Panama Canal Voyage: Oranjestad
In this first post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores Oranjestad, Aruba on her Panama Canal Voyage on Azamara.
Welcome to the first port of call of my amazing Panama Canal Voyage on Azamara! I embarked on the Azamara Journey in Miami, Florida and spent the next two and a half days at sea, sailing to Oranjestad, Aruba. Follow along as I explore Aruba and join an adventurous 4×4 excursion around the island.
Panama Canal Voyage Full Itinerary
Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about Miami, days at sea, and Oranjestad, Aruba. Looking for info on other stops? Check out the ‘Links’ section at the end of this post!
- December 3: Miami, Florida
- December 4-5: At Sea
- December 6: Oranjestad, Aruba
- December 7: Kralendijk, Bonaire
- December 8: Willemstad, Curaçao
- December 9: At Sea
- December 10: Cartagena, Colombia
- December 11: At Sea
- December 12: Cruising the Panama Canal
- December 13-15: Panama City, Panama
Embarkation in Miami
I have lived in Florida for about 6 years now, and this was the first time I actually sailed out of Florida on a cruise! It was quite nice to be able to drive to the embarkation port instead of having to fly. It’s about a 4-hour drive from my home in Tampa to the port of Miami, so I chose to drive over the day prior to embarkation and spent the night at a nearby hotel. Pro tip: find a nearby hotel that offers a ‘stay and park’ deal like I did to save a boat-load of money on parking!
On December 3 I took an Uber from my hotel to the Port of Miami to embark on my home-away-from-home for the next 10 nights, the beautiful Azamara Journey.
After a quick and painless check-in process, I settled into my Veranda cabin. My cabin included a comfortable bed, a small sitting area, a small-but-functional bathroom, a pleasant veranda, and plenty of storage space.
We set sail from Miami as the sun was setting. I stayed out on the upper deck to enjoy the gorgeous views of Miami.
A Festive Ship
As this cruise was in December, the Azamara Journey was festively decorated for the holiday season. The grand central staircase was stunning, with twin Christmas trees and plenty of garland and lights. At the top of the staircase was a very large gingerbread village. The village included several different buildings, with a toy train running through it. I enjoyed seeing all of the festive decorations throughout the ship during this cruise.
Captain’s Welcome Toast
The second evening of the cruise, December 4, included the Captain’s welcome toast. This cruise happened to be the “CEO Loyalty” cruise, with Azamara CEO Dondra Ritzenthaler and many of the executive leadership team sailing with us. So, the Captain’s welcome toast also included a brief introduction by Dondra before Captain Kresimir Korona introduced his team and welcomed us all to the cruise.
Enjoying Two Sea Days
The first two days of the cruise were sea days as we made our way from Miami to Aruba. It was a wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy the ship. I did a few different activities on these sea days, including working on a new cross-stitch project, attending an origami box-making class, and participating in some lively Bingo games.
Evenings on the ship were just as fun. I enjoyed a post-dinner cocktail in The Den each evening prior to enjoying the show in the Cabaret Lounge. One of the highlights of the cruise was a fantastic jazz night performance by the Journey Band.
A Bountiful Brunch
After two full sea days, we had another half-day at sea on December 6, as we were not scheduled to arrive into our first port (Oranjestad, Aruba) until 1:30pm. So this morning was a perfect time for one of my favorite things on an Azamara cruise…the bountiful brunch! The central area of the main dining room is transformed into a massive buffet, with anything and everything you could ever want to eat at brunch. A sweet Mimosa or a spicy Bloody Mary are always the perfect accompaniment, along with the soft jazz of the Journey Band, of course.
Welcome to Oranjestad, Aruba
After brunch I made my way to the upper deck to enjoy the stunning views as we sailed into the port of Oranjestad. I captured a selfie with my 37th flag before heading out to my excursion.
An Adventurous Excursion in Aruba
This afternoon, I did a fun excursion around Aruba. My chariot was a rugged open-air 4×4. It wasn’t always the smoothest ride, but it sure was a great way to experience this fabulous island!
Casibari Rock Formation
The first stop of the tour was the Casibari Rock Formation. Climbing to the top of the rock formation gives you some fantastic views of the island. I climbed to the top and enjoyed the views before walking back down to enjoy the pretty flora.
We then hopped back into the 4×4 and continued the tour of the island. We passed several rocky beach areas. I enjoyed soaking in the views and feeling the wind in my hair as we zipped along the beach roads.
Natural Bridge
The next stop of the tour was the Natural Bridge. The original Natural Bridge was actually destroyed in a hurricane in 2005, so we got to see the Baby Natural Bridge today! The original Natural Bridge was approximately 25 feet (7.6 m) high and 100 feet (30 m) long, and it was the remnant of an ancient cave.
Alto Vista Chapel
The Alto Vista Chapel was the next stop of the tour. This small Catholic chapel is perched atop the hills of Aruba. The first chapel on this site was built here in 1750 by a Venezuelan missionary. Many of the inhabitants died of the plague and the church was deserted in 1816 and went into ruins. The present-day chapel was rebuilt in 1952.
After enjoying the small but gorgeous chapel we loaded back onto the 4×4 to continue the tour. We made our way to the California Lighthouse (named for a ship, not the state!) for a quick stop to enjoy even more stunning views.
Arashi Beach
The 4×4 adventure ended in a fantastic spot, Arashi Beach. We had plenty of free time here to soak in the gorgeous area. I first took a leisurely stroll with my feet in the warm, crystal blue Caribbean water. I then found a great spot to just sit and relax and enjoy the stunning sunset. Sitting in cool, white sand, listening to the waves gently crash ashore, and smelling the salt water…life here is pretty great!
I found my sprit animal here at Arashi Beach: a completely contented cat lounging at the shore!
A Delicious Dinner and Nightcap
My awesome day in Aruba continued with dinner in Discoveries, the main dining room on the ship.
- Appetizer: Mediterranean Antipasto
- Entree: Ricotta and Spinach Ravioli
- Dessert: Apple Charlotte
After dinner I headed back to The Den to enjoy a cocktail. I sipped on a Heart of Azamara (Gray Goose vodka, fresh strawberry puree, fresh lime juice, passion fruit nectar, Galliano, and Absinthe), which is as delicious as it looks! I caught a view of the full moon this evening as well, a great way to wrap up the first port of call on the cruise!
Conclusion
My 10-night cruise from Miami to Panama City kicked off in style on the Azamara Journey. I had two and a half wonderful days at sea before enjoying the first port of call in Oranjestad, Aruba. I always enjoy doing some of the more ‘off the beaten path’ excursions, and my adventure here in Oranjestad definitely fit that bill…a wonderful tour of this charming island in a fun open-air 4×4!
Links
Check the main page for this cruise to read more about my adventures:
Click the button below for more information about Azamara:
