Our second port-of-call on this 9-day Southern Caribbean Seafarer Cruise on Holland America’s Rotterdam has us visiting Willemstad, Curacao – the “C” of the “ABC islands” that make up the port calls on southern runs. Being that Curacao is a short hop from yesterday’s call in Bonaire, we had a slow night of cruising before getting the all-clear to go ashore at 8 am.
Willemstad is one of my favorite stops in the Caribbean and by taking a look around the city it’s easy to see why. Relatively safe, this Dutch island is full of color, culture, and plenty of things to see without having to take a shore excursion.
Once off the ship, you’ll pass through a very small shopping area that features local crafts, a taxi stand, and a few bars offering local beers and drinks made with the blue liqueur the nation is famous for. As you keep walking you’ll find a 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar just outside the Reinassance Resort which has a casino and a shopping area. This is a good place to take advantage of free WiFi!
If you’re looking to venture into town, from the Renaissance, you’ll pass through Rif Fort which dates back to 1828 and has a beautiful courtyard with an outdoor bar, a stage for live entertainment, several restaurants, and two levels of stores. Once you pass through the fort, you’ll be met with a street lined with vendors hawking their wares before you reach the Queen Emma Bridge. This is a pontoon bridge known as the “Swinging Old Lady” that swings across St. Anna Bay and links the Punda and Otrobanda quarters of Willemstad. If you don’t want to walk over the bridge, there is a ferry service that can be used as well.
Once across the bridge, narrow brick-paved streets dotted with shops and small restaurants are abundant. You can spend a few hours wandering around the area and taking photos like I tend to do during stops here. Some areas appear to be sketchy with vacant and dilapidated buildings, but for the most part, the city is very safe and locals are friendly. But like any stop in the Caribbean, be aware of your surroundings and be like Nancy Reagan and “just say no” to the drug dealers who are always trying to score a sale.
But what about a beach? Well, there’s isn’t one within walking distance, unless you really want to get your steps in. However, you can book an excursion or take a taxi over to Mambo Beach which is a resort-style beach you can pay to use for the day.
The weather was once again scorching hot with the only savior being the constant breeze which at times can be as strong as the sun. When visiting these islands, it’s important to note that you’re close to the equator and the sun can be brutal – so oil up.
All aboard time was 6:30 pm and the ship’s whistle started blowing at 6 pm letting those ashore know it was time to head back. A half-hour later, the captain started laying heavy on the horn as the cruise director called for two individuals to call guest relations “immediately.” After several pages and more blowing of the horn, it was very apparent two people may not make it back to the ship on time.
As I mentioned in another report, if you’re out exploring on your own and you lose track of time, get caught up in traffic, or stuck at Senor Frogs, and you don’t make it back to the ship in time, you’re out of luck. You’ll be responsible for meeting the ship at the next port of call or arranging a trip home on your dime. Ships do not wait for late passengers – unless those passengers are on a shore excursion purchased through the cruise line. In that case, they will wait for those passengers to make it back to the ship before departing.
It was at 6:50 pm, 20 minutes past all aboard time, and one person came running down the pier and another was being driven on a golf cart. Once they were onboard, the gangway was quickly hauled in and we were on our way. Their lateness resulted in a 15-minute delay in our scheduled departure.
For dinner, I wasn’t sure where to go, so I wandered around to the Lido Market to see what they had out. The buffet on Holland America is not 100% self service. Most stations are staffed by crew who will give you want you want, cook you something made to order, even make your salad for you. While this results in somewhat longer wait times for food, it’s more sanitary and the cooked to order food is fresh and delicious. The quality of the food is far superior that what I’ve had recently on Carnival, which I believe I called “slop.” Here are some offerings from the Lido Market on Rotterdam:
I decided to hit up the ship’s Italian restaurant, Canaletto, which is located at the Lido Market but in a separate area with its own decor and menu. The $25 pp +18% speciality restaurant also uses one of the Market’s stations to prepare all the food served here, so it it buffet food, or not?
I started off with the Antipasto Plate which has an assortment of meats and cheeses that are available from the buffet.
Next up was the Burrata, which is not available from the buffet, but was soft and creamy, and may have been house-made.
For the main course, I went with the Beef Short Ribs which were fork-tender, very flavorful, and quite delicious.
For dessert, I went with my server’s recommendation – Tiramisu. I’m not a huge Tiramisu fan, but this one wasn’t bad. The richness and deep chocolate flavor was a perfect way to cap off dinner.
Overall, for the $25 surcharge, it wasn’t a bad meal. Canaletto is one of the restaurants you can experience one time at no charge if you have the Have It All package, so that makes it an even better value. Is it a “can’t miss” restaurant? Not really, so if you’re saving up to experience the more expensive restaurants on board, you can skip it.
Another short trip overnight to the neighboring island of Aruba is up next, where the Rotterdam will arrive at 8 am. Thanks for following along.
Links to Rotterdam Restaurant Menus
Restaurant menus for November 7, 2023, on Holland America Rotterdam:
- Lido Market – Breakfast Menu
- Lido Market – Lunch Menu
- Lido Market – Dinner Menu (Caribbean Dinner)
- Main Dining Room – Breakfast Menu
- Main Dining Room – Lunch Menu
- Main Dining Room – Dinner Menu
- Club Orange – Breakfast Menu
- Club Orange – Dinner Menu
- Pinnacle Grill – Lunch Menu
- Pinnacle Grill – Dinner Menu
- Canaletto – Dinner Menu
- Nami Sushi – Dinner Menu
- Tamarind – Dinner Menu
- Tamarind Bar – Lite Bites Menu
- Rudi’s Sel de Mer – Dinner Menu
- Rotterdam Room Service Menu – All Day Menu
- New York Deli & Pizza – All Day Menu
- Dive In Burgers & Hot Dogs – All Day Menu
Daily Planner for Day 5:
