Extra Day Between Aruba & Cartagena

[GoochDSA]

Does anyone know why they added a day between Aruba and Cartagena on the partial Panama Canal cruises next year? I am not complaining since we plan on taking a partial next October for our honeymoon, just curious as to if anyone knows why the change. I also noticed that it looks like the extra sea day is only added to the partial and not the full transit cruises. Any ideas?

[Urban trekker]

Even on a partial you are going through at least one of the locks - perhaps they were unable to arrange it for that day as only so many cruise ships can go through a day or else there was no berth available at Cartegena.

 

Just my thought

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Loonbeam]

It all depends on the port and lock schedule and what the most fuel efficient routes are. What sea day did they cut out to keep it 10 days, or did they drop a port?

[LucyDiamond]

I noticed that too. It looks like it's because next year they are in Aruba for a full day whereas this year they are in Aruba for only a half day.

[LucyDiamond]

It all depends on the port and lock schedule and what the most fuel efficient routes are. What sea day did they cut out to keep it 10 days, or did they drop a port?

They added a day to the cruise. It's now 11 days.

[Loonbeam]

Ah. Yeah with a full day in Aruba they would have to, it's something like 19 hours Aruba to Cartegena

 

They added a day to the cruise. It's now 11 days.

[GoochDSA]

I noticed that too. It looks like it's because next year they are in Aruba for a full day whereas this year they are in Aruba for only a half day.

 

Ah. Yeah with a full day in Aruba they would have to, it's something like 19 hours Aruba to Cartegena

 

Good call. I didn't even notice that. I guess those extra 6 and a half hours in Aruba makes a HUGE difference. Oh well, I guess we will just have to deal with our honeymoon being 1 day longer... shucks. :D

[Putterdude]

The partial transit has gone from 10 days to 11 days....they got to do something with that extra day...may as well have the folks in the casino and gift shops.:D Barring a hurricane in October, I think that extra sea day would be nice.

[Loonbeam]

That said of all the ports to extend, Aruba is the most MEH to me.

 

Good call. I didn't even notice that. I guess those extra 6 and a half hours in Aruba makes a HUGE difference. Oh well, I guess we will just have to deal with our honeymoon being 1 day longer... shucks. :D

[shepp]

That said of all the ports to extend, Aruba is the most MEH to me.

 

Depends on what you like to do, I suppose. For two years running, we took the AruBus to a lovely little beach, did some really nice snorkeling, and could easily have stayed there a lot longer and done some birding at a preserve en route back to the ship. Total cost: $2.50. It was irritating (both times) that we had to hustle to get back. Much as I like Princess, the short port "days" on some itineraries drive me crazy.

[Infi]

If the new itinerary gives you extra time in Cartagena too, that's wonderful. I've done the full and partial transits and always felt Princess shortchanged Cartagena in order to rush to Aruba. Neither port was done justice by those short calls.

[Loonbeam]

Oh its a nice port, and I'd have loved more time at the Casibari gardens, But of all the canal itinerary stops, it and Jamaica are most similar to every other Caribbean option.

 

Depends on what you like to do, I suppose. For two years running, we took the AruBus to a lovely little beach, did some really nice snorkeling, and could easily have stayed there a lot longer and done some birding at a preserve en route back to the ship. Total cost: $2.50. It was irritating (both times) that we had to hustle to get back. Much as I like Princess, the short port "days" on some itineraries drive me crazy.

[Pam in CA]

That said of all the ports to extend, Aruba is the most MEH to me.

I've was there a couple of times two years ago. The first time, I got up late and sauntered out at about 11:00. As I was passing the tour vans just inside the port entrance, they were practically begging people to take a tour and had lowered their prices. I decided, "What the heck" and for $10, got a 2-hour tour of the island. Because we were in a van, not a bus, we went places that the bus can't. The driver even stopped at a grocery store for us. Best $10 ever spent on a tour. Two months later, I was back and took the ship's snorkeling tour. Awful! The boat was overcrowded, the snorkeling area was overcrowded, etc. I'd never do that again. When I'm back in October, I might take the local bus to a restaurant on the water near the hotels and then come back and shop a little.

[Putterdude]

We have been kind of "Arubaed" to death, I find Oranjestad just a little nicer than your average Mexican port. In January we did the Arubus thing out past the hotels to the end of the line where we walked to Boca Catalina which is more of a locals beach and had some pretty good snorkeling. The cost return is $2.30 (US) pp but if you don't have the correct change is it $5 for two. When I say we walked, I walked and pushed DW in her chair but it was level and quite an easy walk. The buses are not accessible but she has some mobility and with a little help she can handle a couple of steps.

http://www.arubus.com/

[recyclelady]

We just did the partial transit in February. The stop was really short in Aruba (one of the ship comedians referred to it as a "drive-by") and hardly seemed like the effort.

 

I wish our cruise had been 11 days---an extra day is ALWAYS better!

[Reader0108598]

Does anyone know why they added a day between Aruba and Cartagena on the partial Panama Canal cruises next year? I am not complaining since we plan on taking a partial next October for our honeymoon, just curious as to if anyone knows why the change. I also noticed that it looks like the extra sea day is only added to the partial and not the full transit cruises. Any ideas?

 

 

I am booked on a 1-8-13 partial sailing, I am not seeing a sea day between Aruba & Cartegena. Is this only some sailings?

 

Thanks Reader

[GCurry]

Another thing they are doing is cutting the number of ports to save fuel it seems. We just lost Costa Maya on a seven day 4 port itinerary. Costa Maya is always a lot of fun, in Majahual anyway.

 

We've been to Aruba on some cruises, another option on the long day is to rent a car and drive the island. Go visit their National Park and see the wild windward side with it's cactus, goats and wild jackasses; not the ones on the road mind you!!:) As far as restaurants go, I'd avoid the one at the California Lighthouse; it's a beautiful view but it's whee all the buses go. The Flying Fishbone is often mentioned if you can ever find it open.

 

That being said, we enjoy Curacao and Bonaire more than we do Aruba.

Aruba does remind you of Mexico because of all the Venezuelans there, but those islands are different from the rest of the Caribe because of the desert environment and the Dutch influence.

[Loonbeam]

I think this is for the 2013-2014 season, but I haven't looked to confirm...

 

I am booked on a 1-8-13 partial sailing, I am not seeing a sea day between Aruba & Cartegena. Is this only some sailings?

 

Thanks Reader

[Reader0108598]

I think this is for the 2013-2014 season, but I haven't looked to confirm...

 

 

Thank you Loonbeam, yes it is the 2013/2014 season.

[Redwing55]

Along with a lot longer stop in Aruba, I think it adds one hour to Cartegena. I'm all for the extra day. Glad to see it.