Panama Canal Ports BEWARE

[Homosassa]

I suggest you machine gun loving tourists book a trip to San Jose and enjoy it. I'll take Bermuda anytime.

 

Seeing an entire city lined with police 3 feet apart holding machine guns is not the Caribbean cruise most people have in mind when they plan a winter vacation.

 

 

 

Not only have I taken ship's excursions in Guatemala, I have also spent two weeks touring the country.

 

Like anyplace in the world, one needs to be aware and pay attention to one's surroundings.

 

And armed police every three feet is a just a bit of exaggeration, isn't it? Unless you were just in front of a military installation, the armed police that I saw in major city areas were stationed at major intersections.

 

And yes, book a ship's excursion to be safe in Guatemala, but do not pass up the opportunity to explore the country and meet the local people. They are some of the friendliest people I have encountered while traveling.

[ravensbad]

And yes, book a ship's excursion to be safe in Guatemala, but do not pass up the opportunity to explore the country and meet the local people. They are some of the friendliest people I have encountered while traveling.

 

Couldn't agree more. Was just in Guatemala (Santo Tomas de Castilla) in December and once we got outside the city it was one of the most beautiful countries we've visited in the Caribbean. We did a long (7+ hours) excursion with Happy Fish and had a wonderful day.

[newmexicoNita]

After sailing on NCL Star Panama Canal cruise in February, we wished we had waited to take NCL Gem next January instead because they will be visiting Aruba and Curaco before Panama and Ixtapa (my fav Pacific port). Our cruise stopped in Cartenaga, Columbia (huge city), Nicaragua, and more DANGEROUS San Jose, Guatemala. On a ride to the beach in Guatemala, we spotted Police with machine guns every three feet. We cancelled our beach trip and prayed we would make it back to the ship safely. This was not the 50th anniversary cruise I expected. Such a disappointment. Buyer beware!

the safe ports today could be the dangerous ones tomorrow but I do understand what you are saying. We did the canal on a different line, we did do Aruba and Curaco on ours and loved both places but Panama itself we were told was not safe unless on a ship excursion. We have also done Cartenaga and loved every minute of the city. We also have done San Jose. We were not uncomfortable even with the guns everywhere because we did a ship tour which is somewhat safer. We also are aware there are many countries where there are armed police with machine guns everywhere. As a taxi driver told my daughter and me about 30 or more years ago: remember those guys are there to help protect you. I will never forget him telling us this.

[biker@sea]

I take Amtrak to NY for a cruise every winter and have never seen Police with machine guns. I worked in Boston and never saw machine guns there either. I try to avoid cities as much as possible.

 

 

The more we travel, the more we appreciate living at our quiet little beach in New England. After our Panama Canal Cruise, we were especially happy to be home and look forward to a southern Caribbean cruise next winter.

 

 

Try Key West.

They have war planes armed with machine guns & missile's flying over the town.:rolleyes:

And maybe a Battleship too.:cool:

[Rob_H]

we are sailing Star thru PC leaving next Sunday. the only port where i will stay on ship is Acapulco given its Level 4 warning.

 

Most of the violence in Acapulco is outside the central city, and there's plenty of security in the main tourist areas. In February, on the Star, we (2 of us) walked from the ship to the cliff divers and back (only a few km but hot and hilly), and didn't feel unsafe at any time. If you just want to get off the ship a little, there's a castle and museum right across the street from the dock (closed Mondays).

 

At Puerto Quetzal (the port for San Jose Guatemala) there's a little market in a harmless area right at the dock, with some nice hammocks under the trees. I took a ship excursion on a previous visit there to the "safari park" (zoo) an hour away and the level of security on the highways was similar to Mexico, or Arizona, or Spain. The guards are there to make the place safe, not less safe.

 

Ports where I have felt unsafe and scuttled back to the ship are Roatan Honduras, and Falmouth Jamaica.

 

In case anybody mixes them up, San Jose Guatemala (Puerto Quetzal) isn't the same place as San Jose del Sur, Nicaragua, which is also on some Panama Canal itineraries. The latter is a very laid back surfer/backpacker town, a nice place to wander round for the day.

 

Rob

Edited March 31, 2018 by Rob_H
beach isn't that bad really

[spanishguy1970]

I can understand your concern, and i am sorry you felt unsafe. Unfortunately in some South American countries that is the norm, heavily guarded ports and Airports. I am originally from Venezuela and lived there for years, when i lived there even though crimes occurred, i never experienced heavily armed guards but when i went back to it in 2003 that is all you could see everywhere so it was shocking to me. I went to Cartagena Colombia and felt safe, as well as other places. I am very cautious where i go and how i behave while i am there, does not hurt to be vigilant, but that goes with everywhere you go, in fact last year in Palma De Mallorca spain we were pick pocketed, so crimes can occur anywhere you go.

[DCLCrazy]

Good guys with guns is a good thing. It means they’re on top of the crimes and the bad guys know it.

 

 

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[Shawnino]

After sailing on NCL Star Panama Canal cruise in February, we wished we had waited to take NCL Gem next January instead because they will be visiting Aruba and Curaco before Panama and Ixtapa (my fav Pacific port). Our cruise stopped in Cartenaga, Columbia (huge city), Nicaragua, and more DANGEROUS San Jose, Guatemala. On a ride to the beach in Guatemala, we spotted Police with machine guns every three feet. We cancelled our beach trip and prayed we would make it back to the ship safely. This was not the 50th anniversary cruise I expected. Such a disappointment. Buyer beware!

 

If you want danger, you can find it everywhere.

 

Aruba's safe enough--except for that young American tourist who disappeared there ten years ago.

 

I lived on Curacao for six years. Beautiful island wonderful people--except for one part of Willemstad which was a no-go zone for police.

 

I'd go back to either of those islands in an instant of course...just as I'd go anywhere in Latin America, or "scary" LA, NYC, Chicago, or Boston...

[kitkat343]

We really loved Livingston, Guatemala. We had a nice tour of the rio dulce with our 3 year old. That felt completely safe, much safer than roatan or Jamaica, which we’ve also visited and greatly enjoyed and feel safe on an organized tour, but tell people to have a plan in place ahead of time and don’t wander around by yourself or jump into a cab at the port that you haven’t booked ahead of time.

[Budget Queen]

I take Amtrak to NY for a cruise every winter and have never seen Police with machine guns. I worked in Boston and never saw machine guns there either. I try to avoid cities as much as possible.

 

 

The more we travel, the more we appreciate living at our quiet little beach in New England. After our Panama Canal Cruise, we were especially happy to be home and look forward to a southern Caribbean cruise next winter.

 

Your once a year, trip is hardly any basis for your assumptions. Last month- I saw armed officials in NYC. What's going to happen when you run into this? A lot is going to be crossed off your list. Less than 2 weeks ago, Armed officials again were noted in my Jade- Panama Canal experience.

[sfaaa]

Some people would totally freak out at the sight of 'evil looking' black guns. Doesn't matter where or who is holding the hardware.

[phoenix1181]

OP, I hate to upset you but Aruba isn't as safe as it once was. You may very well see police with vests and machine guns walking around Oranjestad while you're there...............

[tallnthensome]

I suggest you machine gun loving tourists book a trip to San Jose and enjoy it. I'll take Bermuda anytime.

 

Seeing an entire city lined with police 3 feet apart holding machine guns is not the Caribbean cruise most people have in mind when they plan a winter vacation.

 

 

We all have our favorite destinations. I will stick with mine next time. For those who have never been to these ports, I suggest you read about them before final payment. These are not your typical Caribbean ports of call. Best to book an excursion through the ship to be safe.

Usually most people know when they are booking a Panama Canal cruise, they aren't booking a typical caribbean cruise. If you didn't know that and if you didn't investigate and read up on the ports you were going to then that is your fault. I get sick of the same typical eastern and western caribbean ports.

[Carnac767]

You wouldn't have liked Cairo much, then, even though it was one of our greatest excursions ever. We had an armed guard on our bus from Alexandria to Cairo, and there was one bus filled with armed guards who patrolled the highway between the cities, just to shepherd the NCL buses. At every stop in Cairo our guard got off first to confer with other security personnel before letting us off. But we never felt threatened the entire time and found the Egyptian people to be the friendliest and most generous we've ever encountered. I was stationed in Germany during the Gulf War and my children went to school on a bus with three MPs armed with automatic weapons. I've traveled the world as both a military and airline pilot, and there aren't many places left in the world that don't have a fairly heavy police or military presence at perceived vulnerable spots. It's the times we live in.

[Leafpeeper]

We got off the ship because we saw a lovely beach next to the ship. We did not realize we could not enter that beach until after we were in a cab and driving thru San Jose. Otherwise, we would have just stayed onboard.

 

When my cab driver told us that the city was very dangerous, that is when we asked him to take us back to the ship. The point of my post was to warn people to book an excursion thru the ship to be safe.

 

We don't plan our vacations driving through slummy dangerous neighborhoods whether they are here in the U.S. or anywhere else.

[graphicguy]

If you only travel in and around North and Central America, you may be a bit unnerved by what you see in the larger and/or out of the way cities.

 

There are parts of just about any major city, regardless of locale or geography, that you will be a target because of your nervous appearence alone!

