The Cruise Port of Curaçao NA

Curaçao, A Perfect Blend of Two Worlds

Wouldn’t it be great if we could move tropical seas, palm trees and great beaches to Northern Europe? It’s not going to happen, but the next best thing is to move the Netherlands into the Southern Caribbean. Welcome to Curaçao.

There are a number of European influenced islands in the Region but no place expresses it as well as this little Dutch island. While Aruba has succumbed to run-away Americanization you can still stroll the streets of Willemstad, sit in a café for a cappuccino or stop in a small bistro for lunch and it isn’t hard to imagine you are in Amsterdam.  Add to that the beaches and resorts, balmy weather and turquoise seas and you have Curacao.

Where Your Ship Docks

Willemstad is the activity center of Curacao and most ships will tie up in Otrobanda, very near the center of town. Located at the dock is a hotel area including a shopping and restaurant neighborhood. A short stroll along the water brings you to the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, a unique floating bridge hinged at one end to swing out of the way to let ships up the channel and into the harbor. On the other side of this floating bridge is Punda, the downtown area of Willemstad. There are also public facilities near the dock.

Transportation

Curacao is a larger island and, while there are taxis available, they tend to be pricey. The major bus system is made up of vans and cars with the word “Bus” on the license plates. There is also a more traditional system of buses which are known as “konvoi.” There are two bus terminals on the Island, which are used by both types of buses. The first is located near the post office in Punda with twelve konvoi routes leaving from that terminal. The other is located in Otrobanda, near the underpass. Nine konvoi routes depart from that location. Between these twenty one konvoi routes, nearly all major tourist attractions can be reached by public transportation.

Fares to ride the bus cost only about $0.60 (USD) for a trip in town and $0.85 (USD) to travel to the western parts of the island. Autobus Bedrijf Curacao (ABC) is the bus company on Curacao.

Taxe fares:

Taxi Start fee 35.00 Naf $26.02 – $45.00

Taxi per mile charge 10.96 Naf $8 – $14

Taxi 1 hour Waiting 72.19 Naf $40

Wheelchair Accessibility

Disembarking – This port has a developed cruise ship pier but the ease of disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with.

Port City Characteristics – This port has a fairly developed wheelchair friendly infrastructure. The port area is flat or has few inclines. From the cruise pier into downtown you must cross a floating bridge which has easy access. Intersection crosswalks have few curbs, cobblestones or other minorwheelchair obstacles.

Currency

Curacao is a major Caribbean destination and most places accept U.S. Dollars but usually for smaller purchases. The Netherlands Antillean Guilder (ANG, locally referred to as NAF, an abbreviation of the Netherlands Antillean Florin) is the official currency of Curaçao. It is benchmarked to the US dollar at a stable rate of US$ 1 = NAF 1.77. Most credit cards are welcome and there are ATMs readily available.

Attractions

Curaçao has seen explosive growth in upscale resorts and residential neighborhoods in recent decades, but the old world charm has remained intact. Over a period of time there was a huge migration of Dutch retirees, much to the consternation of the locals, and that drove up the cost of living. Fortunately, it didn’t negatively impact the atmosphere of the island.

In the center of Willemstad there is a channel that is part of St. Anna Bay and the primary way of getting across is the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge. The bridge opens by breaking its connection on

one side and an outboard motor pushes it out of the channel anchored by a hinge at the other end. Fun to watch and fun to ride.

On the northwest side of town is a neighborhood that has been restored and turned into a resort, visitor center and museum known as the Museum Kurá Hulanda  and Sonesta Kura Hulanda Village & Spa. Here you can walk cobblestone streets and visit cafes and shops. There is also a floating market in town where boats come over from Venezuela, only 70 miles away, to sell produce. (Current conditions in Venezuela have probably eliminated this business for the time being).

The island also boasts the Curacao Sea Aquarium and Dolphin Academy Curacao which are worth a visit.

If you like to dive, snorkel or just relax on the beach, you have come to the right place, but you have to get some distance out of Willemstad. There are dive shops everywhere and great beach resorts at every turn.

Located between cliffs near the town of Lagun is the small Playa Lagun. It’s in a narrow cove and the calm waters are perfect for snorkelers, regardless of skill level, and there are facilities to rent snorkel and scuba gear.

A favorite with everyone is Cas Abao Beach with its’ white sand surrounded by cliffs and lush vegetation shaded by large palm umbrellas. Snorkelers flock to the warm, turquoise waters which are home to dozens of tropical fish and abundant sea life. There is also a great beach bar & restaurant offering a range of snacks and drinks.

In 1978, three plantations merged to create Christoffel National Park. The park is home to barn owls, the rare and endangered Curaçao white-tailed deer in addition to 450 species of plants, including wild orchids. Take a scenic drive through Curaçao’s largest national park or spend a morning hiking. Visitors say the view from the top of Christoffel Mountain is unforgettable and you can climb the peak and be back in two to three hours. Due to the tropical climate the park doesn’t allow visitors to start the hike after 10 a.m.

