GUT2407 Posted April 4, 2017 #26 Share Posted April 4, 2017 But... If you don't go ashore you will miss the blue horse statues! For the "select few" there is also a Geocache hidden at the I<3Aruba sign. :) Oh well Blue Horse statues that settles I must get off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare geoherb Posted April 4, 2017 #27 Share Posted April 4, 2017 We enjoyed a snorkeling excursion on our first Panama Canal cruise when we had the short port stop in Aruba. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted April 4, 2017 #28 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Look. You must get off the ship. There is a Diamonds International there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upwarduk Posted April 4, 2017 #29 Share Posted April 4, 2017 The beach picture is the Marriott Renaissance. They used to allow people to go in and use the beach. No longer. They don't even allow beach passes. Last time there they have also gone the wristband route to keep people from sneaking in. Surfside beach is a little bit further. The Renaissance is about a 15 minute walk from the dock, Surfside is about a 30 minute walk or a 5 minute taxi ride. It's the beach in the middle distance of my third picture that I was referring to. Certainly walkable from town. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitkat343 Posted April 4, 2017 #30 Share Posted April 4, 2017 4 years ago when we took the partial Panama Canal 10 day cruise they had the short stay in Aruba like you experienced. Aruba is beautiful, and we greatly enjoyed our time there. We had planned out what we wanted to see and were able to achieve all of our goals- to take our son to a great animal rescue place, see a tour of the island and visit a beach. Many of our fellow passengers were unhappy about the short stay, which didn't bother us although the long lines to reboard were frustrating and understandable given how short the port was and that everyone wanted to return as late as possible. Cartagena was amazing and I was so glad to have a longer day there. The following year, Princess added a day to the cruise and made it an 11 day tour and gave passengers a full day in Aruba. I guess that wasn't as popular because they are back to a 10 day cruise. Oh, and it looks like now they have substituted a stop in Princess Cays, Bahamas for Aruba on some of these voyages: http://www.princess.com/find/cruiseDetails.do?voyageCode=B733 And others now combine both Jamaica and the Grand Cayman islands instead of Aruba http://www.princess.com/find/cruiseDetails.do?voyageCode=B832 Its good to give people options, and we've liked Aruba, the Grand Cayman islands and Jamaica a lot and have never been to Princess Cay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian1 Posted April 4, 2017 #31 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Indeed, there are many, many options to choose from. The glass half-full theory also applies. Make the best of it, enjoy the heck out of it and you will have a good time no matter what you do. Although my glass may no longer be half full for Grand Turk. Hi,I agree,Grand Turk is the original one horse island lol,cheers,Brian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishywood Posted April 4, 2017 #32 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Oh, and it looks like now they have substituted a stop in Princess Cays, Bahamas for Aruba on some of these voyages: http://www.princess.com/find/cruiseDetails.do?voyageCode=B733 And others now combine both Jamaica and the Grand Cayman islands instead of Aruba http://www.princess.com/find/cruiseDetails.do?voyageCode=B832 Its good to give people options, and we've liked Aruba, the Grand Cayman islands and Jamaica a lot and have never been to Princess Cay. The partial transit, round-trip Ft Lauderdale sailings do not have the distant foreign port requirement that the open jaw full transits do. So skipping Aruba (or Cartagena, or both) is of no consequence there. And with Caribbean Princess taking over the partial transits next season those other ports are more practical for a ship with 50% greater passenger numbers than Island or Coral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamcruzin Posted April 4, 2017 #33 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Indeed, there are many, many options to choose from. The glass half-full theory also applies. Make the best of it, enjoy the heck out of it and you will have a good time no matter what you do. Although my glass may no longer be half full for Grand Turk. My glass is empty for Princess Cay. I stay on the ship for that stop. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolane1 Posted April 4, 2017 #34 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Well... there obviously is one as we visited it. This lovely young lady Sold me this beer at the small bar on the beach. We found the beach by simply walking all the way through town. I had never seen beer in such small bottles. I think they were maybe 8 ounces and we bought a couple in town for $4.50 each and another one (for me!) at the beach bar for $4.75. Yikes! However, we always sample the local beer wherever we go. In Aruba your main choices for beer were either Balashi or Heineken. It is, after all, a Dutch island. While walking through town don't forget to purchase a tee shirt that will shrink 2 sizes once you wash it. :p What inviting pictures - making me jealous! Heck, I'd rather 5 hours in Aruba than sitting at my desk at work. Those pix just might get me through the day while contemplating my next cruise. Thanks. 