telebax51

Most if not all of partial transit visit some Caribbean ports, then come through the Gatun Locks from Limon Bay in the Caribbean Sea (off the Atlantic Ocean); they then spend some time in Gatun Lake where for additional charge you may take a cruiseline excursion boarding a smaller ship or boat and going through the other two sets of locks (Pedro Miguel and Miraflores) to the Pacific Ocean then letting you off to bus back to your ship waiting in Limon and finish your Caribbean cruise. The Gatun Locks used by almost all of the cruise ships are "the old locks". The tariff to use the new locks is significantly higher, and cruises using them will be more expensive than the same cruise using the new locks.

Full transits do the Pacific sets of locks and then normally head north up the west coast of Central American and Mexico to usually a California port. Exception would be a repositioning cruise that might turn south and go on down to South America, even on to Cape Horn and around to Buenos Aires. For the cruises to California, there are a number of port stops the company can choose from, in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, southern Mexico, and the Mexican Riviera (as it is called).

 

I would expect that most full transits (that don't go to South America and end in San Diego or San Pedro) are about 14 days as opposed to partial transits that may be as little as a week, to 10-11 days according to the other ports visited.

 

Nothing is best about either. It's a matter of which fits your schedule (and sometimes your pocketbook!) -- remember with a full transit you will be flying home from the other side of the continent, at least, after a somewhat longer cruise. Look at the other ports included (some may overnight at one end or the other of the PC offering shoreX that include riding the railway or visiting a native village) -- other than those overnighters, you will only spend a (long) day in Panama, better to choose a cruise the rest of which interests you.

Thanks for the info. crystalspin

i will be looking at full transits with all the lines for 2019

Hi we will be on the Horizon next summer departing from NYC on 8/20...quick question is the Havana Pool open for all guests? I was told it's only available to guests who booked Havana suites.

It is open to all after 7pm until then only those who are in Havana Cabins i understand you have a wrist band and they enforce no entry with it.

Starting to get nervous about our early December cruise on Fascination out of San Juan. I really hope this hurricane changes course. It would be a shame for the islands to take more of a beating and with the warmer waters, hurricane season may just last longer this year.

I too have a early Dec. cruise on the Fascination, will contact my PVP and push back my cruise until May or June of next year i have the time so i'm flexible.

We did a full transit Panama from Miami to LA in January on NCL, highly recommend.

 

 

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Hi dartnut

we are planning a Panama cruise 2019 but want to know the difference full transit or partial transit which is better.

I have a set time dinning when at home early, but on vacation i choose YTD because for one i know not from day to day what time i will be ready to eat no set schedule for me don.t want upset table mates.

Thanks Paul your review just confirmed i made the right decision will be there 4 days Pre cruise can't wait

I do not know about the curtain, as we only had a regular Havana Cabana cabin, not a suite.

 

Your lanai balcony is very nice, and quiet. You can socialize with your neighbors as little or as much as you feel like doing. We only saw ours in the mornings when everyone was having coffee. Since there is a locking door at the top of the Havana cabin area, there is very little foot traffic as well.

 

Your sliding door will have its own separate key card plus it has a special security lock on the inside for when you are inside your room. Make sure that lock is not engaged when you want to go in and out of your sliding door. Use it for extra security for when you are in the room. It is very convenient. We went in and out of our glass door more than we used the hallway doors.

 

Hope this helps!

I am a balcony cruiser but will be on the Horizon for 24 days and booked a Havana Cabana for the duration will i be spoiled or is it just ok.

We second the Hotel Europark. Going back in December for 5 days pre-cruise and staying there again.

 

Paul

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I agree cruising is good at any age but it is 100 times better when you retire, before retirement one cruise a year now i have 3 booked one 10, 14, and 8 day plus we also do Pre and Post stay something we could not do before retirement it has been 3 years since i said farewell.

My birthday is in November my Wife is also in November and my Anniversary also in November so we cruise a lot in November no Hurricane and very few kids lovelovelove it.

