De Palm island excursion in Aruba through Royal

[CS-RN]

(Admin- please do not move this to the Aruba port board, these are questions specific to doing this excursion through Royal)

 

Has anyone does this excursion through Royal?  Looking at the website for DePalm, they are an all-inclusive day- unlimited drinks, food from buffet or grill.  However, when you look at the excursion description on the Royal cruise planner, it states " tour includes.....lunch buffet and complimentary beverage" Does anyone know if they limit you to one drink?  Also, they have a grill and a buffet at De Palm according to their website, does Royal limit this to only the buffet?  (I have one kid who is a picky eater.)

 

Also,  I contacted De Palm and Royal excursion, and they both said that we could opt to return on our own via taxi instead of with the tour.  Has anyone done this?  We would like to stay longer if possible, and we are in port til 11 p.m. so have plenty of time to return via taxi. 

[Rogueperson]

I was at DePalm through Royal Caribbean, although it was the Helmet Dive, not all-inclusive day trip, however, they did not restrict me at all with their drinks while I was there.  There's just a bar where you walk up and ask for drinks.

[BrandFam4]

I am also curious about taking a later taxi back. 

[OCruisers]

7 hours ago, CS-RN said:

(Admin- please do not move this to the Aruba port board, these are questions specific to doing this excursion through Royal)

 

Has anyone does this excursion through Royal?  Looking at the website for DePalm, they are an all-inclusive day- unlimited drinks, food from buffet or grill.  However, when you look at the excursion description on the Royal cruise planner, it states " tour includes.....lunch buffet and complimentary beverage" Does anyone know if they limit you to one drink?  Also, they have a grill and a buffet at De Palm according to their website, does Royal limit this to only the buffet?  (I have one kid who is a picky eater.)

 

Also,  I contacted De Palm and Royal excursion, and they both said that we could opt to return on our own via taxi instead of with the tour.  Has anyone done this?  We would like to stay longer if possible, and we are in port til 11 p.m. so have plenty of time to return via taxi. 

 

No Problem!  Your excursion with RCCL to De Palm will have unlimlited drinks and any place you wish to eat there.  Enjoy!  

[LeeW]

De Palm is an all-inclusive, so drinks and food are included with any package that goes there.  

 

Technically you could probably take a taxi, although the ferry is in an out of the way area behind the airport.  Not sure any taxis will be there - you might have to call for one.  Dock folks probably would do this for you.  Just be aware that the island closes at 5, so you are not going to stay any later than the last ferry.

[OCruisers]

When booked with the cruise line, a bus takes you to where you go to catch the very short boat ride over.  

Enjoy!  

[CS-RN]

1 hour ago, LeeW said:

De Palm is an all-inclusive, so drinks and food are included with any package that goes there.  

 

Technically you could probably take a taxi, although the ferry is in an out of the way area behind the airport.  Not sure any taxis will be there - you might have to call for one.  Dock folks probably would do this for you.  Just be aware that the island closes at 5, so you are not going to stay any later than the last ferry.

 

Yep, the folks from DePalm said they could call a taxi for us and I am aware the island closes at 5.  But, the Royal excursion ends at 2:30, so guessing they'd leave the island by 2:00 .....and extra couple hours would be nice. 🙂 

[CS-RN]

16 minutes ago, OCruisers said:

When booked with the cruise line, a bus takes you to where you go to catch the very short boat ride over.  

Enjoy!  

 

Yes, I am aware of that.  But,  we are going to try and taxi back instead of rising the Royal tour bus on the way back so we can stay longer. 

[CS-RN]

On 2/11/2019 at 6:55 PM, BrandFam4 said:

I am also curious about taking a later taxi back. 

 

 

When are you cruising?  We leave 3/3 so I can let you know if it works if you are cruising after us!  🙂

 

[jamscckmc]

Has anyone been there when there's more than one ship in town? I'm wondering if there are plenty of chairs and umbrellas. Is the water calm and easy entry? Thanks!

[HBE4]

1 hour ago, CS-RN said:

 

Yes, I am aware of that.  But,  we are going to try and taxi back instead of rising the Royal tour bus on the way back so we can stay longer. 

 

I've never done DePalm or cruised to Aruba......but as a frequent Aruba vacationer, I've never had a issue getting a taxi, at any hour, from tour operators, restaurants and late -night casino & bar trips.  If they are not lined up outside, then someone will usually call one for us.

 

As DePalm is a major tour operator and their private island is visited by many an island guest as well as cruise passengers, I would expect taxi's would be lined up to pick up the last passengers at 5:00 pm. If not, have a DePalm employee call a taxi for you. Rates are fixed so no issue with getting ripped off.

 

Enjoy!

[OCruisers]

1 hour ago, jamscckmc said:

Has anyone been there when there's more than one ship in town? I'm wondering if there are plenty of chairs and umbrellas. Is the water calm and easy entry? Thanks!

 

Normally there are many ships in port and also folks doing land vacations.

At De Palm there is never a "chair hog" problem with no lack of chairs in various covered areas.

 

The easy entry into the water is using the Real Stairs at snorkel docks with rails to enter the water which is about 3 or 4 feet.  

If you have no problem getting into a swimming pool, you'll be totally OK there. 

 

The Blue Parrot Fish which you can see even without getting into the water are always around and beautiful.  

De Palm Island is a very enjoyable place to go.   Enjoy! 

[BrandFam4]

3 hours ago, CS-RN said:

 

 

When are you cruising?  We leave 3/3 so I can let you know if it works if you are cruising after us!  🙂

 

We’ll be there the week of March 18th! Thank you. I appreaciate it. 🙂

[Jkloveskk]

Waiting for your answers brandfam4 and CS-RN. I am cruising March 29 and wonder if I can stay longer. 

