western caribbean/panama cruises

MisterD21 · Jul 6, 2010

hello everyone,

Has anyone done a western caribbean/panama cruise before?? if so, what line/itinerary was it? What were your experiences good or bad??

I am asking because my mother wants to cruise to panama, but also wants to do some ports we haven't been to yet. I am researching it well in advance of a possible fall of 2k11, spring 2k12 cruise. This would likely be a family cruise with siblings and their kids as well, so i need to know what to expect for a variety of age groups from about 14-65.

thank you for your replies, i need all the help i can get.. :thankyou::clap:

Krazy Kruizers · Jul 6, 2010

We have full Panama Canal cruises and partial ones where we did visit a couple of western Caribbean cruises -- mostly on HAL.

Last fall we sailed on the Zuiderdam -- round trip from Ft Lauderdale. Half Moon Cay, Aruba, Curacao, partial Panama Canal -- ship drops off shore excursion passengers in Gatun Lake and then we went o Cristobal. Now I understand that the cruises will go to Colon after existing the locks. After the last port is Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. It is a 10 day cruise.

Having done several tours of Panama we stayed on the ship.

Charles · Jul 6, 2010

We've completed two partial transits through Princess. Both left from Fort Lauderdale, and stopped in Cartegena, Cristobal/Colon, Limon, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and back to FLL.

We enjoyed the cruise and the ports very well. The first time in Panama we took the ocean to ocean train trip from Colon to Panama City. On the Pacific side you board a bus that takes you to various spots. You then reboard the train back to Colon.

The second time, we booked a tour boat from Gamboa through the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks to the Pacific Ocean just south of Panama City. The we boarded a bus back to Cristobal.

Both trips were very worthwhile.

In Grand Cayman, you have to swim with the sting rays.

c

nieciez · Jul 6, 2010

We did a similar itinerary as Charles on RCL Jewel of the Seas with a C@ Group cruise but visited Costa Rica instead of Jamaica.

ShipMaven · Jul 6, 2010

We sailed on Volendam - the HAL itinerary has now been offered by Zuiderdam. Our itinerary was Fort Lauderdale, Half Moon Cay, Sea Day, Aruba, Curacao, Sea Day, Panama Canal (partial transit - Gatun Lake), Colon (Panama), Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), 2 sea days, disembark Fort Lauderdale.

Most of our group, with few exceptions, thought our day on Half Moon Cay was the best excursion we had ever experienced.

Cruizer · Jul 6, 2010

I did a full transit through the Panama Canal from Los Angels to Miami on the NCL Jade. The review is so long that I had to break it up into three sections. Here are links to all three sections ...

Part one - http://www.cruise-addicts.com/reviews/readreview.php?id=331
Part two - http://www.cruise-addicts.com/reviews/readreview.php?id=332
Part three - http://www.cruise-addicts.com/reviews/readreview.php?id=333

And here is a link to a photo album with about 200 photos of the Panama Canal ...

NCL Jade going through the Panama Canal - Feb 2008 pictures from friends & fun photos on webshots

tutak · Jul 6, 2010

We did a Carnival 8 day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Belize, Costa Rica and Panama. If I were to do it with a family, I would pick the Carnival 8 day cruise that stops at Cozumel rather than Belize. We particularly enjoyed the 4 days at sea. Although this cruise does not go into the canal, excursions are available to take a ferry boat through the canal for those that wish to do this. In both Costa Rica and Panama, excursions are available that take you in cable cars above the rain forest. I think that this cruise is cost efficient and enjoyable foir a family with a wide span of ages.

MisterD21 · Jul 6, 2010

AArrrgggg.... this be me problem mateys... i've been looking at the different cruiselines and their panama offerings and it is difficult to choose which one to do. Each one offers something a little different in the way of ports of calls. Each breaks their sea days a little different, and which ports in succession are different a little as well.. To make matters worse.. i like each of the offerings because they are slightly different.. i would say that of the cruises i have looked at the Hal itinerary, while good.. is not my favorite. Each has their detractors as well.. so it's just difficult to decide. I think i might just send mom the brochures and let her pick which one she thinks she'd like best My brother and sister will just have to accept it. Since neither of them have been on cruises before it's not like they have anything to compare one from another to. If mom's happy... then i'll have a good time regardless of my siblings..

Ok.. since I have not been to Cartegena, or Colon, or Limon before is there anything at these ports i should not miss?? and are there things i should definitly avoid??

ShipMaven · Jul 6, 2010

MrD - if your Mom has a computer and is comfortable using it, I would suggest sending her the links to the various cruises. Nowadays, written brochures oftentimes are outdated and rarely show the correct discounted fares.

MisterD21 · Jul 7, 2010

ShipMaven said:
MrD - if your Mom has a computer and is comfortable using it, I would suggest sending her the links to the various cruises. Nowadays, written brochures oftentimes are outdated and rarely show the correct discounted fares.

Mother is not a technophile, she doesn't own a PC or laptop(yet, it is on my to do list. will probably get her a laptop after the christmas season when they price drop again) She does well enough to use the PC they have at work to do her company's shipping labels and such.