SHORE EXCURSIONS

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a panoramic drive around Willemstad with stops to see how Blue Curaçao liquor is produced and to spend hours relaxing at the beach. Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage site acclaimed for its colonial architecture and European-style layout, and you will see many of its attractions. Among them are the Queen Emma pontoon bridge and High Street Otrabanda, a former neighborhood of stately homes that wealthy Jewish merchants built in the 1800s. After Crossing the Juliana bridge you will Passing through ‘’ The Old Jewish Neighborhood’’ befor heading to,the island’s namesake liqueur is made from a variety of orange only found on Curaçao, and you will see how it’s made at Landhuis Chobolobo. You will be spending a few hours of free time at Mambo Beach. Besides being one of the most spectacular stretches of sand on the island, the beach is lined with an array of restaurants and shops, so there is truly something for everything.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

The Discover Island Tour combines an interesting look at the countryside of Curacao and the city of Willemstad and a visit to three of the major attractions of this Dutch island.

Drive past the salt flats and flamingoes before proceeding to the spectacular Hato Caves, a dramatic collection of grottos filled with stalactites, stalagmites and crystal-clear pools, centuries in the making.

From the Hato Caves you continue to the Curacao Museum in Otrabanda. The museum combines contemporary art with an exhibition of life in Curacao during the mid-nineteenth century. Cross the Queen Juliana Bridge and enjoy a magnificent view over Punda and Otrobanda, the 2 sides of our natural harbor, St Ana Bay.

Enjoy a taste of the world famous Blue Curacao Liqueur at the Chobolobo Liqueur Factory. Next, your guide will point out major points of interest as you drive through Punda in the heart of Willemstad. If you wish to stay in town, you may leave the tour at this point; otherwise it is a short five-minute drive back to the ship.

Your memorable trolley takes you past the Queen Emma pontoon bridge and the former floating market, where locals now sell fish, vegetables and other local products. Next see Scharloo, a former residential neighborhood lined with picturesque colonial homes built in the 1800s. A highlight of your Scharloo overview is a stop at the recently renovated Bolo di Bruid, known as the "wedding cake house", the city's most photographed building.

Leaving Scharloo, enter Pietermaai Cathedral, the largest and most impressive on the island. You will also view Queen Wilhelmina Park, which serves as the setting for frequent cultural events and Waterfront Arches, an imposing fortress that was the site of the fort is one of many structures that lend a sense of history and atmosphere to the city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Concluding your trolley experience, you may return to the pier by taxi or remain in town and enjoy the short walk back to your ship at a later time.

Explore a cave with terraces that indicate eons of different sea levels and relax on a beach that rims a beautiful stretch of sea on the other side of the island. Hato is Curaçao’s largest cave and features several tiers, the highest of which you will reach by climbing 49 steps. Once inside this elevated marine limestone cave, you will see seemingly endless stalactites and stalagmites that are illuminated for dramatic effect. Many of them are named for their shapes, including the Sea Tortoise and the Sleeping Giant. You may also spot petroglyphs that the indigenous Arawaks carved in the rocks about 1,500 years ago. Upon emerging, you will head for the south side of Curaçao to enjoy free time on Mambo Beach. One look and you will instantly know why this stretch of sand is so popular. It is an idyllic seaside setting with a collection of shops and restaurants as a backdrop.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Marvel at the geological formations within the limestone Hato Caves.
• Stretch out in the sun on Mambo Beach and take a refreshing swim in the Caribbean Sea.
• Take advantage of the fine shopping and dining at Mambo Beach, if you choose.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Travel through Dutch-influenced Willemstad on foot and by bus and pause along the way for photos of the most revealing landmarks. From Rif Fort, you will enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the harbor with the option of standing atop the 19th-century defensive walls. A vantage point nearby will present a different perspective of Willemstad and a tasting of sweets that will complement the local liqueur that you will be offered at the fort. Stop at historical attractions such as the oldest synagogue in the America's and the "wedding cake building" in the historical "scharloo"; home to the first "nouveau riche". It’s the unusual street art that makes this outing even more special. You can expect to see rainbow-colored stairs, a two-story mural of a naked chicken and the iconic sign that simply says Dushi, a Dutch and Papiamentu word that means anything from “good looking” to “delicious” to “nice.” Afterwards, you will have time to shop. How dushi is that?

