In port until 10:00PM. What to do after the Beach?

[mamiamjo]

I just realized that in Aruba (and Bonaire also) our ship is in port until 10:00PM. So while we were planning on hitting Eagle Beach during the day I see we have a bit of extra time. Any suggestions on what else to do in addition to the beach? 

[TTEllis]

This is a routine I have stuck with on Aruba for the last 20 years. 

The ship (the Emerald, the Grand or the Caribbean Princess) we always disembarked late on the island. 

I caught the bus at Eagle Beach around 4-4:30pm went back to the ship took a shower, changed clothes went back out and had dinner and cocktails upstairs at Iguana Joe's(you can find the menu online). It's right across the street from the port. 

Your ship leaves at 10pm I have dinner, drinks, pay my tab around 9:45pm and  walk right across the street. Security pulls the gate shut right behind me I'm the last person on the ship and off we go. 

I highly recommend it. Iguana Joe's Bloody Mary's are as good as the Bloody Mary's on the ship. Mojito's to die for. Great food. Go have fun. 

 

You can always have dinner on the ship and go back out and have drinks. I'm a fan of Iguana Joe's it's a fun place a crew favorite, great drinks, great bar food and GREAT location a 3-5 minute walk back to the ship. Other than a nice bar tab what's not to like.😎🌟🌟🌟🌟😎 Go have fun. 

[sallywallygal]

Following! 

[Hatteras51]

Iguana Joe's is a fun place to hang out.  They serve one of my favorite drinks, the Pink Iguana.  They also own one of my favorite restaurants in Palm Beach,  Smokey Joe's, which has great ribs and barbecue.  Recently,  they opened a second Iguana Joe's in Palm Beach.  Unfortunately,  they are no longer open past 6:00 at their location across from the port. I have friends who usually frequent them for dinner,  who were disappointed to find that they weren't open.  I heard a rumor that they might stay open sometimes when ships are in port, but I haven't heard that this is really happening.  I would think that this would be difficult, considering that they need their staff to operate the new Palm Beach location. 

 

If you are interested in staying in port, Lucy's Retired Surfer's Bar is a great place, right on the waterfront.  I suggest taking the bus or a cab to Palm Beach.  That is where all of the action is at night.  There are tons of restaurants,  shops, and vendors along the strip.

 

[TTEllis]

I love Pink Iguanas at Iguana Joe's!!!

 

I was just trying to keep them close to the port. 

 

Palm Beach is the place to be in the evenings it's just kind of a drive up there and back, but it's never a problem getting a taxi. 

 

 

[Leen729]

14 hours ago, TTEllis said:

I love Pink Iguanas at Iguana Joe's!!!

 

I was just trying to keep them close to the port. 

 

Palm Beach is the place to be in the evenings it's just kind of a drive up there and back, but it's never a problem getting a taxi. 

 

 

What time should we leave Palm Beach to get back to the ship for an 11:00 departure time?

 

Edited January 10 by Leen729

[TTEllis]

I would wrap my dinner tab up around 9:30pm-ish. Getting a taxi back to the port is never a problem. When you get back you may have a few extra minutes to walk around town before you get back on the ship.

Edited January 10 by TTEllis

[jbrinkm]

Also following.

 

What would people recommend to do if we wanted to walk around the city after dinner on the ship (early dining)? Interesting places to see?

[fsjosh]

Dinner at Giannis. The cheese wheel spaghetti is unreal. 

[knitter]

 There are two malls in Oranjestad- Renaissance (designer shops- sometimes open into the evening I think) and Royal (pink structure). Royal is being converted to condos and it was mostly closed down in December and I expect by now the remaining few shops have moved to other locations.

Town is pretty quiet these days at night but there is a plaza that has several restaurants and some shops next to the marina casino that stays open, and around town there are a number of restaurants off the main street and along the water. Wilhelmina's is my favorite restaurant on the island.

 

Palm Beach/high rise area is where the action is at night- lots of restaurants, some shopping, a dancing fountain show at Paseo Herencia. The hotels have casinos. Easy cab ride from port.

[TTEllis]

On 1/22/2024 at 7:09 PM, fsjosh said:

Dinner at Giannis. The cheese wheel spaghetti is unreal. 

Where exactly is Giannis from the port? Thanks 

[fsjosh]

On 1/31/2024 at 5:08 PM, TTEllis said:

Where exactly is Giannis from the port? Thanks 

 

Its across the street from the Hilton in the Palm beach area. 

[TTEllis]

Thank you very much!! That restaurant looks yummy. Was going to try something different next time on the island. Appreciate the map!!🤜🤛

That's a sweet map btw. Appreciate you!!