Port Guide: Aruba - Everything We Think You Should Know Before You Go! - ParoDeeJay

Looking to explore Oranjestad, Aruba? Welcome to our Port Guide series! Join us as we share our personal experiences, let you know what to see and do inside the cruise port, showcase some ship excursions, highlight a few hotspots you can explore outside the cruise port, and let you know if it's possible to have a fun day on the cheap. We'll be talking shopping, aloe, beaches, pirate ships, party buses, snorkeling, and all sorts of shenanigans in the port of Aruba... let's do this thing!! :D
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[@kylady1959]

you can take city bus for $10.00 all day and they stop at beaches and the bus station is across street from ship

[@704musicent]

Any thoughts on re doing these port videos again? I feel like a lot could have changed in the 3 years since you did these along with the amount of times you've been to the ports since surely you know more. I'd watch lol

[@bruciethecuz9031]

Great info these port guide videos are you guys. Our first port visit in 2016 was Aruba. We did do the highlight bus tour. Well worth it. Some of our stops were an aloe farm/factory/museum, Casibari Rock (great view on top), Natural Bridge, Alto Vista chapel, California lighthouse, and a ride along the resort/beach strip. We enjoyed our day at this port. Surprised at just how much of the island is very rough desert terrain with tons of scrub brush and cactus. Must visit here again! 👍👍👍

[@MOTLEYBRUE]

Great video. Perfect for first timers. Thank you 🎉

[@PAPAMOZO]

I'm so grateful for your videos. The presentation is good, and the information quite helpful. Sincere thanks from Papa.

[@parodeejay]

Glad you enjoyed! We've had fun with our port guide overviews so far, but put them on a hiatus for now since we aren't sure how flexible things will be in the future with off-ship excursions!!

[@D.FamilyTravels]

Your guys are great gonna watch all your vids now, My wife and i just started cruising just did the breeze back in july now looking to do our next trip in feb

[@susandiekmann]

Thanks, Dee and Jay! As usual, I took notes throughout the video. I remember your vlog that included Kukoo Kunuku, so that's a contender for us, but SO many choices! The Jolly Pirates excursion looks so fun!! Hope we pick the best one!

[@ScottsonDeck]

We haven’t been there yet, but it’s on our schedule for next year! Thanks for doing these videos!

[@billcook4768]

I’ve just discovered your channel and have been binge watching the port reviews while I plan a (fingers crossed) Southern Caribbean cruise. You guy provide exactly the info I want; seriously, if I put together a list of questions I want to know, you answer them all. Big thanks. Unfortunately, you have inadvertently confined my biggest fear about Aruba - that I’ll have that damn song stuck in my head the entire time. I may have to change plans.

[@parodeejay]

Hope you have an amazing time in the Southern Caribbean... our favorite! Yeeeah, those Beach Boys will get stuck in your head for a while if you're studying up on Aruba, ha ha... :P

[@marioeldridge8049]

Your reviews of Bonaire & Aruba popped up in my suggestions today. We are going on our first cruise this July and will be stopping in Aruba and Bonaire. Great information, love the video and presentation.

[@anne-marievr5710]

In Aruba it is an easy walk to the bus stop and for about $0.50 you can take the bus to the beach, We get off at the Renaissance hotel and walk through to the beach,. We bring water and snacks off the ship so it’s a very inexpensive port day!

[@MsYakKi]

Great idea bringing the food from the ship to the beach! I'll definitely be looking out for this bus. Do they take American cash or your seaport?

[@debraschaefer1959]

Remember that the tram at the cruise port is free and you can ride the bus for around $3 us to the beaches

[@MrsJaneOfAllTrades]

Thank you forbthis information! I feel like I have searched hours for all the other ports in my cruise.😅

[@patriciasawyer5535]

we went to De palm island it was great! free banana boat rides zip line snorkeling lunch all included free salsa lessons too we had a great time there! lots of lounge chairs . They also have a small water park great for kids! we went through the cruise line

[@zoranastic1927]

Which Cruise line you used?

