Willemstad, Curaçao

Location

Dutch settlers came here in the 1630s, about the same time they sailed through the Verazzano Narrows to Manhattan, bringing with them original red-tile roofs, first used on the trade ships as ballast and later incorporated into the architecture of Willemstad. Much of the original colonial structures remain, but this historic city is constantly reinventing itself and the government monument foundation is always busy restoring buildings in one urban neighborhood or another. The salty air causes what is called "wall cancer" which causes the ancient abodes to continually crumble over time. The city is cut in two by Santa Anna Bay. On one side is Punda (the point)—crammed with shops, restaurants, monuments, and markets and a new museum retracing its colorful history. And on the other side is Otrobanda (literally meaning the "other side"), with lots of narrow, winding streets and alleyways (called "steekjes" in Dutch), full of private homes notable for their picturesque gables and Dutch-influenced designs. In recent years the ongoing regeneration of Otrobanda has been apparent, marked by a surge in development of new hotels, restaurants, and shops; the rebirth, concentrated near the waterfront, was spearheaded by the creation of the elaborate Kura Hulanda complex.There are three ways to cross the bay: by car over the Juliana Bridge; by foot over the Queen Emma pontoon bridge (locally called "The Swinging Old Lady"); or by free ferry, which runs when the pontoon bridge is swung open for passing ships. All the major hotels outside town offer free shuttle service to town once or twice daily. Shuttles coming from the Otrobanda side leave you at Riffort. From here it's a short walk north to the foot of the pontoon bridge. Shuttles coming from the Punda side leave you near the main entrance to Ft. Amsterdam.

Willemstad, Curaçao Itineraries

10 Nights

10-Night Ceo Loyalty Panama Canal Voyage

Departure Date
03 Dec 24
Cruise Line Azamara
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Azamara Journey
Region Panama Canal
Departure Port Miami, Florida
Destination Port Fuerte Amador
Itinerary
Miami, Florida, Oranjestad, Kralendijk, Willemstad, Cartagena, Fuerte Amador and Fuerte Amador

From £2,009pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

20 Nights

Caribbean Panorama

Departure Date
03 Dec 24
Cruise Line Oceania Cruises
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Nautica
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Miami, Florida
Destination Port Miami, Florida
Itinerary
Miami, Florida, Costa Maya, Harvest Caye, Santo Tomás de Castilla, Roatán Island, Puerto Limón, Colón, Cartagena, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Oranjestad, Willemstad, Castries, Gustavia, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Puerto Plata and Miami, Florida

From Please Call

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

8 Nights

Aruba Roundtrip

Departure Date
05 Dec 24
Cruise Line The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Evrima
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Aruba
Destination Port Aruba
Itinerary
Aruba, Cartagena, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Willemstad, Kralendijk and Aruba

From £5,900pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

15 Nights

Fort Lauderdale to Bridgetown

Departure Date
06 Dec 24
Cruise Line Silversea
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Silver Moon
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Destination Port Bridgetown
Itinerary
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Samaná, Oranjestad, Willemstad, Saint Thomas, Basseterre, Saint Kitts, Saint John's, Deshaies, Castries, Scarborough, Port Elizabeth, Bequia and Bridgetown

From £4,800pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

6 Nights

Fort Lauderdale to Willemstad

Departure Date
06 Dec 24
Cruise Line Silversea
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Silver Moon
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Destination Port Willemstad
Itinerary
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Samaná, Oranjestad and Willemstad

From £3,650pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

14 Nights

Star Collector: White Sands of the Windwards

Departure Date
07 Dec 24
Cruise Line Windstar Cruises
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Star Pride
Region Caribbean
Departure Port San Juan
Destination Port Oranjestad
Itinerary
San Juan, Saint Thomas, Gustavia, Basseterre, Saint Kitts, Roseau, Pigeon Island, Saint George's, Bridgetown, Man O War Bay, Tobago, Mayreau Island, Soufrière, Saint George's, Willemstad and Oranjestad

From £3,869pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

9 Nights

Willemstad to Bridgetown

Departure Date
12 Dec 24
Cruise Line Silversea
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Silver Moon
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Willemstad
Destination Port Bridgetown
Itinerary
Willemstad, Saint Thomas, Basseterre, Saint Kitts, Saint John's, Deshaies, Castries, Scarborough, Port Elizabeth, Bequia and Bridgetown

From £6,750pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

7 Nights

Aruba to San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Departure Date
13 Dec 24
Cruise Line The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Evrima
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Aruba
Destination Port San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Itinerary
Aruba, Willemstad, Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Basseterre, Saint Kitts, Virgin Gorda and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

From £5,500pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

10 Nights

Caribbean Chic

Departure Date
13 Dec 24
Cruise Line Oceania Cruises
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Nautica
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Cartagena
Destination Port Miami, Florida
Itinerary
Cartagena, Santa Marta, Oranjestad, Willemstad, Castries, Gustavia, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Puerto Plata and Miami, Florida

From Please Call

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

14 Nights

Star Collector: Windward Islands & Spanish New World

Departure Date
14 Dec 24
Cruise Line Windstar Cruises
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Star Pride
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Bridgetown
Destination Port Fuerte Amador
Itinerary
Bridgetown, Man O War Bay, Tobago, Mayreau Island, Soufrière, Saint George's, Willemstad, Oranjestad, Cartagena, Cartagena, San Blas Islands, Bocas del Toro and Fuerte Amador

From £4,458pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

7 Nights

Windward Ways & Tobago Cays

Departure Date
14 Dec 24
Cruise Line Windstar Cruises
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Star Pride
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Bridgetown
Destination Port Oranjestad
Itinerary
Bridgetown, Man O War Bay, Tobago, Mayreau Island, Soufrière, Saint George's, Willemstad and Oranjestad

From £4,079pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

16 Nights

Fort Lauderdale to Lima

Departure Date
19 Dec 24
Cruise Line Silversea
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Silver Ray
Region South America
Departure Port Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Destination Port Callao
Itinerary
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Oranjestad, Willemstad, Cartagena, Cartagena, Manta, Callao and Callao

From £7,700pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises