NRHCruisers

I wholeheartedly agree with Mama02girl’s review. This excursion offers cruise passengers a different shore experience that allows you to see the “real” Cartagena.

17 people sailing on the NCL Star 11/3/14 Panama Canal Cruise joined Mama02girls and her husband on the Friends for Colombia tour on Friday, November 14th.

In early October Dan Wick informed our group that we would be visiting Cartagena during the Independence of Cartagena and the Colombian Beauty Pageant celebrations. With a week of festivities schools were not in session and most of the nonprofit foundations would not be open during these events. Therefore, our excursion was modified to include a visit to Casa Del Nino (Children’s Hospital); a city highlights tour and a walking tour of the Old Walled City.

Our hosts, Dan & Berit Wick met us at the pier and took us in a modern, comfortable air-conditioned bus through local neighborhoods where we passed by a public market selling fish, fruit and vegetables and were able to see how the people of Cartagena live and work. On the way to our first destination Dan explained the current social situation of Cartagena, the economic status levels and the improvement programs currently underway. He also reviewed the history of Cartagena and answered all our questions.

Casa Del Nino serves the children of poor families that live throughout the northern coastal region of Colombia. After a short presentation about the hospital and the services provided we were divided into small groups to tour the facility where we had the chance to interact with the children. Friends for Colombia provided gifts (i.e., toys, balls, stuffed animals, games, toiletries, diapers, candy and cookies) for us to pass out to the patients and their parents.

While at the hospital, a small group of young Colombian adults, who are learning English, accompanied us during the tour and served as interpreters. Later we had the opportunity to hear about their lives, aspirations and what it is like to live in Cartagena and Colombia.

After leaving the hospital, we drove through several barrios on our way to the walled-in Old City. Snacks and refreshments (bottled water, bananas, tangerines, Colombian chips and cookies, guava candy and coffee) were provided on the bus.

A walking tour of Old Town allowed us to see many notable sights, historic buildings and plazas of the city. While in the walled city, Berit purchased a variety of sweet treats for us to sample.

Dan and Berit are a truly amazing couple. Their love for Columbia and its people is inspiring. It was wonderful to interact with the local people and to learn more about Cartagena. Dan & Berit even e-mailed photos of our tour with them

Our excursion with Friends for Colombia was one of the most memorable things I have ever done on a cruise and I highly recommend it to anyone who would like a unique opportunity to get to know and experience the real Cartagena.

Both my husband and I loved Colombia and should we ever have the chance to return we will definitely contact Dan and Berit for another tour or possibly volunteer at one of their organizations.

Stayed at the Quality Inn several years ago and it was okay. Room was clean, but very basic. If I remember correctly, the room included a mini fridge and microwave. A pizza restaurant was next door and another (I think Thai) across the street. Many others within driving distance. Served a limited continental breakfast in the morning. The Park N Cruise rate allowed us to leave the car during the duration of the cruise and the hotel shuttle transported us to and from the Long Beach terminal.