Where can you buy wine in Aruba & Curacao?

[joedebnh]

I have posted in the port boards with no response.

 

Perhaps someone who has sailed to these ports can help.

 

Is there somewhere near the dock in either location and are the prices decent?

[RetiredMustang]

This is more in the "for what it's worth" category than real expert advice. I tend to go with what the ship has in stock. I have been to both islands more than once, and am a wine drinker, but I'm not really sure what you are asking.

 

If you are looking for a nice wine bar to have a glass ashore, there are several bars in both ports. Aruba has a casino and shopping malls and a "downtown", and there are a number of places to have a glass. Curacao has the Sapranos bar in the Riffort, and a number of hotel bars that stock decent wines in fairly easy walking distance of either the new cruise port or the older port on the channel.

 

If you are looking for a place to buy bottles to bring back aboard, I've only noticed the usual duty-free shop places, but have not really been in that mode. There may be an equivalent of Total Wine somewhere in those ports, but I have never really looked -- the places where local island people shop are generally not near the cruise ports, in my experience. If you are looking for bottle deals, you may find it better to bring aboard your favorite vintage at the beginning of the cruise. You pay the $15 corkage in the restaurant, but I believe there is no charge to open a bottle yourself in your cabin.

 

Best wishes -- I like wine, and like people who like wine. I just wish I had better info for you.

 

Dave

[joedebnh]

Thanks for the info. We plan to buy a few bottles at Total on Saturday and pull it on with our carry-on. Just thought if we get real thirsty we might want to replenish the supply with a couple of bottles.

[jascruise]

For what it's worth...

 

When we were on Curacao earlier this year, a friend took us around the island. We stopped at a new supermarket, Albert Heijn. Not sure if they have wine, but they did sell beer.

 

And good luck finding it.

[knitter]

There is a wine store in the Rennaissance Mall- never shopped it, it is in a corridor running parallel to the main street. Sandy