Curaçao Cruise Port Guide and FAQs

Table Of Content

• Willemstad Curacao cruise terminal
• Where do cruise ships dock in Curaçao
• Mega Pier Cruise Terminal
• Otrobanda
• Playa PortoMari (Pig Beach) and The Playa PortoMari Pigs!
• CCL-Carnival Cruise Line unveils 2025-2026 schedule, featuring Venezia ship's Bermuda & Eastern...
• Get a shot with the Curaçao and Dushi sign!

It has a beautiful courtyard and an old church with an embedded cannon wall reminiscent of old wars. The fort is worth a visit to explore its beauty and learn some history. Whether you are visiting Curaçao for vacation or during a cruise, a exploring the city center of Willemstad is always a good idea. In the previous paragraphs, you were able to get acquainted with the four neighborhoods, now, I would like to present you an itinerary with all the highlights that you can visit during a full day. The city center of Curaçao is walkable, but you can also take public transportation to get from Punda to Otrobanda and vice versa. Take a stroll through the cobbled streets of the Punda district, where you’ll find historic landmarks like the Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, the round market, or the Dushi Curaçao sign.

Willemstad Curacao cruise terminal

Known for its colorful architecture, diverse culture, and breathtaking natural beauty, Curaçao cruise port promises an unforgettable journey. The beach is located in the north of the island, around a 1-hour drive from the Curacao port. It is a laid-back, small sandy cove with a snack bar, and chair rental facilities, best known for diving and snorkeling.

Where do cruise ships dock in Curaçao

The bay is home to a dozen of sea turtles, making it an experience of a lifetime to swim alongside these incredible creatures in crystal clear water. Cas Abao provides various amenities to ensure a comfortable day by the shore. The beach offers secure parking, showers, restrooms, and the option to rent a locker for safeguarding your valuables.

Mega Pier Cruise Terminal

THE 25 BEST Cruises to Curacao 2024 (with Prices) - Curacao Cruise Port Terminal on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

THE 25 BEST Cruises to Curacao 2024 (with Prices) - Curacao Cruise Port Terminal on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:20:39 GMT [source]

Go dive with a team of highly skilled dive instructors and see a world of colorful healthy reefs teeming with a variety of fish and sea life. Curacao’s perfect diving conditions make it a world-class diving destination. The island is favored with good weather, warm waters, healthy coral reefs, and great visibility, making it a great dive destination for beginners and experienced divers alike. Enjoy the hike up to Curacao’s highest point some 372 meters (1,200 feet) above sea level and enjoy panoramic views of the island. This is best done in the morning to take advantage of cooler temperatures and to ensure plenty of time to rest and hike leisurely.

Otrobanda

Just like in other areas, striking architecture is the first thing that catches the eye in Scharloo. The buildings in Scharloo are an eclectic mix of styles, from Art Deco to Baroque, Dutch Colonial, with a dash of Caribbean flair thrown in for good measure. As you wander through the streets, you can’t help but feel like you’re walking through a living museum. When walking through Pietermaai’s streets, you’ll be greeted by a kaleidoscope of colorful buildings that range from pastel pinks to bright oranges and blues.

Due to the frequency which the bridge opens during the day, free passenger ferries are provided to cross the channel while the bridge is open for ships. Other budding shopping scenes in Curacao are found at Breedestraat in Punda and the renaissance mall in Otrabanda. The picturesque pedestrian-only streets bear quaint waterfront shops selling all manner of merchandise, including chichi dolls, Dutch cheeses, fine art, clothing, utensils, and handicrafts. One of the most popular attractions in this part of the city is the Queen Emma bridge that connects these two famous quarters of the island together. Go eat, explore, take pictures at the DUSHI & CURACAO signage, or shop while in Willemstad. From the cruise ship pier, Willemstad is just a walking distance away.

As soon as you exit the Rif Fort village, you’ll see the Queen Emma Bridge and the line of colorful Dutch buildings. These typically Dutch buildings feature magnificent colonial architecture and are best seen from the pontoon bridge. Once you cross the bridge, you’ll see several waterfront cafes, restaurants, tour agencies, jewelry, perfume, clothing, and other duty-free shops housed in the buildings. Mathey Wharf dock is located a 5-10 minute walk from the Willemstad city center and features facilities such as a tourist information desk, a taxi rank, tour booths, souvenir shops, and restrooms. Mathey Wharf is another docking location that consists of four piers. It is located in St Anna Bay and occupies the old wharves of Otrobanda and Punda next to the Queen Juliana Bridge.

