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

6 Nights

Willemstad to Fort Lauderdale

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

From £4,450pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

14 Nights

Island Anthology

Departure Date
08 Nov 24
Cruise Line Oceania Cruises
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Insignia
Region Caribbean
Departure Port New York, New York
Destination Port Oranjestad
Itinerary
New York, New York, Hamilton, Hamilton, Saint George, Gustavia, Roseau, Castries, Bridgetown, Kingstown, Saint George's, Kralendijk, Willemstad and Oranjestad

From £2,839pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

44 Nights

Amazonian & Tropical Song

Departure Date
09 Nov 24
Cruise Line Oceania Cruises
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Nautica
Region South America
Departure Port Miami, Florida
Destination Port Miami, Florida
Itinerary
Miami, Florida, Saint John's, Castries, Saint George's, Port-of-Spain, Macapa, Santarém, Boca de Valeria, Manaus, Parintins, Alter do Chão, Macapa, Bridgetown, Roseau, Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Great Stirrup Cay, 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

11 Nights

Colombian & Southern Caribbean Coastlines

Departure Date
19 Nov 24
Cruise Line Windstar Cruises
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Wind Star
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Bridgetown
Destination Port Colón
Itinerary
Bridgetown, Port Elizabeth, Bequia, Mayreau Island, Saint George's, Kralendijk, Willemstad, Oranjestad, Cartagena and Colón

From £3,528pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

18 Nights

Star Collector: Reefs & Rainforests: The Caribbean, Colombia, Panama & Costa Rica via the Panama Canal

Departure Date
19 Nov 24
Cruise Line Windstar Cruises
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Wind Star
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Bridgetown
Destination Port Puerto Caldera
Itinerary
Bridgetown, Port Elizabeth, Bequia, Mayreau Island, Saint George's, Kralendijk, Willemstad, Oranjestad, Cartagena, Colón, Fuerte Amador, Fuerte Amador, Isla Parida, Golfo Dulce, Quepos (Puerto Quepos) and Puerto Caldera

From £5,031pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

12 Nights

Beauty In Bonaire

Departure Date
24 Nov 24
Cruise Line Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Seven Seas Grandeur
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Miami, Florida
Destination Port Miami, Florida
Itinerary
Miami, Florida, Oranjestad, Willemstad, Kralendijk, Saint George's, Castries, Gustavia, Tortola and Miami, Florida

From Please Call

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

8 Nights

Bridgetown to Aruba

Departure Date
27 Nov 24
Cruise Line The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Evrima
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Bridgetown
Destination Port Aruba
Itinerary
Bridgetown, Soufrière, Canouan Island, Saint George's, Kralendijk, Willemstad, Aruba and Aruba

From £6,600pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

15 Nights

Antillean Delights

Departure Date
27 Nov 24
Cruise Line Oceania Cruises
Cruise Type Ocean
Ship Insignia
Region Caribbean
Departure Port Oranjestad
Destination Port Bridgetown
Itinerary
Oranjestad, Willemstad, Port Royal, La Romana, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tortola, Gustavia, Codrington, Basseterre, Saint Kitts, Pointe-à-Pitre, Fort-de-France, Castries, Saint George's and Bridgetown

From £2,279pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises

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 £3,239pp

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

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 £3,550pp

Plus substantial savings from Deluxe Cruises