Aruba Curacao Falmouth

[jonj]

The port boards are not very active right now and hope ok to post here. 
What are your favorite things to do at each port. My husband is not adventurous at all, meaning no zip lining, caves (mobility restrictions due to arthritis).  

 

Aruba day is a long one, back onboard is not until 11pm. 

Curacao 

Falmouth 

 

[1025cruise]

As you inferred, you would be best posting on the individual ports of call boards for your ports.

[jalves]

Our only experience with those ports is Falmouth.  There we just get off the ship and do a bit of shopping.  We don't leave the enclosed area.  Discovered Sangsters Jamaican Rum Cream there on a previous stop.  

[njkruzer]

Never been to Falmouth and it's been a while since the other 2.  Lots of people like the Aruba beaches.  In Curacao we walk over to the floating bridge and walk across to the old Town.  Been on tours in both places years ago.

[jonj]

1025 cruise - Yes thank you, I went there first, however a lot of posts without any answers lately. 
Jalves and Njkruzer, thank you. 

[Tatka]

In Falmouth we really enjoyed Martha Brae river rafting. It is beautiful, relaxing and close to port. Dunn's Riverfalls is a fun experience too.

Aruba - took a bus to Arashi beach. I walked to California lighthouse from that beach

Curacao - we usually take a taxi to Blue Bay beach where snorkeling right from the beach is great. Then on our return we spend some time in city.

[Sunshine3601]

first time we went to Aruba we did royal's excursion of bus tour of the whole island.    went to california lighthouse - gorgeous view from top of the hill, went to the other side of the island that is entirely different than the beach side.    You must check that out.      Then we had 1.5 or 2 hours at Palm Beach.    We have since been to Aruba several times on cruises and personal vacation.    Absolutely love the island.     As you are there to late in the evening you may want to go to West Deck restaurant that is a quick taxi ride from cruise port.     Beautiful spot for a sunset dinner.    Great food, great drinks at reasonable prices.     check them out online and make a reservation online too they get crowded without reservation.   

Curacoa is also another favorite island for us.    Whenever we go to an island for the first time we like to take the ship excursion tour bus to get a feel of the island and see where we want to go when we come back then we like to wander around the port and local town area.     I highly suggest a walk into town and walk across the queen emma floating bridge.   There is a great cafe on other side that is perfect to watch the action of the bridge open and close for boats.      

Our last trip to curocao in feb 2020 we went to mambo beach - gorgeous beach.    will definitely go back.

Jamaica, I do not recommend what we did but we had an excellent day our last time there.    We walked out of the port area into area where locals sell their items and we asked a complete stranger for info on best way to get to a nice beach.   He offered to drive us and give us a little tour of the island for some ridiculous cheap amount - something like $20 / pp.      

We said yes and hoped into his car and he drove us all over the island, very friendly nice guy that gave us his own personal tour of local neighbors, the dunn river waterfall, etc.  etc etc.   

He then took us to a beautiful beach that locals go to on weekends.   everything smelled of pot and there was even a police officer smoking pot with the lifeguard.   the cop asked me if I wanted any.   I passed as I didn't want to get high with a cop.          our new friend the driver hung with us on and off and when I asked if there was somewhere to get something to drink he told me to walk down the beach and turn right at the big palm tree, I thought he was joking.      So off I went, hubby stayed with the driver to make sure he didn't leave us.     I walked to the palm tree and OMG there was a really cool beach hut bar.    I got us a couple of drinks and one guy gave me a hand carved pineapple that I absolutely love and have in my dining room china cabinet.    

We had the best day and will never forget that trip.    We gave our driver a very nice tip and he didn't want it - wanted to give us money back but we insisted.    

[jonj]

Sunshine3601 - Thank you. that is our kind of touring the island so I appreciate the information. Many years ago we had a stop in Ocho Rios and we asked a taxi driver how much for a tour and it was $60 for the day. He gave us a great tour and were able to see places we normally wouldn't have with a tradtional tour. 

[Arubamoose]

Last time we rented a car in Curacao.  We drove all the way up to West Punt.  Stopped at a number of beaches.  Lazed around drinking some real Amstel.

 

We've been to Curacao many, many times.  Done tours and taken taxis to the beaches by the aquarium but the drive to West Punt was very interesting.

[mafig]

In Aruba we've done the cruise line tour of the island.  We've also gone to the local grocery stores to buy a whole wheel of Gouda cheese.  It was interesting to go into a local supermarket.  It was full of Europeans stocking up their boats or condos.  Also, we enjoy casinos and have taken the bus to the beginning of Palm Beach and walked  casino to casino.  We enjoyed this a lot (probably because we won !)😀

[DCPIV]

For something different in Aruba, check out Trikes Aruba. That was a fun day! 

[hotsauce126]

Definitely book some type of excursion in Falmouth. Its just a sterilized compound in the port area with a poor village outside of it. 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

we'd prefer to skip Falmouth if possible (been there several times), but if you are craving a beach day - I'd do that. We went to the Red Stripe beach through an cruise excursion and it was decently nice.

Outside a small (nice) port area it's just a fishing village.

 

In Aruba we took a taxi to the butterfly farm/sanctuary, had a lovely time there for about about an hour or so, and then crossed the street to the beach. It's in Eagle beach area. It was very lovely. Divi Phoenix hotel area. All the beaches are public and free. Aruba:

 

 

In Curacao we went to the Pirate beach club, it was average, we'll go somewhere else next time.

 

Edited November 1, 2021 by Itchy&Scratchy

[Peak city]

We did Trikes Aruba and it was a fun time.  We toured the entire island and our guides were wonderful.  The trikes are all automatic transmission and have a storage compartment.  

[loupana]

Here is another vote for Trikes of Aruba, one of our best excursions we've done in the Caribbean. We enjoyed it so much we've since done Trikes of St. Maarten and hopefully in Jan. 2022 we can try Trikes of Cozumel.

[jonbgd]

Love the ABC's favorite is Bonaire but that is because of the incredible scuba/snorkeling 

If first timers In Aruba and Curacao do the island tours

In Aruba for a great dinner, a short walk(10-15min) from the pier is, The West Deck

Great food great views

in Curacao after Island tour we went to the floating market had a good local lunch

When walking back to the mega cruise pier found a shopping area in the old RIF Fort

had the best pricing for danish blue that i had seen on any of the ABC's

 

Falmouth is a ship day or Magaritaville day for us

 

[DCPIV]

3 hours ago, LouTheGlue said:

We enjoyed it so much we've since done Trikes of St. Maarten and hopefully in Jan. 2022 we can try Trikes of Cozumel.

 

Thanks for the heads-up about that!  I don't know why I never looked to see if they did it in other locations!