Sunday, March 24, 2024

What Cruise Lines Go To Aruba

Don't Miss

Top Things To Do In Oranjestad

Palm Beach Aruba | How to get to Palm Beach from a Cruise Ship

See the Aruba Butterfly Farm

A unique habitat for thousands of butterflies, moths, and plants, the butterfly farm is a must-experience activity for nature lovers, kids, and families. A guided tour will walk you through the entire caterpillar-to-butterfly transformation. Informative and incredible, there arent many other butterfly farms quite like this.

Check out the Bon Bini Festival

On cruises to Aruba, dont miss the chance to see the Bon Bini Festival, a weekly celebration that happens each Tuesday evening. Its a great way to learn about Aruban cultural practices, including traditional dances, local art, and folklore.

See the Donkey Sanctuary

Venture beyond Oranjestad to the Santa Cruz Donkey Sanctuary, which is dedicated to saving the islands donkeys and rehabilitating them. Donkey feedings are a fun activity you can do with the kids while educating them about how to treat precious animals.

Component : Requisite Insurance Coverage

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Aruba must ensure that all visitors are properly insured. The Aruba Visitors Insurance is a mandatory insurance that helps protect visitors against incurred medical and non-medical expenses if testing positive for COVID-19 during their stay in Aruba.

For full details on the Aruba Visitors Insurance including coverage details, eligibility requirements, premium calculations by age, maximum length of coverage, FAQs and more, we encourage visitors to please . Some important highlights are listed below.

Timing: Purchase of the Aruba Visitors Insurance must be completed within 3 days hours, and 4 hours prior to travel to Aruba.

Cruising The Abc Islands: Aruba

Norwegian Cruise Line offers several cruise itineraries featuring the ABC islands, which are comprised of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. These islands are located within close proximity to one another in the Southern Caribbean, also known as the Dutch Caribbean. In this article, we’ll explore all there is to see and do on a cruise to Aruba.

These cruises to Aruba and other ABC Islands depart from several ports with sailings in 2018, 2019, and 2020 from Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Tampa, and San Juan, Puerto Rico on board quite a few ships including Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Breakaway, and Norwegian Joy, one of Norwegians newest and most spectacular ships. In this 3-part blog series, each island will have its turn in the spotlight. For now, youre in the right place for all things Aruba!

Read Also: What Cruise Lines Go Out Of Mobile Al

Culture & History Of The Oranjestad Cruise Port

Cruises to Aruba have been a staple of the islands economy for decades, and youd be hard-pressed to find an Aruban who isnt friendly to cruise passengers. Arubas climate is just one of the reasons it became so popular for tourism in recent years, since its beautiful, dry, and sunny almost year round. The first inhabitants of Aruba were a group called the Arawak, and in 1499, the Spanish arrived. Smuggling and piracy became common practices on the island. By the 1630s, the Dutch took control of Aruba. It took until 1986 for Aruba to gain its independence. The expansion into tourism happened as a way to rebuild the economy after the Aruban oil refinery closed down. Today, travel and tourism fuels the economy of the island. Official languages spoken in Aruba are Dutch and Papiamentu, a creole language that emerged from a blend of Portuguese, Dutch, and Spanish.

Oranjestad Port Facilities & Location

The port of Oranjestad is located on the southwestern part of the island of Aruba, and most cruises that go to Aruba will dock here. The port has standard amenities like ATMs, a souvenir shop, and a tourism information center. The port is conveniently close to shopping, restaurants, and the famous Aruba waterfront.

Passport Cards For Us Travelers

Aruba Cruises

The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air. However it may be an option for cruise ship travelers. Be sure to check with your cruise line for specific requirements. For more information visit Travel.State.Gov website.

You May Like: What Cruise Lines Go Out Of Mobile Al

Component : Negative Molecular Covid

To create a safe environment for you our guest and residents alike, it is important that we have testing to confirm that all travelers are negative for coronavirus.

All visitors, 12 years and older, traveling to Aruba must take one Molecular COVID-19 test within 3 days to 4 hours prior to travel to Aruba.

