alwalaska

I'm sorry I can't help, but I wouldn't be surprised if the particular beach changes. 

20 hours ago, hasentreelake said:

Since this is the Aruba forum....Snorkel in Aruba.
We will be going to ABC in the fall and will snorkel in Bonaire and Curacao and do a beach/lunch day in Aruba...
 

Thanks.  Any recommendations on where to snorkel?  I've copied some lists from the internet.  I think we are going to rent a car or a jeep so that we can go to a couple of different places. 

38 minutes ago, CPs4591 said:

Sure!  Would love to know, thanks.

I can't figure out which of their current tours best matches what we did, but we went to Coloma and Calima. We visited an archeological site, a small museum with photos and history of the volcano, a marketplace where our guide Jupiter (I would definitely ask for him if he is still doing tours, we went in 2018) explained the cultural significance of the building and some of the items in the market, and so much more. There was a lunch included, but half of the group skipped the lunch and was given a credit back on the price.  I believe we had 8 people from our cruise critic group.  I wasn't the one who organized the tour, so it took a bit of digging to find the info, but the company is Admire Mexico Tours. Admire Mexico Tours

10 hours ago, CPs4591 said:

We’re in the same boat trying to figure out these ports, only we have the added difficulty of Manzanillo instead of PV.

We did an amazing private tour in Manzanillo when we were there in 2018. I can try and dig up the info if you want.  Someone on our roll call put it together and we joined along.  In a way, it was everyone's worst nightmare of possibly missing the ship, but we made it back almost exactly at all aboard time and the Princess Tours didn't make it until almost 2 hours later.  There was a massive accident on the only road that leads from the port to the cities that everyone wants to visit.  Our tour guide explained that he times things so that he knows he is leaving at least 30 minute before the last of the cruise busses.  That way, even if the worst happens, the tour busses are behind us and the ship will likely wait for them, which they did.  While we were sitting in traffic, he was on the phone with the port and with his office, coordinating everything and keeping updates on when the road would reopen, and confirming that the ship was waiting for the Princess busses.  This experience not only had me worried at the time, it also gave me comfort that the private tour guides truly understand how important it is to get people back on time and have plans so that it happens.  I'd gladly go with them again, if I was going to Manzanillo. 

On 10/2/2023 at 1:51 PM, ShellDil said:

Hi!

We're in port from 7 am - 4 pm, on a Sunday in November. I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to rent a jeep, which would be from about 8 am - 3 pm or of we should just find a tour that appeals to us. I've been to Aruba before and done one of the self drive in a Jeep, caravan style, tours which I loved. But I'm not seeing quite what I'm looking for through a tour. I'd prefer a Jeep to an UTV and most of the tours are UTV or ATV, or they aren't self drive type. I feel somewhat confident that I could get us to where we want to go on our own, but does anyone have any thoughts on having it for only about 6 - 6 1/2 hours is enough time?

Also I've gotten quotes from Jays which includes everything except CDW and also from Royal Car Rentals Aruba which doesn't include taxes or CDW. Pricing is about the same, but Royal isn't available until 8:30 and Jays will have a car at the port for us at 8:00. Does anyone have any feedback on either of those companies for Jeep Rentals? They are the only two I've seen who will be at the port, and I can book in advance. I'd prefer a rental with pick up and drop off at the port, especially for returning it, since we need to be back on board by 3 - 3:30 I'm thinking. 

Thank you so much!

Oh and I forgot before https://jeeparuba.com/ will have the jeep at the port and includes "limited insurance" but I haven't found anything else about them yet, other than they reply to emails quickly.

On our first trip to Aruba we did a small group tour that gave us a nice overview, but I can't remember the company name.

On our second trip, we used Around Aruba and did the UTV tour and really enjoyed every part of it. 

This time, I'm thinking about renting a jeep and trying to do it on our own, but having a hard time finding reviews and good info about using it off-roads in the National Park.   Both my credit card and travel insurance for rental cars have exclusions for jeep and or going off-road. 

@MBCruising For the jeeps, are you allowed to take them off road?  I'm wondering about going to Arikok National Park locations.

Thanks for taking the time to post about your experience!

On our 2023 NCL Dawn cruise, we were parked in the industrial area of the port and didn't see much in the way of tour operators on our way out.  There were a few in a pavilion, but not very many. Probably because of where we were located. There were no other ships in port until RCCL arrived later in the day.

10 hours ago, Ashland said:

This was one of the best tours we did in Puntarenas Costa Rica. So glad we booked this with a group from our rollcall.

https://thumbsuptours.com/inventory/puntarenas-highlights

 

Thanks!  That tour is very close to what we did as a private tour last time in Puntarenas.  I appreciate the link to their site and a personal recommendation over just what Google turns up. 

