The Other Side of the Fence: From Cruise Ship Passenger to Cruise Ship Street Vendor

If I had to pinpoint one thing that led to moving to Aruba, it would be a cruise.  We were on a Mexican Riviera cruise when the idea first developed.  We were in the middle of an excursion in Cabo San Lucas, on a Rib boat, and we looked at each other and said, “Why aren’t we doing this?”  Doing this as in being the business owner instead of being the passenger.  One thing led to another, and the plans began.  When deciding where we would do this, cruises are to blame again.  We had been focusing on Belize but things were slowly falling apart for us to move there.  Again, we were on a cruise that took us to a place called Aruba.  Jay said to me, “We should move here.”  So there you have it – technically, cruises are responsible for us being in Aruba.

Now that Full Throttle Tours is no longer a dream but a reality, we are doing everything we can to spread the word and to get more guests on our tours.  That means that when cruises arrive in Aruba, we need to be at the gate waiting for the passengers to disembark and take to the streets!

For a while, we tried just “recruiting” from near the dock where our boat is located.  What we learned is that by the time most people reach that point (it’s only about a five minute walk) they have already decided they are just shopping or just walking around, not really looking for a tour.  So we decided it would be best for us to stand right outside the gate along with all the other vendors trying to sell their tours!

The advantage for us is that NO other representatives of boats are at this location.  Everyone is offering the SAME thing “Island Tour, Island Tour”.  I cannot tell you how many times I have heard those words the past few weeks.  The people who sell these tours are quite the characters.  They have their signs, they get in people’s faces, follow them down the street, etc.  Although it’s the same “island tour”, they do have different methods – air conditioned van, open air safari, ATV.

We choose to do a more quiet approach, feeling like it might come across as more professional (and because being a pushy salesperson just isn’t what we do).  We have had some success with finding cruise ship passengers looking for a snorkel tour and have met some really nice people.

Of course we feel an immediate connection because of our deep love of cruising, so it’s super easy to strike up a conversation with them.  Today I offered a man a discount on our tour if he would return to the ship and bring me a cheeseburger from the grill!  I’m not kidding – when those ships are in port, all I want to do is get on there and enjoy some of that food!  It’s been WAY too long since we’ve been on a cruise!  So far no one has taken me up on the offer, but I feel confident that one day I will get my plate of buffet food and I will gladly discount their tour price (hint, hint – if you’re coming to Aruba on a cruise!)

Needless to say, it’s NOT easy being on the other side of the fence, but it is what we do now.  It’s hot out there, it’s hard to stand against that fence for hours and then no one accepts.  However, as much as I would love to be on the ship eating at the buffet, I can honestly say I am glad to be hanging out with the other vendors.  I have hope that enough people will accept our tour offer that one day we can go back on that giant cruise ship and get our own plate from the buffet!  Until then, “Speedboat snorkel tour?”

Please Exit Your Resort

Having been a tourist for many years and now living on an island that thrives on tourism as well as a tour operator, I have had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people, whether in person, and even through messages and Facebook.  However, of all the good people who visit this phenomenal island of Aruba, I am still amazed at how many have been coming here for years and NEVER leave the resort they stay in.  Some of them spend WEEKS here at the same resort with the same group of friends, and sit under the same palapa on the beach day after day after day.

I get it that there are those who go on vacation to decompress and want to do absolutely nothing, so this is just the place they want and need to be.   That’s fine.  But when I see Facebook post after Facebook post of people who have been coming to Aruba for years yet don’t know what exists beyond their resort, it makes me very sad.

Take for example a post the other day of someone who visited a very well known local restaurant and took a picture of their menu.  SO MANY people commented “Where is this place?”  “I’ve never heard of it.”  But the one that got to me was when a person said something to the effect of they have visited the island 51 times and have never heard of such a place, almost scolding the guy like this restaurant couldn’t possibly be real if I haven’t heard of it in so many visits to Aruba.  WHATEVER!  The really sad part is that the restaurant is only about two miles away from the high rise district and you can actually see the hotel rooftops from its parking lot.  Wow.  Un.Be.Liev.Able!

Many times people ask for restaurant recommendations and the same ones are always listed.  Now, there is nothing wrong with this except when someone asks you for a “budget friendly meal” and the answers are all places that are going to cost you $100 per couple.  When I think “budget friendly”, I am thinking more along the lines of the $10 burger and fries platter at the local place the other guy just posted a picture of!  Here is an example of a “budget friendly meal” in my eyes (pic 1 from Baby Back Grill $10;  pic 2 from Pizzas n More – $16.50 for lg pizza and two drinks; pic 3 from Alfie’s $10):

Here is another one that makes me sad – recently there was a picture posted of inside Arikok National Park, a true gem of the island and somewhere everyone needs to go to explore.  Being on the white sand beaches of the resort areas makes for a great day, but there is something about seeing the “other side” and the rocky beaches and crashing waves.  So anyway, a person actually commented “I am NOT going to pay $15 to drive through a park when I can go to a National Park in the U.S. with my annual pass for free”  WHAT?!?  You just paid who knows how much for your first class ticket to fly here, probably at least $2,000 for your week stay at the resort, and $12 per drink at the swim up pool bar, but you can’t give the island an extra $15 to drive through this amazingly beautiful place that you can spend an entire day exploring?  Just.Don’t.Understand

Now, as a tour company owner, it is important for me to interact on these Facebook groups, get the information about our company out there, answer questions when I can, etc. so I can’t just shut down the accounts.  And on the flipside, I have also learned tons of good information about a lot of things from others (the ones who aren’t afraid to leave the resort) who have shared their wisdom about fun places to go and experiences they have had.  I have met people from all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe who love Aruba and they get out there and see what it’s all about.  Cheers to you!

Aruba is such a beautiful place and has so much to offer.  The people who visit again and again always say one thing that brings them back is the friendly people.  Everyone is happy here (well, for the most part, except on bill paying day at the Elmar office – ha ha!)  No, honestly, even when you have to be in a room full of people waiting on your number to be called to pay a bill, most people are quite friendly and don’t even seem to mind sitting there.  Those people you love to interact with at the resorts are all over the island.  They want you to come and visit them at their tiny convenience store or their little snack truck or lottery stand.

There is so much to see and so many roads to explore, little nooks that are total gems, and just so much more than your gazillion dollar resort and the palapa that you have to get up at the crack of dawn to fight for.   Take it in baby steps.  Tell yourself the next time you are in Aruba, you are going to take even ONE DAY to explore.  Jump in a cab and ask the driver to take you to his favorite local restaurant.  Rent a car and try to get lost (you really can’t – it’s a small island!).

If you are reading this and you are one of those palapa-loving people, bless you.  I get it.  You are set in your ways.  You still love Aruba and Aruba still loves you.  But take my advice, leave the resort.  I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.