Back From Panama Canal Cruise on Statendam

[MICHARCH]

We had a great cruise from San Diego to Ft. Lauderdale (3/18 to 4/1), despite a number of problems along the way.

 

Our ship blew one it's 5 engines the third day and we had to overnight (unscheduled) in Puerto Viarta to have them switch out a new engine from another ship (Oosterdam) owned by Holland America Lines overnight in the harbor. (neat piece of work if you ask me). Also one fellow cruiser got very sick so the Captain decided to stop in Acapulco and tender him off to a hospital. Later reports were that he was recovering well. Next day as we were approaching the harbor at Puerto Chiapas, with the Pilot aboard, we experienced large swells that caused them to abort the port call as the ship could have either run aground or caused damage to the dock and/or ship.

 

The long and short of it was that we missed port calls in Huatulco and Puerto Chiapas Mex because of the delays. We were still able to make port calls in Guatemala, Panama and Cartagena, Columbia, in addition to PV. Plenty to do on board during "sea days" ~ great food, more great food, fabulous gym workout each morning with a 180 degree view of where we were headed, plenty of whales to view in the AM on the back deck sipping coffee and noshing a Danish, casino gaming (broke even), nightly live entertainment in the showroom, movie theatre, interesting lectures on various subjects, house band played at poolside once or twice a day, 2 for 1 happy hour at Ocean bar and Crows Nest daily and much, much more.

 

Best shore excursion? Our Puerto Quetzal port call. It was a visit to a small shade-grown coffee plantation with a very nice tour given by the owner's daughter and a visit to Antigua, Guatamala.

 

Best lecture? Video and talk by Safety, Environmental, and Health Officer Jason Grimes. Amazing what they do to recycle all of the trash, create potable water, look out for whales, reduce fuel consumption, keep everyone on board healthy.

 

Best take home item? Cruise Log. Sample entry ~ "Tuesday March 29, 2011. Cartagena, Columbia. 8:19 local Pilot Aboard; 9:37 Safely Anchored off Cartagena;12:00 N Gentle Breeze, partly cloudy skies, harbour conditions 30C/86F; 14:53 Vessel undocked, departing Cartagena"

 

 

The highlight was our trip tho was the day (6AM-4PM) traversing the Panama Canal. What an engineering masterpiece~ that still runs as well today as it did in 1914 when it opened using the same technology and infrastructure that is almost 100 years old! They (Panama) are in the process of digging two more sets of locks so that larger ships (up to 160 ft wide) can use the canal. Current locks are only 110 ft wide.

 

If you ever want to take a 14 day cruise, that's the one to take.

[kazu]

Thgank you for your review. I just love your attitude. despite a complication or two and missing a port, you enjoyed your cruise and in fact say it's the one to take. (quite the opposite of an earlier poster ;))

 

what I appreciate is that you didn't let these incidents ruin your cruise, instead you went ahead and made the best of it.

 

Ship happens anywhere, anytime - what counts is how we deal with it.

 

Thank you again :)

[KirkNC]

Wow lots of unusual stuff going on. Pretty impressive they can swap out an engine like that, I guess the Oosterdam just had an extra one? Way to roll with the punches and still have a great time.

 

Kirk

[Krazy Kruizers]

thanks for your review

 

glad the oosterdam was around to help out

[cruz chic]

Could the OP tell me more about the coffe tour? Was it a HAL excurion. I"m looking for something to possibly do in that port. HAL has a few coffee tours there so I'm wondering how long it was or what the name was.

 

You have a good attitude about the engine problems. That ship had engine problems when I was on it in 2009. Good to hear that they could be doing something to fix the muliple problem that ship has.

[califgary]

Thanks for the review - how is the condition of the ship? carpets furniture up to par? I know this is an older ship so wondered how "ship-shape" it is - we are on this cruise for Christmas-NewYears this year.

[MICHARCH]

Could the OP tell me more about the coffe tour? Was it a HAL excurion. I"m looking for something to possibly do in that port. HAL has a few coffee tours there so I'm wondering how long it was or what the name was.

 

 

Yes it was a HAL excursion by the name of "Coffee Estate & Antigua." Total time was about 8 hours. Maybe 3 hours at the coffee plantation.

 

Our tour guide at the Finca Columbia plantation was Angela, the owners young daughter (maybe age 21 or so, a grad student speaks perfect English). Wonderful coffee is served at end of tour and short video and it costs only $7 to purchase a pound of rosted beans that makes wonderful coffee (had some today).;)

[cruz chic]

Yes it was a HAL excursion by the name of "Coffee Estate & Antigua." Total time was about 8 hours. Maybe 3 hours at the coffee plantation.

 

Our tour guide at the Finca Columbia plantation was Angela, the owners young daughter (maybe age 21 or so, a grad student speaks perfect English). Wonderful coffee is served at end of tour and short video and it costs only $7 to purchase a pound of rosted beans that makes wonderful coffee (had some today).;)

Thanks for the info. I was hoping you'd say it was the 4 1/2 hour tour. I'm taking a 10 hour tour in Costa Rica and I think I'll be toured out by then. I appreciate the information and I'll be considering that tour for sure. What a deal for coffee! You almost can't get a cup of coffee for that now:eek:.

[hi4fun]

Thank you so much for your review and comments, very constructive.

 

I will be boarding this Friday (Apr 15). Could you comment on the great workouts, is there any stretch, water arobics classes being offered? Is there a charge, I believe some classes and free and some have a $12 fee attached.

 

Can you remember the name of the Captain and the Cruise Director?

 

Was there any major concerns about A/C??

 

Sounds like you had a great time even as there were some disturbance.

 

Thanks Diane