Cartegena Colombia

[Buddy Bear]

In the grand scheme of things I can't be concerned about the port. We will be on the Magic for 360 hours and maybe 6 or 8 of them will be at Cartegena.

If you think the port is unsafe then stay on the ship. I will do research like anybody else and make a decision accordingly, but we will be there for the 15 day vacation and personally I don't care if we ever get off the Magic. OK...I lied...we will get off at CC

 

[drumbumswife]

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?

EB has an extra day at sea and isn't stopping there.
But, i would still write in for you all!

 

[tynkerbell]

we will be there for the 15 day vacation and personally I don't care if we ever get off the Magic. OK...I lied...we will get off at CC

I hear ya! The only port I care about is CC.

 

[justmestace]

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.

If you took DCL's Western Caribbean cruise, you wouldn't be able to donate, either.

 

[justmestace]

EB has an extra day at sea and isn't stopping there.
But, i would still write in for you all!

Nope, it's the other way around. Westbound doesn't stop there....Eastbound (back to FL) does.

 

[tynkerbell]

If you took DCL's Western Caribbean cruise, you wouldn't be able to donate, either.

Really? This is probably a stupid question but why is that?

 

[eeyoregon]

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.

Everyone will have to have a passport to cruise DCL in 2008 (or any other cruiseline).

 

[eeyoregon]

I am a single Mom and am NOT thrilled about this port. It's gonna take a HUGE group of DIS'ers going with me to get me to venture off the ship that day. 300 of us in lime green tank tops and bermuda shorts with tube socks in our sandals should scare the beejeezus out of any terrorist!

 

[cats mom]

Really? This is probably a stupid question but why is that?

Costa Maya is on the list of places with a Malaria risk, so you have to wait a year after you've visited there to donate again.

Actually they did ask details about what we did while there. A trip to a ranch to ride horses got us an immediate no thanks, we don't want your blood.
If you stayed on the ship, or even in the port area, they might be OK with it - not sure.

Panama is actually on the list as well, but since you just transit the canal without getting off the ship, I think that's OK


Edited to add: just noticed someone else mentioned Romancing The Stone. Not sure exactly what it says about my geographical knowledge that a movie was my first thought when I saw the itinerary as well... but I'm sure it's not good.

 

[travelgirl06]

I was in Cartagena in 2002 and I didn't think it was that bad. Yes, we stuck with a shore excursion and our family decided not to venture out on our own, but we did have a lot of fun and got to visit some neat places. There are quaint little shopping areas, nice old churches, and we went to the top of a large hill and had some gorgeous views. Okay, so its not Aruba or Curacao (which I also visited in 02 and LOVED), but its not that bad. Plus, its pretty cool to say you've been to Columbia and South America.

As in any foreign port (or anywhere for that matter), be aware, travel cautiously and don't do anything to put yourself at risk. I think if you go on a guided tour (or follow the recommended places to go) you should be fine.

And with respect to donating blood, I told them that I had been to Columbia, but just on a cruise, and they said that was fine, since i was only off the ship for a few hours and not near any farms/livestock or drinking potentially contaminated water.

I'm not saying Cartagena would be my first choice for a port, but don't automatically write it off, there's a lot of cool stuff to do there that's not too risky.

 

[DenverVal]

If you took DCL's Western Caribbean cruise, you wouldn't be able to donate, either.

We went on a rafting excursion outside Acapulco. Since it was outside the city limits of Acapulco, they deferred me for a year. I guess mosquitoes honor the city limits and fly around it...

 

[Friend_of_Piglet]

FYI: IT's COLOMBIA not Columbia. Sorry, that just bugs me when it's spelled wrong.

Because of this port is the reason why we are planning on booking the EB and not the WB cruise. We love Colombia it's a beautiful country with beautiful people. It really hurts me when people speak (or type) such horrible things about a place they know nothing about. I feel like crying right now. Please keep an open mind.


From Wikipedia

Tourism

Colombia has one festival for every day of the year. During the most famous festivals (such as the Cali Fair, the Barranquilla Carnival, the Iberoamerican Theater Festival and the Flower Festival) is when the most tourists come to Colombia. Many people also come into Colombia during Christmas time and the celebrations surrounding the Independence of Colombia. Even though Colombia has been plagued with travel warnings because of FARC and other guerillas groups, it has continued to attract more tourists in recent years. The apparent cause appears to be the current hardline approach of President Álvaro Uribe to push rebels groups farther away from the major cities and other tourist sites that may attract international visitors. Since President Uribe took office in 2002, he has notably increased Colombia's stability and security by significantly boosting its military strength and police presence throughout the country. This apparently has achieved fruitful results for the country's economy, particularly international tourism. In 2006, tourism officials are expecting approximately 1.5 million international visitors to visit Colombia, an astonishing increase of about 50% from the previous year. Even Lonely Planet, a world travel publisher, has picked Colombia as one of their top 10 world destinations for 2006.[4] The World Tourism Organization reported in 2004 that Colombia achieved the 3rd highest percentage increase of tourist arrivals in South America between 2000 and 2004 (9.2%). Only Peru and Suriname had higher increases during the same period.[5]

I'm not saying there is not crime in Colombia, because there is. Just be careful as you would anywhere else in the world. And please try not to disrespect it.

