Cartegena Colombia

[sejejoemmiev]

I had never heard of this port so I did a quick web search. It sounds Dangerous. Has anyone heard anything about it? Anyone else surprised Disney has decided to go to such a Dangerous port?

 

[Mom323]

Also, even if the State Dept comes out with the Passcard for sea travel, Columbia requires a passport. So add on the cost of passports for the eastbound repo.

 

[tynkerbell]

Also, even if the State Dept comes out with the Passcard for sea travel, Columbia requires a passport. So add on the cost of passports for the eastbound repo.

Aren't passports going to be required by then anyway?

 

[disneyjunkie]

I did a search on cruisecritic this morning. Most of the post I read were not very good.

If we get offf the ship there, I plan to stick with an official DCL tour or maybe just walk around the port area.

 

[MassDisLovers]

We did a non-Disney cruise last year and two of the ports were Panama and Costa Rica. They had a very different (ie- dangerous) feel to them than do the "regualr" DCL ports. There were armed soldiers at every intersection - you really didn't get a good feeling about shopping or just exploring the port areas on your own. If you decide to go on this trip, you may want to stick to a DCL tour, if it's anything like our experience, you'll be glad you did. Good luck with your planning!

 

[Mom323]

Aren't passports going to be required by then anyway?

There is a plan to come out with a PassCard, that would allow land or sea travel.

From the State Dept website http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens Under WHTI

Under the proposed implementation plan, the following documents will be acceptable to fulfill document requirements:

U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and may also use a U.S. passport when traveling via sea and land borders (including ferry crossings).

The Passport Card (also referred to as the PASS Card): This limited-use passport in card format is currently under development and will be available for use for travel only via land or sea (including ferries) between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Similar in size to a credit card, it will fit easily into a wallet.

DOS and DHS also anticipate that the following documents will continue to be acceptable for their current travel uses under WHTI: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, and the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document. As proposed, members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders will continue to be exempt from the passport requirement.

 

[tynkerbell]

There is a plan to come out with a PassCard, that would allow land or sea travel.

From the State Dept website http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens Under WHTI

Under the proposed implementation plan, the following documents will be acceptable to fulfill document requirements:

U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and may also use a U.S. passport when traveling via sea and land borders (including ferry crossings).

The Passport Card (also referred to as the PASS Card): This limited-use passport in card format is currently under development and will be available for use for travel only via land or sea (including ferries) between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Similar in size to a credit card, it will fit easily into a wallet.

DOS and DHS also anticipate that the following documents will continue to be acceptable for their current travel uses under WHTI: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, and the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document. As proposed, members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders will continue to be exempt from the passport requirement.

I hadn't heard of this. Thanks for the info.

 

[wide awake]

Cartegna is one of the reasons I am seriously thinking about the EB repo...when will I get the chance to go there again ? I keep thinking of "Romancing the Stone"...or whatever Michael Douglas/Kathleen Turner movie took place in Columbia.

 

[Stinasmom]

I was wondering about this port too, and just didn't have a chance to look up info yet. In all honesty, affording this trip will be a feat in itself with double the tips, double the alcohol costs, having to do laundry, spa visits (promised DH the Rasul if we are on the ship with the kids for that long! ), souvenirs, photos at shutters, aaahhh!
I don't see much left over for excursions! This just may be a port that we don't visit.

 

[joksten2000]

We're going on our second B2B 2/03 & 2/10 Clothes were not a problem, we wash once on fri night. Good clothes we let DCL iron very cheap

 

[Stinasmom]

found some info on the Cruisecritic site...
here is what one person posted:
"As an American married to a Colombian/American, I feel safer walking the street of Cartagena then i do walking the street of some American cities. We own real estate in Cartagena, I will walk with my ipod in the mornings, and am not bothered or harrased by anyone.
I would suggest renting a taxi for the day for a private tour. This last summer we rented a mini van for 6 people for a guided full day tour for $40.00/US total.
Suggested highlights..
San Felipe Fort.. very historical, but alot of walking
La Popa.. the monastery overlooking the city
Plaza Bolivar.. very pretty area in the old city that has both the Gold Museum and the Museum of Inquisition, you will be able to find english speaking guides at both of these museums.
Las Bovedas.. in the old city, area for souvenir shopping
Pierino Gallo in Laguito has great prices for gold and emeralds
Chiva tour of the city, tour on open air bus
Boat ride to the Rosario Islands.. islands off the coast of Cartagena, crystal clear blue water and white sand beaches, great diving and snorkling."

I am definitely looking for lots of positive stuff from RECENT visits before I get off the ship there.

