As the sun began to rise on the 5th day of this 8-day Southern Caribbean cruise, the Carnival Horizon sailed into the beautiful harbor of Curacao, docking around at 7:00 am. A picturesque Dutch Caribbean island, Curaçao is famed for its pastel-colored colonial architecture, coral reefs, and vibrant art scenes.  One look across the water and you see the postcard famous view that makes this stop one of my faves.

A postcard-worthy view of Curacao and one of the first things you see when you leave the ship
A postcard-worthy view of Curacao and one of the first things you see when you leave the ship
Curacao
A postcard-worthy view of Curacao and one of the first things you see when you leave the ship

Stepping off the ship, I decided to start my day by wandering around the area of the cruise terminal. Just a stone’s throw away stands Rif Fort. Once a historical defense fort, it has now been transformed into a hub filled with restaurants, bars, and shops. The panoramic view from atop the fort offered a sprawling view of the harbor and the city’s beautiful skyline.

Rif Fort in Curacao
Rif Fort in Curacao
Shopping and dining at Rif Fort in Curacao
Shopping and dining at Rif Fort in Curacao
Shopping and dining at Rif Fort in Curacao
Shopping and dining at Rif Fort in Curacao

Shopping and dining at Rif Fort in Curacao

One of the highlights of visiting Curacao is walking across the Queen Emma Bridge (also known as the “Swinging Old Lady”), a floating pedestrian bridge connecting the Punda and Otrobanda districts. The bridge offers a unique sensation as it gently sways over the water. Once I was on the Punda side, I was greeted by a maze of vibrant streets lined with shops, cafés, and historical buildings.

Queen Emma Bridge in Curacao
Queen Emma Bridge in Curacao
The "Swinging Old Lady" pontoon bridge in Curacao
The “Swinging Old Lady” pontoon bridge in Curacao

For visitors with some extra time, there are various other attractions within walking distance such as the Curaçao Museum, which showcases historical artifacts and artworks. Or, the nearby Floating Market is a great place to buy fresh produce, fish, and local crafts brought over by Venezuelan traders.

A street market in Curacao
A street market in Curacao
A street market in Curacao
A street market in Curacao

With an early all-aboard time of 2:30 pm, my wandering was kept relatively brief. By a little after 3 pm, the ship pulled anchors, leaving behind the colorful facades of Curaçao.

It’s time to talk about the love-it-or-hate-it main dining room.  On Carnival, I do my very best to avoid eating in the main dining room because I have never had a good meal there.  I have always found the food to be sub-par and the service rushed.  But when you’re feeding three, four, or five thousand people a night, five-star dining isn’t expected…. but , that’s why the specialty restaurants are there – to give an elevated food and dining experience to those who want to pay for it.

Carnival recently announced the rollout of new main dining room menus fleet-wide, a transformation guided by the famed chef, Emeril Lagasse. However, with the allure of Emeril’s touch, I was curious to try the revamped menu aboard Carnival Horizon and joined my travel companions for dinner.

For a starter, I opted for the Antipasti which consisted of assorted cold cuts and two small dollops of some odd cheese. It was nothing exceptional.

Antipasti from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon
Antipasti from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon

Here’s where things get interesting.  The menu featured Beef Wellington and it surely piqued my interest, and to my pleasant surprise, it was a hit! Prepared medium rare, the beef was fork tender, complemented perfectly by flavorful au gratin potatoes. On the other hand, the Jambalaya Pasta was just average. Featuring shrimp, sausage, chicken, and peppers tossed with fettuccini, it would probably shine better over rice and could use a dash more spice.

Beef Wellington from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon
Beef Wellington from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon
Jambalaya Pasta from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon
Jambalaya Pasta from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon

For dessert I chose the cheese plate – it was as uninspiring as it sounds.

Cheese Plate from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon
Cheese Plate from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon

Others in my group sampled the Turkey with Stuffing and Mashed Potatoes and the Veal Schnitzel. Both dishes received approving nods and clean plates.

Turkey with the trimmings from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon
Turkey with the trimmings from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon
Veal Schnitzel from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon
Veal Schnitzel from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon
Carnival Melting Chocolate Cake from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon
Carnival Melting Chocolate Cake from the main dining room on Carnival Horizon

Overall, the main dining room is still a restaurant I’ll avoid.  While service was great, the food – with the exception of the Beef Wellington – is on par with a visit to a Golden Corrall.

Post-dinner, we headed to the evening’s show, Amore Cubano. The performance was a blend of Cuban and Latin rhythms. While the energy was palpable, none of the songs struck a chord with me, leading to an early exit on my part.

Amore Cubano on Carnival Horizon
Amore Cubano on Carnival Horizon
Amore Cubano on Carnival Horizon

As the ship sailed into the night, a cigar was enjoyed outside while staring into the night sky as we drifted to our next port of call, La Romana in the Dominican Republic.

That’s all for today, thanks for stopping by!

Fun Times for Day 5:

The Fun Times for September 6, 2023, can also be downloaded as a PDF by clicking here.

Personal Day-By-Day Carnival Horizon Cruise Review:

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