On 5/7/2024 at 2:41 AM, canadjineh said:

Hi alwalaska:  It kind of depends on what time of year you are going... Huatulco and Fuerte Amador can be superhot during our springtime (we just got back from Huatulco in mid March and it was 35C & blue skies every day - people we met off a Princess ship that were on a Panama canal cruise said it was in the low 40'sC there.)  I would suggest a beaches cruise in Huatulco, it's too hot to do any of the other 'active' things you mention.  That would likely be different at the end of the wet season in Huatulco, say, November/December.  Things would be much greener at least.

 

It's been quite a few years, but we really enjoyed El Charro Ranch horseback rides out of PV into the hills along the river for some good views and a lovely waterfall (again, depending on the season you are going - possibly no falls if it's very dry.)  They treated their horses well and they have been in business for over 30 years so they are pretty good.  You need to take money with you for a lunch out in the Sierra Madre mountains, and a tip for your guide of course.  We loved it, and were lucky enough to be the only two on the 'tour' with a private guide.  https://www.ranchoelcharro.com/

 

Hope that helps a bit 🙂

Thank you so much.  We will be in Mexico in February, but late in the month.  I love your idea for PV and thank you for sharing the company. We've been there twice, so I was looking for something new to do, outside of the main city areas. 

22 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

But they are also common stops on cruises that do not visit the canal.  And people tend to not visit this board unless they have a question about the canal.

I think the stops in Nicaragua are often cancelled…. EM

Thanks.  Yeah, it looks like a cruise has not made it to Nicaragua since the COVID shutdowns.  My fingers are crossed, but I'm not booking it until at least one ship makes it there.  The Coral Princess (our ship) is supposed to go in July, so here's hoping.  It is the only new port for us and it looks interesting, so I'm hoping we make it.

I did post this question in all of the different areas too.  People frequently post in the Mexican Riviera area that Huatulco should be posted here and not there since most Riviera cruises don't stop there.  Hopefully, I get some info somewhere. 🙂  

Our cruise stops at the following ports:

• Puerto Vallarta
• Huatalco, Mexico
• San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua
• Puntarenas, Costa Rica
• Fuerte Amador, Panama
• Aruba

Does anyone have recommendations on a good location for the following activities?  Even better, do you have a specific tour operator or do it yourself way to accomplish it? 

• Horseback riding
• Snorkeling 
• Ziplining with an option for people the other people who don't want to zipline.
• UTV type thing, but something with 1 driver and one passenger or everyone as passengers. 

In Costa Rica, I'm hoping to see sloths, but the sanctuaries seem pretty far from the port. We do have a 12-hour day there.

Thanks!!!

Our cruise stops at the following ports:

• Puerto Vallarta
• Huatalco
• San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua
• Puntarenas, Costa Rica
• Fuerte Amador, Panama
• Aruba

Does anyone have recommendations on a good location for the following activities?  Even better, do you have a specific tour operator or do it yourself way to accomplish it? 

• Horseback riding
• Snorkeling 
• Ziplining with an option for people the other people who don't want to zipline.
• UTV type thing, but something with 1 driver and one passenger or everyone as passengers. 

In Costa Rica, I'm hoping to see sloths, but the sanctuaries seem pretty far from the port. We do have a 12 hour day there.

Thanks!!!

Our cruise stops at the following ports:

Puerto Vallarta

Huatalco

San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Fuerte Amador, Panama

Aruba

Does anyone have recommendations on a good location for the following activities.  Even better, do you have a specific tour operator or do it yourself way to accomplish it? 

Horseback riding

Snorkeling 

Ziplining with an option for people the other people who don't want to zipline.

UTV type thing, but something with 1 driver and one passenger or everyone as passengers. 

In Costa Rica, I'm hoping to see sloths, but the sanctuaries seem pretty far from the port. We do have a 12 hour day there.

Thanks!!!

11 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Each of those ports, except  Nicaragua,  have their own ports boards with tons of info on possible activities. Fuerte Amador is covered on this board.

 

Of those, I would snorkel at Aruba.

Thanks.  I was hoping to get opinions on comparisons here since the port was labeled Panama Canal and not Panama and most of these are common PC cruise stops.  I'll post the same thing in every port thread that is on my cruise.  Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

Our cruise stops at the following ports:

Puerto Vallarta

Huatalco

San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Fuerte Amador, Panama

Aruba

Does anyone have recommendations on a good location for the following activities.  Even better, do you have a specific tour operator or do it yourself way to accomplish it? 

Horseback riding

Snorkeling 

Ziplining with an option for people the other people who don't want to zipline.

UTV type thing, but something with 1 driver and one passenger or everyone as passengers. 

