Is Aruba, Curacao, Roseau etc on Adventure of Seas recommended?

[Jan2007]

We are trying to research a good itinerary on our next cruise hopefully to ports we haven't been to. But ultimately good beaches and beautiful destinations are more important for this trip, so we would take repeat ports if necessary.

 

The south caribbean itinerary on this one hits many places we haven't seen.

We want to know what people think of this itinerary and ports. (And also of Adventure of the Seas).

We've been to the other South Caribbean ports (Antigua, St Lucia, etc) but not this side.

Any advice on how this will be different?

 

Another obstacle we have is that we'll be going with toddler under 3 who won't qualify for the kids program on RC. For those traveling with little ones, did this pose a huge issue? Is there any kind of babysitting, etc?

[GMoney]

Dominica is a beautifully rugged island, but it has no real beaches to speak of. It's too young by island standards to have formed them.

[printingchick]

Did this itinerary last year. AOS is a gorgeous ship. As the last poster wrote, Dominica is beautiful. Black sand beaches, rain forests, friendly people. I'm returning next year on Serenade, booked specifically to return to Dominica.

 

I recommend taking the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John on that itinerary. St. Thomas is, IMHO, like most other Caribbean islands. St. John is 75% protected park land. It's unspoiled, lovely. You'll find beaches with virtually no one else there. (Unless you go to the popular Trunk Bay.) We hiked with a wild donkey and swam with sea turtles. Absolutely amazing.

 

St. John and Dominica are my two favorite islands - no contest.

 

Aruba left me cold, but it's very popular, so maybe it's just me. Curacao is small, but pretty. We visited the Hato Caves, just to do something completely different. It was fun.

[Carolrd]

Aruba left me cold, but it's very popular, so maybe it's just me.

 

Not sure why Aruba left you cold. Aruba has some of the best beaches in the world, Palm Beach and my personal preference Eagle Beach. Also has really great restaurants and casinos. But the best thing about Aruba is the people. They are the friendliest and most caring people I have ever met. Try Aruba again, I'm sure you'll find my statements to be true.

 

 

Carol

[njs]

Not sure why Aruba left you cold. Aruba has some of the best beaches in the world, Palm Beach and my personal preference Eagle Beach. Also has really great restaurants and casinos. But the best thing about Aruba is the people. They are the friendliest and most caring people I have ever met. Try Aruba again, I'm sure you'll find my statements to be true.

 

 

Carol

Agree totally. We have timeshare in Aruba and just love the island, the people and the beaches (esp eagle beach) Have been to a lot of Caribbean Islands but Aruba remains the favourite

[RN7997]

We are trying to research a good itinerary on our next cruise hopefully to ports we haven't been to. But ultimately good beaches and beautiful destinations are more important for this trip, so we would take repeat ports if necessary.

 

The south caribbean itinerary on this one hits many places we haven't seen.

We want to know what people think of this itinerary and ports. (And also of Adventure of the Seas).

We've been to the other South Caribbean ports (Antigua, St Lucia, etc) but not this side.

Any advice on how this will be different?

 

Another obstacle we have is that we'll be going with toddler under 3 who won't qualify for the kids program on RC. For those traveling with little ones, did this pose a huge issue? Is there any kind of babysitting, etc?

 

We are sailing Adventure this May for the second time and chose to cruise that ship even after cruising 2 of the Freedom class ships. I loved the Adventure!!!!! It was just big enough to me!! Had plenty to do, but yet I did not feel crowded.

 

As for the ports!!! We LOVED them!! All of them!!! Aruba we made and adventure and it was great!!! We rented open top jeep wranglers and toured the Natural Bridge/pool and saw some of the island and then went to a beach...I think called Paradise Beach?? We had to take a ferry there and it included drinks, chairs, snorkle equip etc and there were LOTS of beautiful blue parrotfish there to see. Curaco had beautiful beaches. We chose to skip them that day (regret it now) and went to the Sea Aquarium....that was neat though and there was a beach nearby we walked on alittle. Friends of ours dove there. ST Thomas we loved also!! Beautiful island. I found it to be different than other Carribean islands b/c of how lush it was. Many islands have a lot of dry and desserty looking areas and St Thomas was lush......lots of tropical trees and beautiful greens and beyond that the clear blue water. We rented jeeps here again....hubby had fun driving on the other side..lol We hit a few well know beaches and lookouts. We ended at a resort that rents jetskis.......hubby and a few others did it...I stayed behind with my son b/c it was pretty choppy that day and he was scared. So he and I enjoed the resort pool and beach we were at till they returned.

