Panama Planning

[mjy]

Hi! I thought I covered in this post before.

Um, gee, I guess that previous post wasn't big enough to bite me!

I see it now.

Thanks, Andrew . . .

 

[cruisin'Mike]

Cartagena Columbia.

Be careful where, on my last visit as we left the port entra nce swarms of peopley came up to the coach begging, and pleading for money etc.

The shoppling area and beach is controlled, but be careful elsewhere.

Thanks Andrew!

We're really excited to be coming to Catregena. I'm not sure exactly what we'll be doing here. I want to see some of the old city and DW wants to do some shopping. Of course the boat ride through the mangroves looks interesting too. Too many choices!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Um, gee, I guess that previous post wasn't big enough to bite me!

I see it now.

Thanks, Andrew . . .

Sorry it was so small you might of missed it!!!

My Recomendations:-

CABO

Coastal highlights tour, or boat trip around the bay.

PV

Dolphins popular book quickly. Or Town tour
-Can do on your own, taxi.

ACAPULCO

Cici Water park, again Dolphins.-DCL
Market/Fort, on your own.

 

[shanstef]

Can't believe the WB is so close! My husband and I are both very excited...Thanks so much for all of the helpful info and pics!

Shannon

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks Andrew!

We're really excited to be coming to Catregena. I'm not sure exactly what we'll be doing here. I want to see some of the old city and DW wants to do some shopping. Of course the boat ride through the mangroves looks interesting too. Too many choices!!!

I personally wasn't impressed by the shopping there, the country is famous for emeralds, but the quality we saw in the approved shops was poor. St Thomas is far better! Mangroves looks very interesting, haven't done it, but I think would be good.
The city beach is poor, and I have been there and wasn't impressed at all, I think its called Hilton beach after the hotel there.

The beach resort out of town is better I understand.

The old town is very nice, but a lot of walking, and young kids will not enjoy in the heat.

I think these look best:-

Tour of the Rosario Islands
Behold the stunning beauty of the Rosario Islands during a windswept cruise to Isla de Sol, where you are invited to snorkel and swim amidst paradise.

Cartagena Beach & Boating Tour
Drop anchor in Playa Blanca — arguably Cartagena's finest beach — on Baru Island for an afternoon of sunbathing, swimming and sightseeing amidst paradise.


Mangroves, Show and Lunch
Escape to Cienaga De la Virgen — Cartagena's most important natural eco-system — during a scenic canoe tour and retreat to Las Americas Resort for a sun-kissed afternoon amidst paradise.

Can't believe the WB is so close! My husband and I are both very excited...Thanks so much for all of the helpful info and pics!

Shannon

Yes getting close for you guys!

 

[bonnielynn]

It wait... still no stateroom yet, but I am hoping it will be really soon..

I am so worried I will forget to bring something with me.. I keep going over and over again in my mind what to bring...

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

It wait... still no stateroom yet, but I am hoping it will be really soon..

I am so worried I will forget to bring something with me.. I keep going over and over again in my mind what to bring...

Yourself???

and have a good cruise, dont worry, you will get a nice room,

 

[minty]

A good friend of mine is from Colombia, and she was very excited when I told her that I would be visiting Cartagena. I asked her about excursions, and she recommended two of the three that andrew picked out. She said that the Rosario Islands are much more beautiful than anything in Cartagena, but she said that touring the city would be a better choice. There are lots of beautiful beaches in the world, but she loves the experience of walking around the old city.

She also said that the mangrove tour would be a great trip and she emphasized that it is full of wildlife. She said it smells weird, but is very unique.

She also said to be sure to buy some fruit from a street vendor.

As for me, I'll be taking one of the city tours, and doing some exploring on my own.

I think these look best:-

Tour of the Rosario Islands
Behold the stunning beauty of the Rosario Islands during a windswept cruise to Isla de Sol, where you are invited to snorkel and swim amidst paradise.

Cartagena Beach & Boating Tour
Drop anchor in Playa Blanca — arguably Cartagena's finest beach — on Baru Island for an afternoon of sunbathing, swimming and sightseeing amidst paradise.


Mangroves, Show and Lunch
Escape to Cienaga De la Virgen — Cartagena's most important natural eco-system — during a scenic canoe tour and retreat to Las Americas Resort for a sun-kissed afternoon amidst paradise.

 

[MrsScooby]

Definitely planning on splitting my time between our verandha and deck 4 for the Panama canal


Andrew, how often does shutters take pictures of people on their verandhas
I love the pic of you and your family on the verandha and would really like one like that of my family as well. Do they give you a time frame to be on your verandha for the picture or do you just have to be lucky

 

[KSDisneyDad]

A good friend of mine is from Colombia, and she was very excited when I told her that I would be visiting Cartagena. I asked her about excursions, and she recommended two of the three that andrew picked out. She said that the Rosario Islands are much more beautiful than anything in Cartagena, but she said that touring the city would be a better choice. There are lots of beautiful beaches in the world, but she loves the experience of walking around the old city.

