Aruba Reccomendations!

[Taiters91]

Hello!

 

Aruba (Oranjsted) is our first port on our first ever cruise in March!

 

We have decided to DIY as we keep changing our minds, so we will play it by ear as to what we fancy doing and may book excursions on the ship!

 

Any recommendations for Aruba or No go's?

 

We are 24, newly married, and this is our Honeymoon. Our main aim of the holiday is to relax and enjoy some beautiful sites.

 

Our main interests would probably be beach resorts with restaurants, shops, maybe water activities or any other recommendations to make the most of the island!

 

We are also visiting;

Bonaire

Grenada

Barbados

St Lucia

Antigua

 

Thank you!

[cb at sea]

A guidebook is what you need...it will tell you everything about your ports...what to see/do, transportation, food/drink, shopping, beaches, casinos, points of interest and safety!

 

In Aruba, there are shops, restaurants, and casinos right across from the dock! Beaches are an easy cab ride.

 

Go to your library, and pick up a guidebook on your ports!!

[TLCOhio]

A guidebook is what you need...it will tell you everything about your ports...what to see/do, transportation, food/drink, shopping, beaches, casinos, points of interest and safety! Go to your library, and pick up a guidebook on your ports!!

 

We have decided to DIY as we keep changing our minds, so we will play it by ear as to what we fancy doing and may book excursions on the ship! Any recommendations or No go's? We are 24, newly married, and this is our Honeymoon. Our main aim of the holiday is to relax and enjoy some beautiful sites. Our main interests would probably be beach resorts with restaurants, shops, maybe water activities or any other recommendations to make the most of the island! We are also visiting;

Aruba, Grenada, Bonaire, St Lucia, Antigua

 

Congratulations on your wedding and upcoming "adventure". While we have not been, yet, to St Lucia and Antigua, I can offer lots of ideas and tips for Barbados, Aruba, Bonaire and Grenada. You will have a nice variety of options and potentials in these scenic and varied places. Check out some of my links listed below. Or, you can see many ideas on my live/blog linked below for other Caribbean, etc., potential for future travel.

 

YES! YES!! Agree on checking out the library items for many good tips and ideas.

 

For "Barbados: Our Pix's, Experiences Feb./2015!", see:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2262999

 

For "Aruba: Pix's, Fun, Experiences Feb./2015!", see:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2262154

 

For "Bonaire: Pix's, Fun, Experiences Feb./2015!", see:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2262075

 

For "Grenada: Pix's, Fun, Experiences Jan./2015!", see:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2263775

 

Below are a few of my pictures to help build excitement for this upcoming trip. Don't be shy!! Post on my thread any questions, info needs, reactions, etc. Look forward to sharing more.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 32,734 views for these postings.

 

 

Before boarding our ship, we did a three-hour private tour with a Barbados cab driver. He took us all over this historic and scenic island, including to the top where the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea come together. Is this dramatic and scenic? Does my wife’s smile say it all?:

 

 

 

Aruba's Eagle Beach gets high marks as the top beach on this island. Some even mention it as one of the best in the world. We can understand why. It is about six miles long with amazing sand. Busy, but not too crowded. We came back later in the afternoon via a cab to enjoy its fun, people, sights, activities, etc. At one end of the beach, however, are lots of high-riise hotels/housing. Personally, we prefer more of the low-rise, less-busy settings. The varied shades of the blue waters were so great. We had a fun part of the afternoon to be here. BUT, it was hot this day with a very intense sun. Did we enjoy? See the picture proof!:

 

 

 

 

 

Here are two of my visual samples from being in Bonaire National Marine Park. From water level and with our expert guide, it was very educational to learn more about these interactions with natural life. With the second picture, you can see a nest with two baby green heron chicks. Cute?:

 

 

 

 

 

Here is only one sampling for a site as we traveled north from the port/capital of Grenada. Here is a sample of the shore fishing action as people from the village there pull in the nets. We also visited an old estate, got background for the various spices and items from this island, etc.:

 

[TLCOhio]

From the Boston Globe this morning, they have this headline: "Aruba is a desert island you can fall in love with" with these highlights: "People seem to love this place: TripAdvisor.com named Aruba as one of the top 10 best destinations in the Caribbean. Well-traveled friends sing its praises."

 

Lots of details, ideas and options are outlined in this travel story. Among the added highlights: "Score one for Aruba when it came to weather. Aruba is a bit 'out there,' geographically; the 19½-mile long, 6-mile-wide island lies in the Caribbean Sea just 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela, and about 890 nautical miles from the equator. The flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands flies here, but nearly everyone on the island speaks English. The beach is lovely, especially at sunset, when the sand looks silvery under a sherbet-hued sky. "

 

Fun article with pictures that brings back nice memories from our visit to Aruba.

