Day 5 on this 9-day ABC cruise… except we’re doing it backwards as a CBA. Curaçao yesterday, Bonaire today, Aruba tomorrow. Keeps things interesting, I guess.
This is also part of Rotterdam’s “farewell tour” of the Caribbean for the season. After this run wraps up in Fort Lauderdale, she heads across the Atlantic, into dry dock, and won’t be back here until Halloween 2026. So yeah, a little bit of a “last calls” this week – and not just at Half Moon Bar!
We arrived at Bonaire early with clearance to go ashore around 8:00 a.m., and stepping off the ship here is… different – in a good way. No chaos, no aggressive shopkeepers, no immediate overload with taxi and tour guides competing for your attention (and money). Just a quiet, clean waterfront and people moving at their own pace.
Bonaire doesn’t try to impress you. It just kind of exists, and that’s exactly why people love it.
Why Bonaire Is a Big Deal (Especially If You Like the Water)
If you’ve heard anything about Bonaire, it’s probably about diving. And unlike a lot of cruise marketing hype, this one actually lives up to it.
The island has been protecting its reefs for decades through the Bonaire National Marine Park, which means what you get here is some of the clearest water and healthiest coral in the Caribbean. Visibility is insane, and the best part is you don’t even need a boat to experience it.
If you wander around, you’ll see locals literally pull over, gear up, walk into the water, and go. It’s one of the easiest dive destinations in the world, which is why serious divers flock here.
If you’re new to it, there are plenty of beginner-friendly options. Guided dives, “discover scuba” programs, and snorkeling tours are all easy to book, and most are within a short 10 to 20 minute ride from the port.
Not a Diver? You’ll Still Be Just Fine
If strapping on a tank isn’t your thing, Bonaire still has plenty to offer, just in a much more low-key way.
You won’t find massive beach clubs right outside the port, and that’s something first-time cruisers should know going in. Bonaire is not your typical “walk off the ship and hit a perfect sandy beach” kind of island.
Instead, it’s more about exploring.
You can head south to the salt flats and see the massive white salt pyramids, which look like something straight out of another planet. Flamingos tend to hang out in that area too if you’re lucky. That’s about a 20 to 30 minute drive.
You can also rent a golf cart, which is one of the more popular ways to explore, or take a guided island tour. Taxis are readily available right outside the port in a clearly marked area, and many drivers will offer flat-rate island tours if you want something simple. You can also take a water taxi to “No Name Beach.” Eden Beach, and Spice Beach Bar.
The Port Setup (And Why It’s One of the Easiest You’ll Ever Visit)
Bonaire might win the award for easiest cruise port.
You dock right along the waterfront in Kralendijk, step off the ship, and you’re immediately in town. No shuttle, no long pier, no maze to navigate. Just walk off and go.
The area around the port has shops, restaurants, and bars, but it’s not overwhelming. It’s also one of the safer-feeling ports in the Caribbean, and walking around on your own here is about as stress-free as it gets.
I spent most of the time walking along the waterfront, wandering through town, checking out shops, and just observing how different this place feels compared to other Caribbean ports. It’s quieter, more local, and honestly a bit refreshing.
As you move away from the immediate port area, you’ll pass residential neighborhoods, small hotels, and waterfront homes where you’ll see locals doing exactly what you came here to do… enjoying the water. People diving right off shore, fishing, or just hanging out.
It’s not one of these manufactured cruise ports like Amber Cove or Grand Turk. It’s real.
“Are There Beaches Nearby?” (Kinda, but… no.)
This is where Bonaire can throw people off a bit.
If you’re expecting a big sandy beach right off the ship, you’re not going to find it.
To the right of the port, there’s a small stretch of shoreline that looks like a beach, but it’s really not set up for a beach day. No chairs, no amenities, and it’s often where crew members go to relax. You can get in the water there, but it’s not what most people are looking for.
Head left out of the port and you can walk along the waterfront where there are spots to access the water, but again, it’s rocky, coral-heavy shoreline, not soft sand.
If you want a true beach day, you’re better off booking an excursion or grabbing the water taxi and heading to one of the beaches it stops at – but be fully aware of all aboard time and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to make it back to the ship.
The Floating Pier – A Local Spot You Might Stumble Upon
One spot that does catch people’s attention is the floating pier, which is not far from the port area and is more of a local hangout than a cruise attraction.
It’s basically a floating dock where people swim, jump in, and cool off, and yes, some cruise passengers make their way over there. But this isn’t a resort-style setup. It’s simple, local, and comes with rules that are actually enforced.