The Aruba Health App offers passengers the opportunity to upload their test during the ED Card online registration process, and have it verified prior to departure to Aruba. Once approved, this will be registered on the Aruba Health App. Passengers with a pre-departure approved will be guided to the faster Pre-Approved Health Lane.

Find the testing option best suited to you on the COVID-19 Testing Requirements page.

Alternatively certain eligible travelers who meet the requirements may provide proof of vacinnation instead of testing. Read the complete details on this COVID-19 Vaccination for Travel page.

For details on the procedures for guests showing a positive COVID-19 test result while in Aruba, please reference the Regulations when showing symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19 while in Aruba section below.

Mandatory Procedures & Requirements For Entry

To maintain the safety and well-being of visitors and locals, new requirements are in place for visitors to be permitted to enter Aruba. There are also government-mandated procedures for visitors while staying in Aruba. While full procedural details will be updated on a regular basis, the following are some of the most important:

Also Check: What Cruise Lines Depart From Norfolk Va

Puerto Rico And St Lucia At Level 4

The cruise destinations of Puerto Rico and St. Lucia have now been added to the list and fall into the Covid-19 Very High Level 4 category have had more than 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past 28 days, according to criteria the CDC outlines on its website.

The Level 3 category applies to destinations with 100 and 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days. The list does not specify or count the percentage of vaccinated individuals or hospitalizations.

Currently, for the two cruise destinations, the CDC says that travelers should get fully vaccinated before traveling.

For St. Lucia, there is slightly more information with the CDC advising that there is more risk of catching COVID due to the spreading varients. For the Caribbean island, its also advised to follow local protocols including wearing a mask and staying six feet apart.

The CDCs level list should be seen as advice on whether each country can be considered safe to go to. Another critical factor is whether a country has the health and medical care capabilities that the US has.

As it stands, the CDCs guidance is just that however, if the CDCs guidance is coupled with the State Department, which it usually is, travelers could expect to see some other issues.

Worth Reading: Things to Do in St. Lucia While on a Cruise

Arrival Health Procedures In Aruba

Aruba Cruise Arrival Tips

All visitors will be required to comply with arrival health procedures as mandated by the Aruba Airport Authority and the Government of Aruba.The mandatory requirements will include:

  • For all inbound visitors age 12 and above, the Aruban government requires a mask be worn in flight to Aruba, at the airport in Aruba and until you enter your room at your booked place of stay.
  • All travelers not showing documentation indicating a negative Molecular COVID-19 test result prior to travel to Aruba as a part of the ED card process will receive a Molecular PCR COVID-19 test at the Airport when arriving in Aruba.
  • The Molecular PCR COVID-19 testing will be followed by a mandatory quarantine at the travelers booked accommodations while test results are assessed.
  • The mandatory quarantine while test results are assessed will be up to 24 hours. The health department will make every effort to have results as quickly as possible in order to minimize the visitors time in quarantine.
  • Children 11 and under will not be required to take the mandatory Molecular PCR COVID-19 test upon arrival at the Aruba Airport.
  • Prior to travel, visitors should download the Aruba Department of Public Healths Aruba Health App. A mobile resource for information on COVID-19 health procedures in Aruba, and faster results for Molecular PCR COVID-19 tests taken in Aruba.

Recommended Reading: What Cruise Lines Depart From Galveston

Local Currency & Tipping Customs

The official currency of Aruba is the Aruban florin , but U.S. dollars are commonly accepted in most places. ATMs are prevalent on the island, and many hotels and restaurants will accept credit cards today, too. Tipping isnt a very common practice in Aruba, but leaving 10% for your taxi driver and 15% for your server at a restaurant is polite. There may already be a service charge included in your restaurant bill.

