Katefromupstate

Eden Beach Resort (sign also says spice beach club, same place) is next door and has a pool, oceanfront, bar and restaurant and beach chairs.  Those are the only two resorts open to the public along that stretch.  
 

enjoy!
Kate

Taxis will be parked at the cruise port upon arrival, but they do not cruise around the island looking for passengers.  It is very important that before getting out of your cab, you arrange a pick up time with the driver and get his or her phone number to call to remind them to come get you.   We are a small island without a lot of taxis, so it can also be a wait to get one when you get off the ship.  
 

Costs vary on number of people, distance, etc.  Our taxis are not metered. Figure about $10 or less for 2 people to get to the Lac bay/Sorobon area, which is where Jibe City is.  Jibe City is a windsurf lesson and rental place with a  beach bar and restaurant.  There are not a lot of beach chairs there so get there very early to snag one.  Right next door with lots of beach chairs, is Sebastian’s Beach (formerly Wind and Surf.)  

This area is where all the cruise ships take their passengers on shore excursions, so it’s going to be very crowded. Try to get there early. 
 

Hope you have a great trip,

Kate

1,000 steps is a good plan for snorkeling.  The entry is much easier than Karpata.  The road does not turn into a one way until after Karpata, so you don’t have to go back through Rincon unless you want to.  Just turn around and go back the way you came, but be careful, the road is narrow and there are a lot of you.  

enjoy your trip!
kate
 

18 hours ago, VermeulT said:

There will be 3 of us in Bonaire on 12/4.  Can someone recommend a company that has a golf cart for 3 or a rental car company?

 

thank you.

Golfcartrentalbonaire.com has ones that seat 4.  Or contact AB car rental and ask to be picked up at the cruise ship.  They also have an inexpensive add on package with beach chairs, snorkel equipment and a cooler.  
 

There are lots of golf cart and car rental places if the ones above are booked, just google and you’ll find others.  Book early, golf carts and rental cars are often fully booked months in advance, not just from cruisers but from the tourists who fly in.  
 

Hope you have a great trip,

Kate

9 hours ago, momof3boys531114630 said:

My sister and I are cruising together with our husbands and children. I have three children and she has four. Ages range from 2 thru 12. What recommendations do you have?   We are in port from 8 AM - 10 PM. Any advice is much appreciated. 

With 11 of you, you’ll need to either rent two cars or get cabs.  If you want to do a beach day, Lac Bay (called Sorobon in these boards, but that’s the name of the resort on Lac Bay, and that resort doesn’t sell day passes,).  There are a number of beach restaurants along Lac Bay that have chairs, and at the far end, an open area with no charge.  Lac Bay is sandy and very shallow, perfect for kids. Even the 2 year old can wade in the shallow water.   On the way to or from Lac  Bay, stop in at the Donkey Sanctuary and visit and pet donkeys.   Another resort is Chogogo Beach resort, which has a zero entry pool which is great for kids, and a lazy river with rafts.   It is on the ocean, but it’s not a gentle sand slope.   The only problem may be that unless you get there very early, Chogogo may not have enough passes for all of you.  They are $25 per person, but include a $10 food or beverage credit.  
 

If you take cabs, make sure to arrange a pick up time, get the number of your driver and call to remind to pick you up.  Taxis are available at the cruise ship, but don’t roam around the beaches and resorts, you need to prearrange your return to the ship.

The logistics of this many people may make cabs and rental cars less attractive. If that’s the case, just turn right out of the cruise ship and walk 10 minutes to Divi Flamingo Beach resort and buy day passes.  The entrance is parallel to the beach road, turn left when you see the Divi casino and then right to the entrance.

Hope you have a great time.

Kate

Divi Flamingo resort is the only resort within a fifteen minute walk from the ship.  When you dock, turn right going off the ship and walk about 10 minutes until you see the Divi casino.  The main entrance to the resort is not on the oceanfront, it’s located at is 40 JulionAbraham blvd, which runs parallel to the ocean front street.   They sell day passes for the resort.  

About a 25 minute walk is Eden Beach Resort, for that one you would turn left going off the ship and walk through town out to the resort.  I don’t recommend the walk though, I’d take a taxi.   It’s a long hot walk along our main road.  
 

if you don’t want to spend the day at a resort and just want to have a drink in the shade and be able to wade a bit, check out Karel’s.  Turn left off the ship, it’s just a couple of blocks.  It is a restaurant and bar with a thatched roof that sits on a long pier that juts into the water.    There is a small sandy entrance to the sea perfect for wading.

You can look up each place and see pictures. 

Hope you enjoy your cruise,

Kate

If you are renting a car, the Donkey Sanctuary is a fun place to visit. You can go there without a car and just visit the donkeys in the front enclosed part, but the most fun is driving through the preserve with carrots.  Donkeys will come up to your car, and put their heads in the window.   So if you have a car, stop and buy carrots and break them into chunks on the way over. 