She also said that the mangrove tour would be a great trip and she emphasized that it is full of wildlife. She said it smells weird, but is very unique.

She also said to be sure to buy some fruit from a street vendor.

As for me, I'll be taking one of the city tours, and doing some exploring on my own.

Thanks for the post. I thought about the city tour as well.

Buying fresh fruit reminds me -- how fresh does the food on board the Magic stay during week two? Is it noticeably different or do they do a good job of planning for the 15 night trip so that there's always plenty of fresh food?

 

[cruisin'Mike]

A good friend of mine is from Colombia, and she was very excited when I told her that I would be visiting Cartagena. I asked her about excursions, and she recommended two of the three that andrew picked out. She said that the Rosario Islands are much more beautiful than anything in Cartagena, but she said that touring the city would be a better choice. There are lots of beautiful beaches in the world, but she loves the experience of walking around the old city.

She also said that the mangrove tour would be a great trip and she emphasized that it is full of wildlife. She said it smells weird, but is very unique.

She also said to be sure to buy some fruit from a street vendor.

As for me, I'll be taking one of the city tours, and doing some exploring on my own.

Thanks for the info. We're really looking forward to Cartegena.

 

[Pennyguy23]

Thanks, Mr. Lincoln!

.

, Hey are we still going to travel together for the sealions?

 

[Belle Beast]

Good luck with that one! I think alot of us are on that list! We also have a midship Cat 3.

We sent in a request to Inventory Control back in July of 2005 for a Cat 1 for either the 3rd or 4th week of August 2008 so we are still shaking our heads on how we didn't get either the Roy or the Walt.

Perhaps 37 months in advance isn't long enough. We had know idea at the time of the request it would turn out to be a 15 day repo, but that should make a difference to IC.

 

[ibouncetoo]

, Hey are we still going to travel together for the sealions?

Yes sir!

I figure once I get my room assignment, I'm going to PM everybody I have any kind of plans with, so they'll know how to get a hold of me!

31 Days!

.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thank you for all of the posts, just to quote a few,

A good friend of mine is from Colombia, and she was very excited when I told her that I would be visiting Cartagena. I asked her about excursions, and she recommended two of the three that andrew picked out. She said that the Rosario Islands are much more beautiful than anything in Cartagena, but she said that touring the city would be a better choice. There are lots of beautiful beaches in the world, but she loves the experience of walking around the old city.

She also said that the mangrove tour would be a great trip and she emphasized that it is full of wildlife. She said it smells weird, but is very unique.

She also said to be sure to buy some fruit from a street vendor.

As for me, I'll be taking one of the city tours, and doing some exploring on my own.

Very interesting, thank you, very helpful.

Definitely planning on splitting my time between our verandha and deck 4 for the Panama canal


Andrew, how often does shutters take pictures of people on their verandhas
I love the pic of you and your family on the verandha and would really like one like that of my family as well. Do they give you a time frame to be on your verandha for the picture or do you just have to be lucky

They did it on the Eastbound at the first two locks, you have to be fast, they have so many people to picture, so its best to wave, and get yourself noticed, as much a possible, there where a couple each side of the ship, the Magic does move slowly but as said so many cruisers to take a picture of.

 

[DCL Repeaters]

Thanks for the post. I thought about the city tour as well.

Buying fresh fruit reminds me -- how fresh does the food on board the Magic stay during week two? Is it noticeably different or do they do a good job of planning for the 15 night trip so that there's always plenty of fresh food?

I was on the eastbound PC cruise in 2005. I believe it was Curacao where fresh food was flown in from the States to meet the ship. It was quite noticable at the end of week 1 that the fruit was getting mushy and old looking. That was the only thing I noticed.

 

[Skallywag]

Nice to hear that the mangrove tour is recommended as that is the one we were interested in doing.
Brenda

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I was on the eastbound PC cruise in 2005. I believe it was Curacao where fresh food was flown in from the States to meet the ship. It was quite noticable at the end of week 1 that the fruit was getting mushy and old looking. That was the only thing I noticed.

Yes I did the galley tour about that time and the chefs said that it was a challenge, to keep food fresh, and they were running out of things. Salads in particular was an issue. They had taken on food at Acapulco but then it was all the way to Curacao, this time there is an extra stop so we all can have some pure Columbian Burro!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Nice to hear that the mangrove tour is recommended as that is the one we were interested in doing.
Brenda

Yes Brenda a lot of interest and recommendations on that one!

 

[4fosterkids]

Thanks for this great thread! All the info and pictures just make it that much more exciting!! We can't wait.

Our group has 4 verandah's on deck 7 - 2 port, 2 starboard. So I'm hoping we have things covered for viewing one way or another.
I'm curious if there are rules to having banners on the verandah and how you attach them.