What To Do In Curacao From Cruise Ship

Stop Or Not At The Port Shops

The immediate shopping on the port is just eh in my opinion, but it warms you up for the upcoming plaza and street vendors!

If all you want to do is disembark for a few minutes and then have the pool to yourself on the ship, well, shop here and get back on.

But for those of us with the pang or a bit of culture, and a pang for adventure, walk on!

Naturally, as you would expect the selection is ok, but the prices are higher than the stores we will stroll to shopping about and visiting in PUNDA!

Cigars were more than they were in the Punda, just in case thats our thing after meals during vacay!

Theres a world of options ahead to purchase so keep moving!

Visit The Jewish Synagogue

One of the most popular attractions in Curacao is the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue. This synagogue, otherwise known as Snoa in Portuguese, is the oldest synagogue in the western hemisphere. It was started in 1651.

Inside this magnificent synagogue are polished mahogany benches and bema, brilliant chandeliers, an impressive organ, blue glass windows, and most interesting of all, an all sand floor.

The sand floor is said to be a remembrance of the makeshift places of worship filled with sand on the floor that served to mute movement noises as Jews prayed during the Jewish persecution era in Europe.

Learn this and more interesting history about the Jews of Curacao at the Jewish Museum adjoined to the synagogue. There is a $10 entrance fee but its worth every penny to explore.

Animal Encounter And Snorkel Tour

Ever wanted to get up close and personal with some of the most magnificent creatures of the deep? Well, here is your chance! With this 2 hour Curacao Shore Excursion you will have the pleasure of introducing yourself to stingrays, fish, turtles and even a shark at the Curacao Sea Aquarium.

Depart your ship and head over to Curacao Sea Aquarium where your adventure begins. Your knowledgeable guide will be there every step of the way to ensure your safety and the best possible experience. Once you are all set to go, plunge into the natural lagoon separated by a large glass partition, keeping those cheeky sea turtles and sometimes grumpy sharks at bay. Spend some time swimming among grouper, stingrays, turtles and a variety of tropical fish. Make friends with the magnificent sharks on the other side of the glass by feeding them through small holes in the glass. A truly amazing experience.

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Visit Washington Slagbaai National Park

The Washington Slagbaai National Park, located on the northern most end of Bonaire, is comprised of two former plantations and totals close to 14,000 acres of land. It is located about 30-45 minutes away from the cruise piers. This natural preserve is home to an abundance of cacti, birds, and a variety of other flora and fauna. The park offers 2 different driving routes- the shorter takes about 2 hours and the longer takes about 4 hours. These trails are dirt roads for which 4×4 vehicles are recommended. On both trails, there are multiple stops along the way for swimming, snorkeling, or viewing of the landscapes and resident flamingos and donkeys.

There is also a hiking trail in the center of the park to the highest hill on Bonaire, which offers fantastic vistas of the island. You can choose to go it alone or book one of the tours that visit this park. Participation in these tours will require your ship to be in port for at least 8 hours.

The 10 Best Curaao Tours You’ll Want To Go On

more than likely the ship will put you into the heart of the city and there is a tremendous shopping and the Floating Markets are there. Depending on how long you will be there you could always go to the Aloe Farm or the Hato Caves, but then again that would require an excursion. After disembarking from the cruise ship, we walked over to the big white tents at the Curaçao cruise terminal and quickly found someone holding up a sign that said âIrie Tours.â Our names were checked off the list, we were given a sticker and told which bus to board. And from the moment you see the buses, you get the impression that itâs going to be a very fun day. Because this is not your ordinary school bus, but rather a multi-colored party on wheels. The windows have been removed, and a cooler of drinks is ready to be raided, free of charge. At this point, we still hadnât paid and, when we asked, were told to pay the driver at the end of the tour. They accept most major credit cards (and donât charge processing…

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Fun Things To Do In Curacao On Your Cruise

Going to Curacao on your next cruise? Here is our list of some of the best things to do while in port. Whether its a rich cultural experience or an exotic water sport filled day, Curacao has something for everyone.

Of the 3 ABC Dutch islands Curacao is the largest and has a decent amount of cruise traffic with around 800,000 passengers in 2019.

With our list of the 15 most fun things to do on a Curacao cruise, you can pick the one that sounds the best for you. I think youll see more than one reason to get off the ship.

Before we get to the excursions, you will want to know a little bit about the Curacao cruise port.

Things To Maybe Pack For Your Cruise To Curacao

Now, here are some things that you just may want to add to your cruise packing list!

