Panama Canal

[sailingrose]

Ports:

Cartagena Columbia

Colon Panama and the Canal

Limon Costa Rica

Anyone been to these and do you have any suggestions??????

[JoeyandDavid]

Rose as you know we did the canal earlier this year .. the biggest thing I may suggest.. as for the day that you transits the canal get to your viewing station early.. I may suggest the upper deck club or restaurant that has the big picture windows... if you are going with a bunch of people designate a early bird or two to grab the seats and section it off... I know its not right .. but we are talking once in a lifetime things here.....

As far as Costa Rica we opted for the Coffee Plantation tours.. I really wished I could be of greater assistance ... but never fear .. you know the crazies are a coming!

Joey

[sailingrose]

Joey, I would love to do the coffee tour but not sure DH would enjoy it, he's not a coffee drinker. Can you tell me more????

[JoeyandDavid]

Sure it was the Britt Factory tour it included lunch transportation .... you know we booked it thru the crusieline...

What time of year? remember the heat is or can be awesome we went in January and some porst the sweat just rolled off me.... but then again your from a humid part of the country so you do have that advantage..

check out our roll call thread from the summit when you have time and that may give you some thoughts or ideas.. in the meantime ask the questions and If i know the answer I will speak up if not I know someone here at crazies should know...

Joey

[sailingrose]

I'm aware that it's going to be hot! I'm an inside person in the summer here so I know I'll be boiling. I bought a battery operated fan to take with us. We're going the end of November.

I'll keep the coffee tour in mind. I've been reading the roll call and I've been checking other boards but haven't had a lot of luck. Sure hope the Crazies can help me on this one.

[JoeyandDavid]

good luck .. let me know if i can help

[Joanandjoe]

We've been to Colon and Puerto Limon.

If you transit the canal, we have no suggestion, since both of our suggestions assume that there is no transit. We took the ferry excursion from the Pacific end of the Canal through the first two locks. Definitely the experience to have if your cruise ship doesn't enter the canal. Alternatively, take the observation train across the country. Either way is a great way to get a canal experience; but we think being right on the canal is best.

I understand that, for canal transits, there are some interesting excursions; but the best excursion is staying on the ship as you go through the canal.

As for Puerto Limon, we joined up with several other cruisers, and went to the big tent booth on the dock. (It was a green tent when we went, but they change colors occasionally). There we looked at a choice of tours offered at less than half of the ship's prices, and took one that involved a boat trip through canals in the national park (we even saw a sloth in a tree), a visit to a banana plantation, and one or two other stops (including a chocolate related stop which Joe, who is allergic, had to skip). It was quite inexpensive and quite memorable. The we did some shopping in the town, and bought a guayabara shirt for Joe, a blouse for Joan, some coffee, some wonderful nuts, and other stuff. Brutally hot weather, but interesting.

[sailingrose]

Thanks for the assist. We are only going as far as Gatun Lake so I will get to see one lock. I'm not sure about hiring a private tour here. I'm great at it in the Caribbean but since this area is so new to us, I'm kind of chicken.

[Joanandjoe]

If you're going to Gatun Lake, you will have a partial canal transit, so you won't need our suggestions in Panama. Look into eco tours.

In Costa Rica, trust us, the tent tours were quite reliable.

[sailingrose]

Thats really good to know Joan and Joe. The ships tours are pretty pricey and since we've never been to these ports, we've been looking at their excursions. We usually do that in new places but I hate the crowds and the canned tour. Much prefer the fun personal touch that private guides give. Thanks