4 to 5 hours ashore
Oranjestad and Eagle Beach
- Walk downtown Oranjestad from the terminal.
- Taxi to Eagle Beach ($16) for a swim.
Rather book it? A short snorkel sail.
Aruba shore excursions
Dry, sunny, and breezy, with long white-sand beaches minutes from the ship and rugged desert scenery in Arikok National Park.
Getting ashoreShips dock at the cruise terminal on the edge of downtown Oranjestad, so shops and restaurants are within walking distance. Eagle Beach is under 3 miles away and Palm Beach a little over 4.
Aruba port day essentials
read this before you book
Which pier you're at
Oranjestad cruise terminalOn the edge of downtown, so shops and restaurants are within walking distance.
Eagle Beach is under 3 miles away and Palm Beach a little over 4.
Taxis
Aruba's taxis don't use meters: fares are fixed by destination, per taxi, for up to 4 people.
| Eagle Beach | $16 |
|---|---|
| Palm Beach | $22 |
Passengers 5 to 7 are $3 each. A flat $5 is added on Sundays, holidays and late at night.
Money
Aruban florins. Taxi fares are quoted in US dollars, and US dollars are accepted almost everywhere.
Language
Papiamento and Dutch are official; English is spoken almost everywhere.
Back on board
All-aboard is usually 30 minutes before sailing; your ship's daily planner has the exact time.
Last checked November 2026. Prices change; confirm before you pay.
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Plan your day in Aruba
pick by your time ashore
6 to 8 hours ashore
Palm Beach and a snorkel sail
- Taxi to Palm Beach ($22).
- Afternoon catamaran to snorkel a reef or a wreck.
Rather book it? A catamaran snorkel cruise.
9 hours or more
Arikok park and the Natural Pool
- Ride a 4x4 or jeep through Arikok National Park.
- Swim in the Natural Pool, sheltered by rocks.
- End at Baby Beach on the south tip.
Rather book it? A jeep or UTV tour; the roads are rough.
Times are approximate. Whatever you choose, plan to be back at the pier an hour before all-aboard. Compare tours for each idea below.
Compare Aruba tours
Start times and meeting points vary by tour. Check them against your ship's schedule before you book.
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Aruba tours from GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide's own search results for Aruba, in GetYourGuide's order. Check each tour's start time and meeting point against your ship's schedule.
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Aruba tours from Shore Excursions Group
Shore Excursions Group sells tours built around cruise ship schedules, backed by their guarantee to get you back to the ship. Their tours aren't listed on this page; browse them on their site.
See Aruba excursions on Shore Excursions Group
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Scout's notes on Aruba
Short port days
Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are a quick taxi ride and work for almost any stop. Snorkel and catamaran trips along the calm west coast are another easy fit, as is a walk around Oranjestad.
Long port days
Jeep and UTV tours through Arikok National Park to the Natural Pool, a rock-sheltered seawater pool on the rugged north coast, are the island's signature adventure. Baby Beach at the southern tip is farther away but popular for its shallow, calm lagoon.
Getting back on time
Aruba is small and traffic is usually light, but off-road trips to the north coast are slow going. Taxis use fixed rates, and there's no Uber, so agree on a pickup time if you go somewhere remote.
From fellow cruisers
Tips from people who've been, read by us before they go up.
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