bup1224

3 hours ago, Heatherco said:

We are renting a car for the day and will be in port from 8-5.  Would love suggestions in places we should try and see.  Also any beach recommendations and places for lunch would be great too.

 

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Are you more interested in snorkeling,  a full service beach, historic sites, hiking?

2 hours ago, Seapoint said:

We have a day in Curacao and want a nice beach with chairs, shade and good swimming. Snorkeling a plus, but not essential.

Considering Blue Bay Beach and Mambo Beach.

Which do you recommend? What are pros and cons?

Either will probably be crowded on a cruise ship day.

Mambo has a rock barrier and no rocks in the water, several different areas, beach bars, restaurants, calmer water.

Blue Bay is a more natural beach imo. Beach bar, restaurant,  good snorkeling.

14 hours ago, shiny1 said:

Where is Plasa Bieu?  We are there on a Sunday and noticed some places are closed. Thanks!

It's in Punda behind the round market but it's closed on Sundays

14 hours ago, shiny1 said:

We’re in Curaçao on a Sunday and noticed some places are closed. It looked like the Tuk tuk

cars do not operate on Sundays. Just wondering if most shops, sights and restaurants will or will not be open. Any tips or advice is appreciated! Thanks!

In Punda our downtown,  most businesses are open on a Sunday when cruise ships are here,  hours vary but usually 10 am - 2 or 3 pm

48 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

We'll be on a cruise in March with a stop in Curacao. We want to spend a day at the beach. Someone recommended the Lions Dive at Mambo Beach. Do they have day passes available? How much do they cost? Is there a place to get food and beverages. Any help will be appreciated.

You can go to any area at Mambo beach and rent chairs without a day pass, including the Lions Dive beach.

There is a beach entrance fee and each beach section has different pricing for chairs/cabanas. 

Plenty of restaurants and bars at Mambo.

51 minutes ago, Sunseeker810 said:

I am wondering if anyone knows what the taxi fare would be to this beach from the port.  I know that it is far, but it is a great beach!

$60 each way

On 1/11/2020 at 8:30 PM, Mparis184 said:

How much is a taxi from the port to Mambo Beach?  

Walk over the Queen Emma bridge into Punda and take a taxi from that side.

From the port,  it's $25 each way, a little cheaper from the Punda side. 

On 1/10/2020 at 9:58 PM, Heatherco said:

We would like to spend some time exploring Willemstadand then a few hours on the beach.  Can anyone tell me how far Mambo beach is from port?  Can you walk there?  Taxi or which bus?

 

Thanks!

Punda is where you want to explore. 

You will need to take either the local bus or a taxi to Mambo beach, it is not walkable from the port area.

On 1/10/2020 at 10:01 PM, Heatherco said:

Anyone have any advice on a nice place to have lunch?  Nothing fancy just good food and casual setting. We will be in Willemstad on the Eer I Ua and wold like to basically explore for a few hours and have lunch.  Can we walk to Willemstad from the ship?

 

Thanks so much!

Iguana Cafe has a great location,  the food not so good.

For a taste of our local food, head over to Plasa Bieu for lunch!

8 hours ago, jlocole said:

Is there a bar with a beach near the port where one can rent a chair and an umbrella and enjoy a couple drinks by the water?

Or can I get a suggestion of where to take a taxi to to enjoy something like that?

The Santa Barbara thing sounds pretty good but a bit pricey for us.

 

Taxi to Mambo beach. Tip walk over to Punda and take a taxi from there, it's a little cheaper.

4 hours ago, Bob7 said:

Does anyone know where the vans that operate like taxis (and the taxis) pick up at the Jan Thiel Beach area? ... somewhere between Koko's and Papagayo Beach Club?  We were going to walk the coastal trail to J. Thiel from the Sea Aquarium and then get a van to Willemstad.

Right outside the car entrance to Jan Thiel beach is a bus stop. 

Keep in mind that public transportation here runs on it's own schedule. 

On 1/9/2020 at 6:11 PM, tdoner said:

Hello!

I'm looking for a place where we could rent a cabana while in port. I'm traveling with my 82 year old grandmother, and while we love the sun and ocean, she is not able to handle it so much. We usually try and get a cabana near the beach where she can eat, sleep, and sleep some more, and we wont feel guilty about having our own fun too. I've already sent an inquiry to cabana beach, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of other great places. Ship gets in at 1:30pm. I love the idea of the day pass, but dont want to risk not being able to have a covered seating area. 

Also, in some pics of cabana beach, I see to the left (facing ocean) there are water inflatables. Does anyone know the name of this place? 

 

Thanks in advance!

Mood beach in the same area.

If you are talking about what looks like a "kids water park" area, that was at Mambo beach but it's not there right now.