• This case so you can take pristine underwater pictures or pool pictures!
• This pouch so you dont have to worry about leaving valuables on the beach
• These tag holders so you dont end up with lost luggage on the cruise ship!
• These packing cubes so you can find your stuff once on the cruise
• These types of beach shoes so you dont have to worry about hidden rocks under the sand at any of the cruise ports
• This type of beach bag thatll help you dry things out so you can be ready for the next beach day!
• For your beach outfits, take a look at

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Best Beaches For Cruise

Curaçao boasts over 35 beaches with the best lining the south coast. Some are private and it is worth paying the small admission fee to enjoy their well-kept sands and beach club facilities, such as at Playa Porto Mari. Playa Kenepa is a popular free beach in the far west of the island while Mambo Beach is close to Willemstad with a large sea aquarium. Expect them to be busy at weekends.

Playa Porto Mari Beach Break

Enhance your perfect Caribbean cruise with a day spent on a pristine tropical beach. With the 4 hour Curacao shore excursion to Playa Porto Mari Beach you will be able to spend your time, your way.

Depart your cruise ship at CuracaoÕs port and climb into a luxury air-conditioned vehicle which will take you to Playa Porto Mari just 30 minutes away. As your vehicle comes to a stop, jump straight onto the white soft sand and feel the warm sun on your skin. Walk down to the gentle crystal clear water lapping on the shoreline and dip your toes in. If you are feeling particularly active, why not rent some snorkelling or diving gear and discover the gorgeous reefs just past the shore. Alternatively, stretch out on a comfy beach chair and enjoy the sun. When you get a little too warm, cool down with a refreshing dip or enjoy an ice cold cocktail from the funky boat shaped bar behind you. This tour is a fabulous and easy way to get to the beach and spend quality time with family and friends.

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Things To Do In Downtown Kralendijk

The cruise port is right in downtown Kralendijk. When you disembark, turn left and breeze past the gauntlet of excursion providers toward downtown. You can spend a few hours having lunch, visiting the craft market on the square and hitting the shops. But the downtown area is small and it wont keep you busy all day.

Once finished with downtown, you have a few options. You can take a 10 minute walk south to the Divi Resort. They charge cruise passengers a $15 day fee which gives you access to the property. However, the fee does not include use of the guest pool. But you can access the palapas, waterfront and restaurants. And you can also use the activity center. But if you want to rent equipment, it will cost extra.

Is your cruise also stopping in Aruba? If so, check out these 27 things to do in Aruba and look sharp on your cruise with this packing list. Or, if you cruise is stopping in Curacao, check out this list of things to do there.

Bonaire Cruise Tips Activities And Overview

Food and Drink in Bonaire

Look for lionfish blackboard specials when in Bonaire — they are an invasive species to the island. For something truly regional, sip on some cactus, whether it’s in a soup or a cocktail. Tekibon is the national drink of Bonaire — liquor similar to tequila — extracted from the yatu cactus.

There are a number of popular restaurants along the Waterfront Promenade within a couple of blocks of the ship pier, including Karel’s Beach Bar and It Rains Fishes.

Zeezicht: For sea views, Zeezicht is one of the oldest restaurants in Bonaire and serves local specialties including iguana soup, conch cocktail and fresh fish.

Bonaire Blond Brewery: There are a handful of sports bars where you can find a cold beer, but at the Bonaire Blond Brewery along Kaya Grandi, they make their own.

Food trucks: For a truly special lunch with a view, venture a few minutes south of downtown to Kite City or Cactus Blue. These are two of Bonaire’s venerated food trucks, and sitting along the oceanfront, toes in the sand, it will be hard to have a bad meal at either.

Beaches in Bonaire

Don’t Miss in Bonaire

Go Fish: Go reef, deep sea or bone fishing with Captain Chris Morkos, who has been fishing Bonaire for more than 40 years. Half- and full-day trips are available through Piscatur Fishing Charters. Everything is supplied including tackle and bait. Pickup at the ship pier is included. Captain Chris speaks fluent English, Dutch, French, Spanish and the regional Papiamento.

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Snorkel And Diving At Caracas Bay And Klein Curacao

The island of Curacao is an ideal diving and snorkeling site as the whole island is surrounded by a fringing reef. While the east coast is known for the strong winds and forceful waves, the west coast of Curacao boasts calm, turquoise waters hiding fascinating underwater wildlife. There are several great locations for snorkeling , however, the ultimate snorkeling and diving experience await you at two popular sites: Caracas Bay and Klein Curacao.

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Caracas Bay has been part of the Curacao Marine National Park and is located only a 20-minute driving distance south-east from the Mega Pier cruise terminal , and if you want to snorkel or dive there, the best way is to book a shore excursion.

