Panama Canal Excursions

[PRZENZ]

We are booked on the Legend 11/20 Panama Canal Cruise. We have actually been thru the Canal before and have been to some of the Ports. Are any of the listed excursions exceptional and worth doing. Our first Seabourn was a crossing and we are considering not getting off of the ship. Any advice?

[pater15]

My wife and I (Steve & Joanne) will be on the Legend with youl, looking forward to meeting you. We have done Seabourn in the Carb. & Europe, but this will be our 1st time thru the Canal. We are also looking for some help with the excursions. I am sure, given how well traveled Seabourn people are on this site, we should get some great input. See you soon!
Steve

[bigmjh]

We've booked a private excursion with Charlie Soto (out of Puerto Moin) he has gotten MANY rave reviews in here. Very reasonable full day trip covering the canal, banana plantation, etc.

[BostonBrahmin]

Well having resided in Panama I would not miss a tour of Marine Traffic Control if you could arrange one.

Gamboa is wonderful area to see.

Also if you can arrange it, a trip to Barra Colorado island (in the middle of Gatun Lake) should not be missed if you are interested in wildlife. Seeing Leaf Cutter Ants and howler monkies is a thrill

http://www.stri.org/english/research/facilities/terrestrial/barro_colorado/index.php

Also a trip to the San Blas Islands is well worth it

http://www.pa/turismo/sanblas/index2.html

If you go to San Blas make sure you have taken Malaria prevention medication and have had a Yellow Fever vacination. The native Cuna indians that live there are immune from Malaria because they all have Sickle Cell. Don't let this scare you. It is an amazing place.

http://www.panamatours.com/ This is the tourism site. Check it out.

Panama is one of the greatest places on the face of the earth.

I am sure that you will enjoy anything you do in one of the most wonderful countries on the face of the earth.

Don't let the Malaria, Yellow Fever, Dengue scare you. In 90% of the country it isn't a problem.. Only certain remote spots (like San Blas and some of the southern rain forests) still experience some cases.

Remember you can get any of the above in New Orleans at the same rate you can contract them in Panama.

[wayfarer]

How does one arrange a tour of Marine Traffic Control?

[pater15]

Thanks for the info. on Panama Canal excursions. I am not aware of any shot requirements for this trip. We have taken our Hep A (Went to China on Viking River), but have not taken any other. Please advice.

[JaneBP]

RE: Immunizations

Don't forget that tetanus shots need to be updated every 10 years for adults.

Nurse Jane in PHL

[BostonBrahmin]

Well I hate to say this because it might sound snotty, but it is not meant to be. I am not sure. Having lived in Panama I knew people that worked at Marine Traffic Control. I suspect you could always call and ask.

I know they have a visitors center at Miraflores.

You can check here http://www.pancanal.com/eng/anuncios/cvm/index.html

for information on the visitors center.

[PRZENZ]

Would you be interested in having some fellow travellers join you on your tour with Charlie? Do you know how many he can take? Did you decide on an itinerary?

[CASHIPman]

The Seabourn website says:

Transit Panama Canal
With stately grace, your Seabourn is raised from sea level to navigate Gatun Lake and sail between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A pause midway allows you to experience the natural wonders at the Gamboa Rain Forest Resort. You’ll transit one set of locks in daylight, another at night.

How long a pause is at "Gamboa"?
How do we disembark?
What else does anyone know about this?

This cruise gets more and more interesting!

[deerhouse]

to give yourself a special treat, before you take the panama canal transit be sure to read david mcculough's "path between the seas". it is probably his best book. and he has written many great books. it gives you an insight into the canal and its history, building, legal problems, health problems, engineering difficulties, etc. you cannot get this kind of stuff from any guide, no matter how good. i read it 30 years ago and then again before we took the silver wind through the canal last year. it enhanced the whole trip.

[ackc]

We are also on the Legend Panama Canal on 11/20. I have arranged for transfers to the airport on Dec 4 and the van has plenty of extra room. If anyone else is interested in shariing the ride, please let me know.

[CASHIPman]

The Seabourn website says:

Transit Panama Canal
With stately grace, your Seabourn is raised from sea level to navigate Gatun Lake and sail between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A pause midway allows you to experience the natural wonders at the Gamboa Rain Forest Resort." You’ll transit one set of locks in daylight, another at night.

How long a pause is at "Gamboa"?
How do we disembark?
What else does anyone know about this?

This cruise gets more and more interesting!

I called Seabourn about the above and sadly, the pause is just that...there is no disembarkation. I s'pose we'll experience the "natural wonders at the Gamboa Rain Forest" from the Sky Bar!!!

[oceansRfun]

ackc:
we have been lurking for years.. enjoying the banter and the closeness of this group ..and the numerous tips - i am forever copying and pasting - from food to jacuzzi locations to taking door stops, not to mention champagne...
your post did it - i have taken a name and now will be a poster. we are on the legend for the 11/20 sailing and would like to share your van on december 4th - there are 2 of us..
will it take us to any hotel or is it going straight to the airport?
thanks. this is our first seabourn cruise - if the "box" with our documents is any indication.. we are going to have the best cruise ever ...

[pater15]

We will be on the 11/20 Legend Panama Canal trip. We have been lucky enough to have been on a few Seabourn trips. If you have been reading this board much, you must be very excited. I can assure you, it is justified.
We will be spending the night in San Jose, (any excuse to extend a vacation). We will need to get to our hotel and would enjoy the company, if it works out. We are the Pate's and looking forward to meeting everyone. Welcome to the Seabourn family, you will not go back!

