Category: Willemstad (Curacao)

COUNTRY DRIVE

Give yourself a chance to explore Curaçao on a drive through the island’s beautiful countryside, passing by old plantation homes and labourer housing to reach your first stop, the Shete Boka national park, a place famed for its stunning shoreline and fantastic rock formations. The power of the waves breaking on the rocks is truly astounding here.

A short photo stop from the coach follows at West Point so you can enjoy lovely views of the Caribbean at Playa Forti. The next stop will be made at one of Curaçao’s most tropical beaches, a place where soft white sand meets the azure blue of the Caribbean Sea to yield fabulous snapshot moments by the score. Your last stop will be at Jan Kok Estate, which is used as the art gallery of local artist Nena Sanchez, known for her Dutch Caribbean sceneries with bright colors. On the leisurely drive back to your ship, a short photo stop from the bus will be made at the salt flats of Jan Kok, where you may be lucky to spot some Flamingos.

Please note: Limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be in English only. The spotting of wildlife is not guaranteed

WILLEMSTAD TROLLEY TRAIN TOUR

Colourful and quaint are two attributes that aptly describe both your mode of transport on this tour, a trolley train, and the city you’ll be exploring, Curaçao’s capital of Willemstad. After taking a taxi to cross the Queen Juliana Suspension Bridge to reach the historical Punda district, you’ll then board the open-sided trolley train for a breezy and fully narrated ride through Willemstad’s attractive streets with their distinctive Dutch colonial architecture. Enjoy listening to interesting city facts as you make your way past the Queen Emma pontoon bridge and through downtown Willemstad.

A photo stop will be made at the central historical archives, which are housed in the fittingly nicknamed Bolo di Bruid (wedding-cake) mansion, and then again at Pietermaai Cathedral. Back on the trolley train, you’ll then continue on past Queen Wilhelmina Park and the 17th-century Waterfort Arches before paying Fort Amsterdam, also built in the 17th century, and the co-located Protestant Church a visit. A taxi will take you back to the ship, but if you prefer to remain in town, you can return to the ship at your own pace.

Please note: the tour includes taxi transfers to and from Fort Amsterdam, the trolley-train terminus. Guests choosing to remain in town after the trolley-train ride will be responsible for making their own way back to the ship, which is an approx. 15-minute walk from the town centre.

Any taxi transfer fees (approx. US$10 for 1 to 4 passengers) will be payable as an additional expense not covered by the price of the tour. Guests may be able to enter the Cathedral for an inside viewing provided no Mass is being read at the time of the visit

BEACH EXPRESS

Take some time out from your ship and embark on a drive-by taste of island life with the added extra of time to spend on one of Curaçao’s stunning beaches. Your sightseeing tour en route to sun, sea and sand begins when you board a unique, hand-painted bus to travel to the island’s pristine west coast and its unspoiled beaches.

The fully narrated drive will take you past historical plantation houses, scenic mountains, wildlife, salt flats and pretty pink flamingos before you arrive at the beautiful cove to relax and enjoy the amazing surroundings. The azure waters of the Caribbean Sea are perfect for swimming or snorkelling among the reef dwellers, while the soft sand is an open invitation to stretch out under palm tree and work on your tan. This laid-back outing to one of Curaçao’s very best beaches is ideal for all age groups and is sure to provide bags of fun. A chance to savour further glorious views then awaits you on your return journey to the ship.

Please note: limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be in English only

SEE and SEA ISLAND TOUR

Giving you an opportunity to explore the island of Curaçao from and underwater and overland perspective, this tour begins with you boarding an air-conditioned semi-submarine – the Seaworld Explorer – to submerge to a depth of several hundred feet and then delight in the colourful spectacle that awaits you, including a dramatic moment when the sub passes over a sudden vertiginous drop. Large windows guarantee panoramic views of aquatic wildlife such as yellowtail snappers, sergeant majors, parrotfish, queen angelfish and colonies of coral.

After surfacing and returning to dry land, you’ll board a coach to be taken to an elevated vantage point for splendid views of Willemstad, followed by a drive to the Chobolobo Liqueur Factory where the world-famous Curaçao liqueur is made. You’ll get to enjoy a taste of the spirit, which is made with the dried peel of the lahara citrus fruit, before moving on for a drive through Willemstad’s historical Punda district, during which time your friendly guide will point out major landmarks. The tour ends with your return to the ship, but you can equally choose to remain in town and make your own way back.

Please note: the semi-submarine pier is accessible via a ramp or approx. 6 steps; the semi-submarine itself is accessible via a ramp; the hull of the semi-submarine is accessible via approx. 5 steps. Guests must be capable of using steps without assistance. Limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be in English only

CURACAO HIGHLIGHTS and AQUARIUM

Capture the feel of quintessential Curaçao – including a taste of the famous liqueur – on a leisurely tour of unspoiled landscapes, historical and modern architecture as well as glimpses of dolphins in the Caribbean Sea. To start with, a scenic drive will take you past an exclusive villa area en route to a photo stop at a vantage point that affords glorious views of Table Mountain and the Spanish Water yacht marina.

You’ll then continue on to Landhuis Chobolobo, the sunshine yellow mansion that is home to the world-famous Curaçao liqueur. Your visit to the old distillery will show you how the distillation process works and, of course, offer you an opportunity to sample the flavoursome spirit yourself. The final leg of this entertaining tour will see you head for the Curaçao Sea Aquarium, where a fascinating array of aquatic wildlife typically found in local waters awaits you. Check out the sea lions, turtles, sharks and flamingos – to name but a few. A scenic drive through the picturesque city centre of Willemstad then returns you to the ship.

