Zuiderdam - Panama 2016-2017 season

[CGinMTL]

Hello all,

 

my roll call is quiet and I see others have the same problem. If you want to share info about your upcoming cruise and get ideas on what to do in oart. Let's meet up hear .

 

please indicate what sailing you are on.

We are on jan 15th 2017 sailing.

[KNOT2L82SAIL]

I see that you have already found the roll call for your cruise. That is where all the meeting takes place. :)

And yes, your roll call is quiet. A lot of the HAL roll calls are quiet, just a fact of life.

Enjoy your cruise.

[HollDoll]

We are on the February 15, 2017 Zuiderdam partial Panama Canal and our roll call is very quiet too. I'd love some thoughts as to an excursion in Curaçao. Thanks.

[RuthC]

I'd love some thoughts as to an excursion in Curaçao. Thanks.

Have you checked the Ports of Call forum? There should be plenty of information there. Or, you could post a question asking what to do, along with posting some of your interests.

[VacationCharlene]

 

 

MAYBE this will help. We went on the 10 day Panama Canal trip March 2015 and really enjoyed it. We really enjoyed Half Moon Cay for a very enjoyable beach day on the private island with lunch included. We purchased the rental of the clam shell and so happy we did. I am very fair skinned to stay out of the sun and also a place to "hide" your stuff while you go in the water. We really enjoyed Puerto Limon, Costa Rica the best as we did the coolest private shore excursion with Syl Travel Day Tours and the Tortuguero Canals Tour (in the video) for $55pp for 4 hours or so... Was a great day!! Curacao we went on HAL's Curacao Country Drive which took you to Shete Boka Nat'l Park (Google it) and was very nice for about $50 pp for 3 1/2 hours. Then we walked around the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge which is a unique experience as well as many shops close to the pier. There is also a Hato Cave tour (we did not do) that I have read about that sounds interesting. Aruba we made the mistake of not booking anything and just walking around and having a few of the local brews. We really feel you need to get excursions in ALL ports to get the most of your day.

 

Hope your rollcall heats up. I have the 33 day Hawaii and South Pacific rollcall for March 2017 doing pretty well considering it is still 7 months away.

 

Hope you enjoy the video.

[CGinMTL]

thanks for joining me here. I am sure we will be able to help each other. will look at the video soon.

[Crew News]

Hello all,

 

my roll call is quiet and I see others have the same problem. If you want to share info about your upcoming cruise and get ideas on what to do in oart. Let's meet up hear .

 

please indicate what sailing you are on.

We are on jan 15th 2017 sailing.

 

We are on the same cruise departing November 20 and our roll call is also very small.

 

I will be scanning all of the dining menus so those who follow will know "whats for dinner", all of the beverage meus, On Locations (daily activities), and Specialty Restaurant menus. While on board, I will be more than happy to respond to any questions from those who will follow on the same cruise.

 

Feel free to ask questions and I will seek the answers while I am on board the Zuiderdam.

[JPH814]

We did this cruise last january. Would be happy the share our experiences and answer questions.

 

For example, in Curacao we hired a private sailboat for a 6 hour chartered sail/snorkle/lunch. It was excellent.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Edited August 22, 2016 by JPH814

[HollDoll]

JPH814.... Wow, that sounds terrific. I'm sure expensive, but I would be interested if not a ridiculous price. Can you somehow give me details, or a website?

[JPH814]

It was not as expensive as you might think. Lunch with wine and beer, snorkle equipment and six hours of sailing. And you need a taxi to and from his dock. The owner/ captain was a great guy - very interesting and fun.

 

The price ( in jan of 2016) was $440 (total) for up to 4 people.

 

Here is the website.

sailing-charter-curacao.com.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[CGinMTL]

I will now start planning for this Jan cruise.

not sure how that will go if we can't call on the roll call to complete the tour.