 

[birkner]

Check this link for information about Cartagena:

http://www.cartagenainfo.net/

 

[minniebeth]

Cartagena: I was there when I was in high school, probably around 1984?
I was there on a cruise that went into the Panama Canal and then turned around and went to Columbia (we did Costa Rica too). I would say that the only great thing about it was that now I can say I've been to South America. Period.
I'm sure that some people who love to travel the world and see every city as romantic and historical would say there is beauty and wonder. I would like to be one of these people, but as an impressionable young teenager, I was more shocked into the reality of how differently other countries other than the US are. I guess that could be an education in itself. Pretty much all I remember is that we took a bus tour of the city...extreme poverty and in the tourist area of shopping armed guards, looked like military. And not with just guns, machine guns. I remember wanting to buy something emerald, but it was very touristy and not worth the prices they were trying to swindle tourists with. We were told the quality of the jewelery at a lot of the shops was poor. I'm sure the Colombian people are beautiful and love their culture, we just didn't really have a chance to see that aspect.
I was a little surprised to see Cartagena as a port of call for DCL...
This is just my opinion...

 

[EWL]

I was definitely surprised to see this on the list of ports. The State Dept. currently has a Travel Warning in place for Colombia:

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Colombia. Violence by narcoterrorist groups and other criminal elements continues to affect all parts of the country, urban and rural, including border areas. Citizens of the United States and other countries continue to be victims of threats, kidnappings, and other criminal acts.

Violence in recent years has decreased markedly in most urban areas, including Bogotá, Medellin, Barranquilla, and Cartagena. The level of violence in Cali and its surrounding areas remains high, largely as a result of the illicit drug trade. Many rural portions of Colombia also remain extremely dangerous due to the presence of narcoterrorists and Colombian government operations against them.

At least five Americans were kidnapped in 2004, and at least one in 2005. No one can be considered immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. Terrorist groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), and other criminal organizations, continue to kidnap civilians for ransom or as political bargaining chips. The FARC have held three American official contractors hostage since February 2003. Although the U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped Americans, it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to or strike deals with kidnappers. Consequently, the U.S. government’s ability to assist kidnapping victims is limited.

Official Americans and their families are permitted to travel to major cities, but only by air, and may not use inter- or intra-city bus transportation. They also are not permitted to travel by road outside of urban areas at night. All Americans in Colombia are urged to follow these precautions.

Full text is at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_941.html

It may well be a lovely place, but I for one would not care to venture off the ship in this case.

 

[tynkerbell]

I'm really shocked that Disney put this port on the itinerary. I most certainly will be staying onboard if we're on the repo.

Reading the following at http://www.cartagenainfo.net/cruise/indexeng.html really disturbed me...
These street hustlers and beggars have other means of honorable support, such as: "work". As an example, look at the street peddlers of Cartagena. They sell products and offer services to both the people of Cartagena, and the tourists. They work long and hard. Their honest work provides a poor, but adequate income. The cost of inventory for a street peddler is very low, usually less than $10.00. If you give the hustlers or beggars money, many will quickly spend it on: lotto tickets, alcohol, cigarettes, slot machines, drugs, etc. Many of the barefoot beggar kids buy glue to sniff-which permanently damages their brain and nervous system. You can easily spot the glue kids. They wear long sleeve shirts which hide their stash of glue. When they raise their wrist to their nose, they are getting a "fix"-inhaling the deadly fumes. Give the kids shoes, and they will sell them, perhaps to buy again, from the above list? The reason is simple: if they wear shoes they will not look poor enough, and their begging income will quickly drop. Some beggar women rent children to pose as their own. They carry the child in their arms, begging. They point out the child's deformities, seeking your sympathy-and then your money! Note: The following is sad but true: Many of these "rental children" have been intentionally maimed, such as an eye gouged out, an arm cut off etc. The reason: it raises the rental value of the child. The more pathetic and sickly the child, the more the "loving and caring" tourists will give. Tourist money has been the cause of many maimed children-the world over, it is not just a Colombia problem.

 

[sejejoemmiev]

Why has Disney decided to not return to Curacao this time around? I would MUCH rather go there. It just doesn't make sense for Disney to have such a dangerous port of call. I would be afraid to get off the boat after all that I have read today.

 

[pearlieq]

I found it curious too. I would strongly consider staying on the ship, or would only venture off on a DCL excursion. Why take unnecessary risks like that. There are plenty of other, safer ports the Magic could call on.

Plus I also think getting off there may make me ineligible to donate blood, which is something that's important to me.

 

[sejejoemmiev]

Plus I also think getting off there may make me ineligible to donate blood, which is something that's important to me.

Really?

 

[Stinasmom]

Once we are all booked but before sailing, can we rise up and protest? Would it do any good if a number of people who will be on the Eastbound repo complained and tried to pursuade them to find another port-of-call?

 

[disneyjunkie]

I think that will be my laundry day.