From the sign posted there, a few key things to know:
- It’s open to everyone, but kids under 15 need to be with an adult
- You’re using it at your own risk, no lifeguards and no liability
- No fishing allowed and no messing with the structure or anchors
- No boats, no pets, and no BBQs
- Don’t leave trash behind, and respect the area
- It’s closed during bad weather
- Jumping and diving are allowed, but again… at your own risk
There’s also a wheelchair-accessible path to get onto it, which is a nice touch.
It’s not fancy, but it’s one of those spots that gives you a glimpse into how locals actually use the water here. If you’re looking for something low-key and different, it’s worth checking out for a bit.
Bonaire isn’t for everyone, especially if your idea of a perfect port day is a big beach with a drink in your hand five minutes after getting off the ship.
But if you like exploring, appreciate a slower pace, or have any interest in what’s happening below the surface of the water, this place delivers in a way most Caribbean ports don’t.
It’s easy, it’s relaxed, and it feels authentic… which is becoming harder and harder to find as cruise lines are increasingly directing their ships to their own private islands or resort-style destinations that are 1000% manufactured experiences designed to keep you spending money there rather than in town.
St. Patrick’s Day on Rotterdam
Back onboard time today was 4:30 p.m., and no last-minute pier runners… everyone made it back and we pushed off right on schedule.
Now, being that today is St. Patrick’s Day, you’d think the ship would be leaning all the way into it. Green beer, Irish music (well, maybe not), maybe a themed party or two.
Actually… not so much.
There were definitely passengers who got the memo. Plenty of green shirts, dresses, and the occasional “kiss me, I’m Irish” situation making the rounds, but from an onboard programming standpoint, it was pretty quiet. Outside of a St. Patrick’s Day bar hop, there really wasn’t much going on to mark the occasion.
Dinner followed the same trend.
Rather than a fully themed Irish menu in the Main Dining Room, it was business as usual with the standard rotating menu… plus one small nod to the holiday. They added a Braised Corned Brisket of Beef with potato cabbage cakes, which for a lot of Americans is about as traditional as it gets for St. Patrick’s Day.
So if you were hoping for a full Irish feast at sea, this wasn’t it. But if all you needed was a little corned beef to check the box, Holland America had you covered.
Below is a look at what was being served tonight in both the Main Dining Room and the Lido Market.
🖼️ Menu Images
Dinner at Pinnacle Grill
For me, the night took a turn thanks to a little peer pressure at the Half Moon Bar.
I was sitting there a couple cocktails in, chatting with a few folks who had just come back from Pinnacle Grill, and they wouldn’t stop talking about the lamb chops. “Best thing we’ve had all cruise,” one of them said. That was all it took.
Now, I’ve already eaten at Pinnacle a few times on this sailing, so I wasn’t exactly planning on going back again… but I hadn’t tried the lamb yet. Decision made.
Off I went.
Pinnacle Grill runs $52 per person plus 18%, with 4+ Star Mariners getting it for half off, which definitely is a great loyalty perk. Reservations are recommended, but… not once have I been turned away walking up between 8:00 and 8:30 over the past few weeks. So if you’re flexible, you can usually make it happen.
🖼️ Menu Images
I started things off with a beefsteak tomato salad, light, fresh, and a solid way to kick things off before getting into the main event.
Then came the lamb chops.
Normally, you get two per order, but my server gave me a look and said, “you probably want more.” I asked how many he recommended.
“Four.”
Say no more.
When they hit the table, they were cooked a perfect medium and honestly… this was the best dish I’ve had at Pinnacle so far. And that’s saying something because the steaks and Dover sole here are already excellent. These were tender, flavorful, and the kind of dish that makes you question why you didn’t order it sooner.
I wrapped things up with a cheese plate, because at that point why not, and walked out full, happy, and slightly wondering if I should’ve just started with the lamb on day one.
Service, as always at Pinnacle, was spot on.
We’re now making our way to the next stop, Oranjestad, Aruba, with an 8:00 a.m. arrival on the schedule. More from Aruba tomorrow, and as always, thanks for following along.