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nojoke Posted April 4, 2017 #35 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Just across the street from the port is an open air market and also a free tram to ride Through town. Take a cab to the beach if you are short on time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floridalover5623 Posted April 4, 2017 #36 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Just across the street from the port is an open air market and also a free tram to ride Through town. Take a cab to the beach if you are short on time. That trolley only operates on a 30 minute schedule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchm Posted April 4, 2017 #37 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Sailing on the Island Princess this month from Fort Lauderdale, through the Canal and ending in Vancouver. The first port stop is Aruba with a five-hour stay. So, we get off the ship, walk into downtown Oranjestaad, maybe grab a coffee, drop some cash at the closest tourist trap, and then, allowing for a reasonable buffer before sailing, it's about time to return to the ship. So, the question is: Why does Princess even bother with such a short port stop? Surely there's not much time for even a short excursion, beach visit, etc, re-fueling the ship can't be needed that soon either. Guess we will at least be able to say that we have "been to" Aruba ! :rolleyes: ...VTX-Al Maybe I could ask my brother meet you at the port with drinks...LOL Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heather9844 Posted April 4, 2017 #38 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Perhaps it could also be to to refuel/restock supplies or to let crew get on and off who are switching shifts. Just a guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahl Posted April 4, 2017 #39 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Five hours is plenty of time to do an island tour in Aruba. There is much to see. It is a desert sort of island with cacti and bent divi divi trees rather than a tropical one with palm trees. Local use cacti to construct living fences. The rock formations are very interesting, especially at Natural Bridge on the coast and Casibari Park inland. There is also a lighthouse to see and take in the scenic view from its location. Oranjestad is close to the port. It can be reached by walking. Or, there is a free tram (streetcar) that runs from the cruise terminal to downtown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upwarduk Posted April 4, 2017 #40 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Natural Bridge on the coast and Casibari Park inland Natural Bridge is now no longer! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruba_Natural_Bridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrak Posted April 4, 2017 #41 Share Posted April 4, 2017 A lot of people book the trikes on Aruba. Supposed to be a lot of fun. https://www.trikes-aruba.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeW Posted April 4, 2017 #42 Share Posted April 4, 2017 (edited) Public bus system works well. Diagonal across main street a block outside of port to right. Main bus station is there. Take #10 bus (or A or B) to Eagle Beach or all the way to the Marriott. Enjoy beach, take bus back. Around $2.40 US and they will give change if they can. Buses run about every 20 minutes. Or you can take a locals van back that drop off adjacent to the bus station for $2. These run about every 2 minutes. I can recommend the 4x4 tour that goes to the other side of the island, but since we have been to this island many times we don't take tours any more. Snorkel trips are good (although strong current at the sunken ship). DePalm Island is good, but tour isn't worth it for that short stay - lunch will barely open before you have to return. Small local vendor booths to your right along the main street on the marina side. Also across the main street just left of the bus depot. Other posters are right about PVSA stop. They have to stop either here or in Cartagena and having two stops is safer. Fine is $300 per person if they don't stop in a far foreign port. But we much prefer this stop to the Cartagena stop. Wish they still went to Isla Marguerita. Edited April 4, 2017 by LeeW more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ole Faithful Posted April 4, 2017 #43 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Hi,I agree,Grand Turk is the original one horse island lol,cheers,Brian. But the snorkeling and diving on the wall of the Puerto Rico trench (which is about 75 yds offshore) is amazing! In SEP waters so warm you don't need a wetsuit at 80-100 ft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahl Posted April 5, 2017 #44 Share Posted April 5, 2017 Natural Bridge is now no longer! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruba_Natural_Bridge The ruins of the larger Natural Bridge on Aruba are there and make for an interesting scenic photo. The smaller Natural Bridge still exists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted April 5, 2017 #45 Share Posted April 5, 2017 The ruins of the larger Natural Bridge on Aruba are there and make for an interesting scenic photo. The smaller Natural Bridge still exists. The ruins: The existing: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indianabahamamama Posted April 5, 2017 #46 Share Posted April 5, 2017 A three hour tour.... then the weather started getting rough....Oh BTW, Skipper you can trust, It's that dang Gillian! Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yukongold Posted April 5, 2017 #47 Share Posted April 5, 2017 You can see the whole Island in 5 hours. It is a nice beach port. Yes. It is a nice stop to stretch your legs and get a little beach time in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennbr9 Posted April 5, 2017 #48 Share Posted April 5, 2017 While you will be disembarking in Vancouver, a lot of passengers will be disembarking six days earlier, in Los Angeles (San Pedro). And that means transporting passengers between two different US Ports, which means the PVSA is triggered which means the ship must stop at a defined distant foreign port which in this case means a stop in Aruba. So, it's a government requirement sort of thing.:) If same Itinerary we took in 2015, Ship stops also in Cartagena, West side of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Cabo, so Issue with PVSA has no bearing. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinfool Posted April 5, 2017 #49 Share Posted April 5, 2017 If same Itinerary we took in 2015, Ship stops also in Cartagena, West side of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Cabo, so Issue with PVSA has no bearing. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Only the stop in Cartagena validates the itinerary per the PVSA. Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Cabo are irrelevant. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganNicole Posted April 6, 2017 #50 Share Posted April 6, 2017 Because Aruba is BEAUTIFUL! We did Aruba for our Christmas cruise on the Regal princess and 5 hours is surly enough time to grab a cab and head to the beach for atleast 3 hours! The beaches are outstanding! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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