Willemstad is also a shopping mecca with great prices on many popular European brands along with jewelry creations, distilled spirits and local crafts and souvenirs.

The Island’s language is Papiamentu which is a blending of Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch. Greetings are Bon Dia – Good Morning. Bon Tardi – Good Afternoon. Bon Nochi – Good Evening/Good Night. Danki – Thank You. Di Nada – You’re Welcome.

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Geography Trivia

You probably wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t an avid traveler so here’s a fun diversion with some interesting observations involving world geography and records.

U.S. Coastlines

More than half of the coastline of the entire
United States is in Alaska. 33,903 miles

Number two is Florida at 13,576 miles and Louisiana is three at 8,435 miles

Measuring coastlines is tricky because of all the bays and islands that can add a lot to the total. Actually Maine has more coastline than California at 3,477 miles versus 3,426 miles for California.

The Amazon

The Amazon rain forest is responsible for 20% of all the world’s oxygen production.

The Amazon River moves so much water out into the Atlantic that one hundred miles at sea the surface is still mostly fresh water. The flow from the Amazon river is larger than the next eight largest rivers in the world combined and three times the flow of all rivers in the United States.

Antarctica

Antarctica is the only place on the planet that is not owned by anyone. Ninety percent of the world’s ice is in Antarctica and represents seventy percent of all the worlds fresh water. Oddly Antarctica is the driest continent with the average precipitation being about two inches. With the driest place on Earth being Antarctica’s Ross Island where it is believed there has been no rainfall for two million years.

Odds n’ Ends

Brazil is named for a nut, not the reverse.

Canada has more lakes than all the rest of the world.

Canada is an Indian word meaning ‘ Big Village’.

Major City Facts

Next to Warsaw, Chicago has the largest Polish population in the world. There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin, Ireland; more Italians in New York City than in Rome, Italy; and more Jews in New York City than in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The first city to reach a population of 1 million people was Rome, Italy before 100 B.C.

Woodward Avenue in Detroit has the national designation route M-1 because it was the first paved motorway anywhere in the world.

Damascus, Syria, was a major city two thousand years before Rome was founded, making it the oldest still inhabited city in thee world.

Istanbul, Turkey, is the only city in the world situated on two continents.

The full original name of Los Angeles was Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula but referred to now as simply L.A.

Odds N’ Ends

The smallest island country is Pitcairn in Polynesia, having only 1.75 sq. miles.

The smallest sovereign entity in the world is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta located in the city of Rome, Italy, with an area smaller than a football field with a population of 80.

The town of Tidikelt, Algeria has not had a drop of rain over a period of ten years.

Siberia contains more than 25% of the world’s forests.

Spain’s name actually means “the land of rabbits”.

The deepest hole ever drilled is the Kola Superdeep Borehole, in Russia. It reached a depth of 40,226 feet or 7.62 miles. It was drilled for scientific research and it discovered a huge deposit of hydrogen gas sequestered in the Earth.

President Eisenhower commissioned the United States interstate system to provide a military advantage in defending the country. It was intended to allow the fast deployment of military resources should the country be invaded and requires that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies. There is also a secret signage system installed along America’s highways with coded directions to military bases and supply depots.

Waterfalls

World’s largest waterfall system is located along the border of Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu Falls is made up of 275 waterfalls.

Angel Falls, the world’s highest is in Venezuela and drops 3,212 feet.

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Haleakalā National Park located on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The park is named after the dormant volcano that covers over 33,000 acres. Climbing out of the Pacific Ocean to the parks tallest peak of Puʻu ʻUlaʻula at 10,023 feet, it is one of the few places on the planet where you can travel from sea level to that altitude in a little over an hour of driving.

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Vietnam’s Port Of Nha Trang

Nha Trang, Vietnams Beach Resort City

Nha Trang is a major Vietnamese resort area famous for beautiful beaches and growing entertainment options. It is Vietnam’s most popular coastal town that has benefitted from its proximity to a number of great beaches. Directly across the water from downtown Nha Trang is Tre Island boasting an amusement park and additional popular beaches. The area attract people from all over the world and seems particularly popular with Russian tourists looking for sunshine and beaches.

Where Your Ship Docks

Nha Trang is a tender port with a landing location south of the city at the main port area. The tender pier does have public facilities nearby and when ships are visiting a market is usually set-up near the tender dock selling t-shirts, crafts and souvenirs. Hint – when buying t-shirts it’s a good idea to buy a couple of sizes larger than your used to as Vietnamese sizes run really small.

Wheelchair Accessibility


Disembarking – This is normally a tender port as large cruise ships cannot be accommodated at its piers. Wheelchair bound passengers will encounter challenges both in getting on tenders as well as disembarking at the pier.

Port City Characteristics – This port has a moderate to steep geography where there are typically elevations and inclines to deal with. Otherwise wheelchair infrastructure is typical of large cities. The waterfront and near port area has moderate inclines in sidewalks but the city itself can be more difficult. Intersection crosswalks may have curbs or other wheelchair obstacles.

