Curacao on your own

[Milwaukeeee]

schmoopie17-

 

For the record, the "water treatment plant" near the Holiday Beach Hotel is the island's water desalination plant.

 

During our Holland America cruise 2 years ago, we were content to just walk around Kura Hulanda Museum (and Hotel), Otrabanda and Punda to see the changes to the island. I do agree that the beaches are not as nice as those in the Caymans, BVI, USVI or Roatan, but there are more "cultural" and "historical" sights that Curacao offers. Many guidebooks have descriptions of walking tours of Willemstad that could easily occupy a few hours of your port day. One of my favorite "free" activities is to wait for the "floating bridge" to open which means an opportunity to take the ferries (on the Otrabanda side, the ferry stop is near the blue Otrabanda Hotel/Casino towards the big steel bridge).

 

 

Thanks for the idea to take the ferry. Where did it take you or did you just ride it for a sightseeing view? Did you pay with US cash? Sounds like a fun

break from the walking.

[roothy123]

You'll probably see the ferry, from both the Punda side and the Otrobando side. When you're standing facing the beginning of the bridge in Otrobando, it's to your left past the blue building housing the Otrobondo casino (a dumpy one, per my husband). It's up toward the Kura Hulanda Hotel. On the other side (Punda), as you're facing the bridge, it's to your right, up near the floating market (where the street along the water turns to the right, with water in between).

 

I have a picture of the ferry on my Curacao photo album, which can be found here: http://www.pbase.com/roothy123/curacao

 

If you want the whole bridge experience, you can ignore the loud beeping to warn you that the bridge will swing, and stay put. They don't kick you off. They close off the Otro side first and then later the Punda side, so if you're on the bridge when it beeps, you should have plenty of time to walk at a normal pace to the other side. Just be aware, however, that if you intentionally stay on, you could be stuck there for a full half hour if a tanker is coming in/out. It's kind of fun, though - the bridge swings very slowly right up alongside the Otrobando side. On occasion, the bridge only swings about a fourth of the way - usually to let a pilot boat out. Watch the operation from the Punda side - kind of interesting!

[Dushi]

Loved your photo album roothy123. Brings back lots of memories. Can't wait until April when my best friend and I go back for a one week visit (we met as kids in CUR, her mom is still there).

 

I'll try to convince my BFF to do some of the "touristy" things with me (such as the ostrich farm and the Hato caves, if her kids are willing). We usually spend all of our time visiting with our friends or with her family.

 

 

Milwaukeee

The ferry has always been free. In fact, the floating bridge used to allow car traffic before the island's population expanded (late 1960s, early 1970s?) and the modern "steel" Queen Emma Bridge was built. There wasn't much entertainment when I grew up, the highlight was to watch the floating pontoon bridge open and wave at the lucky passengers on the cruise ships, tankers or the small Venezuelan boats filled with fruits and produce. Mom would let us ride the ferry back and forth until we got bored or until the bridge closed back up and the ferry would stop running. How simple things were back then...

 

 

Francois

My CUR friends usually fly up to Miami to do their clothes shopping. In fact, when one came to NYC last summer, she had to buy 2 new suitcases and pay the extra baggage fee because she said prices and selection were better in the States. I guess it depends on what sort of clothing items one is looking for.

[Milwaukeeee]

Roothy - What a delight. You are an excellent photographer. I loved, loved, loved your pictorial of Curacao. Thank you so much for shring with us all.

Gee, I wonder if you did anymore from any of our other anticipated stops on our March 7, 2011 cruise. What camera did you mainly use? Pictures are just excellent.

We are heading for San Juan, St. Croix, St. Kitts, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Curacao and Aruba.

Too bad we only get to spend one day at each island. How great that you had five days in Curacao. You have certainly wetted my desire to get going...not until March though. Thanks again for your tips.

[roothy123]

Yes, I had planned to go to the caves, Dushi, but never made it. Never made it to Boca Tabla, either, I'm afraid - or the park. There is now a Butterfly Garden that I think is new. Didn't go, so I can't tell you if it's worth it or not, but just thought I'd mention it.

 

Milwaukee - You'll find that just about every place in Willemstad (and much of Curacao, it seems) takes U.S. dollars, or at least quotes or converts to U.S. dollars when you use a credit card, although you may have to tell them you want to pay in U.S. About the only thing I could find that required florints (and or guilders? same thing?) is the bus system, but it's not set up for tourists and I doubt you'll use it, so it doesn't matter. I thought I might, but I didn't.

 

Francois - I know the buggy things you're talking about, as we saw a lot of those in St. Barts. However, I didn't see them in Willemstad. There are tons of small car rental places, though - kiosk just over the bridge in Punda has little cards for them. As the woman in the kiosk said, the smaller, local ones are a bit cheaper than the big companies, but they are usually a bit cheaper. Just don't expect to get a car at the rate they advertize! We were happy with the place we dealt with (Car Rental 30 Plus).

 

For anyone interested in diving, there is a Dive Bus advertised, but I don't know anything about it. Web site is The-Dive-Bus.com.

[Milwaukeeee]

Milwaukeee

The ferry has always been free. In fact, the floating bridge used to allow car traffic before the island's population expanded (late 1960s, early 1970s?) and the modern "steel" Queen Emma Bridge was built. There wasn't much entertainment when I grew up, the highlight was to watch the floating pontoon bridge open and wave at the lucky passengers on the cruise ships, tankers or the small Venezuelan boats filled with fruits and produce. Mom would let us ride the ferry back and forth until we got bored or until the bridge closed back up and the ferry would stop running. How simple things were back then...

