Princess Tour

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Usually we avoid going on the ship's tours and tend to go off on our own, but there is a tour from Princess which looks to be something that may be worthwhile. It also is somewhat reasonably priced at $29 compared to other tours they have. Seems to cover the major points and I think we would enjoy going to the distillery. We already are planning to hit to the beach at Princess Cays and Aruba, so I do not think we would want to do that here. Mostly just want to see the major sites.

 

Has anyone been on this particular tour and if so was it decent?

 

Willemstad, Art Workshop & Scenic Drive:

Board your air-conditioned motorcoach at the pier and set out on a relaxing drive through the Otrobanda section of Willemstad. Founded in 1707, Otrobanda is the newer section of the city. The name is derived from the phrase "otro banda," which translates to "other side." You'll see a lovely array of historic mansions as you continue past the Queen Emma Bridge, the famous floating bridge that connects both sides of Willemstad.

 

Traveling over another famous bridge, the Queen Juliana Bridge, is an exhilarating experience. The highest bridge in the Caribbean, you'll find yourself 185 feet above sea level with expansive views of the city and harbor below. Your first stop is Chobolobo, the Dutch colonial country estate where the famous Curacao liqueur is distilled since 1946. Created from the peel of the Valencia orange planted by the Spaniards when they arrived, the family has been producing Blue Curacao since 1886. During your guided tour of the distillery you will gain an understanding of the process and will have an opportunity to sample the liqueur, distilled in 100-year-old barrels, and purchase a souvenir bottle to take home.

 

Continue through the eastern part of the island, drive past Caracas Bay and the residential area of Jan Thiel to visit Caribbean Handicraft for a variety of local arts, crafts, and souvenirs. From the terrace, enjoy an excellent view of Spanish Waters, an exclusive enclave with yacht clubs and sailboats from around the world. From here we drive to Chichi's Workshop. "Chichi's" is a nick-name for women from Curacao. At this workshop, they make sculptures in these typical forms and the local women paint these sculptures in nice tropical colors. This way every sculpture is unique. At this short stop you will get a good impression of the work of these Curacao women and this particular Curacao culture.

 

The tour concludes with a short drive though Punda, the oldest area of Willemstad, before your return to the ship.