Sarahg0915

If so, what did you think?

You could ask to be dropped off near the beachfront hotels in Palm Beach, they're across the street from the restaurant area. Catching a return taxi took maybe 10 minutes; they were zooming by in busy Palm Beach. So definitely give yourselves enough time for that. There seemed to be some things around the port but I didn't pay a whole lot of attention.

We were there in January, you could do that. I had hoped to find a hotel that did a day pass so we could shower between the beach and going to dinner without going back to the ship, but I reached out to almost all of them and barely any offer them. How long are you in port? Palm Beach is a quick cab ride from the ship, so you may have time if you wanted to go back. Otherwise it's totally doable to do the beach then dinner in Palm Beach. It's awesome there. With the bus, one consideration would be how late they run (which I don't know). We took the bus to/from Eagle Beach to the ship during the day then a taxi right at the port at night; I believe it was about $16 each way to the Palm Beach area.

We just did this in January on the Horizon - such a wonderful itinerary, and it's great to be there until late. In Aruba, after our beach day was done, we went back to the ship to shower and change then caught a cab literally right outside the ship. There is a man in charge of taxis who will call one for you. I recommend going to the Palm Beach area - it is PACKED with awesome restaurants and shops, all walkable. We walked around and checked out menus before having dinner at Tango Argentine Grill. Definitely recommend. Then we walked around some more before catching a cab back to the ship. In Bonaire, we again did a day excursion then back to the ship to shower and change. Right outside the port are some shops and restaurants; not as much or as beautiful as Aruba, but there are options. I suggest heading out of the port and taking the main road to the left - just past the "I love Bonaire" sign - and walk a few minutes to Gio's Gelateria for some awesome (and CHEAP!) gelato; it will be on the right. Then head toward the water and you can have dinner or a drink at Karel's Beach Bar while watching the sunset. Have a great trip!

We booked a taxi to take us to the waterfalls, zipline then lunch in the city. Docking in Amber Cove. This is doable on your own with a rented car, but it's our first time there so we want a local guide.

Any chance you used them? Looking at them for November.

@ABQrobin was this through the cruise line or independent?

@TTEllis no trouble getting chairs near Passions? I'm happy to get off the ship asap but have some in my group that take their time, am worried they'll be taken by the time we get there!

I reached out to Casa del Mar a while back about their day pass, since they are one of very, very few in Aruba that offer them. One adult from the group is required to sit through a half-hour timeshare presentation.

I believe you would book it as a walk-in and take the ferry over on your own.

You can book through them directly, I believe.

Thanks!

We're in Aruba till 9 p.m. and are planning on spending the day at Eagle Beach then heading back to the ship to shower before dinner at one of the marketplace restaurants. Does anyone have a favorite spot?

@3rdGenCunarder I booked with them through Facebook messenger. They don't send a confirmation - very laid back - but checked in with me recently as we're getting closer to visiting.

According to TripAdvisor reviews, even hotel guests say they get up at 4, 5 a.m. to make sure they get chairs on the beach! More ppl than chairs, it sounds like.

I'm not joking when I say I've emailed every hotel on the beach in Aruba, and the only one besides Riu and Barcelo offering a day option is a timeshare that requires you to sit through a half-hour presentation. I was really hoping to find a place where my kids could use the pool and we could wash off and change, but no luck. One hotel did say we could rent a room for the day, but we couldn't reserve in advance and would have to call the morning of. I can't live with that kind of unknown lol.

@NateUpNorth Thank you!

I reached out to almost every hotel, and the only one besides Riu and Barcelo that said they offer a day pass was Casa Del Mar, and they require you to sit through a short timeshare presentation. They were willing to reserve in advance, I chatted with them via email.

Has anyone done both and liked one better than the other? I have my heart set on Gone Caribe but they can't accommodate my group.

Thank you! It looks fantastic - and I'm with you on the shade! We have a morning snorkel excursion booked so I'm hoping they have some passes left in the afternoon!

They have a day pass available but ask that you sit through a "non-committal" half-hour timeshare pitch. We're in port for 14 hours so I don't really mind but wonder if anyone's done it.

Have either of you sailed yet? I'll have the same time in port and Woodwind in the morning, considering staying at Divi or Eden Beach Resort for a few hours OR renting a car and driving around. Wondering what you ended up doing or are planning.

Thank you for sharing! I've been waiting to hear back from them on whether the day pass includes use of that awesome lazy river and the pool.

Which company was that?

Been looking for the same and having no luck. Best seems to be renting Hertz at Divi, but they close at 5 so you can return to the airport, which is open much later. But I'm trying to figure out if taxis are readily available to get you back to the ship after dropping off the car! AB Car Rental will only do a three-day rental, Caribe closes at 6 but said "we can look into later drop-off, if possible," and Prins is usually three days but said to contact them two weeks before cruising to ask about availability of a one-day.