CRUISE SHIP ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS SAYS GOODBYE TO ARUBA

Adventure of the Seas abandons Aruba

ORANJESTAD — The cruise ship Adventure of the Seas from Royal Caribbean will not be visiting the harbor of Oranjestad after April 20th, 2010.

The ship, with a capacity of more than 3000 passengers, will be cruising in Europe. Various media have announced this. Alfonso Becloud, director of the Aruba Ports Authority (APA) confirms that the route of Adventure has been changed and that the ship will no longer be visiting Aruba as of the end of April.

The cruise schedule, which can be viewed on the website of APA, also confirms the departure of the Adventure of the Seas.The sister ship, Serenade of the Seas of the same company, will be visiting the Aruban harbor instead of the Adventure.

The Serenade is of the Radiance-class and, in comparison with the Voyager-class of the Adventure, carries approx. 2400 passengers. The Serenade is newer and more modern. The passengers of the ship are also different, according to Boekhoudt.

The Adventure of the Seas attracts younger passengers with its facilities such as a skating-rink, wall bars, and a basketball field.”The homeport of the Serenade of the Seas lies in the Bahamas. Boekhoudt says he regrets the decline of passengers, especially during the low season, but is positive about the possible chances of Aruba attracting other ships from Royal Caribbean. “Nothing has actually been said on this, but it is possible that the cruise company could for example decide to have the Grandeur of the Seas visit Aruba more often, when the demand becomes high enough”, said the APA-director.

The cruise ship Adventure has continuously visited our harbor for years. During the high season, this ship visits our island every week, and every two weeks during the low season. In Europe, the Adventure of the Seas will be departing from Malaga in Spain and sail a route in the Mediterranean Sea.

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According to Boekhoudt, there is no specific reason for the departure of the Adventure of the Seas. “It is probably just a change of the ship’s sailing schedule, just like all ships do every few years.” Therefore, he does not consider it obvious that the ship would return to Aruba within short. “It takes at least four to five years before they adjust their route again.”

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