There is also mini golf, but that’s hot during the daytime and something we do later in the evening.  

Best bet is a beach and pool day as I mentioned in my other post to you.   Chogogo beach resort is kid friendly.  
 

best of luck,

kate 

Chogogo Beach Resort has 2 pools, a lazy river for tubing, and is directly on the ocean.   One of the pools is a zero entry pool that’s great for smaller children.  There is a beach snack bar and a restaurant. 

Go early, they sell out of day passes quickly on a cruise ship day. 
 

all the best,

Kate

The great thing about Bonaire is that you can enter the water from almost anywhere and there will be a reef close to shore.   If you’re doing the southern part of the island, we usually see a turtle in the shallows by Salt Pier.  Swim out to the platforms and it will look like an aquarium among the piers. This can get crowded on cruise days, so entering anywhere along the southern shore dive is nice to snorkel.   If you travel north, Andrea 1 and Thousand steps are excellent snorkel sites.  These are all sites marked on a Bonaire map and have yellow rocks with their names on them by the road to show you where to go.  But seriously, you can just stop and get in the water anywhere and see something.  
 

Hope you have a great trip!
kate

Cruise ships pay a fee to dock on Bonaire that covers their passengers.   Visitors who arrive by air pay a $75 fee either online before they arrive or at the airport at time of arrival.  Tip: if you fly to Bonaire, pay it online ahead of your trip to get through immigration sooner.  
 

Kate

How far out timewise is your cruise?   Usually dive excursions will post for each ship.  If they don’t, don’t count on being able to walk in to a dive operation, best to make a reservation.  Dive Friends has locations all over the island, and their Yellow Sub location is walking distance from the cruise ships.  Check their website for info and to make a reservation.  VIP diving offers private and group shore diving, and you can call Buddy Dive or one of the other hotel with dive shops to see if you can book on one of their boats.  Since we’re a small island, nothing is too far by cab.  Hope you have a great time. 
 

all the best,

kate

Hi Patty,

We have two cruise ship docks, and although two ships a day is not popular with residents, we do have days where both are docked.  Have you called your cruise line?  They probably can give you the answer. 
 

all the best,

plate 

True, they are wooden structures that looked like umbrellas to me.  Good pictures, very helpful.    We don’t go there on cruise ship days and we go early in the day so we always get a lounger under one.  We find they provide enough filtered shade for us, but your mileage may vary.  Hope you enjoy your next cruise to the island.

best,

Kate

Hi,

You book the ferry ticket online on their website, not through email.  Go to caribe watersport, click on info for cruise ship passengers and you can book the tickets.   I just tried a sample reservation and it’s working.

Kate

You will have a great time in October, the sea will be 85 degrees or more, and since the wind dies down then, the visibility will be even better than usual.  Andrea 1 is an easy ride by golf cart, it’s just under 4 miles from the cruise port. 

all the best,

Kate

Hi, 

Sorobon is the name of a resort on Lac Bay, not the name of the beach.  The resort Sorobon does have umbrellas and loungers, but does not sell day passes to cruisers.   However, you can go to Sebastian’s Beach club on Lac Bay and they have loungers and umbrellas.   It may be crowded, since many cruise tours stop there, so I would take a cab there early to get a spot. 
 

all the best,

kate

Hi Sue,

For photography, I’d go to Lac Bay.  Beautiful scenery, turquoise water, and colorful windsurfers sailing back and forth in the distance.  
 

all the best,

Kate

Hi,

What time does your ship leave?  At midnight, the entire island sets off fireworks in the most impressive display I’ve ever seen.  People fly in from all over to see it, and yachts and sailboats come to our harbour from all over the Caribbean.  Some ships will pull away from the dock at their sail away time and then sit in the sea offshore so their guests don’t miss it.   During the day, most of the normal activities will take place, so look at the Bonaire posts to see info on shore excursions and things to do.  The ship docks downtown, so it is an easy stroll to shops and the cruise ship market.  
 

Hope you have a great trip!
Kate

You can buy a ticket on the day of, IF there is room.   That’s why it’s good to have a reservation.  The ferry runs every hour.   There is a ticket booth right outside Karel’s, a waterfront restaurant an easy walk from the ship, where the ferry docks.  You can’t pay on the ferry. Go to www.caribewatersportbonaire.com and click on info for cruise ship passengers.  It will show details, times, and a picture of what the ticket booth looks like and directions from the ship. 
 

Hope you have a great time on Bonaire!
 

Kate

On 5/25/2024 at 10:21 PM, sjde said:

We'll be in Bonaire for a day on a cruise and I'm trying to decide on an excursion. One takes us to the Salt Flats, slave huts , lighthouse , mangroves and then 2 hrs at Sorobon Beach. Four hours total.

The other does the Salt Flats, slave huts and Ocean Oasis beach club. It's actually an hour longer. Either way, we'll have time to wander the town on our own.

Thanks for any input!