Daily Schedule
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Stretch & Release | Fitness Center 9 |
| 7:30 AM | Walk a Mile | Atrium 3 |
| 8:00 AM | Tai Chi for Everyone | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 8:00 AM | Rotterdam Arrives in Kralendijk | Pier Ashore |
| 8:30 AM | Kralendijk Photo Opportunity until 10:00 AM | Pier Ashore |
| 8:30 AM | Ask Your Travel Guide Holly | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 9:00 AM | Pickleball Instruction Serving | Sport Court 11 |
| 9:00 AM | Cross Court Drink & Deep Return | Fitness Center 9 |
| 9:30 AM | Complimentary Footprint Analysis | Fitness Center 9 |
| 10:00 AM | Knitter’s Meetup | Crow’s Nest 12 |
| 10:00 AM | Pickleball Open Play until 4:00 PM | Sport Court 11 |
| 10:00 AM | Party Bridge Play until 12:00 PM | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 10:00 AM | Meet for a Game of Mahjong until 3:00 PM | Dining Room 3 |
| 10:00 AM | Lighting Trivia | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 10:30 AM | Creating Doodle Designs | Game Room 12 |
| 10:30 AM | Liquid Facelift with Your Medical Physician | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 11:00 AM | Learn to Play Sjoelen | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 11:30 AM | Deal or No Deal Challenge | Game Room 12 |
| 12:00 PM | Detox for Health & Weight Loss Seminar | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 12:00 PM | Willemstad Photo Opportunity until 2:00 PM | Pier Ashore |
| 12:00 PM | Party Bridge Play until 3:00 PM | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 1:00 PM | Complimentary Massage Sampler | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 1:30 PM | 5 Steps to Flawless Skin | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 2:00 PM | Basketball Knockout | Sport Court 11 |
| 3:30 PM | Creating Doodle Designs | Game Room 12 |
| 3:30 PM | Friends of Bill W. Meet | Half Moon Room 1 |
| 4:00 PM | Over $616,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino 3 |
| 4:00 PM | Soccer Goal Scoring Competition | Sport Court 11 |
| 4:00 PM | Today’s Trivia: Saint Patrick’s | Billboard Onboard 2 |
| 4:00 PM | Advanced Facial Rejuvenation | Greenhouse Spa 9 |
| 4:30 PM | Origami Folding: Shamrock | Game Room 12 |
| 4:30 PM | All Aboard as Rotterdam Departs Kralendijk | Shipwide |
| 4:30 PM | Have Your Casual Portrait Taken | Atrium 2 |
| 5:00 PM | Evening Stretch | Fitness Center 9 |
| 5:00 PM | A Pickup Game of Pickleball | Sport Court 11 |
| 5:00 PM | Ask Your Travel Guide until 7:00 PM | Crow’s Nest 12 |
| 5:00 PM | Evening Catholic Prayer | Hudson & Half Moon Room 1 |
| 5:30 PM | Thomas Kinkade Exhibition and Sale | Art Gallery 1 |
| 5:30 PM | Guess the Price of PINK Diamond | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 5:30 PM | Art Scavenger Hunt | Art Gallery 1 |
| 6:00 PM | PRIDE Meetup | Rolling Stone Lounge 2 |
| 6:30 PM | Singles & Solo Travelers Meetup | Ocean Bar 2 |
| 6:30 PM | Complimentary Prosecco with Frederique Constant | The Shops 2 |
| 6:30 PM | Luck of the Emeralds | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 7:00 PM | Music Trivia: 60s | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 7:00 PM | Ladies Sip & Save | EFFY Jewelry 2 |
| 7:00 PM | Fragrance Finds from $39.99 | The Shops 2 |
| 7:30 PM | On World Stage: Vocalist Tricia Kelly | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 7:30 PM | St. Patrick’s Day Bar Hop $29 | Explorations Café 12 |
| 7:45 PM | Songs in the Key of Me | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 8:00 PM | The Lido Fair | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 8:00 PM | Paint Tropical Bliss on Canvas $40 | Game Room 12 |
| 8:00 PM | Movies by the Pool: Bride Hard | Lido Poolside 9 |
| 8:00 PM | Fortunate Songs | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 8:30 PM | The Best of B.B. King’s All-Stars | B.B. King’s Blues Club |
| 9:00 PM | On World Stage: Vocalist Tricia Kelly | World Stage 2 & 3 |
| 9:00 PM | It’s Karaoke Time! | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |
| 9:15 PM | Hot R&B | Billboard Onboard |
| 9:30 PM | Rock Classics | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 9:30 PM | The Best of B.B. King’s All-Stars | B.B. King’s Blues Club |
| 10:15 PM | All Requests | Billboard Onboard |
| 11:00 PM | Rock the Yacht | Rolling Stone Lounge |
| 11:00 PM | $616,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino 3 |
| 11:30 PM | Dance to the Hits: All Request | B.B. King’s Blues Club 2 |