Mrs 0z Posted August 12, 2018 #1 Share Posted August 12, 2018 Are there any ports on this cruise that you can wander around on your own for a somewhat inexpensive day (I believe Panama is a definite no?) What currency do you bring? (I’m Canadian, if that matters) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vitalsign Posted August 12, 2018 #2 Share Posted August 12, 2018 We used US dollars all the time but mainly went on trips from the ship except Montego Bay, Cartagena and Grand Cayman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs 0z Posted August 13, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted August 13, 2018 What did you do in Cartegena? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vitalsign Posted August 13, 2018 #4 Share Posted August 13, 2018 First time walked up to the fort and then into town Second time got a taxi into town Lovely buildings and squares Get a map from Destination services Loads of bars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bull Posted August 13, 2018 #5 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Trying hard to think which ports are on that cruise. :confused: Colon is very definitely a no-no. Grubby and dangerous - most folk who took the shuttle buses to the centre returned on the very next one, police turned back those who wandered away from the port area on foot, there was an attempted robbery of a ship's cycle tour & their ride was cut short & escorted back by police. I rate Colon and La Guaira as by far the two most dangerous ports in the Caribbean - by comparison Jamaica is full of pussycats. Colon is the gateway to the Panama Canal. I very strongly recommend early booking of ship's partial transit by boat. You are bussed to the pier on Gatun Lake and sail the canal through the lake, the Caleta Cut and the locks into the Pacific at Panama, then bussed back to the ship. Both the partial transit by boat & the excursion broadly following the canal to Panama by train sell-out and I strongly advise you book one or the other soonest. In the time-scale it's not possible to do either independently - and we really did research that very carefully. Cartagena is easy to DIY, though you'll need to start with a bus or taxi. A very good day. Grand Caymen is easy to DIY. Ships tender you into the middle of Georgetown, plenty there to amuse you. But I recommend you pick up a boat trip (the trip starts with an included 10-minute bus shuttle to the boat harbour) to Stingray City, a shallow sandbar about a mile offshore where wild stingrays congregate. Check it out on Google Images. For the best experience take your snorkelling gear (no need for the fins). An excellent day. Havana is easy to DIY. The centre is a longish but interesting walk, or use a ho-ho bus. Make sure you take a taxi ride in one of the classic '50s American cars (google for the background if you don't know it). They're available everywhere but simplest and best choice is from in front of the Capitol. A brilliant couple of days. Our ship failed to call at the island off Panama (I forget its name). It is missed on many Marella cruises due to tendering at a fairly exposed spot. By now it might have even been removed from the itinerary for that reason. We also failed to port at Limon due to the weather. USD are good everywhere except Cuba. In Havana you use the exchange facility at the cruise terminal to get your CUC (Cuban convertible pesos). If you take cash for the exchange, take some of your CAD to avoid the exchange-rate double-whammy of getting USD before the cruise & converting them to CUC. (same advice to Brits - take sterling to convert in Havana). JB :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciaman Posted August 27, 2018 #6 Share Posted August 27, 2018 Cartagena is a lovely old town and we found it to be totally hassle free.Get a taxi and ask them to pick you up later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayneykul Posted September 8, 2018 #7 Share Posted September 8, 2018 We had a fantastic day in Cartagena on a Segway tour (privately arranged through ports of call on here owner is called Jesus) it was so good def recommend Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southendweather Posted September 13, 2018 #8 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Trying hard to think which ports are on that cruise. :confused: Colon is very definitely a no-no. Grubby and dangerous - most folk who took the shuttle buses to the centre returned on the very next one, police turned back those who wandered away from the port area on foot, there was an attempted robbery of a ship's cycle tour & their ride was cut short & escorted back by police. I rate Colon and La Guaira as by far the two most dangerous ports in the Caribbean - by comparison Jamaica is full of pussycats. Colon is the gateway to the Panama Canal. I very strongly recommend early booking of ship's partial transit by boat. You are bussed to the pier on Gatun Lake and sail the canal through the lake, the Caleta Cut and the locks into the Pacific at Panama, then bussed back to the ship. Both the partial transit by boat & the excursion broadly following the canal to Panama by train sell-out and I strongly advise you book one or the other soonest. In the time-scale it's not possible to do either independently - and we really did research that very carefully. Cartagena is easy to DIY, though you'll need to start with a bus or taxi. A very good day. Grand Caymen is easy to DIY. Ships tender you into the middle of Georgetown, plenty there to amuse you. But I