M/Y STARFIRE Itinerary The ABC Islands of the Caribbean December 26 th - 27 th : Bonaire December 28 th : Klein, Curaçao December 29 st : Spanish Bay, Curaçao December 30 th : Willemstad, Curaçao December 31 st January 1 st : Eagle Beach, Aruba January 2 nd : Oranjestad, Aruba We welcome you onboard M/Y STARFIRE as you spend 7 relaxing days under the glorious Caribbean sun. You ll spend your Caribbean escape exploring Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao a group of islands often referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles. These three islands are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Aruba and Curaçao are autonomous self-governing member states, while Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Beginning in Bonaire you ll sail to stunning destinations ringed by sparkling waters where you can enjoy the underwater delights. We then travel to Curaçao to visit Klein before entering Spanish Bay. Having relaxed and enjoyed this scenic anchorage, we sail to Willemstad where you can indulge in duty-free shopping. We then make the trip to Aruba where you will ring in the New Year of 2011 in fine style anchored off of beautiful Eagle Beach before the cruise concludes in Oranjestad. The following outline is subject to change, as we are dependent on favorable winds and seas. However, we know the area very well and will have a contingency plan! Our STARFIRE crew will ensure you see all the highlights while offering the ultimate in personal service and guest care. Welcome aboard! Captain Carl Sputh/Motor Yacht STARFIRE
December 26 th - 27 th : Bonaire We welcome you aboard M/Y STARFIRE in Bonaire, a Dutch outpost in the Caribbean. Bonaire is widely regarded as one of the top three diving and snorkeling destinations in the world, and provides the perfect spot for you to unwind. The island is a forerunner in nature preservation and the coastline of the entire island has been a protected area since 1979. As a result, the coral reefs are in excellent condition. As part of the island s preservation efforts no anchoring is permitted, so STARFIRE will be docked in the Village Harbor marina. From here, pristine white sand beaches are just five minutes away where you will find excellent snorkeling and kayaking. We will spend three relaxing nights in Bonaire, giving you ample time to enjoy the local delights. If underwater activities don t take your fancy, you can laze aboard STARFIRE soaking up the sun. Or, for the more active, there is also fantastic kiteboarding, sailing, deep sea fishing and landsailing at your fingertips. December 28 th : Klein, Curaçao From Bonaire we sail 25 nautical miles to the tiny island of Klein located just off the South coast of Curaçao. This short trip should take around two hours to complete. Klein is an uninhabited island apart from an ancient lighthouse. Here the aquatic delights continue and there are numerous waters sports to be enjoyed. For snorkelers and scuba divers, Klein Curaçao has much to offer with stunning coral formations, a vertical drop-off and a couple of underwater caves. The more adventurous may like to walk the coast of the island, a round-trip of five miles, complete with a deserted shipwreck on the windward side. Dutch is the official language in Curacao. However the locals speak "papiamentu" a mixture of several languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French and it also has some African influences.
December 29 th : Spanish Bay, Curaçao After sailing 15 nautical miles, or approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, STARFIRE will weave her way up a narrow inlet that opens up into the protected waters of Spanish Bay. One of the best sheltered anchorages in the Caribbean, and well known historically as a Hurricane Hole, you are assured a very calm night here in any weather. Great water sports await in these calm waters, with many small bays and inlets to explore. There are a number of top rated beaches nearby, as well as excellent tennis courts that the STARFIRE crew will whisk you too and from at your leisure. December 30 th: Willemstad, Curacao Willemstad has a long and interesting history as a trading post. It was declared a free port in 1675 to help stimulate the island s economy. Most of the subsequent trade focused on the surrounding colonies, mainly the Spanish colonies on the South American continental coast, but also with French and English Caribbean colonies. We ll dock here in the afternoon after the 30 minute trip from Spanish Bay, giving you ample time to enjoy the excellent shopping in a section of the city known as Punda. Here you will find duty free jewelry shops such as Little Switzerland and Little Holland as well as clothing boutiques and electronics. Once you have enjoyed your evening and settled in for the night, STARFIRE will leave the dock and make way for Aruba, slipping through the Caribbean night as you sleep soundly. December 31 st January 1 st : Eagle Beach, Aruba A downwind run of 7 hours and 30 minutes (80 nautical miles) will see us arrive at the mile long stretch of white sand known as Eagle Beach on the enchanting island of Aruba. Along this beach you can find a number of high-end casinos. STARFIRE will anchor in front of the Eagle Beach by the Tropicana Casino in the glow of this spectacular location. Choose to wander the lively streets of Aruba or relax onboard
and enjoy the hospitality the crew will impart. The STARFIRE crew will ensure you see in the New Year in style. During the day enjoy the sparkling, turquoise waters and superb water sports. At night, a fireworks display will ensure you get a fabulous start to 2011. You may like to toast in the New Year with a local tipple the eponymous coecoei liqueur that is flavored with the sap of theagave plant and mixed with rum and sugar cane. Having rung in the New Year of 2011 in style you have the next day to relax, swim in the clear waters off the soft white sand that can be found here. This has helped Eagle Beach to be rated one of the best beaches in the world. This is a good day to exercise your option of an island tour of Aruba. With its impressive volcanic formations, gold mill ruins and remote chapels overlooking the sea, there are many sights to take in. A Jeep Wrangler or Land Rover can even be arranged to enliven the experience. January 2 nd : Oranjestad in front of Aruba Royal Plaza A short 20 minute cruise for 3 nautical miles will take us to our final destination at the main port of Oranjestad, which has been the capital of Aruba since 1796. From here it is a short trip of 1.5 miles to the airport. As your cruise on board M/Y STARFIRE comes to a close, you can be sure that you ve sampled some of best glimmering waters and turquoise seas that the Caribbean has to offer.