Enchantment - DEPARTING FROM: COLON, PANAMA in 2008, 2009 (MERGED)

[deb154]

There were threads awhile back mentioning the concierge, Julian going over to Independence of the Seas. When we were on in May (after Mommabean) Julian said he hoped to be the concierge on IOS and was excited about it. Now it all makes sense. I'll bet he wants to stay around FLL and on to bigger and better things - what do you think?;)

[PH8]

There were threads awhile back mentioning the concierge, Julian going over to Independence of the Seas. When we were on in May (after Mommabean) Julian said he hoped to be the concierge on IOS and was excited about it. Now it all makes sense. I'll bet he wants to stay around FLL and on to bigger and better things - what do you think?;)

Maybe so.........I'll ask him in 20 days!!:)

[familyof4cruising]

I would be interested in this cruise if RCI would offer transfers from the airport. Is the airport really an hour away?

[BillB48]

I would be interested in this cruise if RCI would offer transfers from the airport. Is the airport really an hour away?

 

Realistically it probably is a little more than an hour away but that is not a bad guesstamation. Tocumen, the airport is on Panama City's eastern side and you don't have to go completely through Panama City to get to the Colon/Cristobal area. You do pass through some of the city's sprawl. Most of the time the trip should not take more than an hour and a half.

[mommabean]

Maybe so.........I'll ask him in 20 days!!:)

 

Will you report back to us from the ship? Some of us want to know ASAP. Alright I AM the one who wants to know ASAP. :D Really, all I want to know is that he is back where he belongs on Enchantment of the Seas by the time you cruise. If he's not, oh boy, am I going to be in BIG trouble. :eek:

[PH8]

Sure will try...........I just read the other post stating he was not on the EN right now!:eek: :eek: Maybe you should go to upcoming roll calls and seek out D members so they can find out now....:p

[NAHA]

Printed this itinerary off the website yesterday. We are consindering it, among a few others, for February of 2009.

[TWELVEOHONE]

Royal Caribbean International has established a homeport in Colon, Panama, where it will operate 17 southern Caribbean sailings in the 2008-09 winter season. Colon, a city on the Caribbean near the mouth of the Panama Canal, is Panama's second-largest city, and has a busy cruise port for ships that generally are not traversing the Canal. RCCL said the Enchantment of the Seas will sail seven-day trips between December 2008 and April 2009, making stops in Colombia and the Dutch Antilles. Ports of call include Cartagena and Santa Maria, Colombia; Aruba; Bonaire and Curacao.

[AJCruizer]

Royal Caribbean International has established a homeport in Colon, Panama, where it will operate 17 southern Caribbean sailings in the 2008-09 winter season. Colon, a city on the Caribbean near the mouth of the Panama Canal, is Panama's second-largest city, and has a busy cruise port for ships that generally are not traversing the Canal. RCCL said the Enchantment of the Seas will sail seven-day trips between December 2008 and April 2009, making stops in Colombia and the Dutch Antilles. Ports of call include Cartagena and Santa Maria, Colombia; Aruba; Bonaire and Curacao.

 

Im booking as soon as this is available to book. WE loved Aruba and Curacao on the AOS this past year. And I would like to try these new ports.

[negc]

Be prepared.:rolleyes: When this information was first posted a week or two ago, there was a deluge of criticism by some posters irritated that a ship was being moved from Florida and especially critical of the choice of Colon as the new homeport, and some of the ports of call on the new itineraries. Frankly, I was pleased to see that RCI is looking to introduce new and different itineraries that will reach destinations not usually accessible on a seven night cruise out of Florida or San Juan. Whether or not the Enchantment's new routes will prove popular and successful remains to be seen, but at least RCI is showing some awareness that there is more to the Caribbean than San Juan, St.Thomas and St. Maarten, or Cozumel, Ocho Rios, and Grand Cayman.:)

[gnparend]

I agree with Bill. Some new crusiers still have not yet enjoyed some of the southern Carib ports but for me I look forward to more S. Amer ports on both coast. I understand that RCI is moving towards exploring more of the Southern Hemisphere. The only way to see some C. Amer port on the west coast is a Repo thru canal. We have been to Cartagena & Caracas but a panama port may open up going back to those ports and even Brazil ports. So it will be a nice change of pace and more ports.

 

I'm sure airfare will be a consideration for some on top of the cruise cost so I wonder if the larger ships will take over the Fl ports and the 2,000 passenger ships will do these ports. I understand Radiance after the 2008 season will be in S. America. I thought on our Alaska trip it was going to be on the Pacific side of S. Amer. If I'm correct on it's 2008 or 2009 Repo it will take a left out of the Canal.

 

Just check RCCL and Winter 2009 (S. Amer Summer)

Ship Name: Radiance Of The Seas

Departure Port: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ports of Call: Buenos Aires, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay; Punta Del Este, Uruguay; Portobelo, Brazil; Vitoria, Brazil; Salvador De Bahia, Brazil; Ilheus, Brazil; Buzios, Brazil; Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; Sao Paulo (Santos), Brazil

 

Departure Port: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ports of Call: Buenos Aires, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; Cape Horn, Chile; Ushuaia, Argentina; Punta Arenas, Chile; Straits Of Magellan; Chilean Fjords; Puerto Montt, Chile; Valparaiso, Chile

[PH8]

Im booking as soon as this is available to book. WE loved Aruba and Curacao on the AOS this past year. And I would like to try these new ports.

It has been available to book since last week...

 

 

Be prepared. When this information was first posted a week or two ago, there was a deluge of criticism by some posters irritated that a ship was being moved from Florida and especially critical of the choice of Colon as the new homeport, and some of the ports of call on the new itineraries.

Im one of those Negc is warning you about.......I think its great there are different itineraries,however,having been to Colon,I have no desire ever to go back there.....

 

And of course, we here in FL are not happy another ship is leaving,but we understand we still have plenty more to pick from.......

[cb at sea]

Where in the world will you stay if you fly in a day early? We weren't even allowed off the pier in Colon, because the surrounding area is sooooo bad!

[sept10dsm]

THe local area will probably dictate how long they use this as a homeport. If it is dangerous as some have said with not much there, I really wