Curacao and Aruba

[premier cruiser]

Hi, really need help. Leaving for 10 day cruise in March on the Adventure of the seas. We will be in Curacao and Aruba from 8am to 10pm, our first time to these ports. We would like to possibly beach/shop during the day, return to ship, clean up and go back out for dinner.

 

2 big questions, what beach would you suggest and how to get there, we do not snorkel. And restaurants that are fun, possibly on the beach or beach view, with or without entertainment. Since this our first time, restaurants that aren't to far from cruise port. Don't want to miss ship, LOL.

[bouhunter]

Check the sections here for each island.

[stevea36]

Hi, really need help. Leaving for 10 day cruise in March on the Adventure of the seas. We will be in Curacao and Aruba from 8am to 10pm, our first time to these ports. We would like to possibly beach/shop during the day, return to ship, clean up and go back out for dinner.

 

2 big questions, what beach would you suggest and how to get there, we do not snorkel. And restaurants that are fun, possibly on the beach or beach view, with or without entertainment. Since this our first time, restaurants that aren't to far from cruise port. Don't want to miss ship, LOL.

 

I can help you with aruba:

 

Speak to some of the crew as to the cost and where to get the public bus to go to Eagle Beach or Palm Beach (they are next to each other).

 

As for someplace good and fun for a quick bite, there is a bar/restaurant near the port called Iguana Joe's. We had gone there for appetizers and drinks (oh, yeah, and dessert). To this day my wife still refers to their Key Lime Pie as one of the best she has ever had.

 

Steve

[Clarea]

+1 for Palm Beach in Aruba.

 

Also enjoyed the Lion's Dive area of Seaquarium (Mambo) Beach on Curacao.

Edited December 24, 2016 by clarea

[Fouremco]

Another vote for Eagle or Palm Beaches in Aruba. You can catch the #10 bus from the terminal more or less across the street from the cruise port. Here's a map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=12.560428000000009%2C-70.037327&spn=0.083777%2C0.137157&t=m&msa=0&z=13&source=embed&ie=UTF8&mid=1f_5yDNjret3BvHFjqQeK6zoQPkM

 

For more information on times and prices, go to airbus.com

 

For Curaçao, I highly recommend renting a car. Avis has an office right at the port and if you get back after they are closed, you can just drop it off in the secure port area before reboarding the ship. Renting will give you a chance to see a bit more of the island, and there are some wonderful beaches further afield.

[1ParticularHbr]

Aruba - Eagle and Palm beaches are great. For dinner, check out Papiamento! http://www.papiamentoaruba.com

Great food in a romantic, poolside garden setting.

[caribbeanboy]

Since i live in Curacao myself, I would recommend Mambo Beach. There are tons of restaurants there too. Sushi, Indian, Lebanese, Mexican, Italian & Subway:D

[Hoopster95]

Hi, really need help. Leaving for 10 day cruise in March on the Adventure of the seas. We will be in Curacao and Aruba from 8am to 10pm, our first time to these ports. We would like to possibly beach/shop during the day, return to ship, clean up and go back out for dinner.

 

2 big questions, what beach would you suggest and how to get there, we do not snorkel. And restaurants that are fun, possibly on the beach or beach view, with or without entertainment. Since this our first time, restaurants that aren't to far from cruise port. Don't want to miss ship, LOL.

 

 

For dinner in Aruba I did Barefoot Beach (pictures and review in link) after reading many reviews here on cruise critic. Extremely easy to get to, close to pier, cheap taxi ride, one of my favorite memories on that Adventure cruise just 5 months ago:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=50997194&highlight=barefoot#post50997194

 

As far as your 1st time in Aruba, in my humble opinion I respectfully say that you will do yourself a massive disservice by sitting around at a beach for 8 hours your very first time there. If interested, scroll back through the above review link and see what Aruba really has to offer. Again, just my humble opinion.

 

Big & little Klein Knip (Kenapa Beach) in Curacao are two of the highest rated beaches. I only had time for little Klein and had wished I had gone to Big Klein (although little was just gorgeous in it's own right!). You need a rental car to go there.

 

Have an excellent cruise! :D

[Merion_Mom]

Hi, really need help. Leaving for 10 day cruise in March on the Adventure of the seas. We will be in Curacao and Aruba from 8am to 10pm, our first time to these ports. We would like to possibly beach/shop during the day, return to ship, clean up and go back out for dinner.

 

2 big questions, what beach would you suggest and how to get there, we do not snorkel. And restaurants that are fun, possibly on the beach or beach view, with or without entertainment. Since this our first time, restaurants that aren't to far from cruise port. Don't want to miss ship, LOL.

 

Cruise Critic forum for Aruba

 

Cruise Critic forum for Curaçao

[Fouremco]

Another vote for Eagle or Palm Beaches in Aruba. You can catch the #10 bus from the terminal more or less across the street from the cruise port. Here's a map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=12.560428000000009%2C-70.037327&spn=0.083777%2C0.137157&t=m&msa=0&z=13&source=embed&ie=UTF8&mid=1f_5yDNjret3BvHFjqQeK6zoQPkM

 

For more information on times and prices, go to airbus.com

 

For Curaçao, I highly recommend renting a car. Avis has an office right at the port and if you get back after they are closed, you can just drop it off in the secure port area before reboarding the ship. Renting will give you a chance to see a bit more of the island, and there are some wonderful beaches further afield.

I'm not sure if it's me or my spell checker, but that should read http://arubus.com (not "airbus").

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Cruise Critic forum for Aruba

 

Cruise Critic forum for Curaçao

 

I agree you should check out these boards. They have lots of very helpful people.

[cb at sea]

Or...a guidebook from you local library is VERY helpful! Aruba is an easy walk from the ship....lots of stuff within 2-3 blocks!

[OCruisers]

Cruise Critic forum for Aruba

 

Cruise Critic forum for Curaçao

 

To get opinions from LOTS of others who have actually been on cruises to these ports, you'll find checking out the above to be most helpful. :)

 

Also noting both are very good port stops that we've enjoyed multi times with LOTS of options for cruisers.

Edited December 25, 2016 by OCruisers

[Single_dreamer]

Cruise Critic forum for Aruba

 

Cruise Critic forum for Curaçao

 

Curacao - Mambo beach. Walk the beach first before you decide where to sit.

 

Sent from my SM-J700M using Forums mobile app

[Carolrd]

Any beach in Aruba is great.

 

My current favorite restaurant in Aruba is Yemanja. It is not on the beach, but the food is wonderful. It is a wood-fired grill restaurant, you can get pretty much anything from steaks to seafood. It is within walking distance of the ship. http://www.yemanja-aruba.com

 

No matter what you do, you will have a great time.

 

Carol

[bigque]

In Aruba we ate dinner at a seafood restaurant name "Pinchos". It is on a pier over the water next to a beach and it is walking distance from the cruise terminal or 5 to 10 minutes by taxi. Great Seafood, Great view of the sunset. There are pictures and a review on page 5 of my review of Adventure Of The Seas below. :cool:

 

 

http://www.pinchosaruba.com/

[jamesr3939]

I vote for renting a car also on Curaçao. We rented right at the foot of the pier and drove to Mambo Beach. It is the most beautiful beach. Driving the island is easy and just keep the water to your right or left (depending on leaving or returning) and you can't get lost.