recommend you pick up a boat trip (the trip starts with an included 10-minute bus shuttle to the boat harbour) to Stingray City, a shallow sandbar about a mile offshore where wild stingrays congregate. Check it out on Google Images. For the best experience take your snorkelling gear (no need for the fins). An excellent day. Havana is easy to DIY. The centre is a longish but interesting walk, or use a ho-ho bus. Make sure you take a taxi ride in one of the classic '50s American cars (google for the background if you don't know it). They're available everywhere but simplest and best choice is from in front of the Capitol. A brilliant couple of days. Our ship failed to call at the island off Panama (I forget its name). It is missed on many Marella cruises due to tendering at a fairly exposed spot. By now it might have even been removed from the itinerary for that reason. We also failed to port at Limon due to the weather. USD are good everywhere except Cuba. In Havana you use the exchange facility at the cruise terminal to get your CUC (Cuban convertible pesos). If you take cash for the exchange, take some of your CAD to avoid the exchange-rate double-whammy of getting USD before the cruise & converting them to CUC. (same advice to Brits - take sterling to convert in Havana). JB :) How long before your cruise does the excursions become available to book and buy, we are doing the Pride of Panama but still no excursions are available to purchase and we particularily want to do the canal trip. Keith (Southend) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanCruise Posted September 13, 2018 #9 Share Posted September 13, 2018 There are various facebook reports that Marella (Tui) are changing their excursion provider and hence online bookings are not available at the moment. Some reports suggest that the TUI Travel agents are now able to do bookings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southendweather Posted September 13, 2018 #10 Share Posted September 13, 2018 There are various facebook reports that Marella (Tui) are changing their excursion provider and hence online bookings are not available at the moment. Some reports suggest that the TUI Travel agents are now able to do bookings. Thanks Alan for the quick reply. We go on November 27th 2018 and thought perhaps they would be available once the main cruise balance was settled, which it is. Also booked the seats on the plane yesterday, the date we were given. I'll just keep looking everyday. Keith (Southend):D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bull Posted September 14, 2018 #11 Share Posted September 14, 2018 How long before your cruise does the excursions become available to book and buy, we are doing the Pride of Panama but still no excursions are available to purchase and we particularily want to do the canal trip. Keith (Southend) Hi Keith, Yep, IMHO the partial transit by boat is definitely the one to go for. Can't help with the current booking situation, it has been changeable with Thomson over the years - up until mebbe 8 years ago they couldn't be pre-booked at all, you had to book once you were on-board !!. Sounds like Alan has his finger on the pulse. JB :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vitalsign Posted September 14, 2018 #12 Share Posted September 14, 2018 Second that we've done it twice Really good value There is more than one boat and we'd recommend the smaller flatter one and sit at the back outside You really get a feel of how the big the ships are when in the locks You return from Panama City by coach - which can be hair raising so don't sit at the front!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southendweather Posted September 16, 2018 #13 Share Posted September 16, 2018 I emailed TUI and they replied in 24 hours, can't fault them for that. "I’m afraid that our Winter 2018/19 Cruise Excursion release has been delayed, they are due to be released at the end of this month. " Alan your reply seems plausibly. Keith (Southend) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElmaLee Posted September 16, 2018 #14 Share Posted September 16, 2018 I emailed TUI and they replied in 24 hours, can't fault them for that. "I’m afraid that our Winter 2018/19 Cruise Excursion release has been delayed, they are due to be released at the end of this month. " Alan your reply seems plausibly. Keith (Southend) Yet I went into a Tui shop and booked excursions for January. They have a new booking system, available in shop but not online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southendweather Posted September 19, 2018 #15 Share Posted September 19, 2018 The booking website has gone right up the swanny atm. As with the Excursions, when you put in your details it only show the Panama week, come back Cuba Fusion all is forgiven.? Keith (Southend) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimphil Posted September 25, 2018 #16 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Have you been informed of the drastic reduction in port times in Havana? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southendweather Posted September 25, 2018 #17 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Have you been informed of the drastic reduction in port times in Havana? No, just checked any email etc, nothing I can see. Still can't book excursions on website. Keith (Southend) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimphil Posted September 25, 2018 #18 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Can you do a “dummy”booking for your departure and you may see the revised port times on there, the new arrival times are 14.00 in Havana the first day departing next day at 12.00- losing about 9 hours in Havana. Tui have known about this since July ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southendweather Posted September 25, 2018 #19 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Can you do a “dummy”booking for your departure and you may see the revised port times on there, the new arrival times are 14.00 in Havana the first day departing next day at 12.00- losing about 9 hours in Havana. Tui have known about this since July ! That will cut any 7 hour excursions out. Maybe this is part of the reason the excursions haven't been accessable on-line. Differicult for me to get toa TUI shop as I am led to beleive these can be booked there. I'll try a dummy booking later, got to dask now. Keith (Southend) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southendweather Posted September 25, 2018 #20 Share Posted September 25, 2018 That will cut any 7 hour excursions out. Maybe this is part of the reason the excursions haven't been accessable on-line. Differicult for me to get toa TUI shop as I am led to beleive these can be booked there. I'll try a dummy booking later, got to dask now. Keith (Southend) I take it there are no other port changes/additions? We are also doing the Panama week. Keith (Southend) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimphil Posted September 25, 2018 #21 Share Posted September 25, 2018 I don’t know about that but there is a lot about this on social media, many of the travel agents knew nothing about this. Look at the link to the article in the Independent newspaper yesterday it is in my post Cuban Confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scriv Posted September 25, 2018 #22 Share Posted September 25, 2018 (edited) How long before your cruise does the excursions become available to book and buy, we are doing the Pride of Panama but still no excursions are available to purchase and we particularily want to do the canal trip. Keith (Southend) Keith, we still can't book online due to a new system and new excursions provider. We have been advised we can do so at the end of September, but nothing more definite as yet. BUT you can book in certain TUI stores either by calling in the shop or over the phone. Chelmsford store is one such store I believe. Some stores are not set up yet. I have booked my canal trip over the phone as I really wanted to do that excursion. Also, the ports on my Pride of Panama cruise on 13 November have been reversed - check under Manage My Booking on the website. Edited September 25, 2018 by Scriv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southendweather Posted September 25, 2018 #23 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Keith, we still can't book online due to a new system and new excursions provider. We have been advised we can do so at the end of September, but nothing more definite as yet. BUT you can book in certain TUI stores either by calling in the shop or over the phone. Chelmsford store is one such store I believe. Some stores are not set up yet. I have booked my canal trip over the phone as I really wanted to do that excursion. Also, the ports on my Pride of Panama cruise on 13 November have been reversed - check under Manage My Booking on the website. Thanks for that information. Interesting that when I run through a new booking for the two weeks we are doing it say's that both weeks are Pride of Panama... Website is a mess atm. Keith (Southend) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scriv Posted September 26, 2018 #24 Share Posted September 26, 2018 Thanks for that information. Interesting that when I run through a new booking for the two weeks we are doing it say's that both weeks are Pride of Panama... Website is a mess atm. Keith (Southend) Keith, I do apologise.... I meant to say I had heard that Colchester ( not Chelsmford) is a store where you can book over the phone. I don't know about Chelmsford. I booked over the phone with the Cannock TUI store even though I don't live anywhere near Staffordshire..... worth a try if a more local one fails for some reason. Sorry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southendweather Posted September 29, 2018 #25 Share Posted September 29, 2018 Keith, I do apologise.... I meant to say I had heard that Colchester ( not Chelsmford) is a store where you can book over the phone. I don't know about Chelmsford. I booked over the phone with the Cannock TUI store even though I don't live anywhere near Staffordshire..... worth a try if a more local one fails for some reason. Sorry! I rang my local branch in Southend-on-Sea High Street and have booked the Panama Canal excursion through them over the phone using my debit card. They will send confirmation through the post a month prior to departure. She also said it was unlikely the excursions will be available to book online for quite a while, so I may book some of the others in a few weeks if nothing has come online. I didn't ask anything about the Cuban Fusion mystery.. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/cuban-cruise-fushion-marella-havana-tui-latest-a8552216.html We have been to Cuba before, but I can understand why many will be upset about this change, especially when this is thehighlight of the weeks cruise so there won't be any full day excursions. Keith (Southend):cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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