Aruba Cruise Port Excursions: Beaches, Sights and a Private Driver
By Guljar Hosen · Port and fare facts checked 20 and 22 September 2026
A ship excursion is one way to spend a cruise day in Aruba; a private driver is another, with your own vehicle and the stops you choose, at a fixed price agreed before you dock.
All cruise ships dock at the Port of Oranjestad, run by the Aruba Ports Authority. This guide covers the fixed taxi fares to Aruba's main beaches from the port, sights worth adding, and how to plan a day that gets you back on board on time. Facts are from the Aruba Ports Authority, checked 22 September 2026, and the taxi.aw price list dated 27 May 2026, checked 20 September 2026.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- All cruise ships dock at the Port of Oranjestad, with a Cruise Terminal and Welcome Plaza.
- Official taxi fares from the cruise port: $28 to Eagle Beach, $33 to Palm Beach, $20 to downtown Oranjestad.
- A taxi kept waiting is $1 a minute; an hourly private hire is $60, two hour minimum.
- A private driver gives one fixed price and your own choice of stops, unlike a set-schedule ship excursion.
- Groups of five or more need two taxis or one larger vehicle such as a 14-seat Sprinter.
Why a private driver instead of a shared ship excursion
A ship excursion runs on the cruise line's schedule, with a group, to stops the line has already chosen.
A private driver instead sets the stops around what you actually want to see, at your own pace, in your own vehicle. All cruise ships dock at the Port of Oranjestad, run by the Aruba Ports Authority, which names a Cruise Terminal and Welcome Plaza at the port. From there, a private driver can reach Aruba's main beaches and sights directly, without the group-tour wait times.
Beach stops from the cruise port
Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are both a short, fixed-fare ride from the terminal.
| CRUISE PORT TO | OFFICIAL FARE (US$) |
|---|---|
| Eagle Beach | $28 |
| Palm Beach | $33 |
| Noord | $33 |
| Downtown Oranjestad | $20 |
These cover one to four passengers, one way, before any surcharge. Full rules and every other route are in our Aruba taxi rates guide.
Sights and shopping
Oranjestad itself, right at the port, covers shopping and a walkable historic center without any transfer at all.
For a stop further out, Alto Vista Chapel is a well-known sight a private driver can add to a cruise-day route, alongside a beach stop, all in one hired vehicle rather than switching between a shared shuttle and a taxi.
Getting back to the ship on time
A cruise day runs on your ship's all-aboard time, not the port's.
Waiting time
A taxi kept waiting is charged $1 per minute. An hourly private hire is $60, with a two hour minimum.
Know your all-aboard time
Build your route around your ship's published all-aboard time, with margin for traffic or a line at the terminal.
Groups of five or more
A taxi carries at most seven. Larger groups fit in our Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which carries up to 14 with luggage room.
- $28
- Cruise port to Eagle Beach
- $33
- Cruise port to Palm Beach
- $1/min
- Waiting time, per taxi
- $60
- Hourly private hire, 2 hour minimum
Fares from the official taxi.aw price list dated 27 May 2026, checked 20 September 2026.
A shared excursion, a taxi, or a private driver
All three get you off the ship. They differ on schedule, stops and price.
A ship excursion Booked through the cruise line, on a set schedule with a group, usually to one or two stops the line has chosen.
A taxi A government-fixed fare, available at the terminal, for a single destination.
A private driver One fixed price agreed before you dock, your own vehicle, and the stops you choose. See our cruise port transfer for a straight ride, or private island tours for a multi-stop day.
Frequently asked questions
Where do cruise ships dock in Aruba?
All cruise ships dock at the Port of Oranjestad, run by the Aruba Ports Authority, which names a Cruise Terminal and Welcome Plaza at the port.
How much is a taxi from the cruise port to Eagle Beach or Palm Beach?
$28 to Eagle Beach and $33 to Palm Beach, for one to four passengers, one way, before any surcharge, per the taxi.aw price list dated 27 May 2026.
Is a private driver better than a ship excursion?
It depends on what you want: a ship excursion runs on a set schedule with a group to stops the line has chosen, while a private driver gives you your own vehicle, your own stops, and one fixed price agreed before you dock.
What if I want to see more than one beach or sight in a day?
A private driver can combine stops such as a beach and a sight like Alto Vista Chapel in one hired vehicle. See our private island tours page to plan a multi-stop day.
How do I make sure I get back to the ship on time?
Tell your driver your ship's published all-aboard time when you book. Build in margin for traffic or a line at the terminal; a private transfer's price does not change if the day runs a little long.
WRITTEN BY
UI/UX designer and software engineer. He runs NeoDimensional, the software studio behind this website.