[@jkmarlin23]

Thanks 4 the video. Headed on a cruise in 2024. Looks great.

[@MaryPonder]

Love, love, love y'all!! Just found your videos.

[@ccazz771]

I really enjoy your port videos! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. 😊

[@parodeejay]

Thanks so much!! :D

[@FloridaGiGi]

My daughter and I did something like that sea Bob in Cozumel… they called it power snorkeling, and it was so much fun

[@mamamia6425]

Loved your review. Thanks

[@raffykock5545]

Jay, you pronounced Oranjestad well. greetings from Aruba!

[@parodeejay]

Thankee thankee! That one was pretty easy, so I could get it done right, ha ha... :P ~Jay

[@dolphinsnshells]

We did the sea bob a few years ago and it was sooo much fun, although I got in trouble for going too far from the group 🤣, I do not remember what port it was though. Aruba looks great, it’s on our to do list .. thanks for this video

[@NauticalNurseNancy]

I do love these port guide presentations Dee & Jay!! I cannot wait to get to Aruba...we are there a week from tomorrow!!! We are doing an action packed day with horseback riding along the coastline (not in the water) and then we are trying that Seabob thingamajigy!! Can’t wait for that fun! ❤️

[@parodeejay]

Sounds awesome!! :D

[@toddblount8841]

Porting in Aruba tomorrow. Map of the port and overview still valid today.

[@cruisingthroughlifewithalj5606]

Thanks Jay and Dee. We just booked a trip to the ABC islands for 2021.

[@parodeejay]

That's awesome! Hope you have a fantastic time!! :D

[@TheYukonner]

Atlantis submarine tour is great.... unbelievable scenery at 135' underwater

[@parodeejay]

I saw that excursion offered, but we've never tried it... looks awesome!! :D

[@lindacarrasquillo3944]

Went last October. Renaissance Mall is nice but super expensive. Loved all the little vendors across the street. Royal mall was awesome. Not too expensive. So many places to just walk around to.

[@parodeejay]

Exploring just outside the port is fun for sure, but we’ve loved exploring various beaches around the island too. Such a beautiful place!! :D

[@queenskingscruisersunited2813]

Planning a girls cruise to Aruba for next year. Thanks for all the great info.

[@brendacorbin6093]

We did the trikes and it was alot of fun.

[@jameshchetwyndjr9739]

You have good videos. Port video excellent

[@bhismilinirampersad3360]

Thanks guys 🇹🇹

[@carrievallee2383]

love your videos the port guides are awesome, not sure if I missed it or if you haven't gotten to it yet. Looking for info on La Romana, Dominican Republic. I've heard there isn't much to do unless you take an excursion, we are going in Feb, 2020. Thanks for any info.

[@parodeejay]

Ah, we haven't been! That's one of the few ports that we're still trying to track down on a cruise sometime, ha ha... :D

[@fionar6506]

Were the stuff on the port had a higher prices than the items found in the town area???

[@CruiseDayFun]

A lot of great information! We hope to go to Aruba and film that beautiful island ourselves. Of the ones you have tried so far, which was your favorite excursion?

[@parodeejay]

If it’s your first time, I’d say some sort of island tour like the Kukoo Kunuku or a standard bus tour if you need less “party” ha ha... but we loved the Jolly Pirates as our second visit since we had already seen the island.

[@CruiseDayFun]

ParoDeeJay Thanks! It looked like you had a lot of fun on the Kukoo Kunuku bus. We might have to try that first. Keep the fun videos coming! 🐢

[@neilrichey1998]

oh man, this i exactly what i have been looking for. we also love to eat our way through a culture, but didn't see you guys mention anything in that that realm. could you point me in a direction of a channel focusing the local fare of a lot of cruise ports.

