bup1224

On 2/23/2022 at 8:29 PM, Slyfox16 said:

We have a late day here. Any suggestions for a very good restaurant or an unusual one that we would not find in the States.

Chanterelle Bistro in the Rif Fort,  Perla Del Mar at the Water Arches in Punda 

On 2/18/2022 at 10:01 AM, little britain said:

I'm getting on her on Sunday for 21 nights.... ports have been changed. Trinidad and Tobago were dropped in favour or St Kitts and Antigua.

Heard yesterday that Aruba has dropped mask requirements so hopefully other ports will follow.

First cruise is 14n to ABC, and Columbia, Panama etc. 

Second cruise is 7n to islands - we get to go to Dominica and Grenada and St Vincent on both cruises.

St Vincent is the only port where you must ships tour.

St Lucia and Grenada you can take government approved tour

Everywhere else you can go ashore alone.

Hope that helps

Little britain any confirmation on the number of passengers onboard right now?

On 2/5/2022 at 4:41 PM, nolyd said:

I was wondering if anyone has booked the Swimming with sea turtles & Grote Knip Beach excursion with Curacao Dreams Travel & Tours and could provide feedback. Thanks!

I live in Curaçao and can tell you Curaçao Dreams are a fabulous tour company.  Sevi and Patrick are delightful and I recommend them all the time.

On 1/22/2022 at 3:23 PM, tkettel said:

 

Can you update me on the current rules as we port there on Feb 23. Thanks!

Celebrity just changed and is allowing passengers to get off on their own again.

On 1/16/2022 at 11:49 PM, msbmommy99 said:

What is the situation now with the port?  We are on the Celebrity Equinox sailing January 21 and have been advised we had to book excursions through the ship because of government regulations.  Here is what they have on the Celebrity website.  We have a private excursion booked with only our 8 passengers and a guide.  Will we be allowed to go thru the port and meet our guide at the Starbucks?

Excursions provided by Celebrity Cruises are required in: 

• Belize City, Belize
• Bridgetown, Barbados
• Castries, St. Lucia
• Colon, Panama
• Falmouth, Jamaica
• Kingstown, St. Vincent
• Kralendijk, Bonaire
• Oranjestad, Aruba
• Roatan, Honduras
• Roseau, Dominica
• St. George's, Grenada
• St. John’s, Antigua
• St. Thomas, USVI       
• Tortola, BVI
• Willemstad, Curacao

This isn't a Curaçao government requirement,  it's a requirement from Celebrity Cruise Line.

11 hours ago, zpdw484 said:

I think you nailed it.  We are sitting off the coast of st Maarten. Not near the pier but farther over close to the airport. Still no announcement that I have heard. It looks as if we are transferring sick crew members to the Rhapsody which is anchored next to us. I just watched them load up a tender boat with luggage all wrapped in plastic wrap and crew members covered in PPE. 

Any idea of the number of passengers onboard now? 

7 hours ago, clover18 said:

Hiya folks. An update from our stunning private balcony lol. (See photo below)

 

They are not letting us disembark in Curacao because we’re waiting for a “press conference” by the Prime Minister to talk about Covid. If I were a betting person I would say that they will ultimately deny us entry into the country. People are expectantly milling around Onboard right now. The tour buses are parked and waiting for people to disembark.If I were a betting person I would say that they will ultimately deny us entry into the country. People are expectantly milling around I’m bored right now. The tour buses are parked and waiting for people to disembark. But it would not surprise me if they decide to ban us  from coming ashore. It’s possible they will simply deny unvaccinated people to go ashore. We will know more in about an hour.

 

Pro tip. Do t book room 13118 if you want privacy on your balcony LOL. 

 

I just want to make it clear that Curaçao was having a press conference unrelated to your cruise ship or any other for that matter.

It was scheduled to update all of us about new measures here. Our epidemiologist was a part of the press conference and that's why you had to wait for a decision. 

On 12/16/2021 at 4:47 PM, Live in the moment said:

Besides walking in to town is there anything close to the ship to see/do. We are doing excursions at every other port and wanted just a relaxed day here.