Please note: guests must be at least 18 years of age to drink alcohol. Limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be in English only

CAVES and CITY CENTER

Two of Curaçao’s main highlights await the pleasure of your company on a tour that will take you to see both the fascinating underground world of the Hato Caves and, returning to ground level, the wonders of Willemstad’s picture-perfect city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lying just a short drive to the north of Willemstad, the Hato Caves deliver an otherworldly experience of stalagmites, stalactites, limestone formations and, if you’re lucky, sightings of long-nosed fruit bats. Returning to the sunshine, you’ll then move on to Willemstad to begin your walk through the city centre and its numerous historical buildings. En route to Fort Amsterdam, you’ll pass colourful quayside houses before crossing the Queen Emma pontoon bridge to reach the other side of Willemstad city. Should the passage of ships down St. Anna Bay force the bridge to open in the middle, you’ll take a ferry instead. The 19th-century Riffort stronghold, now an up-market shopping mall, is your last city highlight on this guided stroll back to your ship. If you prefer, you can equally linger a little longer and then make your own way back to the ship when you’re good and ready.

Please note: the order in which the tour runs may vary. As high temperatures are likely to prevail, guests are recommended to wear a hat. The tour involves some walking at the Hato Caves and in the city centre, for which guests should be suitably fit

RAINFOREST MYSTERY AND SIGHTSEEING

The first of the three distinct legs making up this entertaining 3-hour tour will see you board a coach en route to “Amazonia The Lost Island of Dreams”, a fully guided and narrated experience that combines a Latin American wildlife trail with Mesoamerican moments presented in the form of replica Inca, Mayan and Aztec sculptures, carvings and frescos. The park’s multi-hued inhabitants – including colourful parrots, sinuous snakes, nimble frogs and troupes of sure-footed monkeys – make for some fabulous photos before you move on to the Aloe Vera Plantation on the outskirts of Willemstad city.

After a guided look around the plantation and learning about the plant’s healing properties, you’ll move on to the last leg of the tour: Willemstad city centre. Your drive back to the ship will take you down Scharlooweg, a former uptown residential area once built for the merchant elite, for enjoyable views of beautifully restored mansions, which feature on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Please note: Limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be in English only

SEAWORLD EXPLORER SEMI SUBMARINE

In a manner similar to the nicest things coming in small packages, the best experiences can sometimes be packed into the shortest space of time. Such as the one offered by this unusual tour on board the Seaworld Explorer semi-submarine. Relax in air-conditioned comfort while savouring views of aquatic wildlife at a depth of about 5 feet – and remain completely dry at the same time. Typical fish species supported by the coral reef include yellowtail snappers, sergeant majors, parrotfish and queen angelfish. You’ll also get to watch as a diver had feeds fish in the water – a unique sight that is sure to be a highlight of this underwater experience. Your outing then ends with your return to the ship.
Please note: the semi-submarine pier is accessible via a ramp or approx. 6 steps; the semi-submarine itself is accessible via a ramp; the hull of the semi-submarine is accessible via approx. 5 steps.

Guests must be capable of using steps without assistance. Limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be in English only.

DISCOVER CURACAO

Dishing up some of Curaçao’s best highlights for your all-round entertainment, this mainly coach-based tour begins with a look at the island’s enchanting countryside, passing salt flats and flamingos as you head for your first stop: the incredible Hato Caves with their fabulous stalagmites, stalactites, limestone formations and seemingly bottomless pools of crystal-clear water. Leaving the breathtaking caverns behind, you’ll then make your way to Willemstad’s historical Otrobanda district to pay the Curaçao Museum a visit.

In addition to works of modern art, the museum also hosts exhibits that illustrate how life was lived on the island during the mid-19th century and affords superb views of Punda, Willemstad’s other historical district, Otrobanda and St. Anna Bay. Next up is the beautiful, canary-yellow Chobolobo Mansion, home to the factory where the famous Curaçao liqueur is made. After a chance to find out how the distillation process works and a taste of Blue Curaçao, you’ll finish your tour with a narrated drive through the picturesque Punda district in the centre of town. At this point, you can either remain in the city or stay on the coach for the brief return drive to your ship.

Please note: as 50 steps will have to be ascended/descended at the Hato Caves, guests are recommended to wear comfortable, flat shoes. Limited number of guides in languages other than English. Should a tour guide for your language be unavailable, the tour will be in English only

PANORAMIC CURACAO

Curaçao’s capital of Willemstad has much to offer visitors: pastel-hued colonial architecture, fabulous views of Caracas Bay and St. Anna Bay, the Spanish Water yacht marina, the magnificent Table Mountain and the distillery where the famous Curaçao liqueur is made. All of these highlights await you on this panoramic drive through Willemstad, with a first stop scheduled at Caracas Bay to take photos of the 18th-century Dutch-built Fort Beekenburg, the sea and the adjacent beach.

A visit to a local handicraft shop for a chance to browse and enjoy island views is next, after which you’ll move on through one of the island’s exclusive residential areas to reach Chobolobo Mansion. Painted a rich sunshine yellow, it is the place where the famous Curaçao liqueur is made. Find out how the spirit is distilled, try some for yourself and then prepare for a pleasant return drive through parts of the city centre that have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites