Panama Canal?????

[Toad]

It seems as though I lost my connections when CC changed boards, and being an aol user it took me a while to reconnect. However, I have booked a Feb. Sunfarer Cruise to the Panama Canal for both my husband and myself, and my 80 something parents. We are all looking for ideas for fun excursions, either separately or together, as well as hearing of some of your adventures on this particular cruise.
Thanks, Glad to be back.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

What ports will you be visiting? A couple of the ships go to different ports.

If you are on a ship that stops in Gatun Lake for the day, highly recommend the train. This tour will take you by air-conditioned coach across the country of Panama. The track parallels the canal and you are taken to the Miraflores Locks to observe first hand the operation, You then continue to the Pacific Coast of Panama, pass under the Bridge of the Americas, and tour the outer islands before returning to your train. You are entertained by your guides and his assistants with Panamanian songs and stories of the building of the canal. On the return trip, you are given a light snack and something to drink. Buses willl return you to the pier where a ship's tender will take you back to the ship. There is a small crafts area where you can purchase gifts as you board the tender.

:)

[doone]

I agree with Krazy Kruizers, we did the train tour and enjoyed it. We also did the Tortegua(sp) Canal tour in Costa Rica. This was absolutely spectacular and would highly recommend this excursion.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:) Puerto Limon, Costa Rica

If this port is on your itinerary, we also recommend the Tortuguero Canal excursion. We loved it. Very easy to get on and off the boats.

:)

[Gsel]

We did this trip last March and took the train and the canal tours. Both are worth every cent! Only thing I would add is don't count on the "lunch" they provide on the train. Eat a very good breakfast! The canal tour included snacks either before or after and it is very good. Fresh fruit is wonderful and the local beer and coffee is great. Have a wonderful trip, wish we were going back!

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

We were never told that there was to be a lunch on the train tour for Panama. We did get a small snack in the afternoon. It consisted of a fruit cup, a granola bar, we think a bag of chips, a bottle of water, and a piece of candy. Since we weren't expecting anything, we had snack crackers with us.

On the Tortuguero Canal excursions, some people had their fresh fruit snack before the boat trip and others at the end depending on which group you were on. We went to the boats first, had our snack last before we boarded the buses to go back to the ship.

:)

[Toad]

Yes we are going to Costa Rica and Gatun Lake. Does anyone know anything about tram tours in the canopy of the trees in Costa Rica?

[gizmo]

Three ladies on my cruise took the tram tour. When I asked them how it was, 2 of them said they would not recommend it as a good tour. It was not horrible or anything like that, but more like boring, and not worth the price. They did not see any wildlife. Keep in mind this was the opinions of 3 ladies, 2 around 50 and Mom who was 75+? "Mom" enjoyed herself. Try to get more opinions on this one if your interested in it.

There were a couple of other pax that did the Tortuguero Canals tour and it received a thumbs up.

A crew member recommended the Sloth Sancturary, she said it was interesting.

We took a private tour with Oscar and we enjoyed it very much. It included a banana plantation, a trip to the guide's friend's house where we got to see a sloth and a tiny money, a stop at a restaurant with a beautiful view, and a boat ride on a canal where we saw some birds, an alligator, and a turtle. A couple of people from CC joined us and we enjoyed their company very much.
The down side to this tour was the van's air conditioner was blowing hot air and it was hotter than hades. We opened the windows and went with the island version of air conditioning.
We were supposed to dock at an industrial dock in CR but we went to Puerta Limon instead. I was worried we would not be able to hook up with Oscar but he checks the schedule and was aware of he switch and was there waiting for us.
The guide, Oscar, was very nice. He was pointing out some lime trees and I mentioned the ship was out of limes so off we went to another friend's house and Oscar picked me limes right off a tree.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

We had also read a post somewhere, before we decided on the Tortuguero Canal, that the people who had taken the tram tour in Puerto Limon didn't see any wild life - just lots of tree tops.

:)

[the2ofus]

If you take the Tortuguero Canal tour be sure to sign up for the earliest time. As the day gets warmer much of the wildlife disappears. The fruit and the local beer were delicious. DH fell in love with "real" bananas!

[Toad]

It does sound as though the Tram tour reads a lot better than the reality.... Hope to hear from others.

[gizmo]

Toad,

Reconsider the Canals. Everyone seems to have a positive comment on that tour.

The tram may be ok, but keep in mind you probably will not see any wildlife like a lot of people think they will.

[sail7seas]

We took a private tour with Oscar and we enjoyed it very much. It included a banana plantation, a trip to the guide's friend's house where we got to see a sloth and a tiny money, a stop at a restaurant with a beautiful view, and a boat ride on a canal where we saw some birds, an alligator, and a turtle. A couple of people from CC joined us and we enjoyed their company very much.
The down side to this tour was the van's air conditioner was blowing hot air and it was hotter than hades. We opened the windows and went with the island version of air conditioning.
We were supposed to dock at an industrial dock in CR but we went to Puerta Limon instead. I was worried we would not be able to hook up with Oscar but he checks the schedule and was aware of he switch and was there waiting for us.
The guide, Oscar, was very nice. He was pointing out some lime trees and I mentioned the ship was out of limes so off we went to another friend's house and Oscar picked me limes right off a tree.



Maybe the rest of you know but I do not. Who is Oscar? :confused:

[Toad]

I don't know Oscar either.... I always thpought it was "Oscar" the grouch!

[gizmo]

I don't know Oscar either.... I always thpought it was "Oscar" the grouch!Oscar is a cute character who lives in a garbage can but the Oscar I was talking about was the tour guide. :D
The guide, Oscar, was very nice.He runs his own tours in Costa Rica.

[Toad]

And how does one get in touch with Oscar? Knock on garbage cans? Do you know a better way?

[gizmo]

Toad,

I found him through the Costa Rica board, others from CC has used him and contacted him by email.