george35 Posted November 16, 2019 #1 Share Posted November 16, 2019 We will be on the Explorer B/B Nov. 24th for 5 days then for 9 nights. My question is my wife has picked out 3 tours she said looked interesting, can any one help us decide if they are worth our time & money? 1. CURACRO-----------Discover Curacro-----------$58 PP 2. BONAIRE-----------BONAIRE HIGHLIGHTS---$66 PP 3. ARUBA---------------The tour that is listed at $50.99 PP george35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WI-Cruiser Posted November 16, 2019 #2 Share Posted November 16, 2019 Haven't gone on any of these excursions, but you may want to check the Ports of Call forum for more information: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/456-caribbean/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted November 16, 2019 #3 Share Posted November 16, 2019 Any reason why you don't consider booking group private tours rather than the ship offered ones...especially in these easy to do ports? As an example for Aruba....as you exit the cruise terminal there are bus tours being offered...we did one that went all around the island and at the end you had an option of returning back into town or could have stayed at a beach and they would come back to get you at a pre-arranged time/place. The cost was $20.00pp. Just something you might want to consider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tee & Chilli Posted November 16, 2019 #4 Share Posted November 16, 2019 Suggestion...Bonaire has golf carts for rental. You could design your own highlights tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodtime Cruizin Posted November 17, 2019 #5 Share Posted November 17, 2019 (edited) All I can say is if you aren't on a snorkeling trip in Bonaire, you're missing out. It's a the best we've experienced in the Caribbean. Edited November 17, 2019 by Goodtime Cruizin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeW Posted November 17, 2019 #6 Share Posted November 17, 2019 You do realize that there isn't any way that folks not on your cruise can tell which tour in Aruba you are looking at - all tour prices vary by ship and constantly by "sales." Sounds like you are just looking at generic island tours. As Ashland says, there are a ton of local operators at all these ports that will give you a three hour or so tour of each island, although the prices you list are not bad if you don't mind large tour groups, slow boarding of buses and waiting for the rest of the group. Local operators not giving a chunk of cash to Royal can do a bit better and vehicles will be smaller. Check the port boards for the three islands to see what people recommend based on what you are interested in doing. All three islands have great 4x4 truck-based tours (about 8 people in the back of an Army-type truck where you can see both the developed and undeveloped areas of the island. Personally we now just walk across the main street in Aruba and take the 10 bus to somewhere on the beach, walk as far as we want, and take the bus back (around $2.50pp each way). Bonaire is about snorkeling or diving. You can walk into town and across the bridge in Curacao and explore a lot of the city for free. But it really depends on what YOU want to do - these are laid-back islands with a lot of nice folks there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDiamond22 Posted November 18, 2019 #7 Share Posted November 18, 2019 I'm going on a 9 day to the ABCs on adventure in January, would love to hear about these or what ever ones you end up doing as we are still trying to decide! i've been to curacao one other time a few years ago, we did a tour (don't remember what they called it) that included a guided bus ride to the curacao distillery that was super interesting, then a tour of the place and samples once we got there, i enjoyed that but i feel in love with the island so this time i plan on exploring it myself along with beach bumming it. such a beautiful place IMO. most likely will snorkel in Bonaire and still undecided in Aruba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siriuscruiser Posted November 18, 2019 #8 Share Posted November 18, 2019 If you want to snorkel in Bonaire, I suggest using Woodwind Tours. They are probably the best snorkeling tour we have taken. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare little britain Posted November 18, 2019 #9 Share Posted November 18, 2019 The snorkling tripwith Woodwind in Bonaire is the best day out I have ever had. Ever. Fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iahawkfan21 Posted November 18, 2019 #10 Share Posted November 18, 2019 6 minutes ago, siriuscruiser said: If you want to snorkel in Bonaire, I suggest using Woodwind Tours. They are probably the best snorkeling tour we have taken. They really are excellent! I think we may be in the same sailing as OP in a couple weeks and we can’t wait to snorkel with Woodwind again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDiamond22 Posted November 18, 2019 #11 Share Posted November 18, 2019 11 minutes ago, siriuscruiser said: If you want to snorkel in Bonaire, I suggest using Woodwind Tours. They are probably the best snorkeling tour we have taken. 5 minutes ago, little britain said: The snorkling tripwith Woodwind in Bonaire is the best day out I have ever had. Ever. Fantastic. so im assuming since you're mentioning the company by name its a company on the island? not RC affiliated? if so how would one go about booking that? ive never done a non RC excursion, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare little britain Posted November 18, 2019 #12 Share Posted November 18, 2019 2 minutes ago, EDiamond22 said: so im assuming since you're mentioning the company by name its a company on the island? not RC affiliated? if so how would one go about booking that? ive never done a non RC excursion, thanks! Simply booked direct online https://www.woodwindbonaire.com/four-hour-tours/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDiamond22 Posted November 18, 2019 #13 Share Posted November 18, 2019 2 minutes ago, little britain said: Simply booked direct online https://www.woodwindbonaire.com/four-hour-tours/ i will defiantly pitch it to the group, thanks !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacationers Posted November 21, 2019 #14 Share Posted November 21, 2019 On 11/16/2019 at 3:35 PM, george35 said: We will be on the Explorer B/B Nov. 24th for 5 days then for 9 nights. My question is my wife has picked out 3 tours she said looked interesting, can any one help us decide if they are worth our time & money? 1. CURACRO-----------Discover Curacro-----------$58 PP 2. BONAIRE-----------BONAIRE HIGHLIGHTS---$66 PP 3. ARUBA---------------The tour that is listed at $50.99 PP george35 Aruba ....sights seems and taste. goes to every point you should see....Bonaire...north and south, goes around the island....Curacao. The best of Curacao... Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseguy1016 Posted November 21, 2019 #15 Share Posted November 21, 2019 On 11/16/2019 at 3:35 PM, george35 said: We will be on the Explorer B/B Nov. 24th for 5 days then for 9 nights. My question is my wife has picked out 3 tours she said looked interesting, can any one help us decide if they are worth our time & money? 1. CURACRO-----------Discover Curacro-----------$58 PP 2. BONAIRE-----------BONAIRE HIGHLIGHTS---$66 PP 3. ARUBA---------------The tour that is listed at $50.99 PP george35 As someone else mentioned, check the ports of call boards for these stops. You will find tours that are less expensive and you will be in a smaller vehicle with less people. It will be a much more enjoyable tour. If you choose a tour that comes highly recommended here, you shouldn't have to worry about getting back to the ship in time. These tour operators all know the cruise ship schedules and would not risk the bad publicity by having a group miss their ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SG65CB Posted November 22, 2019 #16 Share Posted November 22, 2019 On 11/18/2019 at 9:00 AM, EDiamond22 said: i will defiantly pitch it to the group, thanks !! The group might be put off by your defiance. But seriously, if you're going in January it might be too late to book Woodwind. They fill up early, six months ahead is not too early to book them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDiamond22 Posted November 22, 2019 #17 Share Posted November 22, 2019 51 minutes ago, SG65CB said: The group might be put off by your defiance. But seriously, if you're going in January it might be too late to book Woodwind. They fill up early, six months ahead is not too early to book them. interesting, good info i will reach out tomorrow and see if its even a possibility. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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