Panama Planning

[granmaz]

Aaaaw, we're all big softies underneath the chat. No need to be bold!!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

This is a post I made earlier covering this.

CABO I say try to go DCL, as you will get off the ship quicker, maybe an early DCL tour then you can go by yourself for a walk in the afternoon and tenders back should be open, there will be a delay getting off here if going your own so if booking the Dolphins there allow time.
http://www.cartagenainfo.net/
http://www.allaboutcabo.com/cabophototour.htm
Canopy tour
http://www.cabosanlucastours.net/Xtreme-Canopy-Tour.htm
Dolphins
http://www.cabodolphins.com/index.htm

Acapulco, Cici water park with Dolphins is the best Dolphin interaction I have ever done, in a salt water pool, no waves, and lots of interaction, better than Cozumel and Costa Maya.

Problem here is on the E/bound we are in very early and leave early, the fort is directly opposite the ship, you will see it, just over a footbridge, The old market is two streets behind that a 5 min walk, but not sure how early they will open, fort I think Will be 9.00am for a cheap trip market maybe 10am, but could be earlier if they know we are in.

Beware of the yellow jacket tourist 'helpers' they are unofficial there and pester you a lot, a firm NO and another NO maybe required.

W/Bound repo in Acapulco , I would say do it on your own, cliff divers by taxi and Market/fort. E/BOUND the issue is the breakfast time we are in.

ARUBA

A great beach pristine is just to the left of the ship a short walk, and no need to book a DCL trip, to the right a big shopping mall with designer shops.
http://www.visitaruba.com/
A pirate boat trip has been booked by the E/bound Cruisers.

Cartagena Columbia.

Do a DCL trip re security there, and take care shopping is reasonable but Gems Emeralds are not the bargain you think. We went to an approved shop and looked over some emeralds, very carefully, and when checked at home they had a flaw and were cost price in London, exactly the same. St Thomas was far better.
http://www.cartagenainfo.net/

Puerto Vallarta

Has a great town and beach, worth a tour of the old villages or go for a tour in the mountains, there is another great Dolphin place here you can book yourself.
http://dolphin-adventures.com/
http://www.vallarta-adventures.com/dolphins/index.html
http://www.virtualvallarta.com/

I recommend the pirate ship here and book by yourself.
http://www.marigalante.com.mx/default.asp
__________________

All of this talk of excursions makes me realize that I need to get busy planning -- just over a month left before I can book them. Thanks for the info on Aruba -- we had thought about doing an island tour, but if there's a nice beach close-by, we might just do that instead.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

All of this talk of excursions makes me realize that I need to get busy planning -- just over a month left before I can book them. Thanks for the info on Aruba -- we had thought about doing an island tour, but if there's a nice beach close-by, we might just do that instead.

Its close!!! Turn left off the ship, short taxi ride.

 

[poohmomof5]

All of this talk of excursions makes me realize that I need to get busy planning -- just over a month left before I can book them. Thanks for the info on Aruba -- we had thought about doing an island tour, but if there's a nice beach close-by, we might just do that instead.

I was thinking the same thing. A nice day at the beach sounds fantastic. We did that in St. Maarten and the kids loved it!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I was thinking the same thing. A nice day at the beach sounds fantastic. We did that in St. Maarten and the kids loved it!

Aruba is nice and safe to do it by yourself, so is PV, easy to navigate and long port hours.

 

[poohmomof5]

Aruba is nice and safe to do it by yourself, so is PV, easy to navigate and long port hours.

It almost sounds like you know me already...I am late for everything, thus my husband is terrified of missing the ship while we are stranded somewhere.

I have only missed one flight in my life, that is another story...but I did have the most fantastic dream about missing the ship in Aruba. Except the boat was travelling through a really narrow channel and all 7 of us were running along side of it and almost all of us had managed to LEAP onto the ship as it was moving. They landed right on deck 10 no problem. But I wasn't on yet and my little DD3 was with me and I was trying to decide if I should try to throw her to some complete strangers (keep in mind the boat is moving...) AND...AND...AND...























I woke up.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

It almost sounds like you know me already...I am late for everything, thus my husband is terrified of missing the ship while we are stranded somewhere.

