Pre-cruise hotel in Aruba

[RelaxKat]

Booked on the Star Pride out of Aruba and looking for hotel recommendations for a night or two before the cruise.  Any suggestions would be appreciated because we've never been there before.

[Ski Mom 2]

We stayed at the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino following our cruise on Wind Surf in February 2020 (just before the world shut down). We chose that hotel because of their private island with the flamingos. We booked a cabana for the day and had a wonderful time.

 

When we docked, we missed our tour guide who picked someone else up instead but we were able to literally walk off the ship and roll our luggage down to the hotel so you could walk if needed. In fact, we could see Wind Surf out our hotel window!

 

There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance too.

 

The only problem with that hotel is it is typically booked as a time share and by the week so there are a limited amount of rooms they give out for just a day or two. Our original room was in a horrible location and I insisted on a better location which we finally were able to come to an agreement upon. The pool is nice but the beach is part of their private island. We didn't eat much at the hotel; too many other yummy restaurants near by. There is a very small Italian restaurant very close that was delicious!

[AmateurGO]

We've been to Aruba about 5 or 6 times, although the most recent was over 2 years ago (toward the end of the pandemic restrictions).  

The Renaissance Aruba Resort Ski Mom 2 mentioned is an excellent choice if you want to stay close to the harbor/port area: it is virtually just across the street.  If you are arriving one day and then boarding the ship the next day, this would probably be my choice.  We stayed here on one visit.  My only suggestion would be to make sure your room does not face the main street as we had a lot of street noise (very loud cars and motorcycles) until 2:00 AM.

If you are staying more than one night, then I suggest you get a hotel out in the "Palm Beach" area, also sometimes called the "high-rise" area because of the large US-style hotels.  Here you have your choice of everything from Holiday Inn to Ritz Carlton, including Marriott, Hyatt Regency, and Hilton, as well as several non-US resorts (RIU, and Barcelo).  Palm Beach is the more developed area and the beach is pretty, but not really the nicest for wading/swimming.  For a pretty and more swimmable beach, head for Eagle Beach and the "Low Rise" area.  This beach is just south of Palm Beach and closer to town.  There are none of the big chain hotels here, but several very nice resorts.  Along Eagle Beach, there are no hotels right on the beach, but they are across the street, which keeps the beach more open and uncrowded.

I hope this help[s more than confuse.....