 

Full story at:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/travel/2015/12/05/aruba-you-made-love-you-and-didn-want/BVukQmNHSFPoVZhoxkTBfI/story.html

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. We are now at 207,025 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[cruiseapril]

We like to relax on Palm Beach in Aruba and at the Carlisle Bay beach in Barbados.

[Cool Breeze Cruiser]

The Trikes tour in Aruba is a wonderful, fun way to explore the island & if you have time you can go to Palm Beach before or after your tour.

The Twizie tour in Bonaire is a blast & Hans is a great guide.

Grand Anse Beach is nice in Grenada.

Hands down the best excursion we have ever done is Calabaza in Barbados! Book early!!!

If you have never been to St. Lucia I would suggest a land/sea tour (we have gone with Spencer Ambrose & Herod) although the ziplining is great as is Mystic Man's Eco Adventure tour.

The Excellence catamaran in Antigua is way too much fun & Pineapple Resort offers a great day pass option.

Great itinerary & so many excursion options!

 

[Taiters91]

The Trikes tour in Aruba is a wonderful, fun way to explore the island & if you have time you can go to Palm Beach before or after your tour.

 

The Twizie tour in Bonaire is a blast & Hans is a great guide.

 

Grand Anse Beach is nice in Grenada.

 

Hands down the best excursion we have ever done is Calabaza in Barbados! Book early!!!

 

If you have never been to St. Lucia I would suggest a land/sea tour (we have gone with Spencer Ambrose & Herod) although the ziplining is great as is Mystic Man's Eco Adventure tour.

 

The Excellence catamaran in Antigua is way too much fun & Pineapple Resort offers a great day pass option.

 

Great itinerary & so many excursion options!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much!!

 

How strange, we have just booked Calabaza for Barbados - can't wait!!!

[leeotampa]

Take a look at this website for resorts:

http://www.resortforaday.com

 

I used them in Cozumel.

 

 

 

Hello!

 

Aruba (Oranjsted) is our first port on our first ever cruise in March!

 

We have decided to DIY as we keep changing our minds, so we will play it by ear as to what we fancy doing and may book excursions on the ship!

 

Any recommendations for Aruba or No go's?

 

We are 24, newly married, and this is our Honeymoon. Our main aim of the holiday is to relax and enjoy some beautiful sites.

 

Our main interests would probably be beach resorts with restaurants, shops, maybe water activities or any other recommendations to make the most of the island!

 

We are also visiting;

Bonaire

Grenada

Barbados

St Lucia

Antigua

 

Thank you!

[rjrice1]

Bonaire we did these awesome twizzy electric cars

But don't share one pay 75 a piece and drive your own

We drove all over the island for 3 hrs then a nice beach

[mimxmom]

Bonaire we did these awesome twizzy electric cars

 

But don't share one pay 75 a piece and drive your own

 

We drove all over the island for 3 hrs then a nice beach

 

 

What beach did you go to after? Did you take a taxi and how far was it?

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[Hlitner]

Not sure how an Aruba thread got to a Bonaire subject...but such is CC. On Bonaire we only have one recommendation and it is to do a drift snorkel trip/tour on the Woodwind. Dee and her partner are wonderful hosts and their boat-based tour is very popular. One most book it very far in advance and she sells out just about any day when there is a ship in port.

 

Hank

[Taiters91]

Thank you both... I think it's because I mentioned the other islands.

 

We have now hired a golf buggy in Bonaire to explore the island ourselves :)

[Hlitner]

Thank you both... I think it's because I mentioned the other islands.

 

We have now hired a golf buggy in Bonaire to explore the island ourselves :)

 

That is fine if you like riding around an island. But, for those that love being the water, Bonaire has some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. On this island we often recommend that cruisers book a drift snorkel on a private boat called the Woodwind run by an amazing lady named Dedrie (Dee). We cannot imagine going to Bonaire without spending some time on Dee's boat. But be warned, it is a popular tour, the boat can only take a limited number of folks, and it books up far in advance.

 

Hank

[Taiters91]

That is fine if you like riding around an island. But, for those that love being the water, Bonaire has some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. On this island we often recommend that cruisers book a drift snorkel on a private boat called the Woodwind run by an amazing lady named Dedrie (Dee). We cannot imagine going to Bonaire without spending some time on Dee's boat. But be warned, it is a popular tour, the boat can only take a limited number of folks, and it books up far in advance.

 

 

 

Hank

 

 

Thanks Hank. We are snorkelling on another island and only on Bonaire for the morning which is why we are just doing our own thing for a few hours. We will most certainly be stopping at some beaches though :)

[rjrice1]

The twizzy cars for 3 hours and beach for 2 was included in the price..

Transportation as well. Went to a beach at some hotel and had nice chairs with umbrella's too.

 

 

 

What beach did you go to after? Did you take a taxi and how far was it?

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[Jkronvacation]

The Trikes tour in Aruba is wonderful{snip}

 

Thanks in a large part to your posts, we have reserved a spot. Looks like a blast.

 

But why "sneakers" for the driver? I assume this just means no sandals?