Transportation

In the city of Nha Trang there is one of the worlds largest cablecar systems connecting to Tre island across three miles of water to Vinpearl Amusement Park. The most convenient way to get around is by taxi where most drivers speak English. The trip from the port into the tourist center of town is about five miles and should cost about five US Dollars. The city of Nha Trang is a good walking town as a number tourist attractions, popular restaurants, bars and nightclubs, and shopping are within walking distances in the center of town.

If you’re more adventures Nha Trang also has a bus system with six routes. This is another good way to get around with fares being no more than 5000 Dong. The buses are air-conditioned and comfortable. Through the tourist area of Nha Trang are two popular routes, the No. 2 and No. 4 that cross near the center of town and have stops at a number of good beaches.

Currency

The local currency is the Vietnamese Dong that runs between 20,000 and 25,000 to 1 US$. Also the U.S. Dollar is welcome, actually almost preferred almost, everywhere at good exchange rates as are most major credit cards

Vinpearl Land on the Hn Tre Island

The major attraction are the beaches. The largest resort beach area is along the coast ten miles south of the port toward the town of Biển Đông, but there are additional good beaches on the north side of town and over on Tre Island.

Nha Trang Cable Car

One of the longest cable cars over water is a great ride to Tre Island and Vinpearl Land with its views, the sea breeze gently rocking the care and the surrounding blue sea.

Nha Trang also has a number of cultural sites including the Long Sơn Pagoda, a Buddhist temple in the city. It is regarded as one of the main attractions in the city, along with the Hai Duc Temple. There is also Po Nagar, a Cham temple tower built sometime before 781 AD and located in the nearby medieval principality of Kauthara, not far outside Nha Trang. It is dedicated to Yan Po Nagar, the goddess of the country, who came to be identified with the Hindu goddess Bhagavati.

The area also has a number of highly rated skin diving and scuba diving sights. As an interesting note the waters around Nha Trang support a thriving seahorse population and collection industry much to the objection of the UN and wildlife protection groups. Dried and powdered seahorses are popular in some Vietnamese culture and cuisine.

Ketchikan, An Alaska Port of Call

ketchikan, Alaska is known as the gateway the last frontier. Set at the southernmost entrance to Alaska’s famed Inside Passage, a network of waterways that wind through some of the most amazingly beautiful wilderness in the world. Ketchikan is famous for three things; salmon, amazing scenery, and its rich Alaska Native culture.

Founded as a salmon cannery site in 1885, Ketchikan’s economy has always been based on fishing and for years the city was known as the “Canned Salmon Capital of the World.” By 1936 there were seven canneries operating, producing almost two million cases of salmon a season.

The need for lumber fostered the Ketchikan Spruce Mills built in 1903, which operated for over 70 years. The lumber industry collapsed when the Clinton administration moved to reduce timber cutting in Alaska by having the U.S. Forest service cancel contracts for timber in March 1997 on Federal land.

When cruise ships started sailing Alaska and the waters of the Inside Passage, Ketchikan was reborn becoming a very popular port of call.

The town gets its name from the Tongass and Tlingit Indians who named their fish camp kitschk-hin, meaning stream with “thundering wings of eagles.” While Skagway attracted gold prospectors, Ketchikan was a treasure trove of abundant fish and timber that attracted American settlers to the area. In 1885, Mike Martin bought 160 acres from Chief Kyan to found the township. The first cannery was built in 1886 near the mouth of Ketchikan Creek and by 1912 four more were in operation.

Alaska Cruise Destinations

Where Your Ship Docks

Cruise ships will normally dock at the piers right along the historic areas waterfront. A number of shops and malls nearby have public facilities. There is no terminal and disembarking requires the use of the ships boarding ramp.

Transportation

Ketchikan is a small town with the central district encompassing only a few dozen blocks. Most trips out of town involve specific nature tours by bus, car, boat or plane. The town is located on one of Alaska’s large coastal islands with most of it covered in large tracts of undeveloped forest.

Currency

Ketchikan is an American town and uses the U.S. Dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted and ATM machines are available.

Attractions

Ketchikan is home to Tongass Historical Museum along with a waterfront cannery exhibit and the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Salmon fishing charters are readily available and you can have your catch flash frozen or smoked and couriered home (a bit pricey but worth the bragging rights). Additional tours include wilderness expeditions, trips to the Misty Fjords and whale watching expeditions.

Shopping offers a number of opportunities with local native crafts being the traditional gifts and souvenirs. Locally smoked and canned salmon should be on everyone’s shopping list featuring reasonable prices and being a great take-home prize.

Wheelchair Accessibility


Disembarking – This port has a developed cruise ship pier but the ease of disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with.

Port City Characteristics – This port downtown has a well developed wheelchair friendly infrastructure. The port area is flat or has few inclines. Intersection crosswalks have few issues with curbs or other wheelchair obstacles.

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Haven’t Joined Us Yet? We Promise To Make It Worth Your While.