 

Go to South America, Europe, etc and the sight of armed security is much more prevalent.

 

Not sure any of this actually means you are more, or less safe. Just something I’ve not given much thought to in recent years.

[BostonGal35]

We got off the ship because we saw a lovely beach next to the ship. We did not realize we could not enter that beach until after we were in a cab and driving thru San Jose. Otherwise, we would have just stayed onboard.

 

 

 

so it sounds like you did not do any research prior to your trip. we find a lot of info on these boards and via the Fodor's website/books and Rick Steves' material when we travel Europe. Its the 4 P's - Prior Planning Prevents Panic. We always know in advance where we are going, how best to get there, and tips on what to see/what to avoid. not only does this help us maximize our experience, but it avoids the issue you had of showing up at a beach that wasnt open to the public.

[Barb Nahoumi]

My friend and I did the Panama Canal cruise on the Pearl many years ago. We boarded in L.A. and disembarked in Miami. Our cruise did not stop for excursions in Panama at all, but we did the full transit through the canal. While in Cartenaga, Colombia, we were cautioned by the captain to stay with our groups while on excursions-----do not wander on your own. Our ship trip was a horse and buggy ride through the downtown of the city, and we were accompanied by armed police on horseback. Our "escorts" stayed with us until we returned to our bus. We felt safe on our tour but would not go on our own.

 

While in Costa Rica a group of us hired a taxi van for a private tour, and asked the driver to take us to a restaurant frequented by locals. The food was delicious.

 

The section of Boston where my husband grew up is no longer safe. I occasionally see security and dogs patrolling North Station when I get off of the commuter rail, and that is here in my home state. Sadly, this is the way of the world today.

[Homosassa]

My friend and I did the Panama Canal cruise on the Pearl many years ago. While in Cartenaga, Colombia, we were cautioned by the captain to stay with our groups while on excursions-----do not wander on your own. Our ship trip was a horse and buggy ride through the downtown of the city, and we were accompanied by armed police on horseback. Our "escorts" stayed with us until we returned to our bus. We felt safe on our tour but would not go on our own.

 

 

That sound familiar. In March 1985, our ship, the Sitmar Fairseas, also stopped in Cartagena. We also received the same warning.

 

Our city tour on a bus had two armed escorts We also felt safe on the tour.

 

In addition, the night before the port stop, the parents of the six children on board (my daughter was 18 months old) were contacted by the purser's desk. We were told to leave the children on board and contact information for a designated guardian back home was asked for in case it was needed.

[biker@sea]

Todays new's Miami = https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/woman-says-armed-guard-banned-disney-cruise-25-weeks-pregnant-144913615.html

 

Armed guards with machine guns at Disney stop a pregnant lady.

[mugtech]

Todays new's Miami = https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/woman-says-armed-guard-banned-disney-cruise-25-weeks-pregnant-144913615.html

 

Armed guards with machine guns at Disney stop a pregnant lady.

Good to know we would be protected from certain pregnant women on Disney. Not sailing them anyway.

[Cruisercl]

Totally a hijack of this thread - the rules about anything health related are pretty much spelled out in the T&C.

Not the cruise line's fault a customer did not comply with their contract.

 

Ignorance is not really a good reason to believe it is the cruise line's fault about potential passenger's health issues. It is about personal responsibility. Actually, feel concerned for the baby.

 

Safe cruising all!

[drew69]

After sailing on NCL Star Panama Canal cruise in February, we wished we had waited to take NCL Gem next January instead because they will be visiting Aruba and Curaco before Panama and Ixtapa (my fav Pacific port). Our cruise stopped in Cartenaga, Columbia (huge city), Nicaragua, and more DANGEROUS San Jose, Guatemala. On a ride to the beach in Guatemala, we spotted Police with machine guns every three feet. We cancelled our beach trip and prayed we would make it back to the ship safely. This was not the 50th anniversary cruise I expected. Such a disappointment. Buyer beware!

 

Better to stay home as you will also see armed police in NYC, Philly, London, Paris, Rome, Mexico, and many other destinations.

 

You were probably safer at that beach than in most US cities

[ElaineKeagy]

Todays new's Miami = https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/woman-says-armed-guard-banned-disney-cruise-25-weeks-pregnant-144913615.html

 

Armed guards with machine guns at Disney stop a pregnant lady.

 

 

 

Your post and comments are absurd. You could get a job writing clickbait headlines for the Daily Mail.

 

 

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[grouchomarx]

Your post and comments are absurd. You could get a job writing clickbait headlines for the Daily Mail.

 

 

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What's absurd? I read the same article yesterday. It's just a new article what's the problem with you?