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Post Santo Tomas de Castilla Info Here


rpader
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Hello All,

 

As I do with every trip, I am researching this to death. Having been to Guatemala several times before, but never near this port, I have decided that I like the Quiragua Ruins and Rio Dulce Tour. NCL is pre-selling it for $119, and it usually goes for $149+.

 

Check out these links:

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/dest/excursion.do?tourId=2054&dest=E

 

http://hollandamerica.com/servlet/ShorexDetailBuildServlet?idShorex=2054&nbrDest=020000&codePort=CT2

 

http://www.fredolsencruises.com/fredolsen/process/shoretours/shoretour_detail/id=882,portcode_id=2329.html

 

Hope this helps some of you.

 

Ray

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If anyone likes Rum - make sure to buy some here - Ron Zacapa Centenario - comes in a straw wrapped bottle - guaranteed the best rum you ever tasted. If you don't like it, I'll buy it off of you. It's been my favorite rum for over 5 years now, and I can't buy it in the US, except maybe in Chicago. Also, saw the girls drinking it on Survivor last night.

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Thanks for the advice. We are going here in Feb. on the Norwegian Sun, but the shore excursions still are not listed for Guatemala.

 

My neighbors are from Guatemala, I'm sure they are familiar with the rum you mentioned. We have quite a number around the DC/MD/VA area, so maybe the rum is available here.

 

I am really looking forward to visiting Guatemala.

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Hi

 

I'm sailing 3-11 on the Veendam and searching everything I can for information on this port without luck

 

The HAL site has some stuff but nothing that rocks my boat. The afternoon at the resort seems the least offending.

 

Between state dept security warnings in the near past and this being a new stop - it does not give me a warm fuzzy.

 

I'll continue to monitor and research

 

Jack

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Thanks for the advice. We are going here in Feb. on the Norwegian Sun, but the shore excursions still are not listed for Guatemala.

 

My neighbors are from Guatemala, I'm sure they are familiar with the rum you mentioned. We have quite a number around the DC/MD/VA area, so maybe the rum is available here.

 

I am really looking forward to visiting Guatemala.

 

If you ever happen across it in the DC area, let me know. I'll drive down there to buy a case. TIA.

 

Ray

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They shore excursions for Santo Tomas are now posted (with all the other ncl excursions based on the new Sun's new schedule. I will most likely opt for the Beach Resort but can't understand why the time is 5 hours and has you returning to the ship for 2h30pm when the ship sails at 6 pm.

 

If anyone understands this, please post.

 

Thanks,

Monica

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I don't understand why it costs $59 each to go to this resort. It is only 15 minutes away and they are just giving you a lunch. Also, why is there a 200lb weight limit? I think if you just hire a cab and go there, it would be a lot cheaper.

 

Bear in mind that the resort is private property and may not allow you access unless you have booked an excursion with a cruiseline. I would check with the resort before just turning up.

 

If you do find out that they allow others to enter at a cheaper rate - please let us know.

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I was also wondering why there was a 200lb. weight limit at some of the Guatamala shore excursions. I was interested in the rain forest trek, but my husband is over 200lbs. Any one have any ideas? I would think that a lot of men are over 200 lbs.

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ladybugmc:

You may want to check with NCL about that weight restriction. I did because they had one for the resort beach day - which really made no sense. The rep I talked to got her supervisor to check with the vendor and apparently the ONLY fitness concern is for an OPTIONAL grounds tour that involves some walking on uneven surfaces. I suspect some of these restrictions are actually listed for the wrong tours. For example the weight and fitness restriction makes more sense for the kayak tour than for a beach day.

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Excursions now posted for NCL Sun spring.

 

The descriptions are posted, but the order form on the website is not up-to-date, Guatemala tours are not on it. We have been trying all week, cleared the cookies, deleted files. Finally gave up and sent a snail mail. We got our docs today, but there was no shore excursion booklet. We are sailing on Feb. 11 out of Miami.

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The descriptions are posted, but the order form on the website is not up-to-date, Guatemala tours are not on it. We have been trying all week, cleared the cookies, deleted files. Finally gave up and sent a snail mail. We got our docs today, but there was no shore excursion booklet. We are sailing on Feb. 11 out of Miami.

That's odd - I had no problem booking a Guatemala excursion online and received my confirmation via email within 24 hours.

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  • 3 weeks later...
That's odd - I had no problem booking a Guatemala excursion online and received my confirmation via email within 24 hours.

 

We finally booked our excursions for Guatemala and Costa Maya yesterday and received our confirmation from NCL today.

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Hello All,

 

This isn't the port, or anywhere close, but it gives you a look at the people and the culture of Guatemala. I should have some of Tikal around somewhere, I'll post them when I find them.

 

http://www.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=34610711

 

Enjoy,

 

Ray

 

This link seems not to work for most people. Just send me your email address to president@alustriel.com and I'll send you a link to my guatemala pics.

 

Ray

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  • 2 weeks later...

The only weight restriction i could figure was if they took you to the resort by boat. Weird, isn't it?

 

I have done extensive research and posted it on Holland america roll call/ Veendem/ March 11, 2006. It is cumulative. A little info one day, a little more the next. there are gobs of links, and pretty pictures of the area. The entire area of Rio Dulce (also known as Fronteras) is a "protected area" meaning it is pristine with no polution.

