Cruise from Holland to Curacao

The travel company Corendon has put together a unique cruise. It is offering a unique cruise from IJmuiden to Curacao on October 31, 2025. IJmuiden is located west of Amsterdam directly on the North Sea Canal. If you want to take part, you will need at least 3 weeks’ time and, of course, money. It’s not that expensive, but more on that later.

From the Netherlands to Curacao for the first time

Never before have passengers been able to travel to Curacao on a transatlantic cruise from the Netherlands. The 4*+ cruise ship Renaissance, formerly known as MS Maasdam, belongs to the British cruise company Ambassador Cruise Line. More precisely, the Renaissance is a joint project between Ambassador Cruise Line, the French Compagnie Française de Croisières and Corendon. The ship was completely renovated at the beginning of 2025.

Cruise route

Your journey begins at the cruise pier in IJmuiden with embarkation. You will then sail across the ocean for 20 days, stopping off at the following seaports:

• Dunkirk (France)
• Lisbon (Portugal)
• Ponta Delgada (Azoren)
• St. John’s (Antigua)
• Roseau (Dominica)
• Castries (St. Lucia)
• Bridgetown (Barbados)
• Willemstad (Curacao)

Well, if that’s not a dream stopover! We particularly recommend Lisbon to you because we know it and love it too. We still have to explore the other places and islands ourselves – apart from Curacao, of course.

Disembarking on Curacao

All passengers disembark on Curacao. You have the option of extending your stay on the island. On Curacao, Corendon can organize your return journey to the Netherlands by plane.

Of course, you can also book your vacation days on Curacao through another tour operator or arrange your own private accommodation. Your return flight with Corendon is also not a must. Of course, KLM also flies this route.

Cruise terminal in Willemstad

As a guest on a passenger ship, you are lucky enough to arrive directly in the colorful and vibrant capital of Willemstad, in contrast to arriving by plane. The pier is located in the Otrobanda district and in the immediate vicinity of the old Rif Fort. There are numerous stores, restaurants, a small market and city hotels. The old town (a World Heritage Site) can be reached on foot via the famous Queen Emma pontoon bridge.

Travel information about the Cruise Ship Renaissance

Once you have acquired a taste for it, you can choose between single, double, triple and quadruple cabins. There are 9 passenger decks. A maximum of 1,199 guests are accommodated on the ocean liner alongside you. 😉 However, around 580 crew members will look after you, which promises good service with an almost 2:1 guest-to-crew ratio. The Renaissance offers numerous facilities and amenities. These include:

• 2 swimming pools (one of which has a retractable roof)
• Various restaurants, including a sushi bar and a fine dining restaurant
• 1 wine bar
• Live music
• Cabaret
• Night clubs
• Shops
• Theater
• Cinema
• Spa
• Fitness center

Language on board

The main language on board, both for the crew and for announcements, is English. However, Corendon also organizes Dutch-speaking guides on board. They will probably also be able to help you on your journey, as many Dutch people speak German. If not a guide, then who?

Price structure

Corendon offers the cruise with full board from € 1,599 per person, i.e. € 80 per day. Further information is available from the Corendon travel agencies either at Scharlooweg 27 on Curacao or in the lobby of the Resort Bonaire on Bonaire or on Corendon Website.

Or would you prefer the other way around?

That would mean being on Curacao first before crossing from there to IJmuiden in Holland. There is also the opportunity to do this on a unique 22-day cruise departing on March 4, 2026. Everything else can also be found on the Corendon website linked above.

Note from the relaxedcuracao.com editorial team

We are not crusaders, but maybe you are. That is why we are happy to inform you here.

It is not our goal to increase cruise tourism on Curacao. In our opinion, there are more than enough Caribbean cruises. That was also not our intention with our report on “the dream ship” on New Year’s Day. But if, from a German perspective, Curacao becomes the setting for a famous TV series, or there is the option of a 20-day transatlantic cruise with dream destinations, then of course we take it up – without taking commission or anything like that.

With this in mind: Ahoy!

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This article is based on a report from the Curacao Chronicle on Feb. 17, 2025

Information about the cruise ship Renaissance via Maduro Travel

Fuikdag or Fuik Day 2025

What is Fuikdag?

Here is the answer to our quiz question: “Fuik means fishing net. Fuik Day is a festival on the water in Fuikbaai. Fuikbaai is a bay in the shape of an elongated fishing net. It is navigated with anything that floats on the water. Fuik Day is a big happening with lots of music, food and drink. What started with a few friends’ boats has now become a well-known event that takes place annually on the first Sunday of the year.”

Rules for Fuikdag 2025

Authorities on Curaçao, including the coast guard, police and other regulatory agencies, are conducting strict controls at sea and along coastal areas to ensure a safe and orderly Fuikdag 2025. These measures, aimed at maintaining public order and enforcing government regulations, are part of a coordinated effort to address safety concerns and logistical challenges during the event.

Watercraft participating in the Fuikdag must meet strict safety requirements. All boats must carry sufficient life jackets for the passengers on board, as well as the required safety equipment, including signaling devices and whistles. All watercraft must also have proper documentation available for inspection by the port and security inspection team and the Coast Guard.

In addition to these measures, the sale of alcohol is strictly prohibited and no music may be played on rafts or platforms during the event. After 5:00 pm, music must be completely silent. The fire department will conduct inspections to ensure that no open flames are used for barbecues or other activities that could pose a fire hazard on board vessels.

The authorities have also banned the use of water taxis and hitchhiking to and from Fuikbaai. This rule was introduced due to incidents in which people were stranded in Fuikbaai and had to return to Caracasbaai via private property in Santa Barbara, causing unnecessary unrest. To avoid similar problems, these measures will be strictly enforced.