Permitted Countries/regions & Opening Dates

Arubas diligent reopening has happened in phases, monitored closely by the Government of Aruba and the Department of Public Health. We want to make traveling to Aruba as safe and easy as possible and were pleased to share our most updated reopening status by region/country:

The United States of America : Open!Through a partnership with Vault Health, all JetBlue passengers who want to test prior to travel to Aruba, now have the convenient option of an at-home, saliva-based Vault PCR Molecular COVID-19 test, in addition to the option of securing a Molecular COVID-19 test from another certified health provider or lab. Those JetBlue passengers not choosing to test prior to travel must take a PCR based Molecular COVID-19 test upon arrival at the airport in Aruba. For more details, .

Canada : Open!

Europe : Open!

South America : Open! *IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting June 7th, 2021, residents of Brazil will be able to travel to Aruba again.* With the exception of Venezuela. Prior to the pandemic, a border closure with Venezuela was already in effect and shall remain so for the time being.

Central America : Open!

The Caribbean : Open!

All other regions & countries : Open!IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting June 7th, 2021, residents of India and South-Africa will be able to travel to Aruba again.

You May Like: Where Is The Cruise Port In Amsterdam

Aruba Cruise Port Basics

Internet: You will find free Wi-Fi available in the Renaissance Mall, and also in many cafes and bars around Oranjestad. T-Mobile offers unlimited data at up to 2G speeds at no extra cost.
Phone Code: Country Code: 297. T-Mobile offers calls at 25 cents/min. and text at no cost. Other US phone providers may work but it is advisable to check with your provider to avoid roaming charges.
Electricity:

Cruises To Aruba: Cruisers Guide

Aruba Excursions &  Tours

Bon bini!

Allow yourself to discover the heart of the Caribbean and embark on a cruise to Aruba!

Stretching 20 miles from tip to tip, this tropical paradise is packed with incredible contrasts: sherbet-colored Dutch colonial buildings, vibrant green rainforests, coral reefs that teem with hundreds of aquatic species and powdery white shorelines framed by the cobalt-blue ocean.

Welcome to Aruba a magical place full of stunning beaches, sheltered bays, underwater gardens, and the clearest of seas!

Recommended Reading: What Month Is The Best Time To Cruise To Alaska

Component 1 & : Basic Traveler Information & Personal Health Assessment

This will require travelers to provide basic personal and travel details such as: date of birth, passport information, length of stay, etc and require visitors to provide truthful, accurate answers to questions regarding their health. These questions will likely include:

  • Have you been suspected of or diagnosed with pneumonia or the COVID-19 infection within the past 14 days?
  • Did you have any of the following symptoms in the past 24 hours: fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell/taste?
  • Have you been in quarantine within the past 14 days?
  • Have you had any close contact for more than 15 minutes with a probable or confirmed COVID-19-infected person within the past 14 days, including persons in quarantine or isolation?

Timing: This must be completed within 3 days hours and 4 hours prior to travel to Aruba.

Cruises From Oranjestad Aruba

In the southern Caribbean, Oranjestad is the capital of the small island of Aruba, and an island territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is an attractive and historic harbour town just 27 km north of Venezuela. It can be divided into Upper and Lower Towns. There are a number of colonial era 18th C. Read more

ruins in the area around the bay, submerged buildings at the seafront can be explored by snorkelling, while more recent commercial and residential developments are found in the Upper Town. The main historical site is Fort Oranje, a well-maintained 17th C. fort overlooking the waterfront. With its town walls, gates, cannons, and fortifications, this is an absolute must-see.

Recommended Reading: Which Cruise Lines Depart From New York

These Caribbean Islands Are On The Cdcs Do Not Travel Listheres How Cruise Lines Navigate Covids Murky Waters

A cruise ship plies the waters near Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.

getty

Its getting harder to find a Caribbean cruise itinerary that doesnt include a stop on the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Do Not Travel list. Over the past few weeks, the list of popular Caribbean cruise ports given the CDCs dreaded Level 4 designation has ballooned.

The CDC uses a four-level system to alert travelers to health threats around the world. Countries with a Level 4 travel health notice are deemed to have a very high risk of Covid-19 with a Do Not Travel recommendation for Americans.