St Marteen was beautiful too but we had a bad experience. (So I am glad I am going back this May) We rented cars there and we while at a lookout did not think to lock up and we were robbed. Thankfully we never saw anyone but it put a downer on the day. We did drive by Maho (have ot see that where the planes fly over the beach) and stopped at Orient and Dawn Beach.

Hope this helps. Youll ADORE that cruise!!!!!!!

 

 

You seemed to haved cruised the route I am taking this May....so any tips for me??? We are going to Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, St Maarten, and St Croix.

[bike1964]

Not sure why Aruba left you cold. Aruba has some of the best beaches in the world, Palm Beach and my personal preference Eagle Beach. Also has really great restaurants and casinos. But the best thing about Aruba is the people. They are the friendliest and most caring people I have ever met. Try Aruba again, I'm sure you'll find my statements to be true.

 

 

Carol

 

Aruba is the Miami Beach of the Southern Caribbean. Over crowded and over priced bars/restaurants.

[caribbeanboy]

Aruba is the Miami Beach of the Southern Caribbean. Over crowded and over priced bars/restaurants.

 

Totally agree!

 

and about the beaches, I guess you haven't travelled a lot. Best beaches?? they look absolutely beautiful...but to say they are the best no way hosee.

[Ocean Boy]

Maybe Aruba has over priced bars and restaurants. I wouldn't know as that is not my focus when visiting places. Aruba, does have some amazing topography. It is a desert island and very different from many of the other lush Caribbean islands. I love stopping there and especially visiting the far side of the island away from Orangestad. And I agree about the people. They as so friendly and helpful.

 

Adventure is a great ship with great itineraries. And in one month I'll be sailing her again for the third time.

[bike1964]

Maybe Aruba has over priced bars and restaurants. I wouldn't know as that is not my focus when visiting places. Aruba, does have some amazing topography. It is a desert island and very different from many of the other lush Caribbean islands. I love stopping there and especially visiting the far side of the island away from Orangestad. And I agree about the people. They as so friendly and helpful.

 

Adventure is a great ship with great itineraries. And in one month I'll be sailing her again for the third time.

 

The OP was referencing beaches in the topic. I was just on the Adventure in Nov. We loved the ship and ports, but of the 4 ports, Aruba's "beach area" was the most congested and expensive. We didn't travel to the "other side." Least favorite IMHO

[Got2Cruise]

I totally disagree that Aruba's beaches are overcrowded. If you go during high season, maybe. . .but the beach goes on for miles and miles you can literally walk along the beach from one end of Aruba to the other. The highrise hotels are at Palm Beach, but you can easily take a cab to Eagle Beach where the lowrise hotels are. Curacao has very interesting history, but with the three year old I would take him to the Sea Aquarium and then spend the day at the beach outside of the aquarium.

[SwimnwFishes]

Maybe Aruba has over priced bars and restaurants. I wouldn't know as that is not my focus when visiting places. Aruba, does have some amazing topography. It is a desert island and very different from many of the other lush Caribbean islands. I love stopping there and especially visiting the far side of the island away from Orangestad. And I agree about the people. They as so friendly and helpful.

 

Adventure is a great ship with great itineraries. And in one month I'll be sailing her again for the third time.

 

This is the exact reason why I wouldn't go back to Aruba...I don't travel to the Caribbean to visit desert islands. It was a shock to me when we arrived in Aruba how arid it was.

 

Having said that though, I didn't actually tour the island, having spent the day scuba diving...so maybe I missed out.

[Ocean Boy]

The OP was referencing beaches in the topic. I was just on the Adventure in Nov. We loved the ship and ports, but of the 4 ports, Aruba's "beach area" was the most congested and expensive. We didn't travel to the "other side." Least favorite IMHO

 

She also referenced beautiful destinations. I wasn't negating your opinion of the island. I was offering mine. And anyone who didn't travel to the "other side", in my opinion, missed some very interesting scenery and topography. If you get another chance to go there try visiting that side. It may change your mind.... or it might not.

[golfer1966]

We are trying to research a good itinerary on our next cruise hopefully to ports we haven't been to. But ultimately good beaches and beautiful destinations are more important for this trip, so we would take repeat ports if necessary.

 

The south caribbean itinerary on this one hits many places we haven't seen.

We want to know what people think of this itinerary and ports. (And also of Adventure of the Seas).

We've been to the other South Caribbean ports (Antigua, St Lucia, etc) but not this side.