[Kate-AHF]

Just me and one other gentleman on my roll call (11 sunfarer Jan 25th)

 

For Aruba (where we've been before) we are just taking the trolley around town, and going to one of the museums on the trolley route.

 

Curacao (1st time in port for us) not sure yet. Maybe a ship's tour of the Curacao distillery.

 

Cartagena (the reason for choosing this cruise) we are in the process of booking booking an architectural tour with MareIvy. Not everyone's idea of a good time, but definitely ours.

 

Puerto Limon (third time there) putting together a tour for the Jaguar Rescue Center and a private tour of the chocolate factory "Caribeans" http://www.caribeanscr.com/chocolate-tour.html

 

We have a killer balcony, so the partial canal transit will be aboard ship. Previous trips, we've taken the wildlife small boat tour in Gantun lake, and it was outstanding. Also taken a ship ShoreEx through a couple of locks on a small boat. This was also a very good and informative excursion.

[summersigh]

We're doing a Sunfarer as well this year. Our roll-call is quiet and though I asked my question on the proper boards no answers to help. :(

 

In Aruba We thought we might grab a taxi to do a private tour for a couple of hours. We know we need to negotiate a price before we get in the cab ... but ... has anyone else done this in Aruba? Successful? Money isn't really an issue because DH has some moblity issues and this is the only way we can really do Aruba - a cab tour or a private tour. :confused:

[JPH814]

My wife and I did a great private tour in Feb of 2016. Very reasonable ($135 for 3 hours) with a very pleasant and knowledgable guide. Let me know if you would like contact information.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[kazu]

Just me and one other gentleman on my roll call (11 sunfarer Jan 25th)

 

For Aruba (where we've been before) we are just taking the trolley around town, and going to one of the museums on the trolley route.

 

Curacao (1st time in port for us) not sure yet. Maybe a ship's tour of the Curacao distillery.

 

Cartagena (the reason for choosing this cruise) we are in the process of booking booking an architectural tour with MareIvy. Not everyone's idea of a good time, but definitely ours.

 

Puerto Limon (third time there) putting together a tour for the Jaguar Rescue Center and a private tour of the chocolate factory "Caribeans" http://www.caribeanscr.com/chocolate-tour.html

 

We have a killer balcony, so the partial canal transit will be aboard ship. Previous trips, we've taken the wildlife small boat tour in Gantun lake, and it was outstanding. Also taken a ship ShoreEx through a couple of locks on a small boat. This was also a very good and informative excursion.

 

 

You are really going to enjoy Cartagena with Marelvy. We were very pleased with our tour with her. She does a very good job.

[eldercruser]

We're doing a Sunfarer as well this year. Our roll-call is quiet and though I asked my question on the proper boards no answers to help. :(

 

In Aruba We thought we might grab a taxi to do a private tour for a couple of hours. We know we need to negotiate a price before we get in the cab ... but ... has anyone else done this in Aruba? Successful? Money isn't really an issue because DH has some moblity issues and this is the only way we can really do Aruba - a cab tour or a private tour. :confused:

 

One thing for sure in Aruba: when you leave the ship there will be a ton of tour operators waiting to offer you a tour. If you don't like the first offer, Im quite sure you will be able to find one that is compatible.

[Kate-AHF]

You are really going to enjoy Cartagena with Marelvy. We were very pleased with our tour with her. She does a very good job.

 

Thank you so much! It's the shoreex that we are most excited about this trip.

[summersigh]

My wife and I did a great private tour in Feb of 2016. Very reasonable ($135 for 3 hours) with a very pleasant and knowledgable guide. Let me know if you would like contact information.

Information please :D

:D I'd like to hear about a recent tour. I went to a site this morning and realized there were reviews from 2008-2009 :rolleyes:

[kickboxrca]

We are also on a sunfarer - March 29. Can't wait for the trip, but you're right, there's only us so far on our roll call.

 

We've been to Half Moon Cay - every time we go, there's something new there to do, but we normally get a clamshell and rent some floaty mats. What a wonderful beach day.

