Ports of Call

If you're thinking of taking a Caribbean cruise, you're not alone. The Caribbean is the most popular cruise

destination out there, and it's especially convenient if you live on the east coast or in the south part of the

United States.

There are Caribbean cruises that hit the east, the west, and the south. If you want to go to Aruba, a cruise that sails into the southernmost end of the southern Caribbean is in order. And it's worth the trip too. Aruba is a great little island, not just because it was featured in a Beach Boys song either.

Located about 15 miles north of Venezuela, Aruba has a 500+ foot peak in the middle, and if you climb to the top you can see all the way to South America on a clear day. The average temperature is a delicious 82 degrees F, the skies are always sunny (Aruba only gets 17 inches of rain a year), and trade winds breeze by to keep it from getting too hot.

The island has a bit of a Dutch heritage (it's still legally part of the Netherlands), and the city's capital of Oranjestad (where your cruise ship will dock) features Spanish and Dutch-influenced architecture. The official language of the island is Dutch, though nearly everyone speaks English. The Aurba florin (AFl) is the official currency, but the US dollar is widely accepted as well.

There are plenty of things to do in Aruba on your cruise vacation stop. For instance, you can visit a working ostrich farm, take a submarine tour, scamper through natural caves, and explore ruins of old gold mines and smelters. Oh, yeah, you can shop and go to the beach too. Aruba has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, and offshore lies some great snorkeling, windsurfing, scuba diving, parasailing, deep sea fishing, and just about anything else you can think of to do in the water.

For those who don't get as excited by outdoor activities, you can spend your time shopping, checking out local restaurants and bars, or gambling at Casinos. Why head to hot and barren Las Vegas when you can do your gambling while basking in the salty warmth of a Caribbean island?