 

We will have "done" some Mayan ruins in Costa Maya so I didn't want to spend 8 or 9 hours on a shore excursion to get to see the tallest stellae at 97 yards at Quiri something, and then a 4 hour boat ride back to the ship, but may have to if my contacts can't arrange transportation back to the ship.

 

I want to see Livingston, which is accessible only by boat. That is the settlement that was begun when a ship of slaves wrecked. They built a fort/castle to defend themselves against the slave transporters who did come back for them. So they speak their African language, Garifuna.

 

Livingston is at the beginning of prettiest part of the river (Rio Dulce) See the views from the castle. From there you can see hot water waterfalls, 7 lagoons (waterfalls), the canyon where the river narrows before it goes into Lake Ixlan ? (I'm sorry I can't remember these names. I don't know how to leave this post and go to my Veendam posts. Anyway, it is the largest lake in Guatemala, which surprised me. I thought it would have been Lake Atitlan with the volcano. Anyway, if you ever want to return to Guatemala, there are wonderful resorts with wonderful excursions on the OTHER end of this big lake, and unfortunately, even in a speed boat there would not be adequate time to get there on a cruise ship one day stop). But I digressed. the hotel Casa Rosario in Livingston said they can give us a 3 hour boat tour of the area mentioned for $20, minimum 7 people (but at that price, I think fewer people would just make up the difference), return to the hotel for a light lunch of tuna sandwich and fruit bowl, and then return to the ship.

The hotel CANNOT pick us up in Santo Tomas due to the monopoly the licensed boat drivers have. that's understandable.

 

Everyone who lives in the area says "just catch a launcha" as if it's the easiest thing in the world, not understanding that we have a time frame to meet and can't just wait until a boat operator appears. There IS REGULAR FERRY SERVICE but I don't know if it is out of Santo Tomas or Puerto Barrio. And I am not sure if the ferry would coincide with ship's departure time. I will find this out. Keep checking our roll call.

 

When the slow boat ferry doesn't match someone's schedule, they hire a speed boat that gets them over to Livingston lickety split. The prices I've heard are very low. Ferry $1.50, speed boat maybe up to $8 pp.

 

As in Belize, this area has many English speakers. Actually i just read that there are up to 8 languages spoken in the area, so people are multi-lingualed.

 

Although Santo Tomas is the largest commercial port in Guatemala, it is not set up for much tourism. But you will find a link in one of my first posts about what exactly you WILL find at the port's shopping area.

 

The tourist area, if you can say there IS a tourist area, is Livingston because of the different culture (not indigenous Indian) and the Rio Dulce.

 

There are clicks to the excursion the ship has to the Amatique resort in Puerto Barrios and it doesn't look all that great to me for $39 or $59 with lunch. I'd sure rather spend that $59 and go somewhere and see beautiful, unspoiled places. keep clicking my links to get an idea of what the area looks like.

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I tried editing the above post and the administrator said I could not take more than 20 minutes, which I did, to look up names. So I'm now frustrated.

 

The name of the biggest lake is Izabal.

 

The ruins with the largest known Mayan stellae is Quirigua.

 

The website for photos of Rio Dulce area is riodulce.net.

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I re-read everything I'd posted and opened all links.

 

The review from cruise addicts was from 2 years ago where it said there were no tourist facilities at the port of Santo Tomas. But the link empornac.gov.gt/english/crucro-ehton now says the port has the following facilities for cruise ship pax.

 

Post Office

Money exchange

Transportation service, taxis, boats, shuttles

Craft market

Presentation of Group Garifuna

Concert of marimba

Security inside and outside harbor

 

So they've shaped up!

 

i read and re-read trying to find a link or email address and cojld not find one. If they have transportation service I am probably worrying myself needlessly, but would sure feel better if I could reach someone who can guarantee transportation to and from Livingston.

 

I'm still looking for a hand drawn map of Livingston.

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We docked there recently on RSSC's Navigator. I didn't go ashore, but there is a fairly large metal building dockside that had a Craft Market set up inside. There were some people dancing, and as we left, about 35 cabs came in one after the other, parked, and honked and waved.

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Having made arrangements on my own to get from Santo Tomas to Livingston via Puerto Barrios, I was told to get a taxi outside the port where they are less expensive. They will take you to Quirigua ruins if you like, or all the way to the bridge at Rio Dulce where you may be able to get a boat back to Santo Tomas.

 

My arrangements are thru the Hotel Casa Rosada in Livingston who is going to come get us in Puerto Barrios, take us on a 3 hour tour of the Rio Dulce national park, the Canyon (beautiful) Rio Tatin, Bird Island, the hot springs, (but not all the way to the castle due to time constraints) back to the hotel for lunch (additional charge, but we will be able to get the dinner menu at lunch which could be lobster or the local coconut soup with shellfish called Tapado), a walk around Livingston which has a unique culture you might be interested in, and back to Puerto Barrios with two hours to spare before the ship leaves.

 

You can find info on riodulce.net about the area. I believe there are links on that site for other activities in the area.

 

If you want to contact the owner of Hotel Casa Rosada his email is found at their information page: info@hotelcasarosada.com

 

info@hotelcasarosada.com

 

The boat tours they offer are not timed for cruise ships, but Javier will be glad to make a special tour for you to match your ship's port time. Enjoy.

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