concerns about cruise ship crowds
 

I understand that cruise ships dock in aruba. I am wondering which beaches they usually end up at. Does it get overcrowded? Any idea what days and how many days/week they come into port? We are looking at staying at the Bucuti or the Wyndham, is one of these more overrun with people from the cruise ships?

Typically, cruise passengers congragate in town. Many book Catamaran trips with DePalm Tours, Red Sail Sports or Pelican Tours, and head for Palm Beach. You might think about renting a car and explore on your own. Baby Beach is beautiful on the southern tip. Also, snorkeling is good at Arashi and Malmok onthe nortern end. Never any crowds here.

Right now it isn't cruise season in Aruba, it gets really active in October and I hear that they will have several ships a day at that time. Recently there was a Carnival ship in on a Friday and another one coming the next Tuesday. I walked on the beach every day by the Wyndham and their beach is pretty crowded with locals who come to swim there, it's right by a public access spot, so you might want to consider that. The beaches are all public so the hotels can't really control that. I never saw the Bucuti so don't know about that area.

Bucuti's beach is consistently less crowded than Wyndham's.<BR><BR>Wyndham is bigger, fancier hotel with casino, much bigger pool, more bars and restaurants.<BR>

I've in Aruba many times when a ship comes in and unless you are in the seaport area just after the passengers disembark, you probably won't even notice them. Although locals can use all of the beaches in Aruba, for the most part they go to the beaches on the southern end of the island, where there also are some great beaches. For the most part though I have never found any of Aruba's beaches to be overcrowded.

I agree.....other than the shopping area downtown, you will not notice cruise ship passengers on Aruba. The only "crowded" beaches I have ever seen were on Palm Beach near the high rise hotels and at LaCabana. If you rent a car....you can stop almost ANYWHERE by the side of the road and have a private beach....there are miles and miles of beautiful spots. I have never once experienced crowding in Aruba.