Let's find out what's happening this week in Aruba, February 12th to February 18th.

As you know, the sole purpose of this podcast is to help you make your week in Aruba as flawless as possible and we do that by highlighting some of the events and activities in the island that you can add to your schedule as well as cruise ship schedules.

Events happening around the island are pretty sparse as expected due to Aruba Carnival having just ended, however, this is also the most romantic week of the year and there are a few places you can go to make your Valentine's Day more special.

But before that, let's get on the cruise ship schedules first, because what better way than to spend Valentine’s with your sweetheart than on the beautiful beaches of Aruba? Check out the schedules below to help you know which days are the most or least crowded so you can venture away to less-touristy areas:

All in all, it's a pretty light week as far as cruise ship traffic goes.

Now, let's talk about what's going on the island. The theme for the week is none other than romance. Those of you looking for a night-out have probably planned reservations. But for those of you who have not, here are some restaurants who are offering special Valentine’s events for you and your darling:

Valentine's Day Aphrodisiac Menu at White Modern Cuisine!
When: 14 February / 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Where: White Modern Cuisine (Diamante 300, NA Noord)
Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/182583869181635/
Website: http://www.whitecuisine.com/

Book your table now to enjoy an evening of romance and mystique here at White Modern Cuisine with our special 4-course aphrodisiac menu for just USD $55 per person. You can also have this special menu with wine pairings for $85 per person! And what's on the menu? That will be in a separate post, but to summarize it here: 1st course is red snapper ceviche, 2nd course is Cajun-marinated tuna, 3rd course is pan-fried tenderloin, and dessert is In Love with Chocolate - all prepared as only WMC does it! Call us at +297 280-0280 to reserve your table.

Treat your loved one to a luxurious Valentine's day dinner

When: 14 February / 5:00 - 10:00 pm
Where: Matthew's Beachside Restaurant (J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 51, 0000 Oranjestad, Aruba)
Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/405976013192270/
Website: https://www.matthews-aruba.com/

Details for a successful Valentine's day night! Treat your loved one to a luxurious dinner at Matthew's beachside restaurant. Hearts will flutter over a glass of champagne included in our Valentine's day menu, followed by an intimate four-course dinner. This for only $47.95 (++)p.p

Click here for our menu https://www.matthews-aruba.com/specials/valentines-day-special-2018/

For reservation please call us at 588-7300.

Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses Dinner On The Beach

When: 14 February / 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Where: Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino (Oranjestad, Aruba)
Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/152788042170978/
Website: http://www.arubaprivateisland.com/

Finding the path to a dream come true begins here. Kindle the evening with sizzle romance only on Renaissance Private Island. Delight in your own Aruban love story, as the evening sun sets the mood for your private Valentine's dinner - catered with a 4-course menu, a welcome cocktail to spice things up, a bottle of sparkling wine and a rose for the special lady. The 'Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses' experience will be $195 per couple excluding 15% service charge. This Valentine's Day...Surprise your loved one with a Romantic Private Island Dinner. For more information or reservation, please visit or call our Navigators at 5236115.

Of course, there is no shortage of world-class restaurants in Aruba that you can visit on that special day. I’m also gonna clue you in on a brand new restaurant that very few of you listening have visited so far.

If you’re familiar with the ultra-upscale limited seating single-service restaurant concept, where a restaurant has a seating for less than 20 patrons and the chef prepares a menu for those patrons only for the entire night. There’s a new entry in that category which is Senses Fine Dining. It’s only about a month old and is already drawing rave reviews. Do check out my interview included in the podcast with the owner, Sebastian Kruisselbrink, to hear about his humble beginnings and how he came to establishing his amazing restaurant.

To book a reservation on Senses, visit their website: https://sensesaruba.restaurant/

The bulk of this podcast has been Valentine’s Day, but also happening around the island are:

Aruba Sinatra Dinner Show at The Old Cunucu House Restaurant

When: 15 February / 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Where: The Old Cunucu House (Palm Beach 150, 0000 Palm Beach, Aruba)
Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/1659635364330869/
Website: http://www.freddejong.com/

Are you searching for things to do in Aruba? Aruba Sinatra Shows started 6 years ago and we would like to celebrate it with you while enjoying the good things of life any time this year. After more than 300 weekly performances Aruba Sinatra Shows is one of the longest-running productions in Aruba!

