KajunCruiser Posted August 9, 2017 #1 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Hopefully this post is not too long but looking for ideas / suggestions for our port days (14 day cruise). We are 59 & 62 years old. Any good beaches near ports, how far, is the areas safe? Also any not to miss places or excursion ideas? Ports visiting: Carbo San Lucas, Mexico -- from noon-8pm Acapulco, Mexico -- from 8am-5pm Huatulco, Mexico -- from 8am-4pm Puntarenas, Costa Rica -- from 9am-7pm Cartagena, Columbia -- from 8am-5pm Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions KajunCruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMLady Posted August 9, 2017 #2 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Hopefully this post is not too long but looking for ideas / suggestions for our port days (14 day cruise). We are 59 & 62 years old. Any good beaches near ports, how far, is the areas safe? Also any not to miss places or excursion ideas? Ports visiting: Carbo San Lucas, Mexico -- from noon-8pm Acapulco, Mexico -- from 8am-5pm Huatulco, Mexico -- from 8am-4pm Puntarenas, Costa Rica -- from 9am-7pm Cartagena, Columbia -- from 8am-5pm Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions KajunCruiser Try the Ports of Call forums for each of those ports. You will find lots of suggestions. You might give an idea of the kinds of things you like. Snorkeling? Ruins? Museums? City tours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Clay Clayton Posted August 10, 2017 #3 Share Posted August 10, 2017 Can't help with beach ideas but here is what we did on our reverse of your cruise: Cartenega - i arranged a private tour. Interesting, but if I had it to do over I might just catch a taxi into the old part of town and wander. Puntareanas- a fellow CCer arranged a day at a resort in the mountains ( so much cooler) which included zip lining. Huatulco- I arranged a cooking lesson for a group from our rollcall. We made two types of mole and it was wonderful. Acapulco - we didn't get off the ship as every excursion involved cliff diving ans having had my own unfortunate cliff diving incident in Cozumel years ago, I didn't want to relive it. Cabo - we didn't stop there on our cruise but on a precious port stop, we had GREAT massages at Krystal Resort for an incredibly cheap price. If you want details for any of these suggestions just let me know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted August 10, 2017 #4 Share Posted August 10, 2017 We called at a number of the same ports on our (fabulous) Panama Canal cruise this winter aboard the Jewel. My detailed trip report, including what we did in the ports, is here (sorry you can no longer see the photos, they have been blocked by Photobucket, as have those of many other folks): http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2456255 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pspercy Posted August 10, 2017 #5 Share Posted August 10, 2017 In Cartagena last April we went with Dora: http://cartagenatour.com/ We'd love to go back, favorite port call of the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garycarla Posted August 10, 2017 #6 Share Posted August 10, 2017 Make sure you visit the ROLL CALL for your trip as others will be sharing some plans there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KajunCruiser Posted August 10, 2017 Author #7 Share Posted August 10, 2017 Can't help with beach ideas but here is what we did on our reverse of your cruise:Cartenega - i arranged a private tour. Interesting, but if I had it to do over I might just catch a taxi into the old part of town and wander. Puntareanas- a fellow CCer arranged a day at a resort in the mountains ( so much cooler) which included zip lining. Huatulco- I arranged a cooking lesson for a group from our rollcall. We made two types of mole and it was wonderful. Acapulco - we didn't get off the ship as every excursion involved cliff diving ans having had my own unfortunate cliff diving incident in Cozumel years ago, I didn't want to relive it. Cabo - we didn't stop there on our cruise but on a precious port stop, we had GREAT massages at Krystal Resort for an incredibly cheap price. If you want details for any of these suggestions just let me know! Thanks Clay I appreciate the suggestions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KajunCruiser Posted August 10, 2017 Author #8 Share Posted August 10, 2017 Make sure you visit the ROLL CALL for your trip as others will be sharing some plans there. Thanks GaryCarla I couldn't find a roll call so I started one myself and it is finally starting to get active Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeahawkSiren Posted August 10, 2017 #9 Share Posted August 10, 2017 We visited all of those ports except Huatulco on our Panama Canal cruise last year on NCL Sun and did the following: Cartagena - Old Cartagena Walking Tour excursion through the ship. Puntarenas - Pura Vida Botanical Gardens excursion through the ship. This was an incredibly beautiful place. Was (and still is) one of my favorite excursions from any of my cruises. Acapulco - Endangered Baby Sea Turtles and City Drive excursion through the ship. Cabo San Lucas - We did not do an excursion here and just did the on our own thing. We did some souvenir shopping (great shopping near the ship) and then relaxed and had lunch at Tabasco's on Medano Beach. A very beautiful beach. Toes in the sand with drink in hand! The link to my review with photos (including many photos of the canal transit itself) is below. Enjoy your cruise. It was on our bucket list and was one of our best vacations ever! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2420223 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kjquilts Posted August 10, 2017 #10 Share Posted August 10, 2017 We did Panama Canal cruise on the Jewel in February - similar itinerary. I envy you with cruise ending in New Orleans :) In Cartagena we booked tour with Dora (our guide was not Dora but one of her guides). We enjoyed the tour but next time we'd probably taxi into the old city and wander. Felt very safe there and it was interesting. In Puntarenas we did the 8 in 1 tour with Giotours. It was really great and we'd do it again. We were a group of 8, four couples in upper 60's and lower 70's. We booked the above tours for the 8 of us. It made it nice because we had more flexibility than with a larger tour group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Clay Clayton Posted August 11, 2017 #11 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Thanks Clay I appreciate the suggestions No problem! Just paying it forward. Have a great cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KajunCruiser Posted August 19, 2017 Author #12 Share Posted August 19, 2017 We did Panama Canal cruise on the Jewel in February - similar itinerary. I envy you with cruise ending in New Orleans :) In Cartagena we booked tour with Dora (our guide was not Dora but one of her guides). We enjoyed the tour but next time we'd probably taxi into the old city and wander. Felt very safe there and it was interesting. In Puntarenas we did the 8 in 1 tour with Giotours. It was really great and we'd do it again. We were a group of 8, four couples in upper 60's and lower 70's. We booked the above tours for the 8 of us. It made it nice because we had more flexibility than with a larger tour group. Could not book Giotours. Our ship arrives to late for the snorkel tour & leaves loo early for the sunset tout. Also I emailed Dora twice and still haven't received any feedback Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old nutter Posted August 19, 2017 #13 Share Posted August 19, 2017 In Puntarenas - If you like birds like we do, go on the ship's trip to the Scarlet Macaw Sanctuary at El Manantial. They take in tame macaws that people have discarded and allow them to breed so that their youngsters can then go out into the wild when they want to. The adult birds wander around your feet and because it is in an open rainforest you might see other animals as well. We saw a sloth up in the trees and also some howler monkeys were easy to hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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