EXCURSIONS TERRESTRES

Your adventure begins with a short transfer to the submarine aboard the shuttle vessel Subseeker. Board the submarine just off the southeast coast of Aruba for a thrilling dive to either the mysteriously sunken airplane or the retired Danish sailboat Mi Dushi I, together with the newly sunken coaster, the Morgenster. You’ll have the opportunity to get an up-close view of exotic marine life while diving to depths of up to 130 feet. Be amazed by colorful schools of tropical fish, huge sponge gardens and the mystical beauty of the coral fields. An educational and entertaining narration from your experienced, professional, and licensed crew will highlight this unique experience. All of this is in air-conditioned comfort and without getting wet!

Ride the ferry to secluded DePalm Island where you can enjoy a variety of activities from snorkeling to waterslides. Board your air-conditioned transportation for the brief transfer to the ferry landing. It’s a short five minute ride across the protected lagoon to the island. Upon arrival, receive a brief orientation to De Palm Island and its amenities including the Blue Parrotfish Water Park.

Enjoy approximately 6 hours of free time to snorkel, sunbathe, swim, enjoy the water parks and waterslides, banana boat rides or maybe even play a game of volleyball. Your beach day includes snorkeling equipment and lessons. Elegant flamingo’s are walking around on the private beach and can be viewed from a distance. Complimentary alcoholic beverages and soft drinks and a complete lunch buffet are included. Lounge chairs, freshwater showers and changing rooms are provided for your convenience. Wear a swimsuit, bring a towel and adequate sun protection. In case of a late arrival in port, the duration of the tour might be slightly shorter.

OVERVIEW

This excursion is for guests that use a cane/walker, have limited mobility issues or for companions of those guest that have booked mobility equipment tour.

Those guests that are fully dependent on their mobility device please book: ORJ_A2 ACCESSIBLE Mobility Equipment- Oranjestad & Natural Bridge.

Tour includes step-free routes, shorter distances and no stairs. Accessible restrooms with wide doors for wheelchairs are present along the tour route. Vehicles are adapted with an access ramp (or lift where available) to accommodate a limited number of wheelchairs and/or mobility scooters. Guides are not allowed to push wheelchairs; therefore, guests needing special assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied.

Explore the lively capital of Oranjestad and admire Aruba’s natural beauty for a remarkably comprehensive look at the island. A brief but panoramic drive along resort-rimmed Eagle Beach, Druif Beach and Arashi Beach will bring you to the California Lighthouse. The island’s oldest lighthouse, it offers unparalleled 360° vistas of Aruba’s northwestern tip. A few miles farther down the coast, you will find the abandoned Bushiribana Gold Mill, a reminder of the gold fever that swept Aruba after gold was discovered in 1824. More than three million pounds of it were eventually processed, much of it at Bushiribana. You will also see the Ayo Rock formations, a cluster of boulders on which the indigenous Arawaks created petroglyphs, and the remains of the Natural Bridge, a rock arch that collapsed into the sea in 2005. The allure of Oranjestad is quite cosmopolitan, especially if you are interested in shopping during free time.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a scenic drive along Druif Beach, Eagle Beach and Arashi.
• Take in the unparalleled views while driving along the coast to the California Lighthouse.
• Delve into the history of Aruba’s little-known gold rush at a 19th-century gold mill.
• Pause for photos of the Natural Bridge and see how the pounding surf has affected it.
• Enjoy free time in Oranjestad browsing the shops and other appealing areas.
• See the Ayo rock formations, described as Bedrock City in the animated show, the Flintstones.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.

Meet your guide for the day and board your comfortable air-conditioned bus and prepare yourself to experience Aruba at its finest. Enjoy your narrated tour while driving through charming Oranjestad with its Dutch Colonial architecture. Your first stop will be the Aloe Factory for a brief overview of the Aloe plantation and a tour of the Aloe Museum.

Then drive through the countryside and discover Aruba’s flora and fauna in route to the Casibari Rock formation – huge diorite boulders found in the center of the island. Board your bus and continue on to the mysterious California Lighthouse for a short stop to enjoy a breathtaking view of the island. A quick stop at the beach for a dip in the spectacular turquoise ocean concludes your tour, before returning to the cruise terminal.