Just back 9 days Jewel Panama, Aruba, etc

[basketballdad]

 

We did the air package via ncl which connected us on a red eye out of Denver.  10 pm to 6 am on Copa Air.  They served dinner at midnight and 1st bag to 50lbs free.  Nice 736-800 with USB at each seat. .

 

Panama airport was a zoo.  Baggage claim was a good 15-20 minute walk and then a 45 minute wait at immigration.  2 people working the line.  They fingerprint you coming into their country (what a concept) then went and got our luggage.  Except it wasn't there.  Thankfully my wife happened to look at the carousel from flights in from Mexico City and there were our bags.  Then another line, and finally out to the pick up area and a guy holding an ncl sign. It was almost 2 hours since landing til we were on the NCL bus.  Glad we did the NCL transfers as it just made things easier.

 

We chose the Hilton via ncl and frankly at first I thought it was too expensive but we got there about 930 am and they checked us in even though check in was at 3pm. They upgraded to a suite and it was very nice.  Best Hilton ever.

Through viator we did a 130 pm city and canal tour for 5 hours.  Glad we did as it gave us a good perspective. Saw the locks work from the street view.

 

 

Got up and caught the NCL bus to colon, roughly 90 minutes.  Driving was crazy and our bus driver hit a cone, cut off people, and took us to the wrong terminal and had to turn around.  Checking in was a complete zoo.  2 hours. 

 

Ship was good.  In a club balcony. On the lights by the bed are USB plugs.  A couple good news and movies channels.  One bag of free laundry.

 

Tsar's was not full and got window seating anytime we wanted.  Rotating staff so never same people waiting.

 

 

Columbia was the worst.  Did a ship your, fort and city.  Traffic was a parking lot, and street vendors were horrible.  I told your 5 brothers, 3 uncle's, and 2 grandmas no I don't want to buy a hat so don't grab my arm as I get on the bus and offer a hat.   The pushiest street vendors anywhere. 

 

Aruba great.  Met a friend and went to church.  Bonaire did the ships glass bottom boat.  Cool but the rain came up and they took people back.

 

People can post allday about the canal.  A full transit is a must at least once in a lifetime, and it did not dissapoint.

 

Let me skip to last day.  100 percent opposite of embarkation. Getting off at Panama City was awesome.  Way overstaffed.  Made it nice.  We just got our bags and got on the bus and 5  minutes later on the road.  No forms or passports or immigration until the airport.  Very well done NCL

 

Then it got worse.  Copa an hour late taking off giving us 90 minutes at Denver to change planes.  However, you gotta go through both customs, get your bags, and immigration, then security again, then to gate.  Maybe barely enough time as lines were long.  But... we got all the way to security and our last round of boarding passes (issued that morning by copa) were not "valid" and United reissued my wifes but could not mine in time.  What?  Our bags were checked through and they made it as scheduled.  After 90 minutes got re routed the next afternoon home, spending an unexpected night at Denver..free hotel but I wanted to be home.  United said that just cause copa gave us a boarding pass does not mean it always is valid when you try to use it in Denver.  wow. 

 

[jeffw67]

We're there any Covid tests or vaccinations required in any of the ports? 

[jtdlmc]

Did NCL provide transportation from the airport to the Hilton?  We booked the precruise package and they told my TA that transportation to the hotel was not included.

 

What time did you arrive at the airport after the cruise?  NCL has us booked on a 10 a.m. flight and I’m very worried we will not make that.  

[basketballdad]

As of now there were zero covid tests anywhere.  about 5% of people on the ship, airport,hotel, port, were wearing masks

[basketballdad]

On 12/5/2022 at 10:14 AM, jtdlmc said:

Did NCL provide transportation from the airport to the Hilton?  We booked the precruise package and they told my TA that transportation to the hotel was not included.

 

What time did you arrive at the airport after the cruise?  NCL has us booked on a 10 a.m. flight and I’m very worried we will not make that.  

When we bought the hotel package from ncl we bought the transport package which included 3 legs.  Airport to hotel, hotel to ship, and ship to airport after.  I have never paid the premium in over 50 cruises to use ship transportation, but this one- highly recommend it!

 

We were group 2 getting off. 745 and it was very fast.  Our flight was suppose to be at 1220 and was delayed.   I would not try for anything before 11 am!  it is a ways and traffic could slow you, airport is slow, etc.  10 am is simply cutting it too close imho.

 

[jtdlmc]

38 minutes ago, basketballdad said:

When we bought the hotel package from ncl we bought the transport package which included 3 legs.  Airport to hotel, hotel to ship, and ship to airport after.  I have never paid the premium in over 50 cruises to use ship transportation, but this one- highly recommend it!

 

We were group 2 getting off. 745 and it was very fast.  Our flight was suppose to be at 1220 and was delayed.   I would not try for anything before 11 am!  it is a ways and traffic could slow you, airport is slow, etc.  10 am is simply cutting it too close imho.

 

We also bought the package from NCL and someone there told my travel agent that there is no transportation from airport to hotel.  I have asked her to verify once again before paying $80 for a private transfer but that was over a month ago and I have yet to hear back from her.  I usually do not use TAs for the sole reason that I like to be able to be in control of my trip but with COVID I thought I would be better off.

 

NCL has booked us on a 10 a.m. flight.  Again after receiving the flight info I called my TA and again she told me she would look into it but I still haven’t heard from her😡.  I see no way that we would make that flight unless someone from NCL personally escorted us off the ship and drove us privately.  As it stands now, even if we were first off the ship we will have to wait for the NCL bus to fill up before it would leave for the airport.  

[MopedMama]

Hello,

I will be doing the Feb. 4 Jewel through Panama Canal. I'm wondering what Theme Nights are going to be. Got White Out, but what else? 

Thanks!!

SherryB