Written by Chillie Falls for AccessAdventure.net, May 3, 2023
After 27 cruises since January 28, 2022, I finally have some accessible excursions book and I am beyond thrilled! And a special thanks to the folks at the Shore Excursion desk that have worked with me despite huge queues of guests from the oversold Norwegian joy.
I will be reporting on each of these individually after the fact, but it appears each of the vendors can handle me and my power chair. So, I am off and running (so to speak). And, I still get the $50 per excursion credit that was part of this cruise package.
Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
Panoramic Bus Tour, 3 hours.
A professional naturalist certified guide will introduce you to the most important aspects of the Afro-Caribbean Culture of Costa Rica, and show you the rich wildlife of this fascinating region.
During this tour you will visit: • Moin Lookout point, where the guide will explain the details of the economy of Costa Rica.
• Banana Plantations, from outside the guide will provide you the facts about this fruit, including the crop, harvesting, processing, packing and exportation.
• Bananito Town, where you will see how the people that works at the banana plantations live.
• Fruit Market, you will have the opportunity to visit a small fruit market.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Puerto Limon coastline during the bus drive back to the pier.
Cartagena, Colombia
Hop-on Hop-off and Old Town Walking Tour
Located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, few places on Earth are as beautiful as Cartagena. Sightseeing in this astounding city is a hugely enjoyable experience, offering both modernity and history. There is something to suit all tastes. From beautiful architecture to striking monuments, there is plenty of inspiring sightseeing opportunities while on your City Sightseeing bus tour. Discover all of beautiful Cartagena in 14 bus stops, as you explore the city’s beautiful architecture and striking monuments in the most flexible and enjoyable way. Visit key sites in the city, such as the Clock Tower, the San Felipe Fortress, the walled city, the Rafael Núñez House, Rio Casino, and much more. With the many stops along the way, there are things to suit all tastes, including a complimentary walking tour inside the walled city, starting every day at 4:00 PM in front of the clock tower (stop 4). Choose between a 1-day pass and a 2-day pass. Take advantage of adapting your day along the routes between 9:00 AM and 7:30 PM. If you prefer, remain on the bus tour for the entire loop, listening to the informative audio commentary. You will see palaces, monasteries, plazas, and beautiful overhanging balconies, as well as Colombia’s major seaside resorts, where you can enjoy beaches and scuba diving opportunities.
Oranjestad, Aruba
The Best of Aruba
Meet your guide for the day and board your comfortable air-conditioned bus and prepare yourself to experience Aruba at its finest. Enjoy your narrated tour while driving through charming Oranjestad with its Dutch Colonial architecture. Your first stop will be the Aloe Factory for a brief overview of the Aloe plantation and a tour of the Aloe Museum.
Then drive through the countryside and discover Aruba’s flora and fauna in route to the Casibari Rock formation – huge diorite boulders found in the center of the island. Board your bus and continue on to the mysterious California Lighthouse for a short stop to enjoy a breathtaking view of the island. A stop at the beach for a swim in the spectacular turquoise ocean concludes your tour, before returning to the cruise terminal.
Willemstad, Curacao
Willemstad Trolley Train
Your memorable trolley takes you past the Queen Emma pontoon bridge and the former floating market, where locals now sell fish, vegetables and other local products. Next see Scharloo, a former residential neighborhood lined with picturesque colonial homes built in the 1800s. A highlight of your Scharloo overview is a stop at the recently renovated Bolo di Bruid, known as the “wedding cake house”, the city’s most photographed building.
Leaving Scharloo, enter Pietermaai Cathedral, the largest and most impressive on the island. You will also view Queen Wilhelmina Park, which serves as the setting for frequent cultural events and Waterfront Arches, an imposing fortress that was the site of the fort is one of many structures that lend a sense of history and atmosphere to the city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Concluding your trolley experience, you may return to the pier by taxi or remain in town and enjoy the short walk back to your ship at a later time.
Stay tuned for full reports and pictures.