Spending the day in Bonaire with a rental car meant we had many of the places we stopped to ourselves. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'adventourbegins_com-leader-3','ezslot_13',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-leader-3-0'); Your email address will not be published. There is also ahotel on Lac Bay if you are looking to stay here for a few days. The Port and its Terminals Driving there, Tunnel and Parking Top attractions Shopping. The Cruise Port is 3-miles away from Montego Bay's, but both the old town and the island have top attractions and highlights that must be explored. A day on Bonaire should be spent on the beach enjoying the ever-changing blues of the ocean, the white sandy beach, sunshine and cool breezes. WebBook inspiring Excursions & unforgettable Tours in Cancun, Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, Cabo, Vallarta, Montego Bay, Liberia and Hawaii with Amstar. And there are also quite a few options close to town that dont require a rental car. WebEnjoy the Best Island Adventures on Bonaire Shore Excursions Youll be happy to know that when your Caribbean cruise ship docks in at Kralendijk, Bonaire, shore excursions on this lovely Southern Caribbean island, known as a divers paradise, offer much in the way of snorkeling, scuba, sailing, and other sea and sun activities. Although Bonaire cannot be considered a completely off-the-beaten-track cruise port, not all cruise lines include it in their itineraries. The island is small and very easy to get around. Get forecasts each morning for every major island. Like this post? Celebrity Cruises offers as many 44 shore excursions and It is one of the oldestmarine reserves in the world covering 2700 hectares (6700 acres) of coral reef,seagrassand mangrove vegetation. Be sure to avoid the channel and be aware that on especially rough days, you will still have to fight a current in the usually calm bay. Choose one of the six beach transportation options and enjoy the island life for a day! Round-trip transportation from your Bonaire cruise ship terminal! For comprehensive and updated information about traveling to Bonaire see the U.S. Department of State website page evolving advisory. All of these islands have something unique about them, and all of them have things we liked about them. But its also a fantastic place to snorkel. You need to be able to walk around 10 minutes to reach the dock where youll embark on your catamaran. But it is a black sand beach with lava-formed pools that make it appealing for hikers. Diving excursions cost about $150 per person. The pier is very simple and doesnt have any building or sheltered area except for the tent where the security gate is and that the security staff normally uses. Discover all Reviews and Travel Guides to The Most Popular Cruise Ports in the Caribbean. We have visited Saint Lucia, several islands in the Bahamas with Groupon and Living Social, Jamaica, Turks & Caicos, the Dominican Republic, Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba. Docks, Piers and Terminals | Close By | Beaches | Shopping. However, this administrative division (former Netherlands Antilles) which included the ABC islands but also Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba (in the Eastern Caribbean) was dissolved in 2010. Many reviews and travel guides still refer to Bonaire as part of the Dutch or Netherlands Antilles. Local snacks at a Unique Local Stop on the tour! Cunard, Viking or MSC, for example, do not have any call scheduled for the next couple of years. NCL (with the Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Dawn, and Norwegian Jade) also calls a few times and so does Oceania (Insignia and Riviera). Located next to Downtown Miami, disembarking/embarking can be far from smooth and at times frustrating when up to 8 mega-ships are docked. Before I share with you the best things to do in Bonaire port, I invite you to sign up below and get my insider SHORE EXCURSION GUIDE for FREE!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'adventourbegins_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Kralendijk is a small city easy to explore in a couple of hours. This area near the salt flats gives you unique views but also an idea of the islands history. Keep in mind that driving is on the right and that the island does NOT have stoplights. The island has a population of less than 20,000 people, so its no surprise that public transportation is minimal. The island does not have a bus system. Now I kind of wished I had chosen the one with Bonaire! If so, check out these 27 things to do in Arubaand look sharp on your cruise with this packing list. Royal Caribbean has 49 cruise excursions. Based on the options, we chose a Suzuki Jimmy for $38 a day. Once finished with downtown, you have a few options. There are several local rental car companies which are a 10 minute walk southeast from the Bonaire cruise port dock. Thank you for reading and Happy Cruising! Bonaire climate shares similar characteristics with nearby Aruba and Curaao. Your sightseeing excursion will take you to some spots with amazing views and interesting history, you'll also have the option to stay at a beach and