GTCruisePES Posted September 25, 2017 #1 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Does anyone know the earliest time you can can actually disembark the ship in Puerto Caldera? The itinerary says we arrive at 6:00 am with departure at 7:00 am. I am trying to book flights out of San Jose and am hoping to make a late morning flight. Could I get off the ship at 6:00 am? Is the transfer time about 1 hour? thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridethetide Posted September 25, 2017 #2 Share Posted September 25, 2017 You should allow 1.5 hours for the trip to SJO airport from the port. You cannot disembark when the ship anchors at 6:00 am since the passports have to be cleared by immigration and returned to the passengers. It takes a while for all of this to be done. I wouldn't book a flight earlier than 11:00 am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaitape Posted September 26, 2017 #3 Share Posted September 26, 2017 What time MUST we be off the ship in Puerto Caldera if we dock at 6 am? We are meeting the car rental rep at the port gate at 9 am. Should we make it earlier? Wouldn't want to hang around the port entrance longer than necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ski Mom 2 Posted September 27, 2017 #4 Share Posted September 27, 2017 We were on the Wind Spirit on our Panama Canal cruise. We were literally the last passengers off in Puerto Caldera. The captain and ships officers shook our hands at 8:30 a.m. as we walked off the gangplank. There were taxis waiting in the parking lot right there and we hopped one and took it to the airport and our flight home. It was a wonderful cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaitape Posted September 27, 2017 #5 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Ski Mom 2: Thank you for the info. We'll contact the car rental agency and change the pick up time to 8:30. Do you recall how far the port gate was from the ship? We're looking forward to our first Windstar cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ski Mom 2 Posted September 28, 2017 #6 Share Posted September 28, 2017 If I remember correctly, we literally walked off the ship and rolled our luggage up to the taxis waiting. We negotiated a price to go to the airport and off we went. I don't recall if there was a port gate we then drove through. Sorry. We are looking forward to our third Wind Star cruise next September. We loved our Panama Canal cruise and our Caribbean cruise so much on Wind Star and don't really have any desire to cruise anyone else. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaitape Posted September 28, 2017 #7 Share Posted September 28, 2017 Ski Mom 2: Thanks!! We've sailed on Oceania and Seabourn before so we're interested in the feel of the small passenger load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ski Mom 2 Posted September 28, 2017 #8 Share Posted September 28, 2017 We made so many new friends on board both our cruises. One time on Wind Spirit and one on Wind Surf. The service is outstanding. When the crew knows your name by day two it makes you feel so special. And when you sail a year later and Aladdin from your first cruise is there waiting for you and remembers you it makes you wonder why you cruised anyone else. We love port intensive cruises and being in a new place every day. I love Broadway shows but will head to NYC to see a show; same goes for casinos and Las Vegas. The masses just don't do it for us anymore and we feel like we've found a home cruising on Wind Star. I hope you enjoy your cruise and the folks that make it so special! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaitape Posted September 28, 2017 #9 Share Posted September 28, 2017 We'll let you know how it goes for us. BTW, did you go to Colon? If you did, what did you do? Have been looking online and from what I could find, it's not a very safe place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridethetide Posted September 28, 2017 #10 Share Posted September 28, 2017 Colon is a horrid place! Do not go there except to board the ship. Panama City is a lovely place to stay and visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaitape Posted September 28, 2017 #11 Share Posted September 28, 2017 Well, the ship is there all day so we're going. So the recommendation is to remain aboard rather sight seeing? Perhaps there nothing worth seeing?? Seems a shame to waste a port.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ski Mom 2 Posted September 29, 2017 #12 Share Posted September 29, 2017 Our cruise actually left from Colon so we went in early to Panama City and spent Christmas Eve in old Panama. It was amazing! We then hired a car to drive us to Colon in time to board the cruise. Our driver, who had worked for the government at the canal warned us about Colon. There is one area for shopping that he said if you went there and back you would be safe. I would suggest looking at ships excursions for Colon if it's a port stop in the middle of your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaitape Posted September 29, 2017 #13 Share Posted September 29, 2017 Thanks Ski Mom 2. We love Casca Viejo!! Fascinating. We were there about 4 years ago and they were doing a lot of rennovations/restorations. Looking forward to seeing it again in December. Colon IS in the middle of our cruise. However, the ship's excursions don't do much for us. Would like to see the Visitors Center at the new locks and will try to find a driver online. Seems like a poor choice of a port for Windstar if the city is dangerous for tourists but it is what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now