HIGHLIGHTS

• Gain an understanding of the local culture by walking and driving through Willemstad.
• View landmarks such as the Scharloo street, wedding cake building and the oldest synagogue in the Americas.
• Admire a slew of street art that includes murals, rainbow-colored stairs and the Dushi sign.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Travel to the west side of Curacao on a one-of-a -kind, hand painted tropical bus. The Beach Express takes you to the other side of the island where nature reigns and the beaches are unspoiled. Enjoy the scenery as your host provides you with interesting information about Curacao. You'll pass by historic plantation houses, panoramic mountain views, salt flats and possibly wildlife and flamingos. After a fun and relaxing ride you’ll have a photo stop before arriving at local beach where you can enjoy swimming in the beautiful Caribbean waters, snorkeling or just relaxing.

Meander through one of Willemstad’s finest open-air markets as a prelude to a liqueur sampling and a tropical lunch made with local ingredients. Along the way, you will pass the Queen Emma pontoon bridge and the Governor’s Palace, two attractions that reflect the prominent Dutch-influence on the island. While walking through the market and the adjacent Marshe Bieuw food court, you will see locals’ food shopping and dining on signature dishes. Curaçao is also known for its namesake liqueur, which is made from an orange only found on the island. You can sample it at Landhuis Chobolobo, a 19th-century estate and distillery. You will delve even deeper into Curaçao’s cuisine during lunch at the Greenhouse, a local favorite restaurant that overlooks Mambo Beach. Chances are, you will have seen many of the ingredients in your meal at the market and food court. You will also make a stop at a local souvenir store.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse an open-air market and food court full of signature Curaçao foods and dishes.
• Pause at Landhuis Cholbolobo distillery for a taste of orange-flavored Curaçao liqueur.
• Dine on tropical cuisine at the Greenhouse restaurant overlooking Mambo Beach.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover two highlights of Curacao, the Hato Caves and the historic city center of Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a short drive, you’ll arrive at the impressive Hato Caves. It is home to beautiful limestone formations, the famous Madonna statue and a colony of seldom seen long nose fruit bats. The variety of stalagmites and stalactites are impressive. It is fun to join the guide in recognizing animals or figures in the various stone formations. Relax on the drive back to the city, for your walking tour.

First you’ll visit the Curacao marketplace where the locals shop for food and ingredients for their home cooked meals. On the way to Fort Amsterdam, home to the Governor of Netherland Antilles, you’ll pass the beautifully colored, picture perfect merchant houses on the quay of the harbor entrance. The last part of you walk will be to cross the floating bridge that connects both sides of the city. If the bridge is open, due to ship traffic, ferries will be used instead. Your guide will escort you back to the ship, right through historic Rif Fort. This area offers upscale shopping, dining and entertainment centers and you’re able to spend time here at your leisure.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a scenic drive through Dutch-influenced Willemstad before heading up to the northern tip of Curaçao to enjoy its natural wonders. Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage site acclaimed for its colonial architecture, so there will be plenty to see. The focus will shift to natural beauty on the way to Shete Boka National Park, where you will follow an easy hiking trail to the coast. The thundering surf has created blowholes in the craggy rocks that spew water high into the air. The waves have also carved out a cave in the limestone that is well worth a look. The water is calmer in Knip Lagoon, an idyllic setting for you to enjoy at your leisure. Feel free to take a refreshing swim or simply relax on the beach. Wild flamingoes are the attraction in Curaçao’s salt ponds, where you will likely see them feeding on small crustaceans in the shallows. Knip Beach (also known as Grote Knip) has been recognized as one of the world's best beaches.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through downtown Willemstad and admire its colonial architecture.
• View landmarks such as the Scharloo street, wedding cake building and the oldest synagogue in the Americas.
• Spend free time enjoying the beach at Knip Lagoon as you please.
• Watch for flocks of flamingos feeding in the salt ponds along the western shore.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Race through the wilds of Curaçao in a 4-wheel-drive Utility Terrain Vehicle designed for adventure and spend free time on a sheltered beach. After a briefing to ensure that you maximize the experience, you will ride off caravan-style in a 2-person UTV. The off-road terrain will constantly change as you traverse everything from a volcanically formed mini-desert with orangish sand to vast salt plains where flamingos may be spotted. At times, you will ride between windmills and along the Caribbean Sea in areas where the waves are often thunderous as they crash against the island’s rocky northern shore. Stops will be made along the way, during which you might switch drivers or simply enjoy the moment to take in the gorgeous scenery. You will also pause to explore the Voice of St. Anthony Cave, a geological wonder that was once below sea level. Free time follows at laid-back Daaibooi Beach.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride off-road through some of Curacao’s most rugged terrain in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle.
• Drive the Utility Terrain Vehicle, ride along as a passenger and switch places if you wish.
• Race across a mini-desert, between windmills and along the rocky northern coast.
• View the stalagmites and stalactites in a cave that was once underwater.
• Relax on Daaibooi Beach with the opportunity to swim in the shallow sheltered sea.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel, hat and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes. Closed toe-shoes are a must for guests operating the vehicle.

OVERVIEW

Ride through southern Curaçao in a 4-wheel-drive Jeep that can easily handle the island’s rugged terrain. You will pass Willemstad’s historical waterfront and the 19th-century Queen Emma pontoon bridge on the way to Koraal Tabak, the starting point for the off-road adventure. Once your small group of no more than 16 settles into the Jeep, you will follow a trail through Curaçao’s gorgeous interior and on to a spectacularly scenic lookout point on the coast that is only accessible by an off-road vehicle. Continuing on to the other side of the island, you will eventually come to the remains of Fort Beekenburg, which the Dutch built in 1703 to protect Caracas Bay. The fort’s circular tower is made of stones shipped from the Netherlands as ballast. Once you reach Director’s Bay, you can swim and snorkel off the secluded beach. The waters are typically crystal-clear and teeming with colorful marine life.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a higher level of personal attention on this small group tour.
• Ride through wonderfully scenic areas only accessible in an off-road vehicle.
• Gaze out over the gorgeous seas that rim Curaçao’s northern and southern coasts.
• Stop at an early 18th-century Dutch-built fortress on the Caracas Bay Peninsula.
• Spend free time swimming and snorkeling off Director’s Bay.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel, hat and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Create your own natural sunscreen using aloe vera leaves and try out your newly made product while relaxing on Mambo Beach. On the way out of Willemstad, you will pass some of the capital’s most iconic attractions, including the brightly painted colonial buildings in the affluent Otrabanda district and Queen Emma Bridge, which spans St. Anna Bay. Upon reaching a farm in Curaçao’s interior, you will join a workshop and learn hands-on how to make a sunscreen spray from the aloe vera leaves that you will harvest in the fields. Rich in antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties, aloe vera can naturally hydrate and revitalize your skin, especially after sun exposure. You will have the chance to test your handmade sunscreen during free time at Mambo Beach. Besides being a beautiful stretch of sand, the beach is lined with restaurants and shops, so there is more to do than bask in the sun.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Make your own sunscreen spray from aloe vera leaves that you harvest at a farm.
• Discover some of the benefits of aloe vera, including its many healing properties.
• Spray on your sunscreen and head for Mambo Beach on the outskirts of Willemstad.
• Bask in the sun, swim in the sea and take advantage of the nearby shopping and dining.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel, hat and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.