Aruba Businesses Say Cruise Guests Help Keep ‘One Happy Island’ Thriving
Hundreds of rows of aloe plants line the fields of Royal Aruba Aloe in Oranjestad, Aruba.
Many cruise guests arrive in Aruba for the beaches and a day in the destination known as “One Happy Island.” But for local businesses in and around Oranjestad, those visits mean something more: customers walking through the door.
At Royal Aruba Aloe, that story begins with one of the island’s oldest and most recognizable brands. Founded in 1890, the company grows, harvests, manufactures and sells aloe products in Aruba, giving visitors a field-to-factory look at a product closely tied to the island’s history. Francis Albertsz, wholesale manager at Royal Aruba Aloe, said cruise visitors bring traffic to the company’s retail locations and introduce thousands of new guests each year to the brand.
Royal Aruba Aloe offers products ranging from soaps, to sunscreen, to hand sanitizer – all made in Aruba.
“Many guests are fascinated that we are a local company that grows, harvests, manufactures and sells our own aloe products, all on one island,” Francis said. “Many become repeat customers, recommend Royal Aruba Aloe to friends and family, and continue supporting our products long after their vacation.”
Mopa Mopa has become a favorite stop for guests searching for one-of-a-kind handmade artwork they won’t find in every cruise port.
Just inside the cruise terminal, one of Mopa Mopa’s locations sells handmade wooden artwork created using a centuries-old Colombian technique still practiced by a small number of artisan families. For Ainhoa Gogorza, cruise guests are essential, especially at the shop’s terminal location.
“In here, cruise guests account for 100% of our business,” she said. “We don’t get any other tourists. Because we are based inside the cruise terminal, we need the ships.”
A display at Mopa Mopa explains the centuries-old technique, which uses resin from the Mopa Mopa tree rather than paint to create the shop’s signature artwork.
She explains that ship calls also bring important foot traffic to downtown Oranjestad, particularly in an area where there are fewer hotels.
For 20+ years, cruise guests have been able to take a piece of Aruba home from locally owned Lovely Giftshop found inside the cruise port.
“Cruisers have been to many destinations and seen what other terminals offer,” she adds. “They say, ‘Oh wait, I have never seen this anywhere else, and I only see it when I go to Aruba.’ So that’s why they come back. And we rely on that.”
At Lovely GiftShop, the link between cruise tourism and local business is even more direct. The shop has operated inside the Aruba cruise port for more than 20 years and has no other location.
Traditional Dutch-inspired keepsakes are among the many Lovely Giftshop products reflecting Aruba’s ties to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
“This is our only shop, and it’s here in the cruise terminal, so our business depends on cruise visitors,” said Hellene Arends, owner of Lovely GiftShop.
Here, guests find souvenirs and Dutch-inspired products that reflect Aruba’s heritage.
Hellene said Carnival Corporation guests are especially important because Aruba is often one of the final stops on the itinerary, giving visitors a last opportunity to buy souvenirs before heading home.
Aruba’s “One Happy Island” spirit comes to life for guests at its shops, attractions and neighborhoods.
