Cruise the Caribbean
Aruba , Curacao , St. Vincent , Barbados
Margarita , Mayreau

Port of Call: Curacao

Caribbean Cruise . Ports of Call : Aruba - Curacao - Margarita - St. Vincent - Barbados - Mayreau

History Curacao was "discovered" by the Spaniard Alonso de Ojeda in 1499, but had long been inhabited by Arawak natives. The Dutch presence began when the Dutch West Indies Company claimed Curaco in 1634. The island soon became a center of commerce and the slave trade. As a crossroads for adventurers, traders and slaves, it developed its own language, Papiamentu, from Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and West African languages. The oldest synagogue in the hemisphere, Mikve Israel-Emmanuel in Willemstad, was established in 1732. Curaco boomed after the discovery of oil in nearby Venezuela, with the construction of a refinery. The name of the island is most likely an adaptation of the Spanish corazón, or heart.

Diving  Curacao's diving and snorkeling are the talk of sportsmen far and wide. The waters offshore boast 40 dive areas and 65 named sites. Diving and snorkeling gear and instruction are widely available.

Europe in the Caribbean  Willemstad re-creates the charm of Amsterdam in its brick buildings with stepped facades. Narrow streets and heritage buildings are carefully preserved from the early days of the colony in the historic center of the Old Punda district. The Netherlands Antilles are still governed from Fort Amsterdam.

Curacao Culture   Across St. Anna Bay is Otrabanda, its twisting lanes originally a grand residential quarter that gave way to the working-class residences of up-and-coming freed blacks. It's here that today's majority culture of Curacao is rooted, and where many native professionals and artists live or work.  Farther on are Scharloo and Pietermaai, with their restored mansions, protected as World Heritage sites.

Shopping  You'll find European sophistication and goods at wonderfully low prices in Curacao's duty-free shops. Specialties are jewelry, perfumes, and electronics, but good taste prevails in clothing and shoes and the most mundane items, so feel free to stop in any store.

Beaches   Dozens of beaches line Curacao's shores, affording easy access to clear waters. They range from secluded coves to long open stretches that are regularly maintained, where you'll pay admission and be offered a beach chair.

Source :Curacao web site

Crucero Antillas y Granadinas . CATEGORÍA DEL CRUCERO       
PRECIOS POR PERSONA. PENSION COMPLETA A BORDO 8 DIAS / 7 NOCHES

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