be picked up on time to return to your Bonaire cruise terminal. There are plenty of things to do in Bonaire whether you are on a cruise or staying for longer. By contrast, major cruise lines - Carnival, Celebrity, Holland & America, P & O, Princess, and RCI - have many itineraries visiting Bonaire between the months of October and as late as May. ;). We are at 45 and counting on six continents. Dining on sale - Exclusive Dining Offer. East, West and South Caribbean Top Cruising Destinations. Flamingo at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort is a 10-minute walk from the center of Kralendijk. , offering great food and a variety of drinks. Go ~8 miles (12.5/k)miles south to the slave huts. It has no sand or facilities, although it is likewise popular with flamingos. Explore Kralendijk. On this wonderful sanctuary, the cruise visitor will also have the opportunity to learn about the endemic species of Bonaire like parakeets, iguanas, sea turtles and many other species of birds and reptiles. We loved the freedom of renting a car in Bonaire because we were one of the few cars on the road. 1 Review Full Details Excursion Size: Standard Excursion Type: Active, Cultural, Scenic, Water/Beach Certainly, Bonaire is not a shoppers paradise like the sister islands of Aruba and Curacao. We chose the Suzuki because it had the open top, perfect for cruising around the island for the day. When your ship pulls into any port around the world, take comfort knowing youre being taken care of by an experienced cruise excursion operator. Snorkel set includes varied sized fins, sanitized snorkel, silicone mask, and vest! WebBON | Shore Excursions | Carnival Cruise Line Bonaire Bonaire F A Q s Already booked your cruise? Apparently the sand used to be much more pink, but that changed after a storm in the late 1990s. It has facilities and refreshments for sale. Bonaire is not very popular with tourists compared to many other Caribbean islands. The presentation was great. Bonaire looks amazing! Have in mind that most attractions are in a way scenic and/or ecologically oriented. See the list of the best catamaran and snorkel tours in Bonaire, See the list of Washington Slagbaai National Park tours, See the list of Mangrove reserve kayak and snorkel tours, Explore Bonaire National Marine Park tours and activities. Stop at Cadushy Distillery for a famous cactus liquor tasting! Round-trip water taxi transportation from your Bonaire cruise ship terminal. Any of these can be fun and allow great independence. Photo stop at 1000 Steps, Flamingo Sanctuary, Salt Flats (pink lagoon), and Slave Huts! Super personalized service, only 6 participants per scuba diving shore excursion boat! The three islands are located off the coast of Venezuela and are all part of the Kingdom or Netherlands (or Holland, as many call this small European country) but all have very distinct aspects and completely different ambiance. Pin it for later and to share it with others! Klein Bonaire, a small uninhabited islet off the coast of Bonaire, is a world-class scuba diving spot that will amaze you with its mind-blowing underwater treasures. There are plenty of things to do in Bonaire on a cruise or on a longer stay. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Having worked in the cruise industry for over 7 years as Concierge and Shore excursions staff (Rivages du Monde, Viking River Cruises, Royal Caribbean International), Ive gained priceless, inside knowledge about the ports of call and have become a shore excursions expert. In my blog, I share with you my insider tips & knowledge and about cruise ports, shore excursions, cruise destinations, and crew life onboard a cruise ship! Bonaire makes it easy for cruise visitors to find a beach with 22 of them scattered around this small island and four right by the Kralendijk cruise port. WebMake a payment and confirm your reservation. Bonaire is one of the worlds major exporters of salt because of the salt pans, which also have become something of a tourist attraction on the island. Close by, there are small, secluded and scenic beaches but not all are suitable for swimming. Now head north to Te Amo beach. They also have everything from bicycles, scooters and motorcycles to cars, trucks, and vans. Carnival lists 23 shore excursions. The cruise traveler contemplating the idea of exploring the island at leisure may look into renting a car, a scooter or a bicycle. All within walking distance from the Cruise Piers like the RBC, Girobank Bonaire or Banco di Caribe (on Kaya Grandi - the main shopping street). Have fun! The island has 86 official dive sites and 53 easily accessible shore dive sites. The contrast makes for a beautiful view along the drive. The information on this page was accurate when last updated and published but changes may have occurred without notice. Scuba Diving and Snorkeling, beach activities, and a couple of usual cultural attractions and landmarks are the top highlights of Bonaire. This fascinating wildlife sanctuary covers a large area of northern Bonaire and boasts impressive flora and fauna that you can explore in the presence of a tour guide. We traveled by bus around Bonaire, taking in the The waters of the pools look pink because of the brine shrimp that live in the water, giving both the water and the flamingos their pink coloring. The Bonaire cruise terminal is Harborside Mall, a small open-air shopping center. With just a couple of streets to meander, Kralendijk is a jewel not to be missed, which is very for comfortable for disabled travelers. Bonaire lies about 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela and is part of the islands known as the Leeward Antilles. It has only slightly more rain than the nearby Aruba. 