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line unveils 2025-2026 schedule, featuring Venezia ship's Bermuda & Eastern...

The name Klein means little, hence the island’s name ‘little Curacao’. The uninhabited island features an old lighthouse, a shipwreck, a beach house with thatched palapas, and miles of soft white sandy beaches. If taking a tour of the wild north to Christoffel Park, then a visit to the Savonet museum is a must. It gives you a glimpse into the island’s history from 4,000 years ago with a keen interest in plantations, which were once the backbone of the island’s economy. The fort is now a UNESCO world heritage site and bears a lot of the island’s history and heritage.

Get a shot with the Curaçao and Dushi sign!

The Curaçao Cruise Port of Willemstad is conveniently located in the heart of the city center. From the pier you walk straight into the hustle and bustle of Curaçao daily life. Like most Caribbean islands it is also a shopping paradise and with great places to savor local cuisine. This award-winning beach is known for its turquoise waters and coastal rocky landscape hiding away soft white sand. Its free to park and stay, and you can even find batidos stands which offer cool refreshments. Klein Curacao is a flat, small, 1-square mile island southeast of Curacao.

Soak up the sun at Mambo Beach, or discover local culture and history on a museum-hopping tour. Take to the floating Queen Emma Bridge for sweeping city views over the water. Savor the fusion of Dutch and Afro-Caribbean cuisine on exclusive culinary experiences with local chefs. If you are docked at the Mega Pier (main pier in Curacao) you will have Rif Fort at your door step. Together with Fort Amsterdam on the other side of the bay it was build in the 1820’s to defend the city. Rif Fort has now been transformed into a pleasant recreation area where you will find high end shops, souvenir shops and lots of bars and restaurants.

You can shop, eat, people watch, or simply relax with great views of Punda and the harbor as seen from the roof of the fort. One of the prettiest towns you will ever have the pleasure of visiting is probably Willemstad, Curacao. Willemstad is the capital city of Curacao and true to Dutch ways, the town is painted in hues of soft cotton candy colors.

If you're planning a trip to the beautiful island of Curaçao, let me be your guide to navigating its public transportation system. As someone who doesn’t like to drive, I've come to appreciate the... The port area is equipped with amenities such as shopping areas, restaurants, and photo-worthy tourist attractions to cater to the needs and preferences of cruise passengers. Fresh seafood and locally sourced ingredients dominate the straightforward yet rich menu options. Dining in local places provides an authentic taste of Curaçao’s culinary identity, making it a memorable experience for those looking to explore the island’s varied and delicious food scene.

It’s an old-Dutch drawbridge that connects the two neighboorhoods. When exploring Curaçao ashore or below the surface, you’ll be exposed to a carnival of colors. Pietermaai is the lively neighboorhood where a painter could fill its pallet with the most vibrant hues and create a true masterpiece. Whether observing a spirited game of dominoes or perusing hand-painted souvenirs at the Brionplein, the neighborhood offers a rich tapestry of authentic Curaçao experiences.

You can book a shore excursion, get a taxi, or rent a car to get around the island. Downtown Willemstad is within walking distance from the various piers. Obviously, all cruise lines offer many and diverse shore excursions in Curaçao cruise port. Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean offer as many 26 shore excursions.

The districts of Punda, Otrobanda, Pietermaai en Scharloo are just 5-15 minute walk from the Mega Pier Cruise Terminal. With capacity for as many as 4 ships, this terminal occupies the old wharves of Otrabanda and Punda next to Queen Juliana Bridge across the St. Anna Bay. If only one cruise ship is in port, the Mega Pier is where she will dock regardless of the size or the length of the stay - the Mega Pier is the one on the left in the picture above. The historic downtown is designated UNESCO Site and consists of 4 quarters. Punda and Otrobanda are separated by Sint Anna Bay (an inlet leading into Schottegat / natural harbour). Scharloo and Pietermaai Smal are across from each other on the smaller Waaigat Harbour.

The two large piers have capacity to berth, respectively, Freedom-class (GT 160,000) and Oasis-class (GT 225,000) mega-liners. If your ship does happen to come in on a Sunday, don’t worry too much as many stores and activities will open on those occasions to help bring in the tourism. In this town, you can explore history by visiting interesting museums and forts, or study intricate architecture on an old synagogue and merchant houses. It has four quarters but two of the most popular are Punda and Otrabanda, which sit across one another on the Sint Anna Bay (a narrow inlet that leads to the deep harbor of Schottegat).