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We have done the train before.

I was thinking of doing the bus/bus.

Do you get the same effect doing the bus/bus vs the train/bus?

http://online.depalmtours.com/

 

De Palm Island By Bus Full Day

De Palm Island is Aruba's only all-inclusive destination at an affordable all-inclusive price. Whether you are a family looking for a day of fun and adventure together or a couple seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy hotel area for some relaxation and pampering, this island offers something for everyone! Enjoy your hassle-free round-trip transportation to De Palm Island with our luxury, air-conditioned buses. After a short ferry-ride you will arrive on the island where you can enjoy your all-inclusive stay.

 

Here's what's included: All you can eat buffet (featuring local and Caribbean fare) and snacks from the grill plus open bar (soft drinks, premium beer and cocktails).

Also included: use of beaches and palapas, snorkeling, snorkeling equipment and guided snorkeling tours, free banana boat rides, use of the Blue Parrot water park and you are welcome to participate in daily free salsa classes and activities such as beach volleyball or table tennis.

 

Upgrades are also available to include optional activities at an additional cost.

 

Upgrades:

-Sea Trek® Underwater Helmet Walk where you will be walking 20 feet below the surface.

-SNUBA®: go beyond snorkeling and breathe underwater without heavy, restrictive dive gear.

-Spa treatments right on the beach.

 

Price

$ 119.00 each (Adult 13 and up )

$ 89.00 each (Child 6 to 12)

 

Inclusions

All-inclusive full day stay on De Palm Island includes round-trip transportation from your hotel, use of facilities such as: water park, snorkeling & snorkeling equipment, beaches & palapas, banana boat rides, guided snorkel tours and all you can eat buffet, or food off the grill and open bar with cocktails, beer or soft drinks.

 

Duration

Approximately 7 hours

 

Time & Location

Delivery by bus at De Palm Island at approximately 10:00 AM. Please confirm the exact pickup time from your hotel with the De Palm Tours Desk in your hotel.

Available

Daily

We will be in Aruba January 1, 2014. We stores, markets be open January 1.

Princess excursion is beach & meal for $79 for 4.5 hours. The beach, meal, helment dive is $139 for 4.5 hours.

Can you decide to book the helment dive once we are there or must it be prebooked? I am wondering if we can decide to do the dive, when we are there as their site shows $48/adult for the same dive that Princess charges $60 which is included in the beach, meal, helment dive for $139.

Glad to hear this.Our group of 13 (youngest is 19) want to go because we all plan to do the helmet dive. Not really looking for the typical water park adventure. :)

We are interested in the helmet dive.

Did you do it?

Can you tell me about this tour?

Did you do this through the cruiseline?

Pricelilne

Dec 26-27/13 2 nights

Crowne Plaza FLL Airport/Cruise

$90 per night

$54.28 taxes

total $414.28 for 2 rooms

Crowne Plaze is about 2 miles from the water taxi and a mile from the active part of SE 17th St. and trolley and Publix. Anthony's Coal Fired pizza and Ernie's Barbeque are an easy walk.

Thank you for the information.

Have you been to these restaurants?

I have gone back 20 pages and I would like information on the Crowne Plaza Airport-Cruise hotel.

I won Crowne Plaza Airport-Cruise hotel on Priceline.

Do we need a car? Hotel says it has shuttle from airport to hotel.

What is around this hotel - restaurants, trolley, grocery store?

We like to do the water taxi.

For anybody interested in the further dates for the Tattoo.

Thanks for the disembarkment times.

We just got off Indy this morning. Walked off at 6:30 and we were at the airport and checked in by 7:00! Security line was horrible and took 45 minutes. We have an 11:15 flight home on Delta. Lots of time to catch up on emails. Our cruise left on March 2 and we were the first cruise with the new menu. Best food yet, but this was only our third cruise.

Did they have different times for self disembarkment? We do not need the 6:30 but want to be before the crowds. How was going through Immigration/Customs at the dock?

Have not been on a RCI ship for a few years. What is on the new menu? Any recommendations?

Did you keep the information about disembarkment times?

Would be interested to know what times were self disembarkment and the first group times after them?

With the changes in less Immigration/Customs persons, we don't want to miss our flight.

We are Canadian, and will do Normany and I notices there was one tour you had listed for the British and Canadian sites...not sure if I would have found something like that on my own!

Angela

I am leading the Canadain/British Normandy tour on the August 16 that you mentioned. I may end up cancelling this tour as there are not many Canadians and British on our cruise to have a 8 passenger van. I have contacted the tour company to see if others have inquired about this tour with them and there is not alot of demand for this tour. Contact the tour company early and post on your Roll Call, no deposit is required just a credit card to hold the booking.

Not having been on a RCI ship with rock climing and other activities. You mentioned a wristband, what is this?

We will have a non suite Over the Water cabana. Do we need water shoes in the water?

We will have one of the non suite Over the Water cabanas. Do we water shoes in the water?

Does that mean we can leave our car parked there for a week while we are on the cruise and ride a shuttle to/from the port?

Some hotels charge a different amount for keeping your car so call them to see. I believe the shuttle to/from the airport is free. Last time, we stayed there, there was a charge per person ($8-10/pp) for the shuttle to the port. Sometimes, if more than 1, it is cheaper to take a taxi (under $20 ?) to the port as you don't have to sign up for a time and wait for the shuttle to fill, you can go when you want to.

Check out http://www.valuetrips.com for prices for Hyatt Place 17th St. This is the Hyatt Place that is closest to the port with restaurants, stores, grocery around it.

Do you remember what the times of the ice shows were? Were they on sea days?

We will be on the Independence March 16.

We are renting from Avis at the airport and suppose to return it there. I did not know about Hyatt Pier 66 office. Did you have any problems returning the car to the hotel office instead of the airport. How often is the shuttle?

Wendy - if it is a nice day, you could drive up A1A to Palm Beach. It's a lovely ride (especially if your rental car is a convertible :p). When you get to Palm Beach you can visit the Breakers Hotel and If you are interested in Florida history or the history of railroads in the US or just want to see how the (less than) 1% lived during the Gilded Age (after having seen how they live now on the drive up), don't miss the Flagler museum: http://www.flaglermuseum.us. Then you can take I-95 back to FLL. Jackie

How long would it takes to get to Palm Beach?

My brother in law is into railways so the Flagle Museum might be interestng.

We are staying at the Sheraton Beach hotel. We will have a whole day with a rental car. We have been to FLL many times, had done water taxi, sun trolley, Everglades, Sawgrass, not into shopping. We were at Miami Marketplace at Christmas.

What can we do? Is there place or town/city near that is interesting to visit?

Our News station (in Florida) announced that the police will not enforce that law on Canadians.

I am not worryed about the police. W\

Will the car rental accept only Canadian licences, I wonder?

It was in the Toronto Star newspaper today - Feb 14, 2013, in Florida anybody renting cars will need International Drivers Licence.

I have been told that at the FLL airport you can NOT check luggage until 2 hours before your flight.

The same for Miami airport.

I am bringing this thread forward to help other cruisers doing this cruise this year.

I am re reading this thread for our August 16 cruise.

The Embassy Suites might not be by the ocean but can hold 6 with free breakfast and managers drinks in the evening.

Hyatt Place North on 17th St can also hold 6.

Looking for pictures of Indpendence of the Sea 7708.