Basic Aruba questions

[gopackgo]

I am helping my niece make a final decision on a Christmas cruise for her family on RCI. One ship stops in Aruba (the Adventurer). Is Aruba considered one of the better ports? If so, why? Can someone give me an overall description/feel for this island? We are comparing ports of a couple different ships and are really confused at this point!!

 

Thanks for any help!

 

Ginny

[Arubalisa]

IMHO Aruba is an ideal cruise destination for the following reasons:

 

1. Annual rainfall < 20 inches per year = guaranteed good weather

2. Wide variety of activities: island tours (4 X 4 tours of Arikok National Park are extremely popular), golf, tennis, gambling, shopping

3. Watersports: you name it they do it, very popular for cruisers are the snorkeling excursions.

4. Beautiful powder white sand beaches with gorgeous clear blue waters

 

Now with all that being said, you can go on a snorkeling sail excursion in the morning, stop at the beach in the afternoon, go back to the ship, eat dinner in one of the island's restaurants http://www.flyingfishbone.com/

and then head off to one of the casinos.

 

Will be on the island in September for a week and then again on a Christmas cruise and I cannot think of any other place I would rather be.

[caribbean dreams]

There are folks around here that don't care for Aruba, i for one am NOT one of them. Aruba is clean and safe with beautiful white sand beaches and friendly people, the economy is good so you don't get the pushy venders that follow you around. My daughters and i have walked around at night and feel no threat. If i had to pick an Island for a land vacation, it would be Aruba.

[pholter]

I am one of the one's that really didn't think Aruba was "all that!" After hearing so many things about the island, I was ready to be Wow'd and just wasn't at all. I've seen better beaches, every other port on my cruise was alot more interesting with natural beauty. Aruba has Carlos 'n Charlies though :)

 

I probably wouldn't go back unless I won a free trip, but to each his/her own. :p