ABC Dutch Islands

[dacf]

Hello, I don't know if I'm in the right area or not.   I tried to click onto Ask a Question and I was unable to.   We want to go down to the ABC Dutch Islands for next winter.   We noticed the cruises have 2 of the ports late and the 3rd leaves supper hour or earlier; each cruise is different regarding which island you will be late in.  So my question is, which 2 of the 3 islands would you recommend staying late at?   I really appreciate anyone's feedback.   I've spoke with ***** but each person I get has never been there before.   I would rather ask a community who has actually been.   Thanks so much for any feedback you can offer 🙂 

Denise

[klfrodo]

I would say that Aruba is the most commercialized and receives the most tourism.

Myself? I'm not a fan of these islands. They don't appeal to me. Been there, done that, crossed off my list.

[navybankerteacher]

They are all great islands - but if you are thinking of evening activities, I believe Aruba is the livliest, with many nightspots, then Curacao --- with Bonaire being the least active.

[Heidi13]

Agree that all 3 are great ports of call. Concur that Aruba is probably the best for nightlife, followed by Curacao.

 

[SelectSys]

@dacf I just was on a cruise that went to Curacao and Aruba.  We had similar port hours and had a nice meal at Ceviche 91 in Curacao.  It's obviously a tourist restaurant as it's in Fort Rif by the port, but both the food and view were really nice.  

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ceviche+91+gastrobar/@12.1054611,-68.939406,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8e8483abda08f787:0xdc33511d087b32dd!8m2!3d12.1054325!4d-68.9372093?hl=en

Edited March 3, 2022 by SelectSys

[Hlitner]

We love the ABC Islands whether we visit on a port day or simply fly down to the islands for an extended land trip.  Each island has their pros and cons and your favorite will likely depend on your own wants.  For snorkeling and/or SCUBA we think Bonaire is the best.  Aruba certainly has the most night life (and multiple casinos) and also has its share of restaurants (we have not been overly impressed with the quality) which become a possibility if you have a very late departure.  Curacao is actually my least favorite island (we have driven all over the island) although we have enjoyed some of the quiet west beaches for snorkeling.   But Curacao does have its charms, especially during the daytime with the main town within walking distance of the port.  For a first time visitor just walking across the floating bridge.  

 

Also consider what staying late means for most cruisers.  Nothing!  in our experience the large majority of cruisers still return to the ship by late afternoon and stay aboard for their "free" dinner.  Even in Aruba (where you are docked in town) we have been amazed at how few folks seem to dine ashore (even thought there are restaurants within walking distance of the ships).    And if you are looking to enjoy the night life (clubs, bars, casino, etc) you need a ship that either overnights or does not leave until at least midnight.  When we have stayed on Aruba our favorite piano bar (Sopranos) does not even have any entertainment until 8pm.  Many other clubs do not really get busy until 10.

 

Hank

[leaveitallbehind]

Agree with the order of preference being Aruba, then Curacao, then Bonaire.  All very nice, and all attractive in their own way, but for the later stays, A & C will offer more to do IMO.

[njhorseman]

For us, Aruba is the least favorite of the three . To me it's as if Miami and St. Thomas mated and had a child with the worst features of each parent. 🤣

[leaveitallbehind]

33 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

For us, Aruba is the least favorite of the three . To me it's as if Miami and St. Thomas mated and had a child with the worst features of each parent. 🤣

Have you ever been to the lighthouse, 4 wheeled down the NE coast, or visited the Alto Vista Chapel?  IMO quite the opposite as you describe.

Edited March 4, 2022 by leaveitallbehind

[njhorseman]

5 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

Have you ever been to the lighthouse, 4 wheeled down the NE coast, or visited the Alto Vista Chapel?  IMO quite the opposite as you describe.

Yes to the lighthouse and Alto Vista Chapel, and visiting them, as well as the Natural Bridge, the butterfly farm and the aloe factory were once or twice and done experiences. No need to go back again. We don't four wheel.

 

Between the wall to wall high rise hotels on Palm Beach (a la Miami), the jewelry and souvenir stores in Oranjestad (a la Charlotte Amalie) and the traffic (a la both) I find little charm in Aruba. We're at the point of just getting off the ship to take a walk to stretch our legs and then relax by the ship's pool while the hordes are doing their thing ashore.

 

It's exactly because Curacao and Bonaire are less touristy and less crowded and that Willemstad is heads above Oranjestad in charm that I far prefer either of those to Aruba.

[John Bull]

54 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

For us, Aruba is the least favorite of the three . To me it's as if Miami and St. Thomas mated and had a child with the worst features of each parent. 🤣

 

 

A very good description 😂😂

But liveliest at night.

Curacao - very pleasant and relaxed in the evenings.

Bonaire - bedtime at 8pm 😉  (but excellent snorkelling on Klein Bonaire, very short crossing on a little ferry from the cruise ships quay. 

 

JB 🙂

 

[leaveitallbehind]

2 hours ago, njhorseman said:

Yes to the lighthouse and Alto Vista Chapel, and visiting them, as well as the Natural Bridge, the butterfly farm and the aloe factory were once or twice and done experiences. No need to go back again. We don't four wheel.

