Question about Itineraries with late port departure times...

[Georgia_Peaches]

We are considering a 9 night itinerary to the ABC islands on Silhouette next year and I noticed that Aruba's port hours are 8 AM to 11:59 PM and Curacao is from 8 AM to 8 PM. I'm wondering why they stay so late in these ports but mostly I want to know what the impact is on the ship venues that we like to frequent during the evenings. My question is 2-fold, why stay so late and what's the evening like back on ship...casino open? shops? specialty restaurants?

 

Thank you!

[colocop004]

I found it interesting to stay late in a port to see the nightlife, or just a different view point at an evening meal etc.... A different point of view. The ship activities are limited. The casino will not be open and I bet the shops are not either. The dining venues will be open, as will the MDR etc......

 

 

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[Luvcrusn]

We did an overnight in Aruba last December on Reflection. The casino was open (I just double checked in the Celebrity Today I kept for some unknown reason!) and there were the normal evening shows. All of the dining venues and shops on the ship were also open. We docked in Aruba at 4PM, stayed overnight and left the next afternoon.

 

It was nice to stay in port late. Aruba has lots of nice restaurants if you wish to dine on the island as well as some nice clubs and casinos. OTOH the ship was quieter and less busy than normal, so we viewed it as a win whatever we did!

[jelayne]

On a overnight or late night in port whether or not the casino or shops are open depends upon which port the ship is at. In our experience most often the casino and shops are closed. Other on- board activities such as shows, DJs continue as normal although not as many guests around.

[Luvcrusn]

Jelayne is correct about many times when leaving a port late the casino/shops are closed until after departure, however in the case of an overnight in Aruba (the port the OP asked about) they were open.

[Denny01]

It appears to depend on a port and if late departure/overnight. We spent overnight in Dublin (yup, not the Caribbean), and the shops/casino were closed. As to things to do, we did an evening Literary Pub Tour that was fantastic. They toured the pubs that great Irish writers hung out in (who would ever think an Irish writer/poet would go to pubs) and actors stepped out and were the writers. Loved it. More itineraries are adding late/overnight stays. An island may not provide all the options you’d get in other ports, but it does open many options and going further from the port of call.

 

So there are tours and things to see in ports beyond the normal 5pm departures and if you want to try a casino, there are neat ones in port if thats what you want to try.

 

Enjoy

 

Den

[gerelmx]

The sailing between these ports it's to short, they prefer to stay in port instead of burning fuel.

[Georgia_Peaches]

Great information! Thank you, everyone!

[Phxazzcruisers]

just got off the Equinox. Stayed late in Aruba and Curacao. All dining venues are open, usually shops and casino is closed, however, the island authorities will sometimes allow shops and casinos to be open around 7:00. As stated above, it is nice to be able to see some of the nightlife of the ports you visit. Some people like dinner cruises in the harbor or eating out at local restaurants. AS for burning fuel, it depends on the port fees. Sometimes it is cheaper to dock at the port than burn fuel and sometimes it is cheaper to burn fuel..... They have all of that figured out. Enjoy

[Luvcrusn]

just got off the Equinox. Stayed late in Aruba and Curacao. All dining venues are open, usually shops and casino is closed, however, the island authorities will sometimes allow shops and casinos to be open around 7:00. As stated above, it is nice to be able to see some of the nightlife of the ports you visit. Some people like dinner cruises in the harbor or eating out at local restaurants. AS for burning fuel, it depends on the port fees. Sometimes it is cheaper to dock at the port than burn fuel and sometimes it is cheaper to burn fuel..... They have all of that figured out. Enjoy

My Celebrity Today shows the casino open when overnighting in Aruba as follows: Slots 9:00 am - 3:45 p.m., 7:00 pm -late

Tables: 10 :00am - 3:45pm, 7:00 pm- late.