 

I am eagerly looking for things to do in the other ports. We will for sure book a tour in Cartegena - was hoping to meet up with some others on the roll call to split the cost since there are only two of us.

 

Am having trouble making up my mind about the Gatun canal day - I've read a lot of reviews, and people are about 50/50 as to whether to stay on the boat, or to get off. We are in cabin 8111 - but would be out and about a lot - I would hate to miss the "best" thing to do when going through the canal -any thoughts?

 

Any MUST DOs on the trip?

 

Thanks so much for starting this thread :)

[jabcruiser]

Hi all. We are on the Nov 30 Zuiderdam PC cruise and getting excited now. I already had found VacationingCharlene's You Tube video and that helped us decide to do SylTravel in Puerto Limon for boat tour to Tortuguero Canals. So that is booked. There is a great post from Wibox on another thread called "Cartagena on your own Easy Peasy" from Jan'16 which I printed out and we are probably just going to follow that and taxi to "Old Town". I also found a brochure somewhere with walking tour info and pictures of all the old buildings so will have that. Aruba may just walk up street to the Casino and check it out. Still undecided about Sunset Cruise there. Don't get in until 1:00 so won't be doing beach this time I don't believe. Water not good last time after early am because of so much boat and watersport activity. Curacao undecided. Have been there couple times before and just walked bridge or took water taxi across to town for shopping and wandering around. This time considering a 4x4 tour or maybe the semi-submarine. Can't decide. Staying on board for Canal.

Glad to see this Thread as our Roll-Call slow also.

Jane

[JPH814]

Information please :D

:D I'd like to hear about a recent tour. I went to a site this morning and realized there were reviews from 2008-2009 :rolleyes:

 

 

Our guide met us in his taxi just outside the gates of the port. He was excellent at giving a history of the island and its people. Obviously very proud of it. He then drove us over to the desert side of the island. We got out and took pictures of the coastline where the rocks Have been eroded. He then drove us to the area with the golf course and the very high-end houses and drove through the development. We then proceeded to the beach district and drove along looking at the high-rise

 

Here is his description from an email he sent us prior to our cruise:

"The lighthouse ,the north coast of the island , the touristy area including palm, eagle and arashi beach, the chic area including the most expensive houses on the island, the natural bridge, the rock formations, ayo and casibary, the alto vista chapel, the gold smelter, eastern end of the island, baby beach,etc,etc. Special sites ( to be covered only by request ) : The Aloe factory, Butterfly farm, Ostrich farm. The number of sites that can be covered depends on the time one wants to spend. Sorry but I do not do snorkel nor swimming neither off road tours,some sites are inaccessible. If you would like to do some beach time i would suggest to get dropped off after the tour at either Palm or Eagle Beach, 10 and 5 min respectively from your ship by taxi. For snorkeling i would suggest to get dropped off at Arashi Beach, a 15 min drive to your ship. In order to book you I need the date, the pick up time and the number of tour hrs that you would like to spend. If the requested date and time is available I will send you a mail of which you are going to have to double check the details and if it’s ok I will send you a booking mail and we’re all set and you are officially booked with me for the tour. This is done this way to prevent possible booking mistakes. When more than one prospect requests the same date the one that asks to be booked first will be booked. In case of cancellation pls let me know ASAP so I can accommodate others who would like to book with me."

http://www.pitaruba.com

 

 

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[summersigh]

JPH814 .... You must have been sending me ESP waves because this afternoon I booked the same guy ya'll used. I read your post and actually LOL when I realized it was the same as the one in my inbox :D

 

Thank you so much for the confirmation that we made the right choice:D He was really good about getting back to my inquiry very promptly.

[pamssanity]

Pam and Ed on Jan 4, 2017 sailing

[CGinMTL]

I am doing a little more research.

Colon - we are there 3-8 pm ? any ideas ?

[57redbird]

I think 3-7 & I'm having trouble finding something, too.