Capital
Willemstad
On our cruises to Curacao, you can relax on duvet-soft beaches and kayak around the island’s coast.
Located off the coast of Venezuela, the tiny Dutch island of Curacao has all the vibrant looks of a toy town. We stop at the port of Willemstad, where buildings come in bright shades of fire-engine-red, rubber-duck-yellow and Internet-Explorer-blue. Take in Willemstad’s best bits on a trolley train tour – you’ll get to see the Pietermaai Cathedral, Queen Wilhelmina Park, and a building known as the wedding cake house due to its quirky design. Blue Bay Beach is the largest in the area, and ticks off sugar-white sand and biro-blue water.
Despite its laidback atmosphere, there are lots of adventures to be had on this teeny island. Jet-skiing and speedboat rides are popular ways to break up bucket-and-spade days, while a boat trip around the picturesque coast is more relaxing. The island’s climate lends itself to these seaside adventures – look up the word ‘tropical’ in the dictionary and you’ll find a picture of Curacao underneath. It’s pretty scorching year-round, with temperatures hotting up to 33°C.
This little Dutch island is slowly beginning to creep onto the tourist radar, and for good reason. It offers up an unbeatable mix of footprint-free beaches and pretty colonial towns. The UNESCO-listed port of Willemstad leads the pack, with its candy-coloured, red-roofed houses that gild the downtown area. Take in Willemstad’s best bits on the trolley train tour.
TUI River Cruises tick off everything from big-name cities like Budapest and Vienna to barely-trodden bankside beauties, like Cochem and Durnstein – via iconic waterways including the Rhine and Danube. Best of all? Flights, transfers and meals with drinks are all included.