Experience beautiful composed, orchestrated and arranged music with wonderful romantic lyrics sung by Fred de Jong. Order local food and delicious drinks while watching our Aruba Sinatra Dinner Show at The Old Cunucu House Restaurant or ask for our Dinner Special Menu.

Live entertainment every Thursday from 7:30 till 9:30 pm featuring songs like:"Fly Me To The Moon", "I've Got The World On A String", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "My Way", "New York - New York", "The Way You Look Tonight" and many more...

The Show Ticket is only $15.00 per person (food and drinks, transportation, gratuities not included). During the show, you can eat and drink something a la carte.

Joyride LIVE at MooMba Beach

When: 18 February / 7:00-10:00 pm
Where: Moomba Beach (JE Irausquin BLVD 230, 0000 Palm Beach, Aruba)
Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/1301276453351371/

Dave and his musical team are notorious on the island. Where ever they show up, a party is guaranteed. So, get ready for an evening with pop, soul, funk and most of all... FUN!

Blues Event: Cosy Cotton Band!

When: 16 February / 11:00 pm – 2:00 am
Where: Alfie's in Aruba (Oranjestad, Aruba)
Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/166256510680124/

Cosy Cotton Band's Bert Devries, Terrance Green, Arnold Mohamed and Rowald De Graaf will transport you from Aruba to a Chicago blues club, the swamps of Louisiana, the streets of Memphis, the Mississippi Delta, and back again! If you're a fan of the blues, you won't want to miss this!

If you’re a fan of Karaoke, here are some awesome places that offer Karaoke:

Matthew’s Beachside Restaurant
(J.E. Irausquin Blvd 51, Oranjestad)
Website: https://www.matthews-aruba.com/
- Karaoke Nights every Wednesdays, 9:00 - 11:00 pm

Soprano’s Piano Bar
(Lloyd G. Smith Boulevard 370, Noord, Aruba)
Website: http://www.sopranospianobararuba.com/
- Unplugged Nights every Saturdays, starting at 8:00 pm

Ricardo’s Restaurant & Bar
(J.E. Irausquin Blvd 53, Aruba)
Website: http://ricardosaruba.restaurant/
- Karaoke Dance Party! every Thursdays, starting at 9:00 pm

This is most definitely not complete without Aruba Ray’s Comedy. Here are the details.

Website: http://www.arubacomedy.com/

We are proud that USA TODAY has named this show as one of its “10 Best”!

And Aruba Today called this the ‘BEST SHOW IN ARUBA’ three years in a row… this is a standup comedy show featuring America’s finest comedians, all of whom perform regularly at the top venues in the United States. These are NYC-based and LA-based comedians.

The comedians have appeared on the Tonight Show, Letterman Show, Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central, HBO, movies, TV shows, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, etc etc.

• These shows sell out nightly.

• The show starts at 8:30pm.

• Doors open at 8pm.

• Seating is first come, first serve.

• Show is approximately 90 minutes long.

• Any age can attend, however, the show is intended for a mature audience!

• Line-up subject to change.

February 12-13 and 15-16, 2018 (no show on February 14)
Pete Lee, Tony V, Jared Freid, Ray Ellin

February 17-18, 2018
Pete Lee, Tony V, Ray Ellin

Feedback thus far has been extraordinary so thank you so much for everyone’s patronage. Although I would most likely not be doing an episode during the time I’m in Aruba from February 24th - March 5th.

If you’re down on the island on February 27th, I’ll be hosting another Meet & Mingle this time on Barney’s Aruba so if you’re available, please do stop by! It starts at 7pm and there will be free snacks (and special prices on food and drinks). See you there!

Please remember to leave a review on onehappypodcast.com/itunes. If you have any suggestions for topics that you want to be covered in the future, do shoot me an email on curt@onehappypodcast.com or call out hotline number (302) 635-0815.

Fresh from One Happy Island are all the highlights, activities, and events happening in Aruba from Monday, February 5th to Sunday, February 11th (or what may some of you refer to as timeshare week #5).

