Cruises Starting or Ending in Balboa/Fuerte Amador

[jtwind]

What exactly does it mean when the cruise starts or ends in Balboa/Fuerte Amador?  Aren't those two different sites?

[r&rd]

It’s the same place - Fuerte Amador is a short drive to Balboa. Fuerte Amador has a new cruise terminal that isn’t quite finished so sometimes the ships dock at the terminal and sometimes the ship anchors and tenders to a small dock. I think embarkation/debarkation are done at the terminal and when the ship is just making a stop before or after transiting the canal it anchors.

[jtwind]

That's what I've been seeing, a short drive.  So, how do we find out which one to tell the tour company to meet us at?

[r&rd]

Look at your itinerary. If it says docked tell them the terminal. If it says anchored it’s the dock - tell them you will be arriving by tender. While the construction was going on at the new terminal the meeting place for all transportation was at the small shopping center a short walk from the tenders. But all the taxis and shore excursions knew where to go. Fuerte Amador is not a large place.

[jtwind]

According to this, they are 2 different places, not just a matter of tendering and docking:  https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/panama-city-port-584

[Host Jazzbeau]

The tour company is more likely to know than you.  It's their business, and they're there.

[r&rd]

Yes, they are two different places about a 10 minute drive apart, they dock at one and tender to the other. Port Fuerte amador is the tender dock. Fuerte amador Cruise terminal is where they actually dock the ship. Port Balboa is not a cruise port - it is a dry dock terminal. I agree with Jazzbeau - the tour company will know.