The Caribbean islands at Level 4 now include: Aruba, the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Barts, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin/Sint Maarten and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Its an understatement to say that cruise lines and Caribbean nations share a common interest in navigating the murky waters of the Covid pandemic together. The North American cruise market is dominated by the easily accessible Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda.

Likewise, cruising plays an outsized and growing role in the regions tourism. In 2019, nearly 12 million people visited the Caribbean on a cruise ship, roughly double the 6.2 million recorded in 2010.

Passengers age 12 and up must prove they are fully vaccinated to visit Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean

Aruba Cruise Port Information

Cruise to Aruba, Curaçao & Barbados From St. Maarten

Cruises setting out for Aruba typically sail for the shoreline, docking at prominent destinations like Baby Beach, Eagle Beach or the islands capital and port city, Oranjestad. From there, your choices are virtually endless.

Your cruise to Aruba will touch the Aruba Port Authority, a large port only a kilometer away from downtown Oranjestad. The harbor is large enough to dock up to 5 ships at a time.

The Aruba cruise terminal alongside it features tourist information desks, communication kiosks, ATM machines, and souvenir shops. Across the terminal, you will find L.G Smith Boulevard a thoroughfare lined with shops, eateries and buses to take you around the town.

Cruises to Oranjestad, Aruba

When you anchor, youll find yourself in downtown Oranjestad, the capital of Aruba. The port of Oranjestad, currently Arubas largest commercial harbor, is situated on the islands southwestern end. At the terminal, you have the Tours, Culture, and Heritage Information Center for anything you might need at that moment.

There are also ATMs, souvenir shops, and free Wi-Fi. Just across the street from the terminal, there are some malls, and as soon as you exit to the left, youll find a small market in the Royal Plaza selling trinkets from the stalls. Shopping at duty-free is top in Aruba.

If your time of the port allows it make sure to book a sunset cruise shore excursion and enjoy the show put on by the Aruban sky.

Cruises from Tampa to Aruba

Don’t Miss: How To Get From Southampton Cruise Terminal To London

Top Food And Drink Spots Near The Oranjestad Cruise Port

One of the top reasons people flock to Aruba is for its food scene, where fresh seafood rules the menu and is presented in interesting and delicious ways. Mahi-mahi, lionfish, and grouper are the most popular options. Aruban food is greatly influenced by flavors of the Caribbean as well as its earlier Dutch colonization. While youre here on a cruise to Aruba, try keshi yena, a ball of cheese steamed or fried and stuffed with meat, or one of the many varieties of soups and stews. Theres cool island soup, which is a nectar of different fruit juices destined to cool you down on a hot day. Dont forget to check out the fluffy pan bati, a sweet flatbread that is usually paired with something savory.

Where Masks Are Mandatory:

  • The government of Aruba requires that all inbound visitors ages 12 and older wear a mask in flight to Aruba. Note: Please also check with your respective airline for their in-flight requirements and procedures for travel.
  • The government of Aruba requires that all inbound visitors ages 12 and older wear a mask in the airport in Aruba.
  • The government of Aruba requires all visitors and locals to wear a mask in any indoor public space. This includes, but is not limited to, retail shops, supermarkets, museums, casinos, etc. Note: Please also check with your respective hotel or accommodations for their specific mask wearing protocols.

Also Check: Mobile Alabama Port Parking

Cruise Ship Visitors Essential Information

Arriving in Aruba and Cruise Terminal Facilities. Most cruises arrive early morning to make most of the day in port. The port of Oranjestad has a modern Cruise facility with three terminals. Upon arrival at the air-conditioned terminals you will find friendly and welcoming staff at the information booths. They will assist you with any information you might need for your Aruba visit. Across from the visitor’s booth you will find an ATM machine. Within the terminal you can also find the Setar telecommunications desk for any cellular or wi-fi needs. Within the terminal itself there are also many shops selling everything from perfume to quality cigars and authentic souvenirs. From the terminal you will find transportation in the form of Taxis or tour buses and some car rental companies such as Royal Car Rental.

More articles

Popular Articles