On 1/5/2020 at 5:08 PM, jobell said:

 

Is the beach entrance to the ocean rocky? We went to a beach in Curacao back in 2018 and it was extremely rocky and very hard to enjoy.

Which beach?

22 hours ago, ETski said:

Do they have shade or rent umbrellas? How much for a umbrella?

Alot of shade, but again it is typically crowded on cruise ship days. 

No fee for regular palapas, you have a chair fee.

There are higher fees for the beach beds depending on which section you are in

5 hours ago, RCCLFan0001 said:

Is Mambo Beach very crowded? Is the sand good for little kids to play with? Is snorkeling off the beach possible?

On cruise ship days, it is usually crowded. 

It's perfect for little kids! There is even a small playground there. There is a bit of coral/rocks in the sand but typically not alot. 

No rocks in the water.

Not the best snorkeling but if you go close to the rock wall barrier,  it's ok 

4 hours ago, whitford said:

We are in our late 60's and quite fit. Would like to know your experiences with a self guided tour for Curacao. Is it safe? What were you favorite things, secret tips and things to avoid. Really getting tired of the BIG bus excursions. Would prefer to get to know the real culture and people.Any in sites will be quite helpful.

Thanks

Are you talking about a self guided tour of our city (Punda/Otrobanda)?

You can obtain a free walking map at the tourist info booth in Punda.

5 hours ago, kjacruiser said:

yes is it worth the price and is the food good

 

I think it's worth it.

We think the food is good, bar snacks, sandwiches as well as larger plates.

1 hour ago, Bxianesq said:

We are on a HAL cruise in March and stop in Curacao for a full day on a Sunday- 8 AM until 11 PM.  Ideally, we would like to go on a morning tour to see some of the beaches, followed by a walk around town and a stop at the distillery.  Are the shops/distillery open on a Sunday?  Any recommendations for a 4 to 5 hour tour?  I saw that someone recommended Irie-but the tour that interested me runs about 7 hours-I am afraid that on a Sunday, shops/distillery will either not be open at all or may close early.  

Some stores in town (Punda) are open when a cruise ship is here on a Sunday,  usually from 10 am - 2 or 3 pm.

There is a smaller version of the "distillery" called The Blue Experience in Punda on the Handelskade (street on our bay waterfront) that is sometimes open on a Sunday when ships are here.

5 hours ago, kjacruiser said:

anyone been to Pirates Cove next to the Hilton property....

Do you mean Pirate's Bay beach? Yes, it's a smaller beach, with a bar and restaurant. 

There is an entrance fee and a fee to use the chairs.

You cannot bring in any food or beverages other than water and chips. 

1 hour ago, JennyD1 said:

Is there an entry fee to Mambo Beach?  What is the price to rent lounges/umbrellas?  Do they have beach bars?

$3.50 entrance fee per person and I believe it's now $4.00 per chair.

There are beach bars, restaurants and a few shops there.

7 hours ago, Seavoyage said:

Hello - Does anyone know if Soursop fruit is available for purchase at the floating market or at a Food Market in Curacao?

 

Thank you in advance.

 

 

The Floating market as it was is closed. There are a few (as in 2 or 3) local vendors there.

I have seen Soursop in the Marshe Nobo 

23 minutes ago, jujuyu211 said:

Sorry to bring back an old post. I was wondering if anyone knows where Princess ships dock and if port-side balconies will have a view of the floating bridge? I know it's hard to know which side the ship will face but I wanted to see if maybe at this port there's a pattern. Thanks!

Normally they are at the main pier or the Mega pier (same location) but it does depend on the number of ships in port. 

7 hours ago, packedandready said:

We're looking at both companies, an organized tour with Irie Tours or a custom tour with Gone Caribe. We would, of course, prefer the custom over one with a large group, but don't know anything about either company. Any opinions or information????

Gone Caribe sounds like they would be perfect for you. 

I live here so haven't taken a tour with them, however I work in Punda and have seen them with their guests.

They are super informative and all there guests that I have encountered speak highly of them.

21 hours ago, njhorseman said:

Here's my recollection...but I could be wrong on one or more things and if so I hope someone corrects me:

Taxi from the port is $30. Make arrangements for the driver to pick you up at a specified time because taxis don't wait there in the hopes of getting passengers. Admission was $8 per person, and includes the use of the chairs. If you're hoping for a shady spot get there early. It can get crowded with cruise ship passengers, particularly if more than one ship is in port.

You are perfectly correct in your response. 

7 hours ago, fromaustin said:

Has the AquaPark closed down?  We thought we would check it out on Christmas Day, but it seems like it is no longer open.  Any recent info that someone can provide?  TIA!

I live here and it hasn't been open in several months.