Hi,

Both excursions will follow the same southern route, which will pass salt flats, huts, lighthouse and the mangrove area, so the only difference is the amount of time and which beach area you like best.   You can check out Ocean Oasis Beach Club and Lac Bay online.  A common mislabeling is that many people and tours call the entire Lac Bay Area “Sorobon” because there is a resort called Sorobon there.   However, Sorobon resort does not allow cruise ship passengers or excursions to utilize their resort.  There are a number of restaurants and Sebastian’s Beach on the same strip, facing Lac Bay. You will be going to one of those.   They’re all fine, it’s the same bay.

Lac Bay is very shallow, calm and sandy.   It’s like a giant natural swimming pool, with no waves.  You need to walk out a long way to even get to waist deep water so it’s great for kids or people who just want to hang out in the water, not so much for someone who wants to swim.   You can see windsurfers here and they do a good job staying away from waders and swimmers. 
 

If you want to really swim, not just float around, you may prefer Ocean Oasis.  This is on the coast, not a protected bay, so it will have waves and get deeper as you go out.  The entry is rocky, so bring water shoes. Not great for kids.
 

You can’t go wrong with either, so I would just look up Lac Bay and Ocean Oasis and see what appeals. 
 

Hope you have a great cruise!
Kate

I would make a reservation for a taxi, although taxis do go by the cruise terminal, you’re going to need a van for that many of you.   Try https://www.taxi14bonaire.com/

all the best,

kate

Bonaire resident 

Hi,

Bonaire has been repaving many roads this year, most of the ones tourists will drive on are fine for golf carts.   
 

For locals, golf carts can be a problem when we’re trying to get to work, the store, appointments, etc.  One of the things that folks that rent golf carts can do is to periodically pull over and let traffic pass.  The golf carts go slower than cars and most tourists drive slowly to enjoy the scenery and frequently go in large groups, making it difficult to pass them. 
 

Locals driving frequently get stuck behind golf carts and are too polite to honk at you, so please check your rear view mirror and if you see cars lined up behind you, please move over so we can pass.  We appreciate it!
 

Hope you enjoy your trip,

Kate

Hi,

On a cruise ship day, the ferries to the small island of Klein Bonaire will be booked for shore excursions, so if you want to go there, you will need a reservation.  The ferries usually come directly to your ship and drop you back off there.  It’s not a 90 minute round trip unless they are planning a slow boarding time, the ferry to Klein takes a little less than a half hour. 
 

If you want to go to chogogo, get there as soon as you can, they have a limited number of day passes and they often sell out.  If you arrive and they are sold out, you can walk next door to Eden Beach Resort and buy a day pass there.  
 

Hope you enjoy your trip!
all the best,

Kate

Usually any cruise that goes to Bonaire will also stop at Curacao and Aruba, so you can check a few stops off your list.  Due to our location near the equator, you’ll likely be on at least a 9 day cruise to stop at Bonaire.

Bonaire is beautiful and unspoiled. It is safe, quiet, and the residents are kind and friendly. (I live on Bonaire, so I’m biased.)  The sea is crystal clear and warm.  The island takes its eco status seriously, and you will find the sea, corals, and marine life protected.     We are divers and other than Indonesia, Bonaire diving is the best we’ve ever done. If you like to snorkel, you can walk into the water almost anywhere, the reef is close to shore.   If you take a shore excursion by boat, they will take you to the best snorkeling sites. 

We have some sandy beaches, but we are not ringed with sand beaches like Aruba.  Our shores are more rocky, which is better for the corals than sand.    We are a quieter island,  without high rise buildings or traffic lights.  We do not attract spring breakers, we tend to attract nature lovers and people who live to dive, snorkel, windsurf, kite surf, kayak, etc.   

We have parrots in the trees and donkeys and goats meandering along the side of some roads.   Yet we have every modern convenience and store we need. 

Our downtown is beautiful and right where the ship docks.   If you just come on a cruise, you will not likely have a chance to experience restaurants here, but the island is also known for amazing chef owned restaurants.  
 

Many people come back to Bonaire to live or to do a land based vacation after experiencing it on a cruise ship stop.   We are a short direct flight from Miami, and there are also nonstop flights to Bonaire from Atlanta, Newark, Houston and Toronto.

all the best,

Kate

Depending on how much time you have before you need to get back on the shop, you can either relax at Divi Flamingo to enjoy the small beach area, or if you’ve had enough sun and water, walk into town.   There are great shops on the waterfront and the street behind it, and there is a cruise ship market with handcrafted goods.   It’s all in the same area, so easy to get around.  Try Gio’s homemade ice cream on Kaya Grandi. Or, you might enjoy a late lunch or drinks and apps at Karel’s Beach Bar, which is a restaurant with a thatched roof that extends on a pier into the water.  The views are great, you can see the ship from there, and in the clear water you’ll see many fish hoping to have some bread thrown to them. 
 

enjoy!
kate