Sunday, March 31, 2024

ABC Caribbean Islands: Cruise to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao

abc island cruise

The Best of Aruba tour, one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s shore excursions, hits all of the main attractions. Starting with a brief tour of the Aloe Museum, your travel guide will then take you to the Casibari Rock formations, Natural Bridge Ruins, and the California Lighthouse. You will also get an opportunity for a swim on one of the beaches of Aruba before being shuttled back to the cruise port. The duration of the excursion lasts for 4 hours, so depending on how long your cruise is in port, you may have time to do some shopping on your own. Perfection might be the best word to describe the picturesque Eagle Beach.

Carnival Vista, ABC Islands New Year cruise from Port Canaveral, December 28, 2024

Set sail on this 14-day roundtrip Southern Caribbean cruise and enjoy pristine beaches in St. Thomas, marvel at the vibrant marine life in Barbados, and walk along the blue cobblestones of Old San Juan. Begin your adventure at Monkey Land, a lush tropical jungle where you'll interact with playful squirrel monkeys in their natural habitat. Then, visit a rustic countryside home frozen in time, offering insights into local life and the island's history and culture. You’ll end the trip at the beautiful Te Amo Beach, one of Bonaire’s best beaches.

Day Panama Canal Round-Trip from Panama City: Curacao, Aruba & Cartagena

‘We’re stranded here’: Couple says cruise line abandoned them on African island - WTVG

‘We’re stranded here’: Couple says cruise line abandoned them on African island.

Posted: Sat, 30 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Pan bati is a sweet flatbread that locals eat with soups and stews, or with sugar, like a pancake. If you like Asian food, head for an Indonesian restaurant for rijsttafel, a banquet of dishes based on rice, noodles, meats, fish, spring rolls, sambal (a chili sauce), and peanuts. Seafood is abundant in all the islands, found on its own, served with a spicy Creole sauce, or in a hearty stew. Mahi-mahi, grouper, and lionfish are all popular—and by eating lionfish, you’re doing the ecosystem a favor as it’s an invasive and unwelcome (if tasty) species.

Deeper experiences of the islands

Here, you can relax on the soft sand, cool off in the aquamarine shallows, or snorkel over coral reefs. When your cruise ship docks in Aruba, you will make your way down the pier to venture into the city of Oranjestad. Here you will find trendy shopping, unique sightseeing, and beautiful beaches.

All three enjoy a high standard of living and exude a laid-back Caribbean charm. After all is said and done, retreat to  Dreams Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino, an all-inclusive escape on the fine sands of Piscadera Bay, or all-suite  Zoëtry Curaçao Resort & Spa a stone’s throw away. Not far from Handelskade,  Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort has an achingly attractive infinity pool and enjoys proximity to the 1828-built Rif Fort, where precious views of the city and the sea are on offer. Wherever you stay in Curaçao, be sure to explore the full breadth of the island.

abc island cruise

Calebrity Beyond, Panama Canal from Fort Lauderdale, December 2, 2024

Pamper yourself in the Lotus Spa® with a massage, facial or manicure, and feel renewed. Enjoy The Sanctuary, a lounge just for adults, where you can relax with a light meal, specialty drink and al fresco massages while digging into that novel you've been looking forward to reading. If you prefer your relaxation more active, we offer Zumba, yoga and tai chi classes to burn off stress and raise your heart rate. See what adventures await you off the beaten path, whether it’s exploring a Dutch-style city or kayaking through a mangrove forest. Cruise lines that visit Bonaire include most of those we listed for Aruba, plus lines that cater to Europeans like Costa and P&O.

Celebrity Eclipse, ABC Islands from Fort Lauderdale, February 27, 2025

abc island cruise

Find low prices, loads of options, and enjoy flexibility and support should plans change. Savor a world of dining options on our cruise, curated by celebrity chefs and enriched by our Culinary Council®, from casual poolside favorites to local flavors, and award-winning cocktails. Your Holland America Line ship’s Casino offers a wide array of gaming options.

The Dining Room

Venture beyond the coastal delights, and Curacao reveals a diverse landscape featuring desert terrain and limestone cliffs. The Hato Caves, with their stalactite formations and hidden chambers, offer a fascinating journey into the island's geological wonders. Beach break excursions are found at resorts offering loungers, as well as food and drinks. But don’t expect as many high-rise flashy resorts as you might experience on Aruba. Premium and luxury lines like Windstar, Oceania, Emerald, Silversea, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas and Azamara tend to visit the ABC Islands during the winter months.

Carnival Horizon, ABC Islands from Miami, February 1, 2025

Educational guided tours are offered around this mansion, where the world-renowned Laraha orange-peel spirit is distilled. Ròm Bèrdè (green rum) also wrestles for the title of most popular alcoholic beverage in Curaçao, and it’s available at  Netto Bar, the island’s oldest drinking hole. You can feast on a variety of Curaçao’s culinary treats at the open-air Marche Bieu (or Old Market) or at a truk di pan (food truck) like  BBQ Express Caracasbaai or  Koko Riba Bloki in Willemstad. Influences from Indonesia—another Dutch colony—are also present in Curaçao’s cuisine. Head to  Landhuis Daniel which has a stellar Indonesian rice table (rijsttafel) as does  Batik Asli in Jan Thiel. This lesser-known sibling is without contest the best place for shore diving and snorkeling.

A long walk along the beach got us to a spot right where the coral dropped off into the sea. When we headed underwater in Klein Bonaire, we were immediately met great views of coral and fish. The second cruise port on our trip to visit the ABC islands was in Willemstad, Curacao. Discover the waters of Curaçao by kayak on this one-of-a-kind adventure. You’ll kayak past a fort as you make your way to the top snorkeling spot on the island, where you will have a chance to snorkel around a shipwrecked tugboat filled with marine life. Each port offers a unique experience and access to the local culture, attractions, and activities, making ABC Islands an excellent destination for a Caribbean cruise.

One of the best things to do in Aruba is to visit the Butterfly Farm for a closer encounter, or the Ostrich Farm, where you can hand-feed the residents. Another option is the Santa Cruz Donkey Sanctuary, where injured wild donkeys are rehabilitated. In Curaçao, meanwhile, you can spot endangered white-tailed deer in Christoffel Park. Dutch is spoken in all three islands, as well as English and Papiamentu, a form of Creole that incorporates elements of Portuguese, Dutch, English, and Spanish. The Spaniards were ousted in 1634 by the Dutch, and the islands fell under the control of the Dutch West India Company, which continued to exploit slaves. The Netherlands became wealthy from its Caribbean slave and sugar trade operations.

The pounding seas confirmed that Curacao would not provide us the great underwater sights that we knew were available. Our afternoon tour of Aruba took us to several different spots around the island. The first stop gave us a view of the underwater world on a semi-submersible boat. We circled the Arashi coral reef and the Antilla shipwreck (a World War II German freighter). Immerse yourself in the full tropical experience and delve into expert travel advice and suggestions on activities to enjoy in cherished Southern Caribbean locales. Truly get away from it all with dreamy Southern Caribbean cruise destinations.

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