I have only missed one flight in my life, that is another story...but I did have the most fantastic dream about missing the ship in Aruba. Except the boat was traveling through a really narrow channel and all 7 of us were running along side of it and almost all of us had managed to LEAP onto the ship as it was moving. They landed right on deck 10 no problem. But I wasn't on yet and my little DD3 was with me and I was trying to decide if I should try to throw her to some complete strangers (keep in mind the boat is moving...) AND...AND...AND...
I woke up.

This is the usual worry and reason why a lot of people will book DCL shore trips and not do it by themselves, they worry about missing the ship, So I thought I would add that as an additional point, late port departures mean "Hakuna Matata" no worries, I did my own tours in 5 of 7 ports in the Med as I knew the area very well,

Cabo has issues as its a tender port, Acapulco is fine you just walk off the fort its there and the market, and the cliff divers a short taxi ride away, ( care on EB REPO TIMES IN PORT).

 

[cruisin'Mike]

Oh, that was a lovely story, as we had been on the Disney Cruise twice without had a verdandh.

And it was sold out and I saw one cancellation for Cat 9 so we booked it and very happy.

Then, I spot Cat 6 available last January. Very tempt to booked it then I emailed to Andrew to ask him about the verdandh. Then

I booked it without my husband know.

On 40th birthday, I gave him a present and he was gobsmacked to have the upgraded
Now he said that he said that it was a good idea and it will be once lifetime and to see the Panama Canal and every country too.

As I love the sunrise and sunset as it is my favourite to take the photos. I always go up on Deck 10 to take the picture, well not now, I won't have to go up to Deck 10 as I can take the picture from our Verdandh

Now I am glad that I booked the Cat 6. We had a laugh last week that our friend Alison and David find out the stateroom that they will be our neighdoor.

Yes, keep the secret for your daughter as it will be surprise for her.

Scottishwee35

Great story! I'm sure your family will enjoy the verandah.

 

[scottishwee35]

Great story! I'm sure your family will enjoy the verandah.

Thank you

Scottishwee35

 

[Skallywag]

Just to upset all the British cruisers just received this reply concerning handing in of our passports again on cruise:-

We appreciate your patience while we researched your request concerning
handling of Passports on your upcoming cruise.

Please be assured, Disney Cruise Line Vacations follows the U.S.
Government regulations that are required in handling Guest's citizenship
documentation.

It has been determined that Disney Cruise Line will be required to
collect all citizenship documentation for Non-US Citizens for the
15-Night Panama Canal Cruise. Although we can appreciate the frustration
this can cause, unfortunately, we do not have the ability to change
these directives from the U.S. Government and the U.S. Customs & Border
Protection Agency.

We hope the above information proves helpful. If you need further
assistance planning your upcoming cruise, please feel free to contact
us.

Feel this is too bad of them and am still waiting for clarification and advice from our passport office.
Brenda

 

[poohmomof5]

Just to upset all the British cruisers just received this reply concerning handing in of our passports again on cruise:-

We appreciate your patience while we researched your request concerning
handling of Passports on your upcoming cruise.

Please be assured, Disney Cruise Line Vacations follows the U.S.
Government regulations that are required in handling Guest's citizenship
documentation.

It has been determined that Disney Cruise Line will be required to
collect all citizenship documentation for Non-US Citizens for the
15-Night Panama Canal Cruise. Although we can appreciate the frustration
this can cause, unfortunately, we do not have the ability to change
these directives from the U.S. Government and the U.S. Customs & Border
Protection Agency.

We hope the above information proves helpful. If you need further
assistance planning your upcoming cruise, please feel free to contact
us.

Feel this is too bad of them and am still waiting for clarification and advice from our passport office.
Brenda

Without sounding too dumb, but what exactly does this mean? That you have to surrender your passport to the Ship authorities during the cruise? If so, what type of issues does this cause?

 

[Skallywag]

Without sounding too dumb, but what exactly does this mean? That you have to surrender your passport to the Ship authorities during the cruise? If so, what type of issues does this cause?