Any advice on how this will be different?

 

Another obstacle we have is that we'll be going with toddler under 3 who won't qualify for the kids program on RC. For those traveling with little ones, did this pose a huge issue? Is there any kind of babysitting, etc?

 

 

Aruba was very nice. We rented a jeep and explored the island on our own. It surprised me to find that all the hotels and calm water are all on one side of the island. The other side is desert like and not much there. Some people lived there, but not many. The water was rough and not swimmable. If you go to the Lighthouse and look back at the Island, you can see nice green and hotel to the right and dry desert to the left. We are planning a return trip there soon. Curacao is really nice too.

 

Actually, I love RCCL, but X has a very nice cruise doing the same ports, but instead of Curacao, they stop at Bonaire. We are thinking about that one.

[Loves_Dogs]

This is the exact reason why I wouldn't go back to Aruba...I don't travel to the Caribbean to visit desert islands. It was a shock to me when we arrived in Aruba how arid it was.

 

Having said that though, I didn't actually tour the island, having spent the day scuba diving...so maybe I missed out.

 

No way could a day spent scuba diving be considered a day 'missed out' ;-) !!!

[Jan2007]

Wow, thanks for all the feedback so far!!

I would love to do this itinerary if only for the reason that its the one I haven't done and it sure sounds like there's good destinations. Plus, I would LOVE to sail on Adventure.

I guess the only thing that is detering me is RC's inability to accept kids under 3 into kids program. With 2 year old DD, I know that I'll be able to get her in program on Carnival, even though this is the ship I'd love to be on...

 

For RN7997,

You asked about the "other" itinerary. I've been to Dominique - beautiful, tropical, untouched as others have said. Not the greatest for beaches, but has SO many rivers! Do a tour of the island if you can.

 

St Lucia - gorgeous. Probably looks more like a pacific island. Once again, do a tour of the island - we booked separately from cruise and got a GREAT experience - including the volcano and time at the beach between the pythons - heaven!

 

Barbados - very developed (relatively) and more $ve. Also beautiful. Many options for excursions - just depends on what you love to do. They have a cool snorkel with turtle tour here

 

Antigua - beaches beaches beaches! You can't go wrong here. A beautiful island with the BLUEST water at the beaches. hit the beach - you have tons of options.

[mary ellen smith]

Just read your post---When are you going on AOS?I'm going with family and my two grandkids are 4yr 11 mo and the little guy is 20 mo. We tried to contact RCCL regarding excursions with the little one along and didn't get much satisfaction. Onboard is great as they have the kids program and the kids and mom for the little guy. It looks as though we will hwve to plan for private excursion though once on the islands. Our trip starts march 8th---went eastern last year and had a great time--didn't care much for Labrabee(private island) however. M smith:D

[getoutthere15]

We visited Aruba & Curacao last year on our Panama Canal cruise, yes the islands are desert like, we loved both of them. The beaches were wonderful, shopping great, people very friendly. Had a hard time getting a cab back to ship from the beach, they didn't want wet cloths in there cabs.

[CookieBird]

Just back from the Aruba route. It has a lot of great stops. That said out of all the 11 Caribe isles I have visited so far Aruba is my least favorite. I thought the beach was too crowded (bars, chairs, watersports, and people). We went to the main beach with all the hotels. Water was murky due to all the boats and there was a TON of seaweed washing up on shore. This is my only expereince there but I wasn't that impressed. I felt like I was in Florida.

 

However, compared to being home and in cold weather I'd take Aruba any day. :D

[BroncosFan2010]

I don't know about traveling with kids, but Aruba and Curacao were my absolute favorite islands on our Adventure cruise. The shopping in Curacao is wonderful. We did some snorkeling here as well and it was pretty good. One thing that made Aruba so good was our ship stayed there until 2 a.m. I don't know if they do that anymore, but we found a great restaurant and bar and had a drink on top of one of the hotels. We could look out over the port and see the ship all lit up. It was very romantic.

[dwjoe]

One feature I like about Aruba and Curacao is their high probability of warm sunshine suitable for beachgoing. I usually cruise in January and other Caribbean ports can be iffy then. Still much warmer than back home of course, but when I can only afford to cruise every so often I like to stack the odds in my favor! :)

 

I've also read they are below the hurricane belt so possibly better weather in summer as well.

[Krickett]

Okay, Y'all said shopping:D

Just what kind of shopping can I do there??

Inquiring minds need to know:eek:

 

Thx, Kar

Can't wait till October...........