I would start calling or email some of the hotel now just to get a idea how they may accommodate your needs for such large group discounts may be in order. We are booked at HOTEL EUROPARK for our upcoming Med. Horizon cruise April 29 give them a call or email.

Watch a lot of the TV show DREAM CRUISE and YOUTUBE cruise VLOGS

Wow so many good points about aft! I have always been midship. I ended up not calling to try to cancel or anything bc I was too busy at work. Now I'm glad I didn't!!! Thanks everyone!! :)

 

 

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Once you go balcony you may never want to go back so be prepared.

Our family stayed at the Hotel Europark this past January and it was great. Just booked another cruise out of Barcelona and booked 5 days pre cruise again at the Hotel Europark. We will be there for New Year's Eve and looking forward to it.

 

It is a modern hotel and has thousands of positive reviews on TripAdvisor. After staying there we concur.

 

Paul

We will be staying @ Hotel Europark on our upcoming Horizon cruise will be there 4 days Pre cruise i booked the breakfast pkg, did you have this the breakfast, is it walking distance to tourist sights i read the reviews but would like your first hand Pros, and Cons. How much to cruise port,and airport to hotel.

Thank you all for your responses! I definitely don't expect any special treatment I was just wondering if it was possible and what do most people do. I can't call the hotel and find out exactly since its an international number but I'll call once I'm there. Hopefully like you all said if the room is available they will let us in, if not I'll ask to store our luggage, no biggie. It's a Marriott hotel so me being a loyalty member hopefully will help my cause, if not it's no worries, I won't be too upset. Of course if they are sold out and there is nothing they can do then understandable. I didn't know that when the ship docks at 5am you have until 9-9:30am to leave, so we'll definitely take our sweet time! Thank you all!

Just be aware i read from another OP that they arrived early at the hotel the room was not ready but the front desk attendant offered them another room they could have fine, but when they received the final bill it had another day included he did not tell them they would have to pay for the extra day, they spoke with the MGMT. but would not correct the bill. so be careful if they offer you a room if you arrive early you may be charged for a extra day.

You say that you have a PVP then why not let him or her know your preference in cabins and deck that way when you make a booking they know your requirements.

We booked Norwegian they were the only airline that was the least expensive and had direct flight we also had low fare+ which include luggage, seat assign and meal.

Hotel Milano has a rooftop restaurant great Mofongo and happy hour 2 for 1 Mojito stayed at this hotel pre cruise twice

We will be going on our first Mediterranean cruise out of Barcelona next year. I am

Looking for recommendations for hotels and transfers from airport to hotel and then hotel to port. Thank you

 

 

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Also will be our first Med.cruise for next April will be taking a taxi and booked Hotel Europark great reviews and close to all attractions.

We will be in Barcelona on the Horizon next April unless Carnival has other plans still going my prayers are with those affected.

Booked on for May 28, 2018. Thinking of doing a back to back, but haven't been able to get the same cabin.

Our cabin was also booked for the BTB we wanted to do so about 2 months out checked again and there was a cabin available ( it was our same cabin ) how lucky so just keep trying you might get lucky also.

You can wait for a mini van taxi. Last year four of us went in one taxi, with cruise luggage.

Thanks for the info. we will try to get the mini van taxi

We have always found the taxis in Barcelona to be a good choice.

Can the taxis handle 2 reg. luggage 2 carry-on and a backpack, are they like our SUV or sedans we will be on the Horizon next year.

We also lived in Columbia Md for 22 years

We are in a Havana Cabana Cabin on our Europe BTB cruise I booked the same cabin for booth stays thats 24 days enjoying our Lanai you only live once so no complaint about cost.

I have my eyeglasses on when i renewed my Passport May of last year, so i called the Passport Office 877# and inquired about this and was told that the new requirement for eyeglasses was passed November of 2016 so any Passport renewed before that was OK to use i am good to go until 2026 with my eyeglasses on...