bup1224

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.

On 6/20/2021 at 12:25 PM, cml9712 said:

Hi all:   Never been to Curacao.  What is a "must try" there?  Food, sight seeing, shopping, beach, etc.  Thanks for your feedback!

I live here in Curaçao. 

I recommend a half day tour that will give you some beach time.

Definitely make time to visit Punda (as suggested above).

On 5/26/2021 at 1:15 PM, CruisingSince1982 said:

We are in port form 6am - 2pm. Weird. Anyway, is there shopping or anything within walking distance of the port? 

Yes there is. Some stores will open at 9 am, some at 10 am.

You can go into the Rif Fort area and enjoy a coffee at Douwe Egberts and then walk over the Queen Emma Floating bridge into Punda. 

The Floating market is open again with local vendors.

Definitely worth seeing our downtown area.

When are you coming? The Millennium (soon to be Summit) is docking at our Mega Pier 1 slot.

Depending on how many shops are here depends where yours will dock.

Maybe a 15 minute leisurely walk. 

Please make the effort to walk across the Queen Emma Floating Bridge and visit Punda.

St. Kitts went into a lockdown which is why the itinerary was changed.

https://covid19.gov.kn/2021/06/11/statement-by-prime-minister-of-st-kitts-and-nevis-dr-the-honourable-timothy-harris-friday-june-11th-2021/

4 minutes ago, sofietucker said:

Ah. So I see that unfortunately Curacao too has recently experienced a spike https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/curacao/  But apparently, it's much better now! Currently the CDC travel notice for Curacao is "Moderate" while Aruba is rated "Do Not Travel."

Thankfully both islands are doing much better now.

3 minutes ago, sofietucker said:

Here ya go: they had curfews, a beach ban, gathering ban, bars and restaurants closed, boating restrictions (not to mention masking and distancing). Seems pretty "locked down" to me. https://www.visitaruba.com/traveling-to-aruba/entry-requirements-and-visas/aruba-travel-restrictions-covid-19/

I live in Curaçao and can assure you that Curaçao had the more severe restrictions than our sister island of Aruba.

15 hours ago, sofietucker said:

Right. And not only concerns about possibly infecting residents, but the islands' medical capacity, should someone have to be transported. The heavily touristed Outer Banks of NC were under lockdown for a long time as they only have four beds in their single ICU... Speaking of lockdown, Aruba was under lockdown until 11 days before they accepted their first ship on June 5th.

 

Sofia that is incorrect about Aruba. They were not under a lockdown. 

Perhaps you meant Curaçao?

On 6/10/2021 at 10:56 AM, Seany527 said:

Hello everyone,

 

We are in beautiful Curaçao today.
 

I’ll give some updates about the past few days. 
 

Tuesday evening an announcement was made that Sint Maarten would now require visitors to have a negative COVID test 48 hours or less, prior to disembarking the ship. 
Overall this is a non issue as most people would require a test anyway to fly back home, but it does show the ever changing environment.
 

Aruba was very normal. Other than the streets next to the port being practically empty and some of the stores permanently closed, the whole experience while visiting was very nice. 
 

Over the past few nights at dinner, we took advantage of sitting along the aft windows of the deck 4 dining room. I was disappointed to see they added an additional 5, two person tables out of no where. As you can imagine, it made what was once a quiet peaceful dinner, much louder and more chaotic.
 

Today we are in Curaçao and things seem to be a little more restrictive than Aruba. Our tour is required to stay in the “bubble.”  Hand sanitizing before we enter the bus each time. 
We are at Mambo beach and cruise passengers are in a sectioned spot of the beach, which is very nice, with plenty of room. We are not allowed to approach the bar or grill. Everything will be brought to us. 
We have to wear masks at all times unless we are in our beach chairs or in the water. If someone from the cruise ship needs to use the bathroom, the bathroom is closed to other guests, we are allowed to use it and then it is cleaned. 
 

Things are much less restrictive than Barbados, but a little more locked down than Aruba. 
 

Life on board the Millennium continues to be amazing. 

Sean that definitely is strange in Curaçao.  I live here and that is not a Curaçao requirement (there is no a masks on the beach or outside requirement on my island) at all for anyone. Nor was the requirement for cruisers to be in the bubble. 

My guess is because of all the last minute changes,  the cruise sponsored excursion(s) chose to keep the bubble requirements.

On 11/16/2020 at 12:54 PM, Midwifelife7 said:

Beach/snorkeling, off the beaten path stuff.  But I know incorporating a toddler into it can be challenging! 

If beach is your main priority,  Mambo beach area is fun and has very calm water.

7 hours ago, Midwifelife7 said:

We will be in Curacao in 2022 (I know its a long way away).  We are a family of 8 and our kids will be 18, 13, 12, 11, 10 and 14 months old.  What do you suggest that would hopefully entertain everyone but not super expensive?

 

Thanks

 

What activities do you like?

2 hours ago, TTEllis said:

Via email I spoke last night with Rob Debekker, General Manager of the Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort. Explained to him I was trying to get back to the island next year, he said it was highly unlikely the resort will be open next year.  

It's going to be another 12-18 months minimum before they open up.

A serious bummer for those of us trying to plan another trip back to Curacao. I told Rob I would get back with him after the new year to see if things had changed but for next year the Santa Barbara doesn't look good. 

Yes, this was reported here in Curaçao a few months ago.

Keep in mind this resort was having financial problems before the pandemic. 

On 8/17/2020 at 11:25 AM, FraudBroad said:

Does anyone have a recommendation on a Catamaran/Snorkel Excursion? Will be our first time in Curacao and we are looking to snorkel.

 

Thanks so much!

Look up Irie Tours.  I live here and they are very reputable.

On 7/16/2020 at 3:34 PM, TTEllis said:

Any new information in reference to the unrest on the island?

Couldn't be any worse than what's happening here in the states. 

With that being said it's certainly not something I want to run into on my cruise vacation, I'm trying to get back to this island.

Any new info for better or worse about the current state of affairs on Curacao would certainly be appreciated. 

Thank you Todd

Todd all is continues to be calm here as of today.

On 6/27/2020 at 6:39 PM, radiojw said:

It's getting really bad there -- so much that the government has imposed a couple of curfews.

 

I feel bad for the people there and everywhere else -- perhaps a wakeup call to rely on other industries versus tourism.

All is and has been calm here for the past 4 days. 

No curfew at all now (we only had an evening curfew for 2 evenings).

20 hours ago, Yanicka24 said:

I'd like a beach day, my mom would like to go parasailing.  Any beach clubs offer this? 

We do not have parasailing in Curaçao at this time. 

33 minutes ago, Heidijobuck78 said:

Hi Thanks! April 22nd on Carnival Horizon. As far as the tour companies they were all saying not a problem booking it at that time until one of the tour operators wrote back laying out the time line and than what time the park closed. Up to him messaging me the possible timeline and the parks closing time I had no idea there might be an issue. Also if you live there how long is the drive to shete boka from the cruise port? I find it odd though that Carnival has that excursion as an option at that time so that’s why I was thinking the park allowed maybe a little later entrance into the park when a ship was in port?! Thanks again!!

With absolutely no traffic it's about 25-30 minutes. 

The closing time is the closing time,  regardless of a cruise ship being here.

4 minutes ago, l2f said:

 

bup1224 - Is the Floating Market ever re-opening?  Or is it closed permanently?

 

Thanks

At this time, permanently closed. Hopefully if the situation in Venezuela changes, it can be reopened.