This week is also the final week of the 64th Aruba Carnival, and here are the events that you can look forward to:

Lighting Parade San Nicolas

When: 8 Feb. (Thursday), 8:00 pm - 2:00 am

Where: San Nicolas

Kiwanis Carnival Masquerade Party

When: 9 Feb. (Friday), 7:30 pm

Where: Renaissance Convention Center, Oranjestad

Grand Carnival Parade San Nicolas

When: 10 Feb. (Saturday), 12:00 pm

Where: San Nicolas

Aruba's 64th Grand Parade Oranjestad

When: 11 Feb. (Sunday), 12:00 pm

Where: Oranjestad

Burning of King Momo

When: 11 Feb. (Sunday), 7:30 pm

Where: Harbour Arena, Oranjestad

If you have special carnival stories and memories, please do tell me about it on curt@onehappypodcast.com or via One Happy Podcast's hotline (302) 635-0815.

Here is another event that I feel like everyone should take note of:

Soca vs Dancehall - AUA Carnival Edition

When: 9 Feb. (Friday), 9:00 pm - 3:00 am

Where: Sand Aruba (J.E. Irasuquin Boulevard 370 12000, Palm Beach, Aruba)

Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/525732981139397/

After a sold-out first edition on Aruba, we are ready to bring you part 2 during the carnival season.

Soca vs Dancehall started in The Netherlands in 2009 and is the largest Soca event and 2nd largest Dancehall event in The Netherlands at the moment. Artists such as Machel Montano, RDX, Skinny Fabulous, Farmer Nappy, Jeon, Fadda Fox, Asa Bantan, Red Eye Crew and many more have all performed on Soca vs Dancehall. The event is known for good vibes, unity and all out fun. It's time to bring the vibe to Aruba.

Also, don't forget that Aruba Ray's Comedy, everyone's favorite nighttime activity, is starting back up this week so do check out the following information below:

Aruba Ray's Comedy

http://www.arubacomedy.com/

Time: Doors open at 8pm, show starts at 8:30 pm

Where: Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

February 6 - 8

Line-up: Chuck Nice, Christine Hurley, Lenny Marcus, Ray Ellin

February 9-11

Line-up: Chuck Nice, Christine Hurley, Tony V., Ray Ellin

We are proud that TRIPADVISOR has rated Aruba Ray's as Number One!

And USA TODAY has named it as one of its "10 Best"!

Named the 'BEST SHOW IN ARUBA' four years in a row...  this is a standup comedy show featuring America's finest comedians, all of whom perform regularly at the top venues in the United States. These are NYC-based and LA-based comedians.

The comedians have appeared on the Tonight Show, Letterman Show, Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central, HBO, movies, tv shows, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, etc etc

As always, aside from the events and activities in the island, there are tons of excursions that you can enjoy. For one, I recommend Full Throttle Tours Aruba, an awesome speedboat/snorkeling excursion that takes you to the best places of the coast of Aruba to explore the undersea life. Find out why it's different from other snorkeling excursions on the podcast. You can also check out episodes 101 and 102 of One Happy Podcast to hear the exciting journey from the family behind Full Throttle Tours themselves. Visit their website on https://www.fullthrottletoursaruba.com/.

Of course, this episode will not be complete without the cruise ship schedules:

Once again, thank you so much for all the support everyone has been giving One Happy Podcast.  Now please go leave a rating and review on iTunes, I would greatly appreciate it.

iTunes review link:http://onehappypodcast.com/itunes

Joining us on this episode of One Happy Podcast are Debbie and Hank Ecker — longtime Aruba lovers who have been visiting the island for almost 8 years — to share their Aruba story. I had the pleasure of meeting Hank down on the island so we got connected and here we are.

Debbie and Hank are from Pittsburgh, my hometown, so that makes our connection special. But what's even more special is how we talk about the couple's love for Aruba, their favorite place (mine too!)

Debbie and Hank first visited Aruba when it was recommended to them by a travel agent. They wanted to try a new island after visiting so many other islands in the Caribbean and various places. When they got to try the wonders of One Happy Island, they've never stopped returning year after year.

Debbie and Hank are experts when it comes to trying out different hotels in Aruba. They've tried all sorts of places to stay, including both the high-rise and low-rise areas. So they're also here to give a different perspective compared to tourists who have only stayed in one or two places.

We discuss their favorite restaurants in the island, specifics of Playa Linda, and favorite activities or excursions to do on the island.

It's going to be a fun ride with Debbie and Hank, so hop on in!

ON THIS EPISODE OF ONE HAPPY PODCAST, YOU WILL:
- Learn what Debbie and Hank think about the differences between high-rise and low-rise hotels
- Find out the difference between a palapa and a "chickee"
- Discover a "hidden gem" of a restaurant in Aruba and why Debbie and Hank loves it so much
- Hear how Debbie and Hank almost never pay for flights to Aruba using their credit card system
- Discover a unique brand of swimsuits for women that hasn't made its way to the States yet
- Find out what a Tahiti raft is

HOTELS, ESTABLISHMENTS, RESTAURANTS, AND BRANDS MENTIONED:

Fresh off an amazing Aruba vacation, Phil Ridolfi, an avid Aruba lover, and listener of One Happy Podcast is the latest guest on the show. Just 6 days back from Aruba we talk about Phil' s journey from a cruise ship visitor to ending up as a timeshare owner on the island.

On their first visit to the island (via cruise ship), Phil and his wife Kaye were already longtime Marriott customers, which prompted them to stop by the Aruba Marriott Surf Club, to see what they thought of the property. Along the way, they fell in love with the island.

This is the first time Phil has been able to spend November on the island, and we discuss some of the differences he noticed, such as the weather being different than usual. Slightly cooler, not much sun, and more humid but still perfect. Well, of course, you should expect nothing less from Aruba! Phil and I both agree there is nothing better than spending time in your favorite place to decompress and that's exactly what they did.

We also discuss the Marriott's Aruba Surf Club in which Phil's family stays at in the island. The rooms are nice and spacious. It works perfectly for them with a full kitchen, laundry, and generous space. The property is cool as well with great pools, a lazy river, and of course a beautiful Aruban beach.

As always, the interview is not complete without asking Phil's favorite restaurants and excursions, among which he talks about his number one restaurant in the island where the guests can dine with their feet in the water. Any idea what this is? Listen to find out.

ON THIS EPISODE OF ONE HAPPY PODCAST, YOU WILL:

- Find out if Phil has ever seen the ever elusive green flash you're supposed to see in an Aruban sunset just as the sun jumps into the ocean.
- Hear why there needs to be a food tour in Aruba, similar to Kukoo Kunuku but with food.
- Hear stories of how Phil meets interesting people during excursions.
- Hear a funny story of their visit to Phillip's Animal Garden

On the last episode, we heard from Tammy and Jay Zuschlag about what it's like to move to Aruba and start a business. On this episode, we'll get to hear insights from their kids, Maddie and Morgan.

Making the move from America to Aruba wasn't easy for Maddie and Morgan. They had to move away from the life they've known as well as be away from all their friends and relatives. But they're here to say that everything has been worth it.

The girls talk about what the adjustment period like when they first moved and how they go about keeping up with their studies while on the island. We also discuss their favorite Aruba activities such as exploring the rough side of Aruba.

Maddie and Morgan help out on the family business, Full Throttle Tours, when it comes to guiding and serving guests and managing social media. They also give us an idea of what to expect on the tour. Basically, they fill in any blanks that may have been missed by Tammy and Jay on episode 101 of One Happy Podcast.

Full Throttle Tours can be booked online via www.fullthrottletoursaruba.com or Facebook (Full Throttle Tours Aruba). The 2 and a half hours journey filled with thrills and fun. Snorkel gear, cold refreshments (the rum punch is a must try!), and snacks are fully provided. It's a fun and safe experience that everyone should totally try. This excursion is also available for private group rental.

ON THIS EPISODE OF ONE HAPPY PODCAST, YOU WILL:
- Hear about some reservations the girls had about making the move.
- Find out what's the best thing to eat to get the salty taste out of your mouth after snorkeling.
- Hear cool stories about unique things seen at sea.
- Learn about the favorite restaurants of these nuevo locals

RESTAURANTS MENTIONED:
- Alfie's in Aruba
- Linda's Dutch Pancakes
- Pizza and More
- Baby Back Grill
- Chili's

Are you familiar with Full Throttle Tours in Aruba? Whether you are or not, come tune in to this episode of One Happy Podcast to hear more from the couple behind it, Tammy and Jay Zuschlag.