Kura Hulunda Slavery Museum in Otrobanda,  Maritime Museum in Punda. 

There is also tons of street art.

If you are into walking tours, contact either DunduTours or Free Walking Tour Willemstad Curaçao. 

5 hours ago, topspot said:

Bup 1224 Thanks for sharing your local knowledge.  I understand that the "Blue experience" has moved.  Is there any place close to the Queen Emma Bridge that we would find the Tamarind flavor of Curacao liquor?  We were hoping to pick up a bottle or two.  Thanks!!

Yes the Blue Experience has permanently closed. 

You can get Curaçao Tamarind at Copperstone (Hanchi Snoa 9, same street as the Synagogue), very back of the Gomezplein (where the bell clock is).

They carry that, all types of souvenirs as well.

19 hours ago, topspot said:

Can anyone tell me if the public buses are running?  We generally take the bus from the station to the beach before Sunscapes.  The bus we took two years ago was more like a minivan that listed the  stops on the back  window, and Sunscapes the stop after we got off.

 

Thanks!

Yes they are running.  I live here.

1 hour ago, cessnabmw said:

Yes, pasted below. It's a crazy rate!

 

Dear Mr. Joe,

Thank you for contacting Advance Car Rental Curacao.

December is a very Busy month. Normally all our cars will be fully
booked for long term rental. We know that nobody will rent a car for 1
day in the high season.
But we will make some exceptions. But in the high season our prices will
be different from normal.

We can offer you a " Small SUV  "  for 21 of December 2021. The price
will be 175 USD for "One day Rent". The car is full insured. NO
DEDUCTIBLE. No extra charges.

Total to pay in cash ( included GPS ) = 175 Dollars ( in cash ! you can
pay when you receive the car or return it back) We don't accept credit
cards! In this price included a cell phone in case you need help or you
want to extend or return the car earlier. Also you will get a map of the
Island and a programmed GPS with all the best beaches of Curacao.

We can deliver the car outside " The Mega Pier" when you walk, search
for the security and find the gate on the yellow wall to come outside. I
will be There with a paper and with your name on it! That you can
recognize me. ( THE MAIN GATE WHERE THE TAXI ENTER TO THE PARKING LOT OF
THE CRUISE PORT.)

Hope it's something you can be interested in. For us it will be a
pleasure to serve you and do business with you!

Please let me know if you are interested.

Kind Regards,

Celestino de Freitas
www.advancecarrentalcuracao.com
+5999-5662220

Considering it is almost impossible to get a car rental here in December, no less a 1 day rental,  this makes sense. 

13 hours ago, cessnabmw said:

Thanks! They just replied with a quote of $175 USD for the day! That's really expensive

Are you sure $175, normally it's $75 (from what others have reported to me).

On 11/13/2021 at 5:30 PM, cessnabmw said:

Are there any car rental companies at the port that we can book prior or do we have to do it while there? 

 

We're 2 adults and two teenage kids. 

 

Suggestions on places to drive to? Best beaches? Sights? Driving route? 

 

Thanks! 

Contact Advance Car Rental.  He will deliver to the port. He includes a GPS.

Absolutely book in advance. 

5 hours ago, DGNewton said:

 Help

This is the frat time to Curaçao without a ship  excursion. 
We arrive 11/3 and are there 7am-3am. 
we love the beach near the aquarium area but need to know where to go.  We want chairs. 
drinks and snacks that we will pay for. 
any suggestions???

 

Thank You

ps 3rd cruise since July. So great to be back. 
Just doing an R&R whatever. 
 

Any of the sections there will have chairs for rent and food and beverage service.

Cabana and Madero sections have different types of beds available to rent. 

Blue Bay Beach will definitely be open and has what you are looking for. 

On 9/6/2021 at 2:55 PM, big al said:

How much is the day at this resort? Pool? Nice beach? Food? Thanks!!

 

Big Al

Sandals is not opening here until (scheduled) April 2022.

