Aruba and Curacao........Shopping and Sightseeing

T

Tim and Elaine

Guest
We will be on the AOS to the S. Caribbean in Feb. 2005 and will be going to Aruba and Curacao for the first time. Any suggestions for the best shopping and places of interest in either or both places? Any tips or suggestions gratefully recieved!

Thanx in advance,

Tim and Elaine
 
B

Budracer

Guest
I envy you guys because your going to enjoy your ports of call more on this cruise than any other. Aruba is the greatest and there is lots of good shopping close to the ship, same with Curacao. We went snorkeling and dancing under the stars that night (which I would reccomend) but the party bus tour looked great. We done the beach break at Curacao and it was on a private beach with a bar and served food and we all loved it . I'm still trying to talk Carla into doing this one again. Have a geat time....
 
N

nerak

Guest
We rented a car in Aruba and Curacao both. We had been to Aruba for a week previously, but Curacao was new. We loved just taking off and exploring the island. We found an awesome National Park...it was maybe $5 for three of us to get into. After that, we drove along the coast and found a dive spot to stop and snorkle...no charge and no people other than the ones in the dive shop. Everyone there was great. We actually left, by accident, our camcorder. When we realized it after snorkling, we went back in and it was right where we left it. Curacao was great!
 
G

Got2Cruise

Guest
Aruba is our favorite island. The beach is spectacular. Even though the ship is in port until 1 a.m., all the stores close at 6:00 p.m. That was a bummer. If you have never been to Aruba, take a tour of some kind that brings you around the island. The landscape is very different than other islands. Curacao is another lovely island. We took the AOS tour, trolley, and found it very interesting. The trolley takes you past all of the restored homes in Curacao, to the floating market, an church, and a fort, among other things. You get to know a little about the culture of Curacao. We took the 8:30 am tour, and then did some shopping in town, Had lunch at Johnny Rockets, then we took a cab to the Kontiki Beach Club. They charged us $3.00 each to enter. In any of the ports, visit the Visitor Information Booths. They give you lots of maps, coupons, advice, etc.
 
C

Cruise cutie

Guest
:wave hey Tim and Elaine..we have a time share in Aruba..it is the best..If you want to rent a car for the day..you can see "The Natuarl Bridge,several churches,The California Lighthouse with tons of goats nearby..:grin....."Baby Beach" and "Malmok Beach" are wonderful for snorkeling..If you want an outstanding evening meal..Argentinian beef..the best meal I've ever had in the islands is at "El Gauchos" restaurant.our favorite sunset restaurant is the Divi Phoenix "Sunset Bistro"..dinner on the beach 15 feet from the water edge..we go the first and last night each trip ;heaven for scenery and dinner too!!...the semi arid desert and bloomimg flowers and the Divi tree all make it fun..there are tons of cute iguanas in lovely shades of green and teal..we prefer to snorkel at "Baby Beach"..you can go out forever until you then are at the reefs..bring bread to feed the fish!!..:thumb..or go to Eagle Beach for sunning,parasailing ,or water sports!!..enjoy it all. Have an "Aruba Arriva" for me...=gulp...:cheers.we bask there 2 weeks every other March!!.. it's clean,safe and lot's of fun!!..:)..Joanne
 
B

BrooklynTherapist

Guest
Curacao is wonderful; however, the shopping isn't very good. We spent over a week there and loved the island but found very little to buy and had to grab some random items to bring back to family members.

The Curacao aquarium is wonderful. Curacao offers a swim with the dolphins experience.

If you want to enjoy the beach, buy a day pass for Breezes. Your pass entitles you to use of the resort for the day, including: food, alcohol, and all water sports. The pools are very nice and there is always something going on (activities).

Curacao has the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere and, regardless of your faith, it's an amazing experience. Seeing the massive synagogue with its sand covered floors is breathtaking.

You should see Fort Nassau. It's an old fort that now houses a beautiful restaurant atop a mountain. You can tour the fort and get some incredible photos.

The beaches in Curacao are not what you might expect. Bring water shoes if you intend to go into the ocean as the first couple of feet that you must cross in order to enter the water is covered with broken coral. The water is crystal clear and relaxing.

You'll love Curacao!
 
R

Raven

Guest
I loved relaxing at the street cafes along the harbor at Curacao, watching all the harbor traffic and the floating bridge that opens to allow ship traffic in and out of the harbor. My wife joined me after she was done shopping and we had a nice meal harborside :) Shop offerings in Curacao are quite varied with a heavy Dutch influence of course.
 
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