[@parodeejay]

We love doing food tours and things like that, and we hadn't really come across anything like that in Aruba, though I'm sure they exist. We'll have to be on the lookout for that ourselves!! :P

[@sarahkalandia]

Hi Dee and Jay!! I love your videos! I will be traveling to Aruba on the Carnival Horizon in a few months and we still can't decide what to do for our excursion. We are currently between the Jolly pirates excursion and the Kukoo Kunuku excursion. Did you guys have a preference between these two?

[@parodeejay]

If it’s your first time, I’d say some sort of island tour like the Kukoo Kunuku or a standard bus tour if you need less “party” ha ha... but we loved the Jolly Pirates as our second visit since we had already seen the island.

[@TheSimaralynn]

I can’t find a st Lucia port guide episode. Is there one?

[@parodeejay]

No, we’ve only been once, so we do have a St. Lucia vlog, but we usually like to visit a place a few times to get more familiar with it before delving into a specific port guide!! :D

[@TheSimaralynn]

@@parodeejay ok thanks!! Your port guides are excellent 👏🏼

[@willcooper6980]

You didn't mention Renaissance Island. It is known as the flamingo beach. I've seen it in a few vlogs, not necessarily by cruisers.

[@parodeejay]

Ehhh, I had heard about that place before, but it looks like it’s technically a private island owned by a Renaissance hotel. So supposedly unless you’re staying at the hotel, you can’t access it. And then even if you are staying at the hotel, it looks like it’s $99 per person. So it didn’t seem like something fantastic to include. :P

[@nicolecoates8275]

My family is going on a cruise to Aruba, Grand Turk and Curacao in January. Which island would you say has the best snorkeling?

[@parodeejay]

Very nice! We've done port guide videos on all three. We always love Grand Turk because you can snorkel for free just steps from the ship and see some awesome fish, no excursion needed. For Aruba, you'd probably want to get an excursion including Boca Catalina or Malmok for snorkeling. I'd say for Curacao you'd also want an excursion, so Grand Turk would be the winner on the cheap, ha ha!! :P

[@raffykock5545]

Arashi has a bar and restaurant and ammenities. Catalina and Malmok are residential. baby beach has a big restaurant and restrooms. Please DO NOT SWIM OUTSIDE THE POND!!!! Mangel Halto has no ammenities as it is residential but most visitors enjoy the picture of what they describe as "crazy mix of blue colors". For the walkable beach: its about 30 min walk from port to The nearest western beach and about 20 minute for the Oranjestad beach.

[@shirleyjones5207]

Is there a free zone in Curcao

[@roysamaroo3818]

are the prices quoted for the excursion in US dollar?

[@parodeejay]

Yes, everything is quoted in USD.

[@FS02012]

How do u get my passport stamped in aruba?

[@charleshargett1402]

Does Aruba have a clothing optional beach?

[@parodeejay]

Probably not, I know it’s mostly Dutch influenced. And public nudity is illegal on the island. You normally have to hit the French side of somewhere like Saint Martin for that.

[@lindacarrasquillo3944]

There is a clothing optional beach on an island owned by the Marriott. You have to be a guest of the resort get there.

[@waterlilly78]

Are the Palapas public?

[@parodeejay]

Which palapas specifically?

[@waterlilly78]

@@parodeejay Eagle beach

[@Ed1956K]

Don't be fooled into paying those taxi prices listed on the board inside the port terminal! Walk outside to Lloyd Smith Blvd. and you will pay much less!

[@parodeejay]

That seems to be the case with most ports... the prices just outside the "secure" area tend to be less!!

[@michaeljalmeida]

less of you and more of the island. horrible

[@ruthtodd4264]

They do have at least one video of one of their visits to Aruba. Look in their vlog library for it. I saw the video where they did the Jolly Pirate excursion and it was great. I'm sure you'll enjoy that one.

[@parodeejay]

True, we’ve done four parts of actually showing off adventures on the island, I believe. This video is just a showcase of maps, excursions, and overall ideas, not a video tour, ha ha...