What to do in Willemstad, Curacao?

[fifthending]

Hello,

 

First time poster here so apologies if this isn't in the correct subforum. My family and I will be cruising with Royal Caribbean on Navigator of the Seas on 12/26 to Willemstad, Curacao and was wondering if any of you who have been there have any suggestions on things to do?

 

The ship docks at 9am and leaves at 8pm. We're thinking of booking a 3 hour ATV tour around the eastern part of the island but since we do have so much time, should we also book another tour? If so, any suggestions? If not, we were thinking of spending the rest of the time at the beach.

 

Any suggestions or tips about what to see and do there would be appreciated. This is our 3rd time cruising but first with Royal Caribbean and first time seeing these islands. Thanks!

[biker@sea]

Walk over the pontoon bridge to the floating market.

 

 

And Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Edited December 16, 2017 by biker@sea

[Ashland]

Walk over the pontoon bridge to the floating market.

 

Hmmm...Been there done that twice...surely there must be something better.

[bennybear]

Irie tours does a very nice west coast beach tour. You visit several beaches, see turtles, caves and have a good five to six hour tour.

[Kartgv]

After our last visit there, the comedian at the show that evening said "Welcome Ladies & Gentlemen. Did you enjoy your 10 hours in a 4 hour port?" Everyone knew exactly what he meant. The fact that we were there on an Easter Monday and all the shops were closed didn't help any!

[mom says]

Hmmm...Been there done that twice...surely there must be something better.

 

BUT the OP hasn't been there at all.

 

OP, the old town areas on both sides of the pontoon bridge have many wonderful Dutch Colonial buildings. The Ports of Call forum for Curacao may still have a link on one of it's threads for the self guided walking tour. Or you can google it. There are also a couple of interesting museums, including the Maritime museum and my favorite, the Kura Hulanda. And if you like Delft ware, there is a good shop very close to the pier in the fort.

[Ashland]

BUT the OP hasn't been there at all.

 

OP, the old town areas on both sides of the pontoon bridge have many wonderful Dutch Colonial buildings. The Ports of Call forum for Curacao may still have a link on one of it's threads for the self guided walking tour. Or you can google it. There are also a couple of interesting museums, including the Maritime museum and my favorite, the Kura Hulanda. And if you like Delft ware, there is a good shop very close to the pier in the fort.

Sorry.....I apparently hijacked this thread...but was asking biker@sea and why I quoted his post. But thanks for your input.

[elycelynne]

I enjoyed going to the ostrich farm (don't laugh). If it's offered on your cruise and if it doesn't interfere with the tour that you already booked, I recommend it. (You could probably also go there independently, but I didn't feel like being adventurous.)

[SeaThruU]

We did a day pass at the Santa Barbara Beach Resort in 2016 through Resort for a Day. It was a wonderful resort and was all-inclusive, even transfers to and from.

 

 

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[sail7seas]

I f it interests you, the oldest Synagogue in the Amerricas is in Curacao. It is very interesting to tour on your own, See, the sand floor, brass fixtures and beautiful pews. they have an attached small giftt shop.

 

Lots of shopping in Curacao

If you dock at Rif fort, lots of stores right there or short walk to go across the floating bridge for more shopping.

[shadowcat67]

Did an all day island tour and snorkel at westpunkt beach where you can swin with the green turtles, it was our first trip there so nice to see the island, wife went shopping at the bridge after that. it was through Curacao Actief. It was a great tour and we had a great guide. Got to see the flamingos as well.

Really depends on what you like, we like more active activities.

[Keith1010]

We have done formal tours here including seeing the caves and one of the oldest synagogues in all of North America and also enjoy walking around the beautiful town.

 

Keith

[belle2]

We enjoyed laying under the palm trees at Lion’s Dive resort. There was a small charge. They also allow you to dive right off the resort. No need for a boat and they have equipment to rent. If you dive, we don’t but our friends did and enjoyed it.

 

 

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[Bonnie J.]

Join your Roll Call here on CC. You will meet others on your cruise and can talk about different tours. Once a group of us from our Roll Call got together and chartered our own sunset snorkeling tour in Aruba. We got on a sail boat about 5PM and didn't have to be back at ship until 8:30 as ship left at 9PM. It was neat walking back to the ship, in the dark, and seeing it at the pier with ALL it's lights on you never see this as the ship is at sea when these lights are on.

 

And we love walking across the floating bridge and exploring the sites on the other side of the river.

 

So, join your roll call!

[Tatka]

After our last visit there, the comedian at the show that evening said "Welcome Ladies & Gentlemen. Did you enjoy your 10 hours in a 4 hour port?" Everyone knew exactly what he meant. The fact that we were there on an Easter Monday and all the shops were closed didn't help any!

 

 

 

We could’ve spent several days there, and we never waste time for shopping, so stores can stay closed. :)

 

Blue Bay (beach) was simply terrific. Nice loungers some with palapas . Snorkeling right off the beach is amazing. You won’t see live corals in many places in Caribbeans nowdays.

City is also nice to walk thru on the way back.

[WVU_Neal]

I’ve been to Willemstad on a couple cruises and I enjoy my visits there.

 

As previously suggested, you may want to visit the oldest working synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, dating from the early 1700s. Besides the sanctuary, there are number of other artifacts worth seeing.

 

Definitely walk across the “swinging bridge” and wander around this nice little town. Good shopping, I hear, and nice restaurants. There are some interesting architecture and buildings around the area.

 

If you enjoy casinos, you might visit the one at the “new cruise port”. Friendly place with better games than you’ll find on the ship.

 

I’ve also been on a local tour that drove us around the island, talked about the history, significant buildings, etc.

 

 

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[Capt_BJ]

for some hints about things to do in Curacao watch this episode of a TV show 'SCUBA Nation'

 

http://scubanation.com/caribbean-secret/

 

altho this show is SCUBA centric, the episode also covers some land things .... like an ATV tour and the Ostrich Farm .... you can use fast forward to skip the diving if it does not interest you.

 

dd works in 'destination marketing' and Tourism Board of Curacao was a client; she pitched this location to the show and set up the details. She is in the video a couple of times ... the one who stands on an ostrich egg! (Don't worry they are VERY hard .... I worked at a zoo for a time and we'd clean out the eggs to sell ... had to drill holes with a power drill.)

 

ATV tour starts about 9:30

then they visit the Ostrich Farm

and they snorkel in the Blue Room

 

 

for OP ... typically I find one excursion a port to be plenty ... I lke some free time to just walk around too. IF you do an ATV tour here my guess is you'll really want a shower b4 doing to much else unless you are heading for the beach!

Edited December 17, 2017 by Capt_BJ

[sail7seas]

If you sail late, as HAL often dcoes, by ll means have dinner ashore. We have done so several times and had wonderful evenings. Good food, friendly people, lots of places near the ship ffom which tgo choose.

 

Years ago, when HAL: (Dutch ships) came to this Dutch Island, they did shot off fireworks when we sailed away. The locals would line the streets and we had a gret a time on deck. Sadly, they stopped doing that a while ago.

[msmayor]

I f it interests you, the oldest Synagogue in the Amerricas is in Curacao. It is very interesting to tour on your own, See, the sand floor, brass fixtures and beautiful pews. they have an attached small giftt shop.

 

We did a self-guided tour around town and included this Synagogue on our list of stops...we were very pleased we did. It was really worth the stop to see and spend time touring.