Help with ports.

[Travelbug 2]

I posted this on the Panama Canal board but did not have a great response.
Can anyone help?

We will be going on a full transit Panama Canal cruise end of Sept early Oct. 2006.
This is our first canal transit and I am looking at booking shore ex's for some ports of call. We usually book "easy activity" tours due to some minor mobility problems. Can anyone give any advise for each of the listed ports - ie - is a shore ex advisable, can we just explore on our own, is it worth going ashore etc etc.
Any help would be appreciated. The ports are as follows ---

Depart Vancouver. -- San Diego -- Cabo San Lucas -- Acapulco -- Santa Cruz Huatulco -- Puntarrenas City -- Cartagena -- Half Moon Cay -- arrive Ft Lauderdale.

We do not want to miss out on any "must see's"

Thank you in advance.

[wowzo]

The Panama Canal board is only going to help you with thwe Canal. You have to go to the individual country's boards for the port info. U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica, S. America/Columbia (don't know which) and so on.

San Diego - didn't go there
Cabo - walked around town
Acapulco-didn't go
Santa Cruz - rented taxi so see the area, then had beers & ceviche at waterfront restaurant on pier. Loved it there.
Puntaarrenas - didn't go 'cause of medical emerg. on ship
Cartegena - take city tour
Half Moon Cay - Beach day, if you can tender that day-50/50 % chance

Love the mountain scenery all down the Pacific Coast - when the ship is close to shore, Have fun, MaryAnn

[elmorejj]

We did this cruise on the Zaandam 2 years ago. In Cabo we did the sail and snorkel tour....we don`t snorkel but the boat was easy for my DH who also has mobility problems. They took us up into the sea of Cortez, saw the sea lions at Los Arcos, had a wonderful day, they served lunch onboard and had an open bar. In Acapulco we did the city tour.......very nice, saw the cliff divers, went to the Princess resort for refreshments, hardly any walking and a lovely tour. Cartegena, did the city tour, they visited some fort or ruins but we stayed on the bus. Visited a lovely monastary, shopped in two places, all in all a good look at the city. We booked all of these through the ship and they were all good tours......jean:cool:

[Copper10-8]

Depart Vancouver. -- San Diego -- Cabo San Lucas -- Acapulco -- Santa Cruz Huatulco -- Puntarrenas City -- Cartagena -- Half Moon Cay -- arrive Ft Lauderdale.

We do not want to miss out on any "must see's"

Thank you in advance.

Shorex will be very happy to sell you excursions for all these ports! (some are excellent!) - I would have no problem exploring some but not all on my own:

San Diego - great city! -No problems exploring her on your own - try the Old Town trolley "hop on and hop off" tours (there's a stop outside the cruise terminal)

Cabo - you can walk into town from the terminal - If not, consider takling the shorex to Todos Santos and check out the Hotel California made famous by the Eagles, something different (did it in FEB an can highly recommend it)

Acapulco - haven't been there since 1999 - lots of Shorex available - lots of Mexican taxis too, who will be very happy to drive you around plus get your heart rate going:eek: !

Santa Cruz Huatulco - have not been there - hurricane got in the way

Punta Arenas - from what I remember, just a commercial port city - take the shorex to San Jose, the capitol city half-way between the Pacific and Caribbean Sea

Cartagena - Some might have done it but this is one city, I personally, would not venture out on my own - lots of military with automatic weapons and very aggrassive street vendors - took the shorex to a local fortress, monastery, museum, etc.

HMC - nice private island with beautiful blue water - you can rent stuff from shorex but it is not necessary

Have a great cruise! The Panama Canal is always an excellent itinerary!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Agree with John.

But keep in mind that Cabo is a tender port and where the tenders let you off, it is a good walk to get to the shopping area - especially if anyone has mobility problems.

Cartagena - either take a HAL excursion or stay on the ship. Do not venture past the gates on your own or take a taxi on your own. HAL dropped this port for awhile because of all the violence there and now I see that it is back on severa; of the schedules. There is a shuttle that will take you to a shop that is located right in the freight area where the ship docks.

[gizmo]

Acapulco
We basically did the same tour as elmorejj but got a taxi instead of the ship tour. The driver got us perfect seats for the cliff divers. It does cost a couple of bucks but you get either 2 drinks or 1 drink and a sandwich. Your other choice is to stand in HOT sun. We went to the Princess hotel also and walked around on our own. If you decide on a taxi, make sure it is air conditioned. ( I actually had the guy turn on the air in the taxi to make sure it was working. Too many times I have been in taxis that have "air" that does nothing but blow hot air around)

Cabo
We took a taxi to the Glass Blowing factory. We were there early in the morning, and they were blowing glass. We then went back to town and stopped in Cabo Wabo. This place is a BIG TOURIST RIP OFF. We walked around a little since I wanted to shop but didn't find the stores. It was so hot, and well over 100 degrees. We found our way to another bar on the water. You could see the ship from where we were and there were lots of little boats there to take you to Lands End. The margaritas were 100% better than Cabo Wabo's and much cheaper. I cannot remember the name of this palce but we enjoyed it. Many people take a tour to Land's End.