Bonaire: "A Day at the Beach" Plaza Resort - Report - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

LuLu · 02-10-2007, 02:36 PM

Ship's excursion - $99 pp - 6 Hours

It was a wonderful day -- beautiful clean (very clean - DisneyLand clean) resort with excellent snorkeling!

We picked two beach lounges under a palm in the uncrowded area in front of the Beach Bar. Ideal location for us -- a few steps from snorkeling ... and a few steps from the bar!

The water was absolutely clear and there were so many different varities of colorful fish. We felt as if we were swimming around in an aquarium!

Lunch (included) was excellent. Two kinds of fish (tuna was one), chicken, and pork were grilled over an open fire at the Beach Bar. Everyone commented on how good it was.

The last hour or so ... we spent at the LARGE Pool with a SwimUp Bar. It was a nice refreshing way to end a PERFECT day!

Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

localady · 02-10-2007, 03:23 PM

Lulu- For some reason, HAL hasn't offered that trip that I've seen.
Do you happen to know if you can book it independently???
Thanks in advance!!

LuLu · 02-11-2007, 11:36 AM

[quote=localady;705511]Lulu- For some reason, HAL hasn't offered that trip that I've seen.
Do you happen to know if you can book it independently???
Thanks in advance!![/quote]

Independently is probably the best way! Plaza Resort is less than a 10 minute drive from the Cruise Pier. Met several folks who told us they paid $20 pp without lunch for the day. Sounds like a DEAL to me! The email address is listed on their web site so you should be able to confirm this. (The staff at Plaza was very nice and helpful.)

Here are some great PHOTOS of Plaza Resort (additional info as well):

http://plazaresortbonaire.com

Hope this helps a bit ....

localady · 02-11-2007, 01:11 PM

Thanks sooo much, it does indeed sound like the perfect day!!

Do you think it's wise to prebook or can you just go to the hotel that day to purchase the package???

Krazy Kruizers · 02-11-2007, 02:44 PM

The first time we were there we did the island -- really great -- introduced us to the island. We saw pink flamingos by the hundreds, the salt flats, the old slave houses, the airport (the planes look like they are going to land on the beach), the interior, the water purification system.

The second time we were there we went to a beach which turned out to be within walking distance of the ship (thankfully). We were driven there on an old school bus. We were glad that we didn't sign up for lunch. Within about an hour it began to rain. So we walked the hotel's complex and looked at a couple of their gift shops waiting for the rain to stop. It didn't. After awhile when the rains weren't as heavy we decided to head back to the ship. The bus wasn't scheduled to pick us up until 3. As we walked back, a few others from the ship caught up with us and we all glad we left the hotel/pool/beach when we did. We hadn't been back on the ship no more than 10 minutes and it really began to pour and never left up for the rest of the day.

The other times that we have been there we have just walked the town (all 2 blocks of it) and looked into the 4 shops.

All the times we have been there, we were on HAL ships.

LuLu · 02-21-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by localady

Do you think it's wise to prebook or can you just go to the hotel that day to purchase the package???

When we were there, the people who did this had not prebooked.

If I were to do this, I'd email and ask about the current policy ... just in case things had changed .... Better silly than sorry ....

localady · 02-21-2007, 12:55 PM

Thanks for the information Lulu.

I could spend the entire time in Bonaire snorkeling!!

The amount and variety of fish and coral was like nothing I've seen before. Can't wait to get back there!!