Panama Canal

[mrw]

Hello, we are booked on the Statendam Oct 08 for the SanDiego to Fort Lauderdale Panama Canal cruise. Does anyone have suggestions on excursions that should not be missed? We enjoy touring ( sight seeing), snorkeling, hiking ( but not too strenuous in the heat) boat rides, a little shopping, beach and swimming. Any advice will be appreciated!)

[magictam]

Hi mrw

I'm have never been on this cruise itinerary or the Statendam. BUT I have the same cruise booked for November 2009.

So I would be very interested in your thoughts and opinions about the Statendam. And any excursions you might take.

Enjoy your cruise.

[JimVrhovac]

We just returned from the Veendam Transition cruise.

You will find good beached in northern and central mexico. Chiapas is a new port and the tours are a little unpolished yet but there is a great bas and swimming pool at the dock.

You will probably not stop during the canal transition and Cartagna does not offer a lot. If you stop in Grand Cayman like we did the tour to Stingray City is one of the pearl of the Carribean.

Have a great cruise.

Ruth & Jim

[leoandhugh]

Beg to disagree that Cartagena has little to offer. On the contrary, the old city within the massive fortification walls still has many of the old streets and buildings dating back to the days of the Spanish Main. Cartagena and Havana were the main stops for Spanish galleons loaded with treasures from Peru and the West coast of South America. The old cathedral, governor's palace, convents and hospitals as well as cobbled streets have be beautifully restored. What were some of the dungeons are now converted to shops. We have been to Cartagena several times and always enjoy walking the narrow streets of the old city with overhanging balconies etc. All this in contrast to the adjacent new Cartagena with its high rise hotels and apartments. There are always plenty of taxis right at the end of the pier with posted prices and a very good tourist office there too :)

[JimVrhovac]

You are correct in you description of the old city. It has been so many years since we were down there forgot about it.

Ruth has a mobility problem and the old city is not walker or wheelchair friendly so we don't ask for problems.

They have upgraded the port area and the shops are nice with a great selection of cigars and coffee. Got a bunch on the trip...

Ruth & Jim

[Jen&Joe]

If you are heading to Hualtuco Mexico go on the sailboat excursion. They took us out and we got to see alot of the natural environment of the area. We also stopped at a private beach and were able to swim up to a private beach.

In Puerto Vallarta we went on the zip lines which was amazing. There was a very short hike over even ground on the way back but other than that it is not overally strenuous.

In Cabo we went snorkeling on a catamaran. It was okay but crazy crowded at the snorkeling site - and there was a jelly fish warning while we were there. We didn't see anyone but someone on our excursion was stung by one.

In Costa Rica we were supposed to go on the Arenal volcano tour but a large accident blocked the road to the volcano so we were unable to go. Thankfully our tour guide found out before we had gotten to far into the trip. I have heard amazing things about it so it sounds like it is worth doing (and if we are back we will do it again). What we did instead was the mangrove tour. It was good, we saw loads of animals (lots of crocs and monkeys).

[mrw]

Thanks for all of your replies, hope to follow through on some of them!:cool:

[btobey]

We just got off a Canal cruise ourselves, but our ports may have been different--what will yours be?

[jtl513]

Hello, we are booked on the Statendam Oct 25 08 for the SanDiego to Fort Lauderdale Panama Canal cruise.For the ports you will have in common with our just-completed PanCanal transit, I'd suggest a boat ride that takes you close to Land's End in Cabo San Lucas, and one of the tours that would take you to the Old Town section of Cartagena. :)