Booked the Radiance while onboard the Adventure yesterday, excited for 2 new to us ports

[CruiseMomTX]

We just got of the Adventure yesterday and had a great time.  Did our first B2B, a 4nt then 5nt and it was also a new ship for us.  For the first time we booked with Next Cruise while onboard yesterday and are sailing on another new to us ship the Radiance on 2/27.  We are excited to do a 10 night and go to 2 new to us ports, Cartagena, Columbia and Colon, Panama.  We also stop in Costa Maya, Roatan and Cozumel so also port heavy to us but we are excited.  Now on to research the ship and the new for us ports.  If anyone has any recommendations or input on the ship or Cartagena or Colon please share!

[hey-buc]

In Columbia, I highly recommend Dora the explorer, we were with her this pass December.

[mugtech]

Cartagena has a great collection of torture devices used during the inquisition, found them on our own. 

[CruiseMomTX]

2 hours ago, hey-buc said:

In Columbia, I highly recommend Dora the explorer, we were with her this pass December.

Is she a tour guide?  How do we book or find information online?

Thank you

[Kathscof]

The ship is pretty straightforward, but wonderfully small!  I am doing Radiance in May, after doing her last year too 🙂

[LeeW]

Colon means partial canal transit.  You will enter around sunrise and lock up to the lake.  Tours will depart from there.  Then lock back down and go to Colon dock.  Highly recommend the small boat through the rest of the canal if you haven't done this before.  Goes by various names so read descriptions.  All day tour but they usually serve a lunch onboard.  Ask the pilot about the dent in the Miraflores lock.

[HicksRA]

Cartagena has a nice bird sanctuary right at the port about 100 yards from the ship. They also have a free shuttle that will take you there. 

[Ashland]

14 minutes ago, HicksRA said:

Cartagena has a nice bird sanctuary right at the port about 100 yards from the ship. They also have a free shuttle that will take you there. 

Agree...This was one of the best port terminals we've been to. The birds/animals exhibit was such an amazing surprise. We ported there this past October during our Panama Canal RCI itinerary.

[CruiseMomTX]

16 hours ago, LeeW said:

Colon means partial canal transit.  You will enter around sunrise and lock up to the lake.  Tours will depart from there.  Then lock back down and go to Colon dock.  Highly recommend the small boat through the rest of the canal if you haven't done this before.  Goes by various names so read descriptions.  All day tour but they usually serve a lunch onboard.  Ask the pilot about the dent in the Miraflores lock.

Thank you for the information and everyone else too!  We have never been to Panama or Columbia so those are both new ports and we have no idea what to do or how safe anything is to do on your own.  Do you know in the cruise planner what specific tour you mentioned for the small boat through the canal?  Or if anyone has done the tours below has any input?

 

Panama Canal and IMAX experience 

Grand Tour of Panama

Eco Cruise on Gatun Lake

Panama City Tour and Canal Locks

Portobelo & Agua Clara Locks

Panama Canal and Monkey Eco Tour (sold out)

 

 

[hey-buc]

22 hours ago, CruiseMomTX said:

Is she a tour guide?  How do we book or find information online?

Thank you

http://www.cartagenatour.com/, you can also find her here on Cruise Critic

[CruiseMomTX]

4 hours ago, hey-buc said:

http://www.cartagenatour.com/, you can also find her here on Cruise Critic

Thank you and I did already find this on another CC post and emailed and booked our tour with her so we are excited about that.  Now to figure out what to do in Colon.

[Merion_Mom]

12 hours ago, CruiseMomTX said:

Thank you for the information and everyone else too!  We have never been to Panama or Columbia so those are both new ports and we have no idea what to do or how safe anything is to do on your own.  Do you know in the cruise planner what specific tour you mentioned for the small boat through the canal?  Or if anyone has done the tours below has any input?

 

Eco Cruise on Gatun Lake

 

 

IMO, anyone who has not been there before MUST do a tour that includes the locks.  There are many tours that do.

 

I have done the Eco Cruise and enjoyed it very much.  (because I have been through the Canal itself several times, having ample opportunity to experience the locks)