Cruise day in Aruba
Car Rental at the Aruba Cruise Port
Pick up your car or Jeep right at the Oranjestad cruise terminal, no delivery fee, and be back before all aboard. Book online and see your exact price for your ship's date.
Pickup at the terminal
The cruise port is one of our pickup and return points, free of charge.
Back before all aboard
We confirm the exact meeting point and return time with you when you book.
One day, no fuss
Real Deal's minimum rental is one day (24 hours), the length of most cruise stops.
Aruba car rental cruise port: how it works
Only the first step happens before you leave home. The other three happen on your port day.
1. Book for your ship day
Choose Cruise Port as your pickup and return location, pick the date your ship is in port and choose a vehicle. You see the exact total before you pay, and cancellation is free more than 24 hours before pick-up (one day's rental plus tax if later).
2. We meet you at the port
Delivery to the cruise port is free. The port has its own access rules, so we meet you where the port allows and confirm the spot with you when you book.
3. Drive your plan
Head for the beach or the stops you chose, with the drive time and your ship's all-aboard time in mind.
4. Bring it back and board
Return the car at the agreed time with the same amount of fuel it was delivered with, or our fuel rate applies, then walk back to the ship.
Starting rates for a cruise day
Price per day, low season, before tax. The 7+ day rate applies to the whole rental from day 7. Your exact total for your ship's date shows the moment you book.
| Vehicle class | Example | 1 day | 7+ days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy car or sedan | Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent | $79.99/day | $59.99/day |
| Jeep Wrangler | 5 seats, 4x4, automatic | $259.99/day | $129.99/day |
| SUV | Kia Sorento, Ford Explorer | $149.99/day | $114.99/day |
See the full fleet and every rate on /fleet.
For a port day on paved roads, an economy car is enough to reach Eagle Beach, Palm Beach or Baby Beach, and an SUV gives a group more room for beach gear. A Jeep Wrangler seats five with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox (see Jeep rental in Aruba for the full price ladder). Not sure which suits your group? Our guide to choosing a car rental in Aruba lists the eight checks worth making before you book.
Find your ship day
Your cruise itinerary lists the day your ship calls at Aruba. The Aruba Ports Authority also publishes cruise-ship schedules by month, with a live arrivals and departures page, so you can check the date and your ship's arrival time before you book. In our experience, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the busiest cruise days in Aruba, so book early for those dates. Use the schedule for exact dates.
A cruise-day rental bills as one day, and the date you book is the date your ship is in port. Your cruise line sets the all-aboard time, not us, so check it with your ship and treat it as the fixed point of your day. Everything else is planned backward from it.
A short call may leave time only for Oranjestad on foot. A long call is where a car pays off: a beach, lunch somewhere quiet and a second stop, all on your own clock.
Cruise-day checklist
- Check your ship's date and arrival time on the Aruba Ports Authority schedule.
- Ask your cruise line for the all-aboard time, and plan backward from it.
- Book early if your ship calls on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Agree the return time with our team when you book.
Where we meet you at the terminal
Port security is strict. The Aruba Ports Authority requires everyone entering the port to hold a Security ID Badge and a Car Pass, or to follow the visitor protocol. That is why we do not name one fixed spot on this page: we meet you where the port allows and confirm the exact place with you when you book.
Tell us three things when you book: your ship's name, the time it docks and a phone number we can reach on the day. If your plans change, message us through the contact page and we will update the handover.
Have ready when you book
- Your ship's name and the date it is in port
- The time your ship docks
- A phone number that works on the day
- A driver's license and a credit card for the refundable deposit
Your return time, worked backward
Start from the all-aboard time and count backward. Drive times are estimates for paved roads: 15 minutes from Oranjestad to Palm Beach, 35 minutes from Palm Beach to Baby Beach, and about 55 minutes from one end of the island to the other. Add extra time in cruise-ship season and around Palm Beach at sunset.
| Step | What to allow |
|---|---|
| All-aboard time | Set by your cruise line. Check it with your ship and start every plan from it. |
| Return the car | Agreed with our team when you book, with a buffer for cruise-day traffic, fuel and the walk to the ship. |
| Drive back | Eagle Beach or Palm Beach: about 15 minutes from Oranjestad. Baby Beach: 35 minutes from Palm Beach. |
| Time at the beach | Whatever is left once the drives and the buffer are taken out. |
| Drive out | The same as the drive back. |
| Pickup at the port | Where the port allows, confirmed when you book. |
The exact return cutoff is set with our team when you book, and it always leaves a buffer before your ship leaves. A late-return rate applies if you are past the agreed time, so ask us for it before you book if your plan is tight. The full route plans are in our one-day cruise port plan.
