Colon, Panama as a starting port

[nubble88]

I've seen an itinarary that I like that starts with Colon, Panama and returns to Ft. Lauderdale. And another that starts and ends in Colon, Panama.

 

I have never been there, what is it like to fly into this port and is it as chaotic as San Juan? I have limited my Southern Caribbean because I don't care too much for San Juan, but this is a different option as a starting point.

[BillB48]

You have to fly into Panama City's Tocumen International, (PTY). It probably is not as chaotic as SJU, but it does present it own set of challenges. The first is, the airport is about an 1.5 hours away from Colon. There is not much in the way of hotel accomodations in the Colon area, the only one I know about is the Sol Melia and I have not heard anything about it. Most of the hotels where you would care to stay at either pre/post cruise are in the Panama City area which is also about 1.5 hours from Colon.

[nubble88]

Thanks so much for the info. An hour and a half...that's some distance. Something to keep in mind for sure. I was hoping it was a lot closer, but, it may be worth it. Thanks again.

[PH8]

yea,dont think you would want to stay in Colon.............we were there and warned not to go outside the port area without an escort(tour)

[CruisinGerman]

My wife and I did the round-trip Colón cruise last year on the Enchantment.

 

If you have never seen Panama City there are one or two large hotels there with casinos that may interest you.

 

We stayed at the Sol-Meliá in Colón the night before the cruise. It is secluded and on the grounds of a former U.S. military base. It was a nice place to relax before the cruise. The pool area is fantastic. The hotel is located within a peaceful, very green setting.

 

The food was mediocre but edible.

 

We were very glad we stayed there just to settle in the night before the cruise, since the hotel is only ten minutes away from the port.

 

Please be aware that the cruise itself is marketed to Colombians, Venezuelans, Mexicans, Costa Ricans, etc. because it is an itinerary which, for them, does not require obtaining U.S. visas.

 

Announcements are in Spanish and Americans are the minority on the cruise. If that would bother you, don't book the cruise. If that is not a problem for you, it was a fabulous cruise -- very different from the usual cruise that departs from Florida or San Juan.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Kind regards,

 

Gunther and Uta

[39august]

What transportation did you use to get to Colon from Panama City, please?

[waterbug123]

I've seen an itinarary that I like that starts with Colon, Panama and returns to Ft. Lauderdale. And another that starts and ends in Colon, Panama.

 

I have never been there, what is it like to fly into this port and is it as chaotic as San Juan? I have limited my Southern Caribbean because I don't care too much for San Juan, but this is a different option as a starting point.

 

Ask me in April! We are doing the 4/11 sailing from Colon to Ft. Lauderdale. We are flying in on 4/9 and spending 2 nights at a hotel in Panama City.

[nubble88]

That's the week we wanted to do, but because of work schedule, we cannot. But, from what others are saying, it doesn't sound too safe there. Although, not surprised, but it sounds worse than I thought.

 

Sure wish I was doing that particular week. At least it ends in Ft Lauderdale, so once you leave Panama, you're totally gone! Happy Sailing!

[Rancher Dave]

What transportation did you use to get to Colon from Panama City, please?

 

Over in the South American Port section I found My Friend Mario...we are using them for our movement within Panama. We plan to do a partial transit tour of the canal on Saturday before we cruise...

 

 

CruisinGerman, what percentage of the announcements were in English? Also, how did the food stack up against what RCCL feeds folks on the US departure Caribbean cruises?

[CruisinGerman]

Dear friends:

 

Sol Meliá arranged our transportation from Panama City airport to their hotel in Colón. We were four people with luggage and they sent a private van for us. It was not expensive.

 

That same van took us to the port the next day, and met us after the cruise and took us straight to the airport. It was very efficient service and it seemed to be the same ground company that basically had the monopoly in Colón.

 

All of the announcements were in Spanish. They were all followed in English, although mostly by native Spanish-speakers, so the English announcements had an accent.

 

The food was the same as you get on a Florida or Puerto Rico cruise. We actually found Chops Grille to be better on the Enchantment than on some of the Voyager class ships we've been on. We ate in Chops most nights.

 

The Enchantment you will all recall was stretched in one of its renovations, which makes for one of the largest and spacious pool decks we have ever seen on an RCCL ship.

 

We loved the cruise and are even thinking about repeating, since our business and personal affairs take us to that part of South and Central America quite often.

 

Kind regards,

 

Gunther and Uta

[Rancher Dave]

Thanks for the addl info. I would be a bit nervous if the food was way different...as DD can be a pain about new foods... Spanish is no biggie for me since we hear it all the time in Houston...understanding every word when they speak it fast...different story so hearing it in English as well will be nice.