The most famous attraction here is the legendary Tugboat shipwreck, lying 5 m under the water surface, in the shallow, pristine waters of the bay. You can swim to the boat directly from Tugboat Beach, and explore its beautiful marine life. Caracas Bay is a dynamic place packed with restaurants, bars, hotels, and recreational areas. It boasts several historic landmarks, out of which the 18th century Fort Beekenburg that dominates the bay is the most iconic one.

To get to these snorkeling and diving locations, the best way is to book a tour, as everything will be organized for you, including the equipment which is usually provided.

See the most popular Curacao snorkeling and diving tours

Taste Blue Curaao At The Landhuis Chobolobo

Blue Curaçao

The first thing youll notice about the Landhuis Chobolobo Distillery is no doubt its sunshine-yellow facade, which matches the bright colors found throughout Willemstad. Here, you can tour the distillery, learn how to make cocktails, or just swing by the gift shop to pick up some souvenirs for folks back home.

If youve got extra time, swing by the Landhuis Chobolobo cocktail bar to sample some of the islands most creative cocktail creations. Of course, you can try island classics like a Blue Lagoon or Cosmopolitan, but if youre feeling daring, opt instead for one of Landhuis Chobolobos specialty cocktails created by the bar staff and not found anywhere else on Curaçao.

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Reduce Your Exposure To Germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water arent available, clean hands with hand sanitizer .
• Dont touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Things To Know Before You Go

• Curacao Cruise Port is comprised of two cruise terminals: Mathey Wharf and Mega Cruise Terminal, the latter of which offers more amenities.

• Its best to book organized shore excursionsespecially those with multiple stops or componentsin advance.

• The historic district of Punda, located near the cruise port, is great to see if youre short on time.

• Shore excursions to Klein Curacao take all day and the water tends to be rough bring motion-sickness medication if youre particularly sensitive.

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Queen Emma Bridge Tips:

Really a huge piece of the 15 interesting things to discover Willemstad Curacao is this bridge and the following experience so you can claim it!

If you are on the bridge walking you hear an alarm that the bridge is going to move. Hustle a bit, because you have to get to one side or the other.

The pontoon bridge sits across St. Anna Bay and as aforementioned connects PUNDA and Otrobanda.

The photo above is via Otrobanda and we were headed to PUNDA !

We were so not pressed for time so I watched it open and shut 2x that day, and remained fascinated, its just that cool and its a free attraction and I consider it yet another bucket list item!

Hello yummy sherbert-colored, picturesque streetscapes, offering more shops than you can get to and scads of restaurants!

Walking is endless! The streets are pedestrian-only .

Best Things To Do In Curaao

• Find a Cruise

Welcome to Curaçao, one of the Caribbeans most colorful destinations. Tucked in the Southern Caribbean off the coast of South America, Curaçao is decidedly unique. Its capital, Willemstad, feels like a European capital . The island is bright, airy, and fantastically tropical, with Easter-egg colored buildings and cobblestone streets around every turn.

The blend of Caribbean and Dutch influences makes it a fantastic place to visit, and some of the best things to do in Curaçao relate both to the ocean and to the islands history. The suggestions below will give you a good idea of the variety of adventure available on this amazing island.

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Why Diy Your Bonaire Shore Excursion

Having your ship arrange a Bonaire shore excursion for you is certainly easy. Just pay your $40-$100 for a pre-arranged tour. But then, everything on a cruise is easy. Which is usually great, but dont you find that sometimes you want to bust out of the pre-baked itinerary and do your own thing? The Kralenkijk cruise port is a good place to do that. The island is small and very easy to get around. From Kralendijyk, to everywhere else is only 20 minutes by car. And there are also quite a few options close to town that dont require a rental car.

Pro Tip: If you do decide to do an organized shore excursion, you should at least price shop it by comparing your ships pricing against purchasing your own excursion from Trip Advisors selection of Bonaire tours.

What To Expect In Curacao

Verified Reviews · Skip the Line Tickets · a TripAdvisor Company Apr 06, 2021 · Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo-traveler staterooms, mini-suites, spa-suites and The Haven by Norwegian®, the companyâs ship-within-a-ship concept. See full list on cruiseradio.net

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General Information: Interesting Things To Discover In Willemstad Walking

Along the way, there are public restrooms and just in case you are curious, a coffee shop, and plenty of souvenir items to purchase at reasonable prices!

Spend both times during the day and night to experience and feel 2 very different vibes that happen in the city center.

Willemstad is walkable, friendly, clean, and flat.

All this can be found by either being dropped off via taxi or via cruise ship port.