Car, taxi or guided tour from the port
Three sensible ways to spend a port day off the ship. None is the right answer for everyone, so compare what each one asks of you.
| Rental car | Taxi | Guided tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who sets the route | You do | You agree a route and price with the driver | The tour operator |
| Control over timing | You choose when to leave, stop and head back | Agree waiting time and the return trip in advance | Fixed by the tour itinerary |
| How the cost works | One daily rate for the whole vehicle, from $79.99 for a car | Fixed rates by route, no meter, up to 7 passengers per taxi | Set by the operator, so check what is included |
| Best for | Groups, several stops, beach gear | One or two straight point-to-point trips | First-timers who want a guide and no driving |
| Check before you book | Age 23+, credit card for the $500 deposit | The price for each leg, agreed before you go | The return time against your all-aboard time |
Taxi fares by route are in Dushi Transfers' guide to Aruba taxi rates. If you would rather not drive at all, the main Arubus station is right across from the cruise terminal and a single ride is $2.60 per person. Our guide Should I rent a car in Aruba? compares the car, the bus and the taxi in more detail, and our tours page covers guided off-road adventures.
What's included
- Free delivery and pickup at the cruise port, the airport or your hotel.
- Refundable deposit: $500 on cars, SUVs, vans and Jeeps ($1,000 on the Talon UTV), held on a credit card.
- Extra driver $4.99/day, CDW+ $24.99/day, both optional.
- Free cancellation more than 24 hours before pick-up; later, one day's rental plus tax. See our rental terms.
The road rules, roundabouts and parking in Oranjestad are in our guide to driving in Aruba. Flying in rather than sailing? See car rental at Aruba airport.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a car at the Aruba cruise port?
Yes. Real Deal delivers to the cruise port in Oranjestad and collects from it, and delivery is free.
How much does a car rental from the Aruba cruise port cost?
In low season (1 April to 17 December), before tax: an economy car is $79.99 for 1 day and $59.99 a day for 3+ days, and a Jeep Wrangler is $259.99 for 1 day and $129.99 a day for 7+ days. Delivery to the cruise port is free.
Can I pick up and return my rental at the Aruba cruise port?
Yes. The cruise port in Oranjestad is one of Real Deal's pickup and return locations, alongside the airport, hotels and the Ponton 49 office.
Is there a delivery fee to the cruise port?
No. Delivery to the cruise port, the airport and most hotels is free.
Where exactly do we meet at the port?
The exact meeting point is confirmed with our team when you book, since it depends on which pier your ship uses. Tell us your ship and arrival time and we'll have it ready.
What time do I need to be back before all aboard?
Your return time is set with our team when you book, always with enough buffer before your ship's own all-aboard time. Ask us for a late-return rate before you book if that matters for your plan.
What is the minimum age and deposit?
Renters must be at least 23 with a valid driver's license; drivers aged 23 and 24 pay a young driver fee of $25 per day. The refundable security deposit is $500 for cars, SUVs, vans and Jeeps, and $1,000 for the Honda Talon UTV, held on a credit card only (no debit cards or cash).
Can I rent for just the day my ship is in port?
Yes. Real Deal's minimum rental is one day (24 hours), so a single cruise day is a normal booking.
How do I find out which day my ship is in Aruba?
Your cruise itinerary lists the Aruba stop, and the Aruba Ports Authority publishes ship schedules by month. In our experience, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the busiest cruise days. Book the rental for your ship's date and tell us your ship's name.
Can I add a second driver?
Yes. An extra driver is $4.99 a day, and it is optional.
Is a rental car better than a taxi on a cruise day?
It depends on your plan. A car suits groups, several stops and beach gear. A taxi suits one or two straight trips, and it has no meter, so agree the price for each leg before you go.
Sources, checked 20 Sep 2026: Aruba Ports Authority, Cruiseship Schedules; Port Access Procedures; Arubus FAQ; onehappyisland.com, Aruba Map; aruba.com, Aruba Taxis and Limos. Rates, deposit and fees: Real Deal booking system, read 22 Sep 2026.
Ship's in port? Your car's ready.