[JaneBP]

>"....if the "box" with our documents is any indication.. we are going to have the best cruise ever ..." That's what we all say every time we get our doicumets! Welcome to the BB. (Obviously I still can't format!)

[ackc]

Hello oceansRfun and pater15,
I just communicated with the van driver and he said he would charge $85 per couple. I think that Seabourn wanted $100 p.p and I know that last year we paid about the same for transfers with SilverSea. Said his van can hold 10 comfortably and that he would be at the pier at 7am. Let me know if you are still interested so I can let him know to expect more than us. Just think, in 4 weeks we will be enjoying our trip!
Sue

[bigmjh]

ackc - Hi, We'll be boarding the Legend on the 4th and are looking into transportation from San Jose to the port. Would you mind giving me the name of the driver you've booked with ... maybe he'd be interested in doing the round-trip ... after dropping you off in San Jose ... picking us up and taking us to Caldera :rolleyes:

[ackc]

bigmjh
I have contacted Charlie Soto at okeydokeytours at hotmail.com. I have seen his name many times on cruise critic.

[bldsld]

bigmjh,

We're on the same cruise, but have booked transportation directly through our hotel. However, last year after disembarking from the Silver Shadow, we used Transportation Monteverde, from Caldera to SJO. They met us at the pier, and were far more organized than the private transportation arranged by Silversea. Here is their web address:

http://transportationmonteverde.com/

Denyse

[oceansRfun]

pater15 and bigmjh - We are also staying overnight in a hotel - haven't booked one yet. What hotels are you staying at? We are looking at some of the smaller bed and breakfasts - any recommendations from the board or you guys?
ackc - We booked a day tour with Charlie Soto for the Puerto Moin stop on Sunday, November 27th. He has been fabulous and promptly returned our emails. We can't wait to meet him and be busy!! I know he had room for others when we booked with him a couple of weeks ago. If your van is leaving at 7 a.m., it would appear that you can fly out on the day on disembarkation. Seabourn told us we would not get to San Jose airport until 1 p.m. or later, so we could not book flights out "east of the Mississippi" until the next day. True? or can I look at rebooking for something around 10 a.m.?
janeBP - Thanks for the welcome. I don't know how to format or attach emotions - but, I enjoy everyone else's!
We have done the Panama Canal in 1997 prior to the transfer to Panama control. We were on the Celebrity Zenith. We had a great time but I know that this trip will be quantum leaps more memorable in all aspects. Excited?? Can you veterans remember your first time? We are there and more!!!!! jane-- this would be a perfect time for me to smile but, alas, I don't know how..

[ackc]

OceansRfun-we have a flight Dec 4 at about 12:30 on american. It takes about 3 hours to get to San Jose airport. Hopefully the ship will arrive on time and we will be able to get off quickly. If not, we will be at the mercy of the airline.

[pater15]

We are staying at the Melia Cariari in San Jose ($123 US). I have not been there before, but I have a very good TA and it was her recommendation. We could not get a flight into Atlanta on the 4th, so we are leaving the next day. We would be happy to share a ride if it works out OK. Sounds more then reasonable ($85 per couple), because it looks like a good distance to the city from the port.
Make no mistake about it; you will not forget your 1st time on Seabourn. You will be planning your next one before you disembark.

[JaneBP]

This is just a notice that tonight's episode of 'THE AMAZING RACE' sends the teams to the Panama Canal.

[PRZENZ]

We also booked Charlie for Sunday Nov 27th. There are 8 of us so I wonder how many he can take? Also did you plan an itinerary with him? We kind of told him the things we wanted to do which was not exactly what he had first proposed.
Phyllis

[bldsld]

We are staying at the Marriott Hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica. It is the hotel that Seabourn uses.

Denyse

[lbsalob]

If there's still rooom in the van, my wife and I would like to join you for a ride to the airport.
Lorin Salob

[ackc]

PRZENZ--I just sent Charlie Soto an email regarding the tour on Nov 27 from Puerto Moin. IS this the one that you booked?

Here was his reply........tour Name Tour A-1 Tortuguero canal(boat ride ) to see the rain forest, and some of the wild life : sloth , toucans , crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys , birds and others 2º to the Jungle Breeze
Canopy tour to do The (zip line $40 each p. entry fee, horse back
riding$25 each, flowers garden walking tour $15 each Additional) 3º to the
Bananas plantation where we can learn about process and packing bananas, 4º to the Animal rescue center where you can hold a baby monkey , sloth , toucan , macaw, etc 5º to the Bonita beach where we can take a look of the park and the white sand beach 6º to the View point to take the most beautiful view of the city from the hilltop, and later to the market to get you some costarican coffee, vanilla, etc , i provide you an full insurance , air conditioned , included some cokes , water, costarican beers and some fruits pine apple, and bananas, all this tour for only $49 each p. no deposit , you can reserve by email , and pay me ca$h at the end of the tour , i will be at the pier holding a sign with your name on it to be your guide and do my best for you and your family , and friends, 61/2 hrs touring with me, start at 9:00a.m,
thanks a lot Blessing from Costa Rica , Charlie.

[bigmjh]

That's the same tour in Puerto Moin that Charlie outlined (and we booked) for our December 4th cruise.

[ackc]

lbsalob---Yes, there should be room in the van to airport. Do you have an early flight also?

[PRZENZ]

I think we are booked on the same tour. It sounds great and we look forward to meeting you.
Phyllis