gilbster

There are so many excursions from Panama City, it was hard to know what to pick but I'm currently booked on an excursion to the Authentic Embera Indian Village, as that also sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity. Mildly worried that it's the only level 2 activity level excursion I've booked, but unless i hurt an ankle early in the cruise, which is possible, my ankles don't like me, I'm intend to do this. If not will switch it for a different excursion. But I think this most likely will be the only time I'm in this part of the world, I'd quite like to see something different, in addition to the canal (which after all we will be spending a full day on the following day). a

Must say all the discussion on this thread is making me even more excited for my own Panama Canal cruise, that departs on the 21st Feb. I'm on the Norwegian Sun, Santiago to Miami, in an itinerary that has excited me since I saw it. Only bit I had been less sure of was the Canal transit itself, despite being the main reason I had booked - my research is woefully lacking, just know it's one of those must do, bucket list type itineraries. But now very much looking forward to trying to find a nice comfy spot or 5 around the Sun for transit day (not great at standing still for long periods of time), and ensuring that I have full power on my power bank, phone and camera! So thanks.

It just feels like it's conflicting advice and I've spent more money on this holiday than I have for any other ever, and petrified I might get to Santiago to board, and have someone who decides that actually a certificate is required. That's good to know though.

Was just trying to double check on the various recommended health sites for the UK about if I need any vaccines for my upcoming cruise. I'm on the Norwegian Sun Santiago to Miami, via Peru, Ecuador, Panama Canal, stopping in Panama, Colombia and ending in Miami, next month, The Fit For Travel site is claiming " Yellow fever vaccination certificate required for travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. " and of course a few of those port countries are on the risk list. The Panama Embassy UK site is saying " 5. Do I need a yellow fever vaccine? You do not need a yellow fever vaccine to travel to Panama. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are only required and necessary when the traveller is coming or going from Brazil or some other countries in Africa. If you are not planning to have Brazil as part of your travel itinerary, it will be fine to travel without such certification. If you do, then it will be a requirement to obtain this certification once again." So do I need a vaccine or not? NCL's site says to check things like Fit For Travel, and I really really don't want to risk being denied boarding. Any ideas, anyone done this itinerary (or similar) recently, and have any advice?

Also got this email for the 24/2 sailing, it's now one day shorter too. In some respects thankfully sorting out flights / hotels was one of the next things I was intending to do within the next month or so, so I don't have to re-arrange a million things. Not entirely decided what I am doing but I definitely don't fancy the new itinerary, what's the point in flying to Panama (which isn't even direct from the UK) for a cruise that isn't a Panama Canal cruise. If I wanted Southern Caribbean I would have booked Southern Caribbean from a slightly easier to get to port! This is a cruise to celebrate my 40th birthday - for my 30th I did my first ever cruise and swam with dolphins, for my 35th I did a 2 centre land holiday to Thailand and bathed elephants. I'm trying for the "bigger" birthdays to do special holidays to celebrate. Now need to rethink everything and am eyeing up a pricier but longer and far more exciting looking cruise over on NCL instead!