Cruiser's ....relationships with resorts

[Andrea J.]

Over the last couple of months more and more folks that are staying at resorts and using the beaches where the resort supplies chairs and shade to, are being heard loud and clear that they want the cruisers and other non guests to STOP using the amenities at their resorts. (like pool hopping, littering, using rest rooms, using beach furniture that is supposed to be for guests only)

Anywhoooo....what are your thoughts?

We saw that on Surfside and Eagle and Arashi that loads of folks come from cruise ships as well as some folks from other residences on the island.
Beaches are public! All are of course welcome.
The big "caveat" is.............come, swim in the ocean, rent a chair from an independent vendor on the beach(es) and enjoy......just do not, take what is rightfully resort property/amenity and use it or litter it.

I get it.

I am one of those visitors to Surfside Beach. Even when staying at LaCabana!
My husband and I pay for usage of chairs, shade, food etc.

If you are not a guest in one of the resorts............please do not use the resort amenities.
Of course though, you are welcome at most of the resorts to have a drink and a meal at their outside pool bars or restaurants.

[annf]

If I was a paying guest at a resort I would be livid if a bus load of cruise ship people were dumped (yes to me they are dumped) on the beach and using the chairs umbrellas,etc at my resort. Yes, the beaches are for everyone and from what I understand that is what cruise ship passengers are being told. What they are not being told is the chairs, etc are for hotel guests.
The best thing Aruba could do is create a spot for cruise ship people....the beach area across from the old Kong Hing grocery store would be great. Bring in some sand, make the water area swimmable, etc.
Paying guests are very welcome at the two spots at surfside (Reflexions and Surfside) We all pay to use the facilities there....though the open beach area is free for anyone.
And if you think it is bad now....imagine Arashi once the hotel chain (name escapes me right now ) takes over Tierra del Sol and opens their hotel!

[WaltVB]

This^^^^^^^

[cpjones]

Yup.... keep it from getting too peopley....!!! As a paying guest at a resort, I would expect that I would not welcome a bunch of 'day trippers' taking space.

[Aruba4ever]

This is one of my many hot buttons! I would be beyond mad with "cruise guests" getting something that I paid for....its one of the reasons we no longer stay at the Hilton as they have had tons of people renting umbrellas they dig into the sand.....so the Hilton paying customers can't even see the water from their "front-row" umbrellas/palapas. I know it was not the Hilton doing this but its unfair to paying guests IMHO- and yes I know the beaches are not owned by the resorts...BUT.....you get it.

[ArubaAce]

About 2 decades ago I was on a cruise ship that stopped in Aruba. I hopped in a cab and asked to go to the beach. He took me to Palm Beach because that is where everybody goes he said. Perhaps spreading them out would be best.

Another time I was staying at MVC Eagle Beach. I was in the water for around an hour. When I came out of the water, there were 4 people sitting at my Palapa. Turns out that they were from a cruise ship from Colombia. I did not mind sharing the palapa but they did use the beach chairs from the hotel MVC. They lucked out as they only have 1 attendant there that basically unlocks the chairs there in the morning and comes around every once in a while. If it was at La Cabana, they would not get away with it on account that they check the bracelets. I've seen them remove the chairs and point them to the rental guy and then they would end up renting 1 chair to share with 2 people or sit out in the sun on their towels.

[Andrea J.]

Anne's idea is terrific.
Also too, the cruise ship companies could help foot that bill.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean as well as other cruise lines have contributed to port improvements in many places.
The cruise lines could contribute $ to make that area that Ann mentioned into a cruiser's beach. (the area just south of the Tamarijn that used to be the Bushiri)
Even a company like DePalm could contribute to make that a shore excursion when they will receive $ from every cruiser that purchases.

The $ brought in to Aruba from cruisers is significant.
Also too, show the cruisers that a day's stay in Aruba is not long enough.
Encourage them to be Aruba land based vacationers.

[flpctc]

If I was a paying guest at a resort I would be livid if a bus load of cruise ship people were dumped (yes to me they are dumped) on the beach and using the chairs umbrellas,etc at my resort. Yes, the beaches are for everyone and from what I understand that is what cruise ship passengers are being told. What they are not being told is the chairs, etc are for hotel guests.
The best thing Aruba could do is create a spot for cruise ship people....the beach area across from the old Kong Hing grocery store would be great. Bring in some sand, make the water area swimmable, etc.
Paying guests are very welcome at the two spots at surfside (Reflexions and Surfside) We all pay to use the facilities there....though the open beach area is free for anyone.
And if you think it is bad now....imagine Arashi once the hotel chain (name escapes me right now ) takes over Tierra del Sol and opens their hotel!

I hope Ann, an idea like yours can become reality sooner than later. Too many people are being "dumped off" by busloads at the same time at one beach like Arashi with very limited facilities and space. This doesn't work well for anyone including those that live or stay in the area .
It doesn't seem right to have a bus load of people dropped off somewhere when there are basically little or no facilities nearby??
IMHO

[WaltVB]

I only see one problem with Ann's idea... it makes too much logical sense, so sadly it will probably never happen.

[Traceyd14]

I don't know, my thoughts are different these days. Once at Holiday Inn it happened to us where a full bus of people from a cruise ship were dropped off to enjoy the Palm Beach area. I was annoyed that someone sat on my towel on my chair while I was in the water. That was a bit much, but I just traded my towel and said excuse me and that was that. Don't get me wrong, I still think it is icky to sit on my towel but as for using amenities, I just can't care that much in the grand scheme of things. We also enjoy talking to cruisers hanging out in the water and have met friends for the day on more than one occasion. In the afternoon in livens up the area sometimes. Now I'm sure I would feel differently if the resort did not have enough chairs or the people were shoulder to shoulder with me. But honestly I might use it as an excuse to do something else, because otherwise its hard to tear us away from the beach. We have a tendency to set up exactly where the family with crying toddlers will be nearby. I think I'd rather have the cruise passengers...LOL