Panama Canal Review on the NCL Star- LA to Miami - ALL NCL excursions (3/30-4/13)

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Day 11 - The Panama Canal!

 

As the NCL Star is a smaller ship - we were able to go through the original locks. 

 

The night before in our cabin is our daily which gives you the approximate schedule for the day

 

and a map that shows our route for the crossing

 

At 630 am announcements start - we put on channel 13 on the TV so we can hear them in our room - this also gives you the front view of the journey.  There are already a lot of people on deck 8 forward (which has been opened for viewing during the transit).

 

We start the transit with breakfast on the balcony

We order it for 8am and it arrives just as we are entering the Miraflores Locks.

 

The view during breakfast

 

 

We then wander to the front of the ship on deck 8

If you are not on the rail you really can’t see much. I had to ask someone if I could just squeeze in to take this photo.  We did not stay here long.  We thought we would wander around the ship - but because we had an aft and side view from our balcony & the front view from the TV - we stayed in our room/balcony for most of the transit.

 

This a photo of the TV in our room showing us entering the Pedro Miguel Locks (2nd set of locks)

 

Then this ship enters the Culebra Cut

 

In the cut 2 ships our size can pass - but the Mega Ships (like the Bliss) will have no oncoming traffic.

 

We then arrive in Gatun Lake - portions of it seem quite wide yet when ships pass each other they seem awfully close!  

 

 

We anchor in the Lake for about 45 minutes waiting our turn to enter the next sets of locks.  This was a good time to grab lunch.

 

Then we go through the Gatun Locks

 

 

Leaving Gatun Locks

 

It’s crazy how close the ship is to the lock walls!

 

 

I was a little worried that the day may feel a bit repetitive towards the end.  It was not!  Absolutely loved the whole transit - time flew by!  The narrative by the Panama Canal Port Authority person over the PA system was very good.  But I would still recommend doing either some research ahead of time or going to those lectures offered on board to get more detail.

 

So if you are considering a Panama Canal cruise you have some decisions. Full vs partial transit.  Old locks (which means smaller ship) vs New locks.   We wanted to see the old locks - but honestly any cruise through the Panama Canal I think would be amazing. 

 

The next day in our room we found this little memento

 

Please feel free to ask questions!

 

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Day 12 - Cartagena, Columbia

 

 

Full cost of this excursion with NCL was $65pp.  With our platinum discount and the $100 shore excursion credit our final cost was $8.50pp.  

 

Had a leisurely morning on the ship and were escorted of the ship for our 945am meeting time.  Got on the bus and started our tour.

 

Our first stop was the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas Fort.  We got the history of the fort on the bus and then were given 10 minutes or so to take photos.  We did not actually go into the fort.

 

We then drive to what used to be an army barrack and is now a market

We had about 25minutes to browse - they had the usual souvenir stuff but some of the shops were also unique local artist hand made products.

 

Then we drive to Old Cartagena where we start our walking tour

 

We go into the Spanish Inquistion Building

 

Here we hear about some of the horrible things done in the name of religion.

 

At one point on the walking tour we stop to watch a local artist paint on mirrors

He’s very fast - it only takes him 2-3 minutes from start to finish. At the time I felt like this was “shopping stop” and didn’t appreciate it - now looking back I look at it as highlighting one of the local street artists.

 

We then get some history on the local church

 

 

We then stop to see a 10 minute show of local dancers.  

We really appreciated the air conditioning.  I don’t think I mentioned yet that it was VERY HOT out.  The show was okay.  It only was about 10 minutes or so.

As you are leaving there is a basket out for tips if so desired.

 

We then had about 30 minutes of free time to wander around.  Then it was back to the ship.  

 

There were beggars that were quite aggressive at both the fort and old Cartagena.  Despite saying no they persisted for a bit.  You would also be approached by people selling goods but one polite no thank you was all it took with the vendors.

 

Although you are picked up right at the ship - you are dropped off at a very nice market/garden area.    This is a map of this area where you can get snacks/souvenirs etc.  Free WiFi was available.

 

This is a very nice area - birds and monkeys walk around freely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The souvenirs/coffee available for sale in this area is the same as in town but more expensive.  To save some dollars if you plan to shop do it in town.

 

A complimentary shuttle bus is available from this area back to the ship

I walked - its a good 10 minute brisk walk

 

And that was our day in Cartagena.