This means non US cruisers have to relinquish their passports when boarding and do not get these back until the last morning of the cruise. This means you have to rise at an unthinkable hour and stand in a line to get your passports back. It is totally out of order and unnecessary and have just spoken with our passport office who say there is no reason for this and they could take a photocopy and keep that for their record and let us retain our passport. If you do want to cash travellers cheques or perhaps hire a car they want proof of itentity which your passport is.

I feel so sorry for people with young children in arms on that last morning.
Brenda

 

[poohmomof5]

This means non US cruisers have to relinquish their passports when boarding and do not get these back until the last morning of the cruise. This means you have to rise at an unthinkable hour and stand in a line to get your passports back. It is totally out of order and unnecessary and have just spoken with our passport office who say there is no reason for this and they could take a photocopy and keep that for their record and let us retain our passport. If you do want to cash travellers cheques or perhaps hire a car they want proof of itentity which your passport is.

I feel so sorry for people with young children in arms on that last morning.
Brenda

Yucky, you would think that you could do it after the last stop in the evening before you dock. But the US Government isn't really very flexible...as we found out on our first cruise as we had to get up at 6am the morning we docked in St. Thomas to show ourselves. That makes no sense to me...

 

[hawkaye19]

Yucky, you would think that you could do it after the last stop in the evening before you dock. But the US Government isn't really very flexible...as we found out on our first cruise as we had to get up at 6am the morning we docked in St. Thomas to show ourselves. That makes no sense to me...

They want you to lok as much like your passport photo as possible

 

[poohmomof5]

They want you to lok as much like your passport photo as possible

I hadn't thought of it that way. Now it all makes so much sense. Another thank you to Disney for thinking of us even when we don't know it!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Just to upset all the British cruisers just received this reply concerning handing in of our passports again on cruise:-

We appreciate your patience while we researched your request concerning
handling of Passports on your upcoming cruise.

Please be assured, Disney Cruise Line Vacations follows the U.S.
Government regulations that are required in handling Guest's citizenship
documentation.

It has been determined that Disney Cruise Line will be required to
collect all citizenship documentation for Non-US Citizens for the
15-Night Panama Canal Cruise. Although we can appreciate the frustration
this can cause, unfortunately, we do not have the ability to change
these directives from the U.S. Government and the U.S. Customs & Border
Protection Agency.

We hope the above information proves helpful. If you need further
assistance planning your upcoming cruise, please feel free to contact
us.

Feel this is too bad of them and am still waiting for clarification and advice from our passport office.
Brenda

Brenda, thank you for posting this, albeit bad news for us, 6am wake up call.

I think beyond DCL 's powers.

 

[scottishwee35]

Just to upset all the British cruisers just received this reply concerning handing in of our passports again on cruise:-

We appreciate your patience while we researched your request concerning
handling of Passports on your upcoming cruise.

Please be assured, Disney Cruise Line Vacations follows the U.S.
Government regulations that are required in handling Guest's citizenship
documentation.

It has been determined that Disney Cruise Line will be required to
collect all citizenship documentation for Non-US Citizens for the
15-Night Panama Canal Cruise. Although we can appreciate the frustration
this can cause, unfortunately, we do not have the ability to change
these directives from the U.S. Government and the U.S. Customs & Border
Protection Agency.

We hope the above information proves helpful. If you need further
assistance planning your upcoming cruise, please feel free to contact
us.

Feel this is too bad of them and am still waiting for clarification and advice from our passport office.
Brenda

Hi Brenda

Oh no, I thought it had been stopped for a while. Now back again, How often we have to get up 6 am? Is it held at LA? or what?

Thank you for let us know as we are disappointed with it

Scottishwee35

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Hi Brenda

Oh no, I thought it had been stopped for a while. Now back again, How often we have to get up 6 am? Is it held at LA? or what?

Thank you for let us know as we are disappointed with it

Scottishwee35

Hi for you,

It will be taken at PC and you collect it back on ship 6am LA day, for me its

Hand in in LA and collect back 6am PC arrival day.

 

[umber]

OK, so once we arrive at the port in LA, then what? I can't find any info on any forms of transportation out!!!! I would like to rent a car, but where? Do have to take a cab to LAX then rent a car?
If anyone could post any information that would be helpful.

 

[got2travel]

There is an Enterprise at the port, or fairly close. They do have a shuttle. I believe there is one other, but I can't remember who it is right now.