[gaby2910]

Hey! I have the same question. We already book the excursion via Royal Caribbean, but we want more time in the island. At least until the island close. 

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, gaby2910 said:

Hey! I have the same question. We already book the excursion via Royal Caribbean, but we want more time in the island. At least until the island close. 

Welcome to CC.

You can return on your own later.

 

[gaby2910]

1 hour ago, Biker19 said:

Welcome to CC.

You can return on your own later.

 

 Thank you! I will do that. 😉 

[BrandFam4]

On 3/21/2019 at 4:31 PM, gaby2910 said:

Hey! I have the same question. We already book the excursion via Royal Caribbean, but we want more time in the island. At least until the island close. 

Hi! We were there last week and we had 3 times that we could return, 12:45 (our designated time with included shuttle bus back to the port) 2:45pm, and 4:45pm (this would be pushing it as all aboard was 6pm). If we did not return at 12:45 we would have had to pay and find our own way back to the pier. We chose to return at the designated 12:45 time. This gave us roughly 3 hours there.

 

One note of caution is that each wrist band designated the time you were supposed to leave: ex. Gray - cruise, red - 2:45, blue - 4:45pm. I did not see anyone enforcing this, but just FYI.

 

We were the only cruise ship in port that day and with only a handful of non cruise ship patrons (local hotels, residents) De Palm was not busy at all and we were able to do everything we wanted in those 3 hours. Snorkeling, water slides, zip lining, banana boat, playing in the water, and even 'brunch' and we were satisfied. Upon return to the pier, we walked the 5 minutes back to town and did some shopping and ate at Iguana Joe's (very yummy and kid friendly).

 

For those of you on Carnival, I do want to warn you that there were signs up all over De Palm Island that Carnival guests could NOT use the banana boat or zip line. And one sign said, Carnival guests had to be wearing a 'non alcohol use' wrist band. Not sure what that is all about?

 

Have fun!

Edited March 26, 2019 by BrandFam4
clarification

[gaby2910]

Hey! Thank you for the info. I will be with royal caribbean. I think the tours is from 10:00 to 2:30. I really hope that we have enough time to do everything. 

Just one more question! 

Did you were with Royal Caribbean and at what time the cruise leave Aruba? 

 

[BrandFam4]

1 minute ago, gaby2910 said:

Hey! Thank you for the info. I will be with royal caribbean. I think the tours is from 10:00 to 2:30. I really hope that we have enough time to do everything. 

Just one more question! 

Did you were with Royal Caribbean and at what time the cruise leave Aruba? 

 

Yes we were on Royal. Our cruise was docked in Aruba from about 8:30am to 6pm. The excursion was listed as 9:30 to 1:30pm, this included the travel time from pier to island and back.

[gaby2910]

Thank you! Have a great day! 

[ShillyShally]

19 minutes ago, BrandFam4 said:

Hi! We were there last week and we had 3 times that we could return, 12:45 (our designated time with included shuttle bus back to the port) 2:45pm, and 4:45pm (this would be pushing it as all aboard was 6pm). If we did not return at 12:45 we would have had to pay and find our own way back to the pier. We chose to return at the designated 12:45 time. This gave us roughly 3 hours there.

 

One note of caution is that each wrist band designated the time you were supposed to leave: ex. Gray - cruise, red - 2:45, blue - 4:45pm. I did not see anyone enforcing this, but just FYI.

 

We were the only cruise ship in port that day and with only a handful of non cruise ship patrons (local hotels, residents) De Palm was not busy at all and we were able to do everything we wanted in those 3 hours. Snorkeling, water slides, zip lining, banana boat, playing in the water, and even 'brunch' and we were satisfied. Upon return to the pier, we walked the 5 minutes back to town and did some shopping and ate at Iguana Joe's (very yummy and kid friendly).

 

For those of you on Carnival, I do want to warn you that there were signs up all over De Palm Island that Carnival guests could NOT use the banana boat or zip line. And one sign said, Carnival guests had to be wearing a 'non alcohol use' wrist band. Not sure what that is all about?

 

Have fun!

Good info!  How long did it take to get there/get back from the port?

[BrandFam4]

Just now, ShillyShally said:

Good info!  How long did it take to get there/get back from the port?

I'd say roughly 20-25 minutes. Our driver back to the pier was wonderful. He did a mini informational tour on the way back and was also very funny. Unfortunately, it is isn't the most scenic route to the pier, but the driver helped make up for that with the information he gave. 

[ShillyShally]

2 minutes ago, BrandFam4 said:

I'd say roughly 20-25 minutes. Our driver back to the pier was wonderful. He did a mini informational tour on the way back and was also very funny. Unfortunately, it is isn't the most scenic route to the pier, but the driver helped make up for that with the information he gave. 

Thank you!  We may do this the next time we're there on a ship - it's an Island we love going to on its own for vacations too!

 

And I'd feel badly if I was there with Carnival and couldn't full participate as you said, though I expect they may have paid less (but I wonder why they aren't offered the same thing).

[BrandFam4]

3 minutes ago, ShillyShally said:

Thank you!  We may do this the next time we're there on a ship - it's an Island we love going to on its own for vacations too!

 

And I'd feel badly if I was there with Carnival and couldn't full participate as you said, though I expect they may have paid less (but I wonder why they aren't offered the same thing).

We enjoyed it! 

 

Yes, very weird about Carnival. Assuming some type of liability reason.