 

Between the wall to wall high rise hotels on Palm Beach (a la Miami), the jewelry and souvenir stores in Oranjestad (a la Charlotte Amalie) and the traffic (a la both) I find little charm in Aruba. We're at the point of just getting off the ship to take a walk to stretch our legs and then relax by the ship's pool while the hordes are doing their thing ashore.

 

It's exactly because Curacao and Bonaire are less touristy and less crowded and that Willemstad is heads above Oranjestad in charm that I far prefer either of those to Aruba.

Agree as well with the charm of Willemstad.  And Bonaire is by far the least touristy.  Just thought your description of Aruba was a bit narrow to the full offerings of the island.  Certainly Aruba (as with St. Thomas as you reference) is quite more commercial and touristy.

[njhorseman]

2 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

  Just thought your description of Aruba was a bit narrow to the full offerings of the island.

I plead guilty to the use of hyperbole . 😉

[leaveitallbehind]

52 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

I plead guilty to the use of hyperbole . 😉

I guess part of my positive feelings about the sights of Aruba stem from two visits in particular.  The first with our own rental of a 4x4 vehicle to tour the NE coast down to the Natural Bridge. It is a ruggedly beautiful part of the island culminating in the Natural Bridge.  A couple of years later, with different family members, we repeated the trip only to find that the Natural Bridge had since collapsed and was no longer there. 

 

We feel fortunate to have been able to see it before it was lost, and also feel that it was a rather remarkable gift of timing for all the eons of years that it was present to be able to have witnessed it in its' last year of existence.  That experience, to me, supersedes the commercial aspects of the island.

[Aquahound]

My favorite of the 3 is Bonaire. It's a great place for diving/snorkeling.  Also, it's one of my favorite islands to rent a car and go exploring.  Lac Bay is my favorite destination on the island.

 

The other 2, I could take or leave.  

[capriccio]

2 hours ago, Aquahound said:

My favorite of the 3 is Bonaire. It's a great place for diving/snorkeling.  Also, it's one of my favorite islands to rent a car and go exploring.  Lac Bay is my favorite destination on the island.

We agree with your opinion of Bonaire for the same reasons.  We've snorkeled with Woodwind and will do so again on March 16th and on another cruise we rented a golf cart for an entire day of sightseeing.  We have had fun on Aruba - especially renting trikes - and are looking forward to our second visit to Curacao on the 17th where just wandering beautiful Willemstad with a DIY history/architecture guide was fun the first time, this time we are going a little more far afield.

[Hlitner]

4 hours ago, Aquahound said:

My favorite of the 3 is Bonaire. It's a great place for diving/snorkeling.  Also, it's one of my favorite islands to rent a car and go exploring.  Lac Bay is my favorite destination on the island.

 

The other 2, I could take or leave.  

Normally when we have a port day at Bonaire our home away from home is the Woodwind (a private snorkel/sail tour).  But on one visit we decided to try something a little different and rented a gas powered golf cart for the day.  That cart moved relatively fast and we explored much of the island making a couple of stops to snorkel off shore.  I liked the openness of the golf cart (which did have a small windshield and soft top) which was a lot of fun.  They even have some rental carts that can carry 4 people.  At one point we stopped in a small town where they had a distillery where we got a tour and samples.  No sure if you can get a DUI ticket in a golf cart but we had no problems :).

 

Hank

[Aquahound]

52 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Normally when we have a port day at Bonaire our home away from home is the Woodwind (a private snorkel/sail tour).  But on one visit we decided to try something a little different and rented a gas powered golf cart for the day.  That cart moved relatively fast and we explored much of the island making a couple of stops to snorkel off shore.  I liked the openness of the golf cart (which did have a small windshield and soft top) which was a lot of fun.  They even have some rental carts that can carry 4 people.  At one point we stopped in a small town where they had a distillery where we got a tour and samples.  No sure if you can get a DUI ticket in a golf cart but we had no problems :).

 

Hank

 

If you want added adventure, next time, drive through the donkey sanctuary in that golf cart.  😉

[capriccio]

16 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

 

If you want added adventure, next time, drive through the donkey sanctuary in that golf cart.  😉

One of the highlights of our day on the golf cart!

[Elaine5715]

I find Curacao to have the best evening experience.  There are many lovely places along the shore area to sit with a beverage and enjoy the sea air.

[cruiseaholic777]

Curacao is my favorite port. Then I would pick Aruba as second. 

[navybankerteacher]

57 minutes ago, cruiseaholic777 said:

Curacao is my favorite port. Then I would pick Aruba as second. 

It depends what it is about a port that makes you like it.  The OP asked which ports were better to stay late at -- if (as might be reasonably assumed) nightlife is of interest, Aruba winds hands down.  If a tranquil seaside evening is what grabs you, it has to be Bonaire.

 

We are not discussing "favorite port" - but where it is best to stay late.

 

It makes sense to pay attention to the question before offering an answer.