In Costa Rica, I'm hoping to see sloths, but the sanctuaries seem pretty far from the port. We do have a 12 hour day there.

Thanks!!!

On 2/17/2024 at 11:14 AM, cruisetravel8 said:

Hi!  Is new cruise terminal open yet?  Or, do we tender?  We're on Emerald Princess departing March 6, 2024.  Also, is there free shuttle to/from Albrook Mall?

Hi. How you had a great cruise.   Do you have any info on shuttles or if we can catch an Uber at the port? 

On 4/29/2024 at 12:19 PM, Turtles06 said:

And here’s the black lighthouse on our northbound transit last year on the Gem (with the new Atlantic Bridge in the background) 

 

I was just looking at my 2017 photos and saw the pillars for that bridge and was thinking that the full bridge should be there by now. Kind of cool.

On 4/21/2024 at 9:52 AM, Cruise Starter said:

Has anyone else had problems linking another Booking number (to create shipmates for booking dining) within the new App or on the Ocean Ready webpage?

 

https://oceanready-personalinfo-ui.prod.ocean.com/

 

I cannot find within the App where I might do that and when I attempt to link the Booking number of my daughter and her husband on the Ocean Ready webpage, it keeps returning to the page to input the booking number without linking the bookings.  
 

It was far easier to complete this on the old App. There seem to be as many problems with this new App as there were with the previous one.

Yes.  I too am having this problem with the web page, but it is too early for us to make reservations, so I didn't know if this added to the problems or not.  I just wanted to try things out so that I could get the dining reservations as soon as we made the final payment.

9 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I just happened upon this page on Princess.com Personalizer.  I’ve done it before but thought it was moved to the app.  
 

Login

Check in

Dietary Requests

…Distilled water

…Low salt

 

i don’t see a place to write specific allergies.

 

I'm having a hard time with the website today.  I will try again and point you to where I added my allergies if I can find it again.  I can't even get to the dietary requests section today.

@mrell345 Thank you for the review and photos.  Did you do a ship tour or through a 3rd party company?  If 3rd party, which one did you use?

Thanks!

On 4/7/2024 at 7:35 PM, JRay21 said:

On Princess I did the “Rural Communities and Traditions” tour and it was fantastic. Here is the description: Get a feel for how local people live and work on this wonderful off-the-beaten-track half-day excursion. Designed to provide you with a glimpse into traditional Mexican life, you will first explore Piedra de Moros, a community kitchen where you will learn how to make perfect tortillas and tamales before tasting the food. See how the famous Teotitlan del Valle rugs are made from scratch in an interesting demonstration. Shop for embroidered items before moving on to a medicinal plants garden to observe a wide variety of healing herbs, citrus and banana trees. Continue on to Pueblo Viejo to a plot devoted to cultivating nopales (the healthy and tasty prickly pear cactus) with the opportunity to try some of its many different forms of preparation. Then settle down for a palm-weaving demonstration, after which you will be able to shop for more regional gifts before heading back to port, enjoying the stunning Sierra Madre mountain range in the distance.

 

I would absolutely do it again if they offered it on my next cruise. 

Hi. Can you please tell me more about your experiences on this tour?  My typical experience with Princess tours is they load everyone onto a bus stuffed into every available seat. Then after driving a distance, you all get off of the bus where you walk to place 1, stand around and wait for everyone to catch up.  Hear about place one, walk to place 2 (at a fairly rapid pace) then wait for everyone to catch up, hear about place 2, and repeat.  The other type I've seen is where you load and unload the bus multiple times which takes forever each time since there are so many people.

There are a couple of ports on this cruise where I'm tempted to give the Princess tours another try, but I don't want to be disappointed again.

On 2/3/2024 at 4:46 PM, Kathyvenice said:

I have the same question for my upcoming cruise in may 2024.  

Please come back after your visit and tell us about it.  We don't sail until Feb 2025.

On 4/21/2024 at 10:15 AM, Dermotsgirl said:

What if your dietary requirement isn't there, such as low salt ?

The web version of the app has an "other" box that can be filled in.  That is where I put my citrus and rolled oats allergies because they are too abnormal to show up on anyone's lists.

On 4/20/2024 at 4:59 PM, dickinson said:

May I ask why send an email and then at the MDR let them know about the allergies?  What is the purpose of the email?  Could one just let the MDR know on the first night?  I am asking because I will travel with someone who can not eat dairy.  Thanks.

1) It allows the cruise line to plan for how many people will be sailing with special dietary needs. 2) When I've added the info to my account (used to be email, now I used the web version of the app to add the info to my reservation), it is in the computer system and easier for the busy people in the dining room to look something up than try and enter all of the information into the system.