Boats arriving from abroad must complete immigration and customs procedures before they can participate in the event. This ensures that all vessels comply with local entry requirements and have the necessary documentation.

The enforcement of these rules will be handled by various authorities, including the Coast Guard, the Curacao Police, the Port and Security Inspection, the Fire Department, the Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN), the Santa Barbara Security Authority, the Red Cross, the Curacao Ambulance Foundation (FKA) and Citro. These organizations will work together to ensure public safety and provide assistance when needed.

Violations of the established regulations will be sanctioned, as the authorities emphasize the importance of adhering to these rules to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all participants. Participants are urged to respect the guidelines, cooperate with officials, and give priority to safety during Fuikdag 2025.

This coordinated action underscores the commitment of the Curacao authorities to ensure that Fuikdag remains a safe and well-organized event for all concerned.

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First report of the Curacao Chronicle on December 20, 2024

In the night from Saturday, December 7 to Sunday, December 8, 2024, four ostriches were killed on the ostrich farm on the road to Groot St. Joris. The animals were found dead on Sunday morning. A spokesperson for the farm expressed deep sadness at the loss. Apparently stray dogs from the neighborhood were able to enter the property and tore the ostriches apart.

The farm has urged residents to keep a close eye on their pets. They should ensure that they stay on their property to prevent similar incidents in the future.

As the ostrich farm is a popular tourist attraction on Curacao and is home to numerous animals, the incident raises concerns for the safety of the wildlife on site.

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Original news from 09.12.2024 on our partner website of the Curacao Chronicle

Sanitary facilities project at Kenepa Chiki

The Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN) has started the construction of new toilets at Kleine Knip Beach, which is called Kenepa Chiki in Papiamentu.

The beach, which has not been managed for many years, has no sanitary facilities. These are now to be built at the lower end of the beach (wherever that may be exactly). Construction will take around nine weeks. The Ministry apologizes in advance for any inconvenience caused by the construction work.

Reason for the construction of the toilets

According to the ministry, the lack of toilets led to dangerous situations. This measure is intended to improve the visitor experience at one of Curacao’s most popular beaches while ensuring public health and safety.

Construction plans at beaches critical

Unlike other construction plans for “concrete” beach clubs at locations such as Caracasbaai, Jeremi and Lagun, which sparked significant protests and petitions, the installation of the new toilets is considered a relatively minor intervention.

Note from the Relaxed Curacao editorial team

From our perspective, access and parking could be tight for the duration of the construction. The narrow access road is not exactly ideal for construction vehicles. The Curacao Visitors Forum will soon tell you to what extent construction noise will affect your stay on the beach.

We hope that the ancient, tall Kenepa trees on the left-hand side of the beach will not have to make way for the new toilets. The new building should blend in well with the surroundings and not take up too much parking space, so that the Kenepa Chiki does not lose too much of its flair and charm.

Many years ago, there was a farm building on the left-hand side of the Kleiner Knip, looking out to sea. It is now a ruin. Perhaps this opportunity will be used to demolish the old eyesore or maybe everything will shine in new splendor once the whole thing has been renovated? We’ll stay tuned!

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First report of the Curacao Chronicle on October 30, 2024

Sargassum

Sargassum is a brown algae that the magazine Spektrum der Wissenschaft described as the “curse of the Caribbean” back in 2018.

Sargassum originally comes from the tropical and subtropical Atlantic. Two of these brown algae species drift without anchoring en masse in the Sargasso Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Gas-filled bubbles hold the up to one meter long plants at the water surface. When they are held together by different currents in the open sea, they form a valuable habitat.

Countless numbers of marine organisms live in the seaweed: from firmly attached bryozoans and endemic species such as the Sargasso fish to free-swimming sea turtles. Young turtles can hide well in it in the open sea and hunt crabs or gnaw on the Sargassum itself.

Coastal alarm

However, if sargassum washes up on the coast, it forms a compact carpet of death, as has unfortunately been the case for years on the Caribbean coasts. Curacao also has to contend with this time and again. This year, a carpet of brown algae reached the north of Curacao as early as mid-April. The bays of Ascencion and Sint Joris are particularly affected.

The Sea Turtle Conservation Curacao (STCC) has already appealed for help on social media, as sea turtles are getting stuck in the thick pile of seaweed and are unable to dive down or catch their breath.

Consequential damage

The Unique Curacao Foundation (Stichting Uniek Curacao) reports that the Sargassum, which was previously drifting in Ascension Bay, has now sunk to the bottom. In addition, some of it has accumulated in the shallowest parts of the bay.

“The seaweed lying on the bottom and the sea creatures under the sargassum die when it sinks to the bottom.” (Unique Curacao Foundation)

The brown algae release hydrogen sulphide, a poisonous gas whose characteristic smell is reminiscent of rotten eggs. The stench even overpowers the salty smell of the sea. The gas can damage plants and animals alike. In humans, it can cause headaches, drowsiness, nausea and asthma, as well as irritating the eyes and respiratory tract.

The sargassum situation is critical and something urgently needs to be done about it. For this reason, the foundation would like to contact the Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN). The Ministry is aware of the situation, but will probably wait for the last wave of Sargassum before taking further action.

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Sources:
Curacao Chronicle news from 25.04.2024
Spektrum der Wissenschaft report from 18.07.2018
Stichting Uniek Curacao (Unique Curacao Foundation) in the fight against the Sargassum plague

The picture shows the Boka Ascencion in the background without brown algae infestation.

All variants of the original Senior liqueurs from the Chobolobo country house are now available to buy in the Dutch online store. For a long time, this was not available in Europe, not even on Amazon.

You can find out more about the only true, original Blue Curacao in our article.