Aruba Overnight Question

[saldino]

Our next cruise we stay overnight in Aruba. Does the ship stay open all night when on an overnight stay?

Thank you.

[ian09]

Yes come and go as you wish. in September my wife and I got back on the ship at 3am in Istanbul. Not many passengers were getting back on at that time, but a lot of crew were.

[hcat]

Our cruise will stay overnight in Curacao...will shops and casino be closed while ship is in port?

[waterbug123]

Our cruise will stay overnight in Curacao...will shops and casino be closed while ship is in port?

 

IME, when a ship is in port overnight or even just until midnight, the casino often opens at some point that evening, say around 8:00pm. I'm sure it varies as to the agreement between the cruise line and the particular port though. (I haven't been on a cruise to Curacao so can't speak to that port specifically)

Edited April 25, 2015 by waterbug123

[cruiseJMO]

Our next cruise we stay overnight in Aruba. Does the ship stay open all night when on an overnight stay?

Thank you.

 

If you don't mind telling, which cruise is this? I'm currently looking for a Caribbean cruise doing an overnight somewhere with a fun nightlife. Is this one of the Celebrity cruises for 2016? Hoping maybe I'd find one in 2015.

[pamkev]

If you don't mind telling, which cruise is this? I'm currently looking for a Caribbean cruise doing an overnight somewhere with a fun nightlife. Is this one of the Celebrity cruises for 2016? Hoping maybe I'd find one in 2015.

 

 

Oct 27 2016 is doing a overnight in Aruba it is on the Infinity

Edited May 23, 2015 by pamkev

[cruiseJMO]

Of course, the date I would love to go, but cannot. Wish I could join you; sounds fun.

[derekjp47]

What was Celebrity thinking or rather not thinking when they made the decision to overnight in the Caribbean. To compare this region with Europe is ludicrious, not even close. What are you going to do in Aruba, walk across the street to the casino ? In the other ports, their just isn't that much compared to the experience of a night on the ship. Then their is the safety factor, you won't find me walking the streets of any of these ports. My opinion, this was a poor decision in atttempting to differentiate itself with the competitors. They will probably experience more cancellations than additional business by this decision.

[WonderMan3]

Having stayed on vacation in Aruba before there is actually stuff to do in the evening. You can hop in a cab from the port over to the Palm Beach area and there is lots of shopping, restaurants and casinos. The port itself, no, not much there beyond two casinos.

[EatonDoolittle]

If you don't mind telling, which cruise is this? I'm currently looking for a Caribbean cruise doing an overnight somewhere with a fun nightlife. Is this one of the Celebrity cruises for 2016? Hoping maybe I'd find one in 2015.

 

Jan 31, 2017 on the Summit stays in Aruba 2 days

[cruiseJMO]

Jan 31, 2017 on the Summit stays in Aruba 2 days

Thanks [emoji4]

 

Caribbean nightlife can be a lot of fun. As with any place, do some research to make the most of it. Many islands have weekly night festivals. I'm hoping to finally experience one.

[EatonDoolittle]

Thanks [emoji4]

 

Caribbean nightlife can be a lot of fun. As with any place, do some research to make the most of it. Many islands have weekly night festivals. I'm hoping to finally experience one.

 

I was on a land vacation in Aruba during carnival once, and there were things going on every night.

 

Since I have been there too many times, I chose the itinerary before this one. It has 2 days in Barbados - so much to do there, and the rest of the ports are great. Nightlife will be secondary, but indeed fun to check into.

[cruiseJMO]

It all sounds like fun. Aren't they just swapping sea days for these overnights? So, if some are not into it, staying on the ship while others enjoy the island at night shouldn't be a big deal.

[crazee4cruzin]

Aruba has some great restaurants and casinos. Oranjestad is right there. Some of the shops might adjust their hours to accommodate the cruisers. It is a great island to stay over.

[TxnAquarian]

Our cruise will stay overnight in Curacao...will shops and casino be closed while ship is in port?

 

 

Yes, shops and casinos are closed while the ship is in port.

 

 

 

 

Michael

[mdcelebrity]

It all sounds like fun. Aren't they just swapping sea days for these overnights? So, if some are not into it, staying on the ship while others enjoy the island at night shouldn't be a big deal.

 

FYI, Celebrity is NOT swapping sea days for overnight.

On a recent cruise (7Feb2016, Eclipse), Celebrity DROPPED Bonaire in favor of an overnight in Curacao (after accepting deposits! :(). This disappointed many cruisers who booked specifically a cruise that included Bonaire. In 2017 Celebrity is dropping Antigua from the Eclipse line-up (e.g., 5Feb2017) in favor of an overnight stop in Aruba.

 

So ... to many cruisers losing a port IS a big deal, especially when it occurs after deposits were taken and plans were made.

[Fouremco]

FYI, Celebrity is NOT swapping sea days for overnight.

On a recent cruise (7Feb2016, Eclipse), Celebrity DROPPED Bonaire in favor of an overnight in Curacao (after accepting deposits! :(). This disappointed many cruisers who booked specifically a cruise that included Bonaire. In 2017 Celebrity is dropping Antigua from the Eclipse line-up (e.g., 5Feb2017) in favor of an overnight stop in Aruba.

 

So ... to many cruisers losing a port IS a big deal, especially when it occurs after deposits were taken and plans were made.

For the 20Mar2016 Eclipse cruise, we lost Grenada for an overnight in Barbados. We were looking forward to Grenada, which isn't on that many itineraries, and didn't need yet another day in oft-visited Barbados. Especially on Easter Sunday/Monday, when even some of the major tourist attractions (Harrison's Cave for example) are closed. Poor decision, Celebrity! :mad:

[Desertbelle]

For the 20Mar2016 Eclipse cruise, we lost Grenada for an overnight in Barbados. We were looking forward to Grenada, which isn't on that many itineraries, and didn't need yet another day in oft-visited Barbados. Especially on Easter Sunday/Monday, when even some of the major tourist attractions (Harrison's Cave for example) are closed. Poor decision, Celebrity! :mad:

 

 

In my opinion, Grenada is the worst Caribbean port there is. It's nearly impossible to walk around or enjoy because of the most aggressive vendors in the Caribbean. I wouldn't grieve too much over losing that over an extra day in Barbados.

[Fouremco]

In my opinion, Grenada is the worst Caribbean port there is. It's nearly impossible to walk around or enjoy because of the most aggressive vendors in the Caribbean. I wouldn't grieve too much over losing that over an extra day in Barbados.

Interesting difference in experience. On our first and only visit, we had a wonderful drive around the island and saw some breathtaking scenery. Our guide also took us through an area where they grow nutmeg, cocao and too many other items to remember, and we visited a nutmeg processing plant, which we found very interesting. In the afternoon, we climbed up to Fort George - great views - then explored the Carenage. In several hours of walking, we weren't approached by a single vendor, but perhaps it all depends on where you go.

[20pluscruises]

In my opinion, Grenada is the worst Caribbean port there is. It's nearly impossible to walk around or enjoy because of the most aggressive vendors in the Caribbean. I wouldn't grieve too much over losing that over an extra day in Barbados.

 

YIKES!!! Is it as bad as Jamaica? :eek:

[Desertbelle]

YIKES!!! Is it as bad as Jamaica? :eek:

Perhaps we were unlucky the day we were there but yes, much worse than Jamaica. I especially dislike it when the vendors touch me or engage me aggressively, and I have only had that happen to me in two places in the World, Cairo, Egypt at the Pyramids, and at the port of Grenada.

 

When we were in Grenada we tried to walk around out of the immediate port area and people would started following us, as in joined our small group, and they would start to talk to us like they were our tour guide, describing the immediate area, when we told them that we didn't want a tour guide they got rude and talked bad to us.

 

My sister and I gave up after a few blocks and returned to the safety of the ship but my husband was determined to see more of the island. He said that after a few more blocks they started to leave him alone and he enjoyed his time. I was rather scared he wouldn't return, but he did. :)

 

Maybe the best thing for Grenada is to take a planned tour to escape the port area...but, we generally enjoy strolling around and seeing things at our own pace.

[Lady Chew]

Wow ... that's completely different from our experiences in Grenada. We've been there several times .. have taken some private excursions, walked around on our own all over the place, and have never been bothered by vendors. Mr Chew is pretty big and can look pretty intimidating when he's walking around at his usual pace, which is pretty fast, I wonder if that's why no one bothers us?

[rjrpar]

Our cruise will stay overnight in Curacao...will shops and casino be closed while ship is in port?

 

 

The casino opened at 7:00pm in Curacao on the cruise last week. I think the shops also did. Most people stayed on the ship after about 6:00pm

[rjrpar]

Yes, shops and casinos are closed while the ship is in port.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael

 

 

No they are not

[Redtravel]

For more than 20 years, I vacationed in St. Martin. Loved it except for those nasty mosquitoes that bit after dark. I gave up flying into St. Martin a few years ago when there was a mosquito bourne illness. I chose to cruise since day time is not when mosquitoes usually bite. Now that the cruises are staying overnight in Caribbean ports, I may be rethinking cruising on Celebrity. With the Zeka virus being spred, I don't think it is wise to stay in port overnight.