Thanks.

Sooz

 

[Miss Eeyore]

.....and still no one has come up with a good answer as to why they added Cartagena to the EB and not the WB

 

[DCL Repeaters]

FYI: IT's COLOMBIA not Columbia. Sorry, that just bugs me when it's spelled wrong.

Because of this port is the reason why we are planning on booking the EB and not the WB cruise. We love Colombia it's a beautiful country with beautiful people. It really hurts me when people speak (or type) such horrible things about a place they know nothing about. I feel like crying right now. Please keep an open mind.


From Wikipedia

Tourism

Colombia has one festival for every day of the year. During the most famous festivals (such as the Cali Fair, the Barranquilla Carnival, the Iberoamerican Theater Festival and the Flower Festival) is when the most tourists come to Colombia. Many people also come into Colombia during Christmas time and the celebrations surrounding the Independence of Colombia. Even though Colombia has been plagued with travel warnings because of FARC and other guerillas groups, it has continued to attract more tourists in recent years. The apparent cause appears to be the current hardline approach of President Álvaro Uribe to push rebels groups farther away from the major cities and other tourist sites that may attract international visitors. Since President Uribe took office in 2002, he has notably increased Colombia's stability and security by significantly boosting its military strength and police presence throughout the country. This apparently has achieved fruitful results for the country's economy, particularly international tourism. In 2006, tourism officials are expecting approximately 1.5 million international visitors to visit Colombia, an astonishing increase of about 50% from the previous year. Even Lonely Planet, a world travel publisher, has picked Colombia as one of their top 10 world destinations for 2006.[4] The World Tourism Organization reported in 2004 that Colombia achieved the 3rd highest percentage increase of tourist arrivals in South America between 2000 and 2004 (9.2%). Only Peru and Suriname had higher increases during the same period.[5]

I'm not saying there is not crime in Colombia, because there is. Just be careful as you would anywhere else in the world. And please try not to disrespect it.

Thanks.

Sooz

Please be warned that DCL can change the itinerary at any time. Back in 2005, the eastbound repo was to stop at Puerto Quetzal and several months after booking that port was dropped.

 

[drumbumswife]

Nope, it's the other way around. Westbound doesn't stop there....Eastbound (back to FL) does.

Sure is, I was posting way passed by bedtime!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Friend of Piglet, I haven't been to Colombia, but I understand how you feel about what people are saying. Personally, Cartagena is one of the reasons we are looking into the EB Repo.

 

[Mom323]

From the CDC concerning Malaria Risk

Malaria Risk by Country

Mexico: Risk in rural areas, including resorts in rural areas, of the following states: Campeche, Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacán, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, and Tabasco. In addition, risk exists in Jalisco State (in its mountainous northern area only). Risk also exists in an area between 24° north and 28° north latitude and 106° west and 110° west longitude which lies in parts of the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Durango. No malaria risk along the United States-Mexico border. No malaria risk in the major resorts (that is, resorts located in urban areas) along the Pacific and Gulf coasts, although tourists should use insect repellent and other anti-mosquito measures.

Panama: Risk in rural areas of three provinces: Bocas del Toro, Darién, and San Blas. No risk in Panama City or in the former Canal Zone.

Colombia: Risk in all rural areas at altitudes lower than 800 meters (2,624 feet). No risk in Bogotá and vicinity.
Travelers to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela should take one of the following antimalarial drugs: (listed alphabetically): atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, or primaquine (in special circumstances).

Caribbean
Haiti: All areas, except no risk in cruise port of Labadee (Labadie).
Dominican Republic: Rural, with highest risk in provinces bordering Haiti. In addition, risk in all areas of La Altagracia Province, including Punta Cana and Bavaro Beach(Updated October 21, 2005).
Jamaica: Risk in the city of Kingston only. (Updated December 4, 2006)
There is no risk for malaria on other Caribbean islands listed. (Updated September 19, 2006)

 

[EWL]

To be fair, no one is saying that Colombia isn't a beautiful place. DCL is also not the only cruise line to call on Cartagena-- Holland America, Celebrity, and perhaps others do as well, so it's not as if DCL is picking some crazy port out of a hat. If you get off the ship and take an excursion, you could well have a great time; after all, the tour operators in the country don't want to have an incident any more than you do. It is also true that there is crime in most any port and you should be careful and aware of your surroundings wherever you go.

Having said all that, you have to make up your own mind. I can think of a lot of other places I'd rather see first. And for me, more noteworthy than malaria which is found a lot of places, is the State Department's travel warning that remains in place for Colombia. They don't issue these lightly, and there aren't that many. Here is the full list: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html Be informed, and decide for yourself!

 

[DenverVal]

.....and still no one has come up with a good answer as to why they added Cartagena to the EB and not the WB

It's been two years, and still don't have an answer why they added Mazatlan to the westbound but not the eastbound last time.

 

[mmouse37]

Edited to add: just noticed someone else mentioned Romancing The Stone. Not sure exactly what it says about my geographical knowledge that a movie was my first thought when I saw the itinerary as well... but I'm sure it's not good.

I am with ya on that!!! The first thing I thought of when I saw Cartagena on the list was Romancing the Stone!!!