 

Dushi...thanks for the update saying that he ferry is free. How long does it take to cross over? It will make a nice sit-down break. It was great to read your remembrances of how simple things were so enjoyable back thn. I am sure you will enjoy your visit back to be with family. I wish we could stay longer than one day. Again, thanks.

[roothy123]

Roothy - What a delight. You are an excellent photographer. I loved, loved, loved your pictorial of Curacao. Thank you so much for shring with us all.

Gee, I wonder if you did anymore from any of our other anticipated stops on our March 7, 2011 cruise. What camera did you mainly use? Pictures are just excellent.

We are heading for San Juan, St. Croix, St. Kitts, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Curacao and Aruba.

 

Sorry, Milwaukeee, I haven't been to ANY of the other places you mention! I almost chose St. Lucia over Curacao, so I'd be interested to see what you think of it. Mostly I hear it's beautiful. I hear Barbados has a lot of stuff to do - was also considering going there.

 

March will be better weather wise, I think, than now.

 

I have a Canon 30D camera with 2 lenses - not the best, but not the worst either. I also crop a lot, and know a bit of Photoshop, which helps - although most of the photos were only lightly worked on.

 

One good thing to do in Curacao is to look for colorful details - there are a lot of them if you look.

 

Have fun!

[Teeara]

Are there any restaurants that are near the floating bridge with outdoor seating? Would love to just sit and have a nice lunch while watching the waterway.

 

Also, what is the "must get" item in Curacao?

 

Theresa

[Dushi]

There are tons of eateries with outdoor seating along the water on the Punda side (if you've seen the pictures/postcards with the pretty colored buildings, you'll see lots of restaurants). If you dock at the mega pier, you'll probably walk past some other restaurants inside the fort. Just wander around and you're sure to find something to your liking.

[cruiseapril]

Teeara- Must- get items vary- for me it was the hand-painted Delft blue and white small pitcher which is front and center on my dining room hutch.

 

Have fun at the waterfront in Curacao and at the shops-very nice area.

[cruiseapril]

Roothy- Just enjoyed your photo essay. Nice presentation.

[sbcatcher1]

April I hope you will see this post. We don't want to go to the beach, we like forts & history & local shopping, not made in China stuff. ANy suggestions, we will be on the island from 1PM - 10PM.

[2mom]

Can I walk to the Punda section from the pier?

[Dushi]

2mom - yes, you can easily walk to Punda. The Mega Cuise Ship Terminal is situated near the Renaissance Hotel at the Riffort (look for the "red dot" directly above the words "Otrobanda and Punda on the bottom left corner of the map). The original, smaller terminal is in Sint Annabaai between the floating bridge and the large Juliana Bridge.

http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/islands/cr/opmap.shtml

 

sbcatcher1-

http://www.curacao.com/The-Curacao-Difference/Our-Historic-Capital

There's lots of history in Curacao. We haven't been in the Kura Hulanda Museum though we have walked around the complex and the hotel (that area was a bit "slummy" when I was growing up). In the past, I have visited the small Curacao Museum in Otrabanda (not worth it if you have only a limited amount of time), the Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue (the oldest one in the Western Hemisphere, worth seeing), the converted "mansions" in Scharloo and a few "landhuizen"/plantation houses. The forts have all been converted to restaurants and/or shops. I have not been to Fort Nassau in 15 years, but it used to have a well preserved room where Peter Stuyvesant worked during his stint as Director. I have not been able to find any recent references to that "room" so I guess it is no longer there.

[4cruisecampers]

Lot's of great info here!

Anyone ever used or know a location of an internet cafe?

Thank you!

[tiptwo2]

Sounds like the trolley and walking tour would be great. Such a beautiful city!

[chewap]

Does anyone know whether you can use dollars for the bus system?

[Dushi]

4cruisecampers-

Anyone ever used or know a location of an internet cafe?

 

Several places have free wifi so if you have a wifi enabled device, you're in luck. I used my iPod Touch in the Riffort area near the ice cream shop to update my news apps and check my e-mails.

[4cruisecampers]

4cruisecampers-

Anyone ever used or know a location of an internet cafe?

 

Several places have free wifi so if you have a wifi enabled device, you're in luck. I used my iPod Touch in the Riffort area near the ice cream shop to update my news apps and check my e-mails.

 

Thank you:)

[curacao]

does anyone know whether you can use dollars for the bus system?

 

they do not have a true bus system as we know it. Cab it or walk is the best option.

[Isa65]

We do too have a bus system and lots of people rely on this system to get to work or to school. Actually, there are two possibilities:

 

1. The government owned "big" busses. The central bus depots are across the Renaissance hotel (walking distance from the pier) and on the other side of the bridge it is behind the postal office.

There are schedules and rates mentioned on the boards and both depots have offices selling tickets. You can also pay on the bus, but I believe you need exact change for that.

 

2. The smaller vans (license plates say: BUS). A maximum of 9 passengers and the driver has change. These vans don't adhere to a strict schedule.

 

In order to pay with dollars I suggest you walk to the bus depot office and buy a ticket or if taking the small vans, make sure you have small bills.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

oops meant to start a new thread