Shopping?

[CruisingSince1982]

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

[canadianbear]

Not sure what would be open that early. Very strange to arrive at that hour.  But lots within walking distance of the port.  Can walk across the bridge and wander around for sure.  
 

There may be excursions at the port-we grabbed one once when our snorkel excursion got cancelled because of torrential rain.  It cleared up while on the 2 hour bus tour.  

[CntPAcruiser]

That is really an awful schedule--what a shame! The town is as much for the people who live there as it is a tourist town, so many business operate on a normal schedule and will not be open that early. That said, there would be plenty to see by wandering into town from the pier by the fort, past the straw market along the canal, and over the floating bridge. 

 

We enjoy just wandering around the downtown and exploring, and we always make a stop at Best of Curacao, which has good quality embroidered t-shirts and hats and other souvenirs. They are one or two streets in from the canal. I don't know if the floating market has resumed since the troubles with the mainland. There are bars and restaurants in that area as well, and the big Curacao sign that everyone takes pictures at, many historic buildings in a Dutch colonial style painted bright colors. It's like a chunk of Amsterdam plunked down and colored ala Caribbean.

 

Of course you can find stores where you can taste Curacao liqueur in the various colors (all the same flavor, plus variants of orange with chocolate, etc.), as well as Pisang Ambon, a green banana liqueur. There are stores that sell Dutch cheeses, European linens, and other imports. 

[bup1224]

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.