I live in Curaçao.  As of today, Curaçao is absolutely allowing cruise ship passengers off the ship on their own (following any restrictions from the cruise line of course).

On 9/7/2021 at 2:40 PM, djsinric said:

A couple years ago we took a private tour with a driver my sister found on the internet. Unfortunately he was returning to the Netherlands. We did the national park, the flamingoes and two snorkeling spots. I found the one that was an inlet with rock walls on the side but don’t see the turtle one we did. There was a cement walk/dock into the water. It was quite deep. Plenty of turtles and fishermen throwing scraps in. We ate in a restaurant on a hill above there where you ate whatever he had caught that day. We had lion fish. We’d love to be able to do just that spot and then find a beach to relax on for a couple of hours with drinks. Any ideas of where it was?

It is Playa Piskado.

On 8/9/2021 at 11:30 AM, Beach feels said:

Hello yall! We are finally embarking on another cruise next year and we are happy to be able to return to beautiful Curacao! We were actually planning to head over to the Hato Caves  in the afternoon, seeing that in the morning we already have a walking tour of downtown booked. But we are actually hesitating if we should do the Caves or the Ostrich farm. Unfortunately we will not be able to do both, any suggestions?

The Caves are closer to downtown if you are renting a car.

2 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

 

They did?  Do you have a source for that?  (I'm asking nicely)  Thanks!

Aruba is not closed up at all.

4 hours ago, smwg said:

 

bup1224:  I know this sounds like a silly question, but do you have Stroopwafels in Curacao?  I loved them when we went to Amsterdam and was hoping since Curacao is part of the Netherlands, it might be a common treat there, as well.  🙂

We do but not freshly made at the moment. 

On 8/1/2021 at 11:31 AM, smokeybandit said:

Is that policy for cruise stop guests or just land visitors?

 

Even the Bahamas has different rules for land guests vs. cruise stop guests.

As for Curaçao at the moment,  it does not pertain to cruise ship passengers (subject to change of course).

On 7/7/2021 at 12:27 PM, CaliforniaAC said:

Hi, we've been cruising to the the southern Caribbean for over a decade, and we have been to a number of great places, and we love the beaches on the far end of the island, especially since the ship didn't leave unit midnight. This trip, the ship departs at 5:00pm; You can't imagine my disappointment! 

 

Usually Avis doesn't open until 9:00-9:30, and they don't have your car there, sometimes (don't get me started), so you normally don't get on the road until about 10:30. We will need to be back to drop off the car about 3:30 to get back on the ship by 4:30.

 

That gives us 5 hours in port, plus we will have to gas up the car. 

 

I don't care for the man made beaches on the southeast side of the pier, and the ones between the mega pier and Bahia Piscadera.

 

Has anyone had any experience with Kokomo Beach, Pirate Bay Beach, or Bahia Piscadera? How long will it take to get there from the port?

 

Thanks for your help!

AC

 

 

Bahia Piscadera? Not a place to swim.

Pirate's Bay is small but full service. 

Kokomo is extremely popular as well.

I agree with the poster above, check with Advance (I live here and prior to that had used Avis on a cruise stop here and they, well, yes, issues).

Cas Abou is a fabulous beach if renting from Advance works out.

14 minutes ago, CntPAcruiser said:

 

Thank you so much! I'm looking forward to the day we can visit Curacao again. 

We are excited to have ships back again!

And thank you for supporting our local businesses!

You might see mine on the streets in Punda (I can't post my business per CC rules) - look for the Italian Ice cart!

6 minutes ago, CntPAcruiser said:

 

Hi, bup1224, can you tell me if Best of Curacao, a t-shirt and souvenir shop, is still in business? I can't find a website and would like to recommend them on here, but I don't know the address. They are a cross street or two in after you cross the floating bridge. 

It sure is still in business! We see the owners all the time!

It's on Heerenstraat - after crossing the Queen Emma Floating Bridge,  make a left where Penha (yellow building) and Effy (blue building) are, that's Heerenstraat.  They are about a block down on the right.