 

4 weeks and 1 day before I fly south and get out of this 40s degree weather...

[nubble88]

Thanks for the helpful information. I know on some particular trips I was happy to come in the day before just to be able to relax and not have to rush the morning of. And having a hotel only 10 minutes from the pier is better than the hour and a half drive from the airport.

 

Good point too as to whom the cruise is marketed to!

[Stankin]

I spoke with a RCL rep today and specifically asked if the 4/11 cruise was a immersion cruise and they said no. The music and shows would not be in spanish, which I asked about as well.

 

Transporation from Panama City to Colon can be arranged through RCL for $40 per person for the trip. Your flight in on the day of the cruise can be no later than a 2:30 arrival though to make the trip.

[nubble88]

So, probably arriving a day earlier would be best for this particular trip. There are not many weeks this itinarary is offered, I wonder why that is so?

[Rancher Dave]

If you have not looked at flights yet, you will find the first NS out of Houston on Continental gets in aorund 2pm...not a lot of room for error. Depending on where you come to Houston from that flight may be too early for a connection. NS flights also get to PTY out of Miami and a few other hub cities. It is a bit tougher to get there than say Miami or LAX...

 

Go for it and enjoy a different kind of cruise on RCCL...

[BillB48]

So, probably arriving a day earlier would be best for this particular trip. There are not many weeks this itinarary is offered, I wonder why that is so?

 

Flying in the day before on this particular trip is really the better choice. As far as this itin not being offered, it really is a repositioning cruise. The last couple of years the Enchantment has left Florida around November and was homeported in Colon until April or so. After the Enchantment returns to Florida this year, she will be homeported in Baltimore. The Granduer takes her place in Colon next year.

 

The 2:30 arrival does give you 5 hours before the ship sails, but..... as pointed out, not much room for error. You might be OK if you bought your flight through RCI's Cruise-Air. Even then I would prefer to go at least a day early.

[nubble88]

Oh, this is a repositioning cruise? That makes sense as to why it is not offered as an every week type vacation.

 

Maybe I will just wait and take a Panama Canal trip. I would love to experience going through that, at least that way I believe I can start in Florida!

 

I did once go on the Enchantment, I was on the last cruise it took before being taken out of the water and made larger.

[jst]

We did the repositioner last year and are booked again this year:) we usually go in at least one day early(smart idea last year as due to bad weather in Houston we arrived in Panama Sat and our luggage arrived Sunday morning).

This year we are going in 2 days early so we can tour Panama City, we have done the canal so wanted to see the sights of the City. We used My friend Mario last year for airport transfers and were scheduled for a tour, but had to cancel due to the luggage situation, but we did do RCCL transfer as we stayed at their hotel (The Wyndham Veneto Grand Hotel & Casino) and are booked in there again this year, fabulous people:)

You need a visa if you stay overnight(not sure if you arrive the day of), they were given out by Continental in Houston at the gate, or you can get one on arrival in Panama for $5 each.

This year we are using My Friend Mario again for all our transfers and a day tour on Saturday, they seemed to be the company to use in Panama City, we had over 100 for our meet and mingle a lot used Mario for tours etc., he was extremely obliging arranging several different tours to suit everyones arrival times etc.

Be sure to register for the M & M we already have enough for a meeting, but the more the merrier and join in our blog on the M & M board:)

[nubble88]

Thanks so much jst, that is so kind of you.

[JenniLou]

We are scheduled for the March 14 Enchantment Colon cruise. I am a bit worried about the immersion part, had no idea that was going to be the case. We are on deck 8 in an aft jr suite, so we could always just stay on the porch! I hear the balconies are quite large. I'm wondering about the evening entertainment - will the theater shows be in spanish only?

 

Also, had a question about current wifi and cellular availablility. From what I've found so far, it will cost me $2.49 a minute for calls and $0.50/KB for internet using AT&T cell service. Not that I am planning to spend a lot of time on the phone/internet, but I love my iPhone and Facebook! Is wifi available throughout the ship? How much is the wifi? Does anyone know anything different about AT&T?

 

Anything else I should know about the Colon sail? Only a few more days... can't wait! Thanks in advance for your help!

 

JenniLou

[BillB48]

The last time I was on the Enchantment was in September... wifi on your laptop was available in hot spots. Without buying any of the packages, I believe it was $0.55/min. You could lower that price a little by puchasing one of their packages... but it was still a little pricey. The cell prices for At&T, Verizon were $2.49/min, other carriers were higher. Don't this to be fact, but I suspect if you are using your i-phone, it would be $2.49/min.:eek:

 

Have a great cruise!!