Aruba Cruise Port Profile - What to Expect

1. Taxis and buses provide quick, cheap and convenient transportation anywhere on the island.
   
2. Aruba is a beach destination. Definitely check out Palm Beach, only a 10-minute drive from the cruise terminal.
   
3. The main shopping and dining are in Oranjestad (location of the cruise terminal) and Palm Beach.
   
4. Likewise, nightlife is mainly found in the same two locations.
   
5. The water sports are better than the land attractions.

The Aruba cruise port of Orangestad is a prime stop for southern Caribbean cruises because it is an easy island to tour in a short period of time and the climate is almost always beautiful.

It doesn't hurt that Aruba also is one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean because of its weather, beaches and things to do.

A variety of cruise lines visit Aruba including Holland, Princess, Carnival, Fred Olsen, P&O, Royal Caribbean, AIDA and Pullmantur.

Regardless of the cruise line, passengers will find numerous shore excursions to take on their own when they disembark at the port of Oranjestad, which is the capital of the island nation.


A bit farther north of Palm Beach is the California Lighthouse, one of Aruba's better known landmarks. The stone lighthouse was built in 1910 and named after a ship that sunk nearby two years earlier. The site also offers fantastic sunset views.

More adventurous souls with a taste for recreation should consider scuba diving because Aruba offers 42 major dive spots. Arikok National Park is a good option for touring a rough, arid and cactus-filled landscape via horseback, jeep or ATV.

Arikok also has the remains of the famous natural bridge that collapsed in 2005, but it still has a few baby bridges, and the view of the windy sea from the rock shores provides a peaceful respite.

Shopping

The city is easily accessible from the cruise terminal and offers a large number of shopping opportunities on L.G. Smith Boulevard and some of the streets that run parallel to it. The street also has a number of high quality open-air restaurants that are worth a visit for lunch or dinner.

Passengers with more time available should consider taking a taxi to Palm Beach, one of the best beaches in the Caribbean.

It is not famous just because of the long, white-sand beach. It also has a long strip of resorts, hotels, restaurants (most of which are open air) and shopping that provide a fun and relaxing excursion.

Although an afternoon visit may be necessary depending on the cruise schedule, an early evening visit that includes dinner is ideal because the strip comes alive at nightfall.

Restaurants

Restaurants are mainly concentrated in Orangestad and Palm Beach. Orangestad has a good supply of restaurants for the cruise visitor who wants to stay in town for a shorter period of time. Many more restaurants are located on Palm Beach for anyone who wants to spend a longer day there eating, shopping and lounging on one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Orangestad restaurants include:

• Cuba's Cookin', Caribbean
  
• Driftwood, seafood
  
• Iguana Joe's, American
  
• L.G. Smith's Chop and Steak House, chops and steaks
  
• Le Petit Cafe, seafood
  
• Mathilde, French
  
• The Paddock, international
  
• Waterfront Crabhouse, seafood

Orangestad restaurants include a mix of outdoor and indoor. Most of them are located on L.G. Smith Boulevard, the main thoroughfare, and are within easy walking distance of the terminal.

Beaches

Most of the major Aruba beaches reside on the west side of the island.

From the northwest tip to the southwest tip, the majors are Arashi, Boca Catalina and Malmok near both the California Lighthouse and the Arashi Underwater Park, followed from north to south by Hadikurari, Palm, Eagle, Manchebo and Druif.

Arashi, Boca Catalina and Malmok have calm, shallow waters that make them popular for swimming and snorkeling.

Be aware there are no nearby facilities, but the beaches are easily accessible by vehicle.

The beach at Hadikurari is known for windsurfing and is the site of the annual Aruba Hi-Winds Competition for both kiteboard and windsurfing. Picnic tables and shade huts are located there.

Palm Beach is probably the best-known Aruba beach. It is famous and popular for its calm waters and location right next to a number of major resorts. The hotels and resorts have chairs, shade and watersports equipment for guests, while visitors may be able to buy refreshments.

Just south of Palm Beach is Eagle Beach, which has fewer hotels and people. It is wider than Palm and, like most beaches on Aruba, it has plenty of white sand. There are shaded picnic areas and parking spaces.

The widest beach on Aruba is located at Punta Brabo, also known as Manchebo Beach. It is an extension of the nearby Eagle. The surf is stronger here, and no motorized watersports are permitted. Although accessible by vehicles, like Eagle it is quieter than Palm.

Druif Beach has calm waters and nearby hotels.

At the far southeast tip of the island are Baby Beach and Rodgers Beach. Baby Beach is a popular family location because of shallow and calm waters suitable for children. The nearby Rodgers is somewhat rougher and provides limited facilities.

Transportation / Getting Around

Getting around Aruba is quite easy. The island is small and public transportation readily available.

Reliable and inexpensive bus service is available between Oranjestad and resort areas such as Palm Beach. Taxis are always available and have set rates.

The island is small and easy to navigate, so renting a car is a good option for cruise visitors who want to see it all. Most car rental agencies are based at the airport, but they usually provide pickup and dropoff at the cruise docks.

Driving is on the right side of the road, foreign and international driving licenses accepted. Free parking throughout the island, no right turns on red light.

Weather

If you are simply planning a Caribbean cruise that might include Aruba, it's good to know what to expect with weather.

Aruba climate is one of the warmest in the Caribbean. It maintains an average high temperature ranging from 86 degrees Fahrenheit in January to about 90 from May through November.

The island is quite arid with the lowest rainfall in the Caribbean. It averages only about one inch per month except for October through December, when it averages three inches.

Although Aruba lies below the Caribbean hurricane belt, it does feel the effects of nearby hurricanes and tropical storms during the peak bad weather season in the fall.

• The dollar is widely accepted
  
• English is widely spoken
  
• Public transportation is widely available