we were and the hours we had been waiting and ended up throwing in quite a bit....BUT my mother in law paid close to $800-$1000, maybe more.

Then actually getting the pics...he had offered to turn a couple pics b/c I really did not like the EXIT sign in mine, and a few other things....he told me to pick them up from him at 9:45pm that night. I was to call him first though. I called and he asked me to get them closer to 10:30pm. When I showed up he came running (sweaty to boot) out with them.

He was clearly disorganized and over worked! We were nice, the pictures are fine I guess. It was a lot of money for a night club with exit signs. The Christmas tree pics did turn out nicely.

Would I do it again?? Never. But I have a friend whose large family experience was the total opposite and loved it.

Park and cruise is awesome.

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We tip per bag. You will have to tip the guy at the terminal either way, so that's a moot point. We usually give the driver $5 or so each way.

We use Park n cruise every time. Great operation and very organized.

We went with Stingray Sailing. Small group and on a catamaran.

Just did this 2 weeks ago. We used Courtney Taylor for our driver, and he was great. We met him about 8:30am off the ship and got to Blue Hole around 10am. We did bring our own life jacket for my 8 yr old to make her feel more secure jumping - and water shoes...although we got there and only had 1 shoe for my daughter (we rented her a pair for $7). It was great! We had Alex as a guide and he took some pictures for us, but I tossed my water camera down to my husband to get pics while we were jumping after he jumped. My kids loved this and would love to go back. Afterwards we went to a small beach for about 30 min then grabbed lunch at Scottchis and headed back. We got back to Falmouth around 3:30. In plenty of time for the ship.

Our kids are 13 and 8 and We got a private driver from Courtney Taylor and had him take us to the Blue Hole. They loved it!!

We are using Stingray Sailing on May 3. A friend has used them twice and loved them--said it's a husband/wife owned operation and the teens loved it as much as the adults.

Is the walk down the beach or is there paving? My mom has some difficulty walking long distances or on uneven ground.

The walk is down the beach line, but you could go on the paved street. My inlaws actually did the walk down the beach, but grabbed a cab for the quick ride back. They can't walk as far.

We love Jacks! Been there 3 times. Tip, go on other side of freighter pier right there at Jacks and there is some really good snorkeling and conch shell/sand dollar findings.

Keep in mind that 2:00 docking time will be 3:00 local time. Sunset is at 6pm.

We just booked them too, a group of 16 are going. I called and spoke to the manager, she said that as long as you get off quickly, get a cab and get there there should be no problem. She said that in the slight chance that you miss the leave time, you could catch up 10 min down the road at Catalina Cove. She said that 98-99% of the time that does not happen, but wanted me to know that is an option.

And, yes 8am ship time, but it's 9am local time and it leaves at 10am.

I think we are going to just walk off, check out area, eat dinner back on and then walk off to see bridge lit up etc. not my first choice, for sure!

I guess there is always the option of cabbing it to the the close aquarium beach for a few hours too. We have a large group of 28. Not sure what everyone will decide!

How far is Arashi Beach and Boca Catalina? I see we can take the bus, but if we would rather take a cab, any idea how much that would run?

I am on same cruise....We dock at 2----but this is 3pm local time. By the time we actually get off, it will be closer to 3:30 prob. I checked today's info in Curaçao, and sunset is at 6:08pm today. We aren't going to have much daylight that day!

Upon further research, we port at 2 ship time, which is 3 local time. I looked at current info for today in Curaçao, and sunset is at 6:08 today. So, my over thinking brain leads me to beLive that.....we port at 3 local time, off by 3:30, even if we do the 3 hour Irie Tour, that puts us prob leaving by 3:45-4, dark at 6, tour back by 7. Does not sound great!

Think this port is a walk off look around, back on the ship for dinner....then maybe back off to see the bridge lit up.

Guess we could cab it to Sea Aqurium beach for a couple of hours....not sure if we want the hassle.

No, still looking. My sis in law wants to take a cab to a beach to snorkel, but if we get in at 2, off by 2:30, cab it to a beach, then the sun sets between 5 & 6, it's just not much time.

I am thinking more in lines of Irie Tours I want to the the 5 hour one, but I think we will hit dark and miss out, so we might just do the shorter one, see a few things and get back ion ship for dinner then walk back out to see the bridge all lit up. Or whatever there is to see!

Nope, not planning on doing SA.

Think Timbopat is right on with what I am thinking....since we had day light savings time, we come in at the same time the boat is leaving, so it's a no go. I have contacted them and they agree. Working on my refund now. Bummed and they sure are missing out on a lot of ship revenue!

If you do self assist, do you have to go super early? Or could you go at 9ish? Considering doing that to get on road home....long drive and we are on deck 1, might be awhile before our deck is called!

Planning to do this on the Breeze over Christmas and taking my daughter as a surprise. She is dying to do it!

We are on Deck 1, anyone been there and can tell me their approximate time they were called to get off? I am trying to coordinate shuttle pick up.

Anyone just off the Breeze in Aruba? Says ship should dock at 8am, wondering if making the Jolly Pirates snorkel boat possible....since it leaves at 9am.

(Just figured out if the ship docks at 8a,pm that is SHIP time, which means 9local.....the same time JP leaves.)

Wanting to do this excursion!

With Jolly Pirates, do you need to get to them in in the Palm Beach area or do they pick you up in port? Usually the time they give you is the meeting time and the local guides know when the ships arrive. I would be surprised that they would book you on an excursion that you couldn't make. If you need to find your own transportation to Palm Beach for the excursion, then this definitely won't work and they book many people that are not on ships. So I can see how this would have happened.

Jolly Pirates are located at MooMBa Beach, so I think Palm Beach?? You have to take a cab to get there. They have 3 ships that take 60-70 people, one would think they would want to fill them and if they know the cruise ship is scheduled to be in they would have at least one be flexible .

Your guide will know how this works...get there at 9 ship's time...you'll be fine.

That's what I thought, but they seem confused!