Aruba - A Question

[Northeastal]

DW and I am booked on a full Panama transit cruise from Ft Lauderdale to Los Angeles during this coming January / February on the Coral.

 

The first port of call is Aruba and neither of us is into sunbathing or sea activities.

 

We would like to visit the Hard Rock Cafe.

 

Can any of the experienced cruisers advise me how far this is from where the ship docks and the best way to get there.

 

Many thanks in advance.

[Hlitner]

The Hard Rock is out at Palm Beach which is quite a few miles from the port. You can simply walk out of the port and cross the street to the bus station (its just an outdoor station) and take the local bus out to Palm Beach. The driver will be happy to tell you which is the closest stop to that "tourist trap" place :) The distance is about 6 miles (it seems somewhat further) and the bus used to cost about $3 round trip (you get a discount if you purchase the round trip fare vs a one-way fare). Palm Beach is also the major high rise hotel/resort area and there are other restaurants and some shops in that area plus a popular beach.

 

Hank

[Rob & Beckys mom]

But, at least they will have the t-shirt! :) My son has one from the Hard Rock in China...

 

Jan

[debandbruce]

We were just in Aruba on Sunday Sept 26, I thought there was a Hard Rock Cafe right by the pier. We walked up the street past all the vendors offering tours, made a right and you could see the sign. It was close to where the casino is. This was our first trip to Aruba, don't know if there are 2 Hard Rocks maybe this was just a sign advertising the Hard Rock. We didn't venture very far just did a little shopping. Most stores were closed being it was a Sunday. It was very hot out so we went back to the ship to swim.

[Aruba]

When I saw the subject line, I thought you were asking ME a question. :)

[califlady]

I was just curious so I goggled it. It is in Palm Beach.:D

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

We did the same cruise this year in Feb. We loved it - the Coral is a lovely ship. I don't know if you read my review but in case you want to have a look here is the link....

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1169639

 

I really liked Aruba, such a pretty place. We will be back there in 6 weeks for part of a 14 night caribbean cruise.

[debandbruce]

Yes I did the same and it says Palm Beach. We have video of the sign but the only photos I took were of Dunkin Donuts. It must have been an advertising sign, haven't watched all our video yet, barely finished unpacking. It was a great cruise on The Emerald Princess though, can't wait to go back.

[AmberTeka]

We were in Aruba on Jan.6. on the Westerdam. Part of Christmas or New Year's must have been still celebrated that night because DH and I sat on the balcony until late ( unusal for us) and watched firecrackers go off at the Major Hotels. He had a martini..I had an ice cold diet Pepsi...We saw the snorkeling buses..Pinapple buses ..came in after dark and watched them.unload, the passengers all busy and yet tired out..happy though...and then watched some festive passengers sort of stagger up the gangway..all very happy. The Weather was perfect. It was a moment in time...ordinary things happening..but the moment..the place...I will remember it all of my life. I think it is why we cruise. AND the little birds..that dive into the water as you come into the harbor at Aruba. They go way way down..and turn green when they submerge. We watched them for a long time. Enchanting.

[Pam in CA]

When I was in Aruba last January, I didn't want to go to the beach or have an organized tour. I walked off the ship and walked towards the port entrance. There were vans there offering tours for $25. I bit, and it was great! We spent about 2.5 hours driving around, saw the major sights, and the driver took us into gated communities, showing us some of the spectacular homes. She would have dropped us off anywhere we wanted. She told us that the vans inside the port gate are government licensed; the ones outside the gate aren't. Not sure if she was right but she did have a tour license displayed. It was the best $25 I spent on the cruise. :)

[Solara]

When I was in Aruba last January, I didn't want to go to the beach or have an organized tour. I walked off the ship and walked towards the port entrance. There were vans there offering tours for $25. I bit, and it was great! We spent about 2.5 hours driving around, saw the major sights, and the driver took us into gated communities, showing us some of the spectacular homes. She would have dropped us off anywhere we wanted. She told us that the vans inside the port gate are government licensed; the ones outside the gate aren't. Not sure if she was right but she did have a tour license displayed. It was the best $25 I spent on the cruise. :)

Pam,

 

How many people were on the van you toured with. We have been to Aruba many times & have never taken a tour. It's something I'd like to do this time as we will be there next week.

[ittlfly]

Pam,

 

How many people were on the van you toured with. We have been to Aruba many times & have never taken a tour. It's something I'd like to do this time as we will be there next week.

 

I would be curious too. We have been to Aruba twice (and will be there again in a few weeks on the Sea Princess)......it would be nice to do something other than shop. :D

[Pam in CA]

Pam,

 

How many people were on the van you toured with. We have been to Aruba many times & have never taken a tour. It's something I'd like to do this time as we will be there next week.

 

I would be curious too. We have been to Aruba twice (and will be there again in a few weeks on the Sea Princess)......it would be nice to do something other than shop. :D

The van held six people (three bench seats), there were only two other people with me for a total of three. The driver stopped at a grocery store where we could buy soft drinks, water, etc. The couple who joined me bargained for the both of them for $40. I left the ship a bit later, after lunch, so they were willing to do almost anything to get people in the vans.

 

The driver was great. Traffic? She just zipped down a side street. We saw a LOT more than you would have on a ship's tour. As we went through the gates of the closed communities, she just waved at the guard(s). :) Musta been cousins.

[Solara]

The van held six people (three bench seats), there were only two other people with me for a total of three. The driver stopped at a grocery store where we could buy soft drinks, water, etc. The couple who joined me bargained for the both of them for $40. I left the ship a bit later, after lunch, so they were willing to do almost anything to get people in the vans.

 

The driver was great. Traffic? She just zipped down a side street. We saw a LOT more than you would have on a ship's tour. As we went through the gates of the closed communities, she just waved at the guard(s). :) Musta been cousins.

Thanks Pam!:):)

[ittlfly]

Thanks Pam!:):)

 

Me too. :)

[metairiegal]

We were in Aruba on Jan.6. on the Westerdam. Part of Christmas or New Year's must have been still celebrated that night because DH and I sat on the balcony until late ( unusal for us) and watched firecrackers go off at the Major Hotels. He had a martini..I had an ice cold diet Pepsi...We saw the snorkeling buses..Pinapple buses ..came in after dark and watched them.unload, the passengers all busy and yet tired out..happy though...and then watched some festive passengers sort of stagger up the gangway..all very happy. The Weather was perfect. It was a moment in time...ordinary things happening..but the moment..the place...I will remember it all of my life. I think it is why we cruise. AND the little birds..that dive into the water as you come into the harbor at Aruba. They go way way down..and turn green when they submerge. We watched them for a long time. Enchanting.

 

Sounds fantastic! :)

[kymbakitty]

I like Pam's idea....sounds like something we may want to do also.

 

I haven't heard any one day passes at any all-inclusive resorts in Aruba lately....did they stop doing this? I think it may be kind of cool...just have to talk my husband into it (he doesn't drink alcohol and is very picky about food...so it would have to be one that served above average food.

 

?????

[metairiegal]

I heard there are shops, boardwalk, & pier in Palm Beach. If we take the local bus, where should we get off to be in the heart of the touristy things?

[Pam in CA]

Whatever you do, don't do the "Sail & Snorkle." I heard from several people who took this through Princess in January; they said the boat was over-crowded, they anchor where there are a lot of people, and the snorkling wasn't very good.

 

I took these reports with a grain of salt and booked it through HAL on my April cruise. Oy! I'm sure it was the same company. It was packed as we left the harbor and there was no place to sit for about 10 of us. We had to stand for about 30 minutes until the catamaran left and got out into the water. They then opened the front area so people could sun there so there was someplace to sit, but they left all their stuff where they sat originally. We finally moved some people's stuff so we could sit. The boat finally made it to the snorkling area and jeezzz... there were three other boats, including the pirate ship all in a small area. The captain of our boat allowed someone to tie up beind ours, which blocked our ability to get on or off the boat other than the front. The water was nice but there were few fish; they were probably scared away by all the people. People were constantly bumping into others. We finally left and then tied up at a dock with a restaurant. We were given 30 minutes to get off, shop, etc. but wound up staying there well over an hour. Maybe it was an hour and a half. Some people opted to take the bus back to town from there, which we should have done. We finally got back to the pier well over an hour late. BUT, they disembarked us in a section of the dock where the gate was padlocked. We were almost right across from the ship but we couldn't get there. We screamed, yelled, and Security came, but no one had a key to the padlock. Sheeshhh... we reboarded the catamaran and they took us around to another dock where we finally disembarked and got on the ship two hours late; the ship was about to sail so we had no time to shop or do anything. It was awful.

[Arubalisa]

I haven't heard any one day passes at any all-inclusive resorts in Aruba lately....did they stop doing this??????

Occidental Grand Aruba Resort

US $77.00 per adult, Offer valid between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Pool facilities, Open Bar, All you can Eat, Lounge Chairs, Umbrella,

*Purchase at hotel guest service desk

 

Radisson Aruba Resort

Adults: $75, Kids 4-12 year: $37.50, Kids 0-3: Free

*Pass includes towels and all inclusive F&B

I understand at one time the Riu Palace also offered an all inclusive day pass. Either way, for any of the day passes, I would contact the resort in advance for verification.

 

I heard there are shops, boardwalk, & pier in Palm Beach. If we take the local bus, where should we get off to be in the heart of the touristy things?

Street side, there is a large mall catercorner from the Holiday Inn. There are other malls on the same street.

Beachside, there is a "concrete boardwalk" connecting all of the resorts with the exception of the Marriott resorts, from south to north: Divi Phoenix, Westin, Riu Palace, Radisson, Occidental, Hyatt, Playa Linda and Holiday Inn SunSpree.

[metairiegal]

 

Street side, there is a large mall catercorner from the Holiday Inn. There are other malls on the same street.

Beachside, there is a "concrete boardwalk" connecting all of the resorts with the exception of the Marriott resorts, from south to north: Divi Phoenix, Westin, Riu Palace, Radisson, Occidental, Hyatt, Playa Linda and Holiday Inn SunSpree.

 

We wanted to check out the Palm Beach area but we're not interested in beaches so much. Is it worth going to check out the malls? I thought it was more of a tourist area with shops, I wasn't thinking malls.

[Arubalisa]

We wanted to check out the Palm Beach area but we're not interested in beaches so much. Is it worth going to check out the malls? I thought it was more of a tourist area with shops, I wasn't thinking malls.

In recent years there are 3 or 4 malls which have sprung up across the street from the resorts lining Palm Beach.

 

You cannot go by me for shopping advice :o, except to know your prices before you go. The last time I did go shopping on the island was with my father-in-law. He was looking for a new digital camera. My dh found the same camera online $100 cheaper while in the nearby internet cafe as FIL and I were in the camera store. :rolleyes:

[lovevacadays]

We did the same cruise this year in Feb. We loved it - the Coral is a lovely ship. I don't know if you read my review but in case you want to have a look here is the link....

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1169639

 

I really liked Aruba' date=' such a pretty place. We will be back there in 6 weeks for part of a 14 night caribbean cruise.[/quote']

 

Oh my goodness. I never read your review but just did. It was so informative and I loved the pictures. I've wondered about a Panama cruise. Plus, seeing the pictures of the ports from Acapulco to San Pedro made me happy. I've done those ports many times. This is a week I really needed a reminder of all the blessing I have in my life including the many cruises I've been on with family and friends. I had a dear friend pass away on Monday. I actually treated her to her one and only cruise back in 2005 to the Mexican Riviera. She loved it and it will always be a treasured memory for me. Aren't we fortunate to be able to read the many threads we read and be able to think "I've been there or I'm going to go there"

 

In memory of my dear friend Dorothy, let us all count our blessings!