Tammy and Jay have been residents of Aruba for a while now. They've planned to move to an island since long ago. While plans to move to other places like Belize and Barbados fell apart, everything just fell into place with Aruba and thus the whole family is now happily residing in the Happy Island where they started their business.

We find out about how long was the transition phase of fully integrating to the island. This information should definitely be considered as valuable to those planning or dreaming to one day do the same. We also talk about the reason why they decided to start the business, the reason they chose to start a boating and snorkeling business, how they went about getting a boat, and what it was like to take it for that first spin.

Some of the most interesting things we discussed are their thoughts on what are the easiest and most difficult parts of the process of starting up the Full Throttle Tours Aruba.

So what sets Full Throttle Tours Aruba apart from the rest? Well, on Full Throttle Tours you get to experience drift snorkeling at the Arashi Reef. For those not familiar, drift snorkeling involves floating along the current with the boat following you, which is a unique way to observe the underwater life. What really sets Full Throttle Tours apart is the thrill ride you get to experience all the way to Mangel Halto where you can then snorkel around a sunken ship and a gorgeous reef.

Full Throttle Tours can be booked online via www.fullthrottletoursaruba.com or Facebook (Full Throttle Tours Aruba). This is a unique 2 and a half hour journey filled with thrills and fun. Snorkel gear, snacks and cold refreshments (the rum punch is a must try!) are fully provided. It's a fun and safe experience that everyone should most definitely try.

ON THIS EPISODE OF ONE HAPPY PODCAST, YOU WILL:
- Hear a story about a family packing up and relocating to Aruba
- Gain valuable tips and information if you have plans to move and start a business there.
- Know how it's like to start a business in Aruba.
- Be absolutely convinced to go on a Full Throttle Tour!

RESTAURANTS AND PLACES MENTIONED:
- Alfie's in Aruba
- Full Throttle Tours Aruba 
- Renaissance Island

Let's get the show going for One Happy Podcast's long-awaited 100th episode, where we turn the tables by having a good friend and guest, Louis Johnson, interview me this time around in what we dub as the "Aruba Curt Special".

Louis is actually the guy who inspired me to continue on with this podcast when I was just starting out, so it really is meaningful to have him be with me in this special milestone of an episode.

In here, I get asked a bunch of questions about the podcast and myself including what made me decide to a podcast, how do I find guests, and do I have a certain criteria for choosing them. I also relay my Aruba story, and it may come as a surprise to you all that it wasn't love at first sight with the island for me at all.

We also talk about my first impression upon seeing the gorgeous sunsets in Aruba, know where me and Maggie usually stay in the island, our favorite restaurants, the excursions I like to go to, and recommendations.

One important point in our discussion is how do I convince people to go to Aruba. Among the reasons listed: Aruba is below the hurricane belt, there are direct flights coming from the USA, everyone speaks English in the island, American money is accepted, no one haggles you about anything, and the crime rate is very low.

Of course, a One Happy Podcast interview is not complete without the "Eye of the Hurricane", and in addition to that, Louis threw me a curve-ball in the form of a new segment called the "Millionaire's Dream Package". Tune in to find out what that is!

The interview ends on a positive note with Louis asking me what my plans are for One Happy Podcast going forward and him offering valuable suggestions.

I would also like to take this time to thank each and every one of you dear listeners who stuck with One Happy Podcast all this time. It has been an amazing journey. Here's to a hundred more episodes ahead!

ON THIS EPISODE OF ONE HAPPY PODCAST, YOU WILL:

- Hear why I decided to start One Happy Podcast

- Hear why I still get nervous before every show

- Have an idea of who would be my ideal guest in a podcast

- Hear about Cheryl Talcof, the woman who encouraged me to go Aruba skydiving

- Hear a great story about an Aruba kindness done to Louis, and paying it forward

SERVICES AND RESTAURANTS MENTIONED:

Quinta del Carmen

Yemanja Woodfire Grill

Skydive Aruba

Aruba Ray Comedy

Kukoo Kunuku Bus

CheapAir