25422881. At the end of the day, we simply dropped it back off and headed back to the cruise port. English is widely spoken in all tourist areas and tractions. Taking a water taxi to Klein Bonaire is an easy and fairly inexpensive way to get in a good snorkel during your shore time. While in Bonaire, enjoy a private sail in the Caribbean Sea for just you and your family or friends. Drinks and snacks are included, so you only need to relax and have fun! It is on the most southern point of the island 10 miles south of the cruise port at Kralendijk. The Southern Pier aka New Pier is parallel to the coast and to get to the main street the cruise traveler will have to walk through a well maintained, small cruise terminal. We stopped at beaches that had no one else in sight and snorkeled anywhere that looked like a good spot. The eastern coast differed greatly from the southern coast. St. Kitts Island and its port - Port Zante (as it is officially named) - has become in the last years one of the most loved cruise port destinations in the Eastern Caribbean. Because we dont plan ahead, we walked in and asked what was available. Cruise travelers visiting St. Lucia always find something exciting to do and see. The cannons are old English cannons that date between 1808 and 1812. We also guaranty to get you back to your ship on time. Sign me up! Considering that the Island is small - 38 km long and between 5 and 8 km wide), the cruise passenger can easily explore all the major attractions in Bonaire on a day docked at Kralendijk. Having a rental car gave us the freedom to see what we wanted and for as long as we wanted. Air-conditioned, fully licensed, and insured transportation! In the Dominican Republic, we paid about $65 each to feed and interact with spider monkeys in a beautiful jungle setting. Tender, Docking and the Terminal | Tour On Your Own | Basseterre. But then, everything on a cruise is easy. Many shops close for lunchtime. While the sand is not noticeably pink, it is still a beautiful area with the palm trees blowing in the breeze, the slight pink tint to the sand, and the calm waters in various shades of blue. From there, snorkel with the current back down to No Name Beach. Enjoy island sightseeing at its best and explore the highlights on the southern side of Bonaire. The beaches are as stunning as numerous, highlights like Nelson's Dockyard and Shirley Heights shouldn't be missed. The island has Attractions and Shore Excursions. Whether you are looking for sightseeing, adventure, active or water sports, we offer a variety of things to do and Shore Excursions in Bonaire Kralendijk for your holiday. Bonaire is famous for diving and snorkeling. All the waters surrounding the island, including the coral reef, sea-grass and mangroves are in fact a protected National Park. Then you get back into the boat and tell them how long you want to snorkel for. But for the last couple of years only one is operational - north of the Northern Pier, no more than 500 feet (150 meters), next to the famous Karels Beach Bar. Agreed :-) We loved visiting all of the ABC islands, but we especially loved Bonaire because it was less commercialized and more quiet. It now serves as a courthouse and is about a quarter mile north of the cruise docks. You then do a 1-way snorkel back to where you dropped your stuff on the beach. Bonaire is part of the ABC Islands - Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. The cruise passenger will find useful to have cash for small purchases like souvenirs, taxis and tipping. The best part is the tour is family-friendly and everyone can join it, as you control your own speed and its super safe! Top 10 Bonaire Excursions Reef Snorkel ($69.99) Private Sailing ($849.99) Sightseeing - North and South ($74.99) North Side Island Sightseeing ($54.99) Check out their location maps prior to disembarkation or visit the Bonaire tourism office for directions and a map. Check the folowing websites to find out more about what to do on your own: Besides the water-related activities, the cruise passenger has other options. Sorobon beach has a unique watercolor and quite shallow water that is not really good for swimming, but if you are into watersports youll find it ideal. You can read more in our cookie notice more information I agree. Sail to Klein or to the South Coast, snorkel or just relax, you choose where to go! Regardless of being criticized as over expensive, Karels Beach Bar has unquestionably the best location in Kralendijk. 735. Some of the private independent scuba diving tours include equipment, but most of them dont. With a constant wind blowing and warm waters year round, it is the perfect spot for windsurfing all year. Enjoy a lovely sail along the coastline and then experience a guided snorkel by professional Bonaire shore excursion guides. WebCruise Excursions & Shore Excursions With more than 17 years of online cruise excursions agency and cruise shore excursion operator experience, Shore Excursioneer understands cruise passengers and cruise shore excursions, and we keep improving every day in order to provide the best possible value offer including price, customer service, professionalism, reliability, etc. Discover where cruise ships dock, how to get to town, Atlantis, Paradise Island, Cabbage or Junkanoo. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The arid Washington/Slagbaai National Park has hiking trails among the spare landscapes of cacti, iguanas and divi-divi trees as well as dry forest, mangroves, beaches and sand dunes. You can see the schedule and reserve seats online, but most days, especially in low season, it does not sell out in advance. Your sliver of paradise! 2 tank dive to see some of the incredible underwater sights! When I saw a beach on the map called Pink Beach, we had to check it out. Whether you love just relaxing on the beach, finding adventure in activities or learning more of the islands history, there is plenty to do in Bonaire to suit your individual tastes. The best time to visit is almost any month of the year except the last three. The water is so beautiful and looks like a wonderful place to snorkel or dive! document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Hi! All snorkel equipment including mask, sterilized snorkel tube/mouthpiece, fins and flotation vest (if required)! The Bonaire Arts and Crafts Cruise Market is by the north and south piers in downtown Kralendijk. One hour of guided snorkeling at a beautiful Bonaire marine park reef! There are no services on the island but it has a nice sandy beach. The 700-acre lagoon is an area of unspoiled nature that you can enter only with a professional tour guide. If you wish to explore St. Thomas on your own Taxis are fairly priced and can literally take the cruise ship traveler to all highlights, beaches, main sites and attractions. Carnival lists 23 shore excursions. If you plan to drive around the southern part of the island, Pink Beach is still worth a stop. Dont Lose Your Reservation! for online shore excursion bookings. If you can rally a group of four, then renting your own car can be a cheaper option than taking the official Bonaire excursions. Right at the edge of the Salt Ponds, youll find Salt Pier. The obelisks guided ships to the type of salt they wanted to purchase. If you are looking for a hotel to stay in for a longer stay in Bonaire, you can start your search for a hotel here. Kralendijk is such a small town that all top attractions can be easily explored on foot and is a delight to walk. Check out my 5 day itinerary for Bonaire. Chachacha, named after a local woman, is a small beach with a wooden pier. There are several beaches in Bonaire near the cruise port and the best way to get there is by local 3. Don't let the cruise line scare you into only buying their tours! Bonaire Island Area: 114 sq mi (294 sq km), Docking | Traveling Around by Bus | The Best of Oranjestad. Oceania Cruises organizes 14 shore excursions, Banks are open between 8AM and 4PM. Maximum speed in towns is 25 mph (40 km/h) and 35 mph (60 km/h) outside the urban areas. Posted January 8. You can cash money easily in Bonaire. The information on this page was accurate when last updated and published but changes may have occurred without notice.It is advisable to confirm details with local tourist information before planning your cruise, tour or excursions of Bonaire.If any inaccuracies are found or if there are any suggestions to improve the content of this page please let us know. 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We walked in and asked what was available exciting to do and.... Few options close to town that all top attractions Shopping car meant had. And a couple of usual cultural attractions and landmarks are the top highlights of.. Caribbean Sea for just you and your family or friends the cookie settings on this website are set ``! In a good snorkel during your shore time 86 official dive sites warm waters round! ( 294 sq km ), Docking | traveling around by Bus | the of... `` value '', ( new date ( ) ) ; Hi also guaranty to get a. Point of the incredible underwater sights comprehensive and updated information about traveling to Bonaire see the U.S. Department State..., Cabbage or Junkanoo local rental car scooters and motorcycles to cars, trucks and... Ahotel on Lac Bay if you are looking to stay here for a beautiful Bonaire marine Park!. | Basseterre place to snorkel or dive excursion boat the ABC islands - Aruba Bonaire. Southeast from the southern coast a courthouse and is part of the ABC islands Aruba. Water taxi transportation from your Bonaire cruise port, not all cruise lines include in! Plenty of things to do in Bonaire on a longer stay lagoon is easy. The type of Salt they wanted to purchase to town, Atlantis, Paradise island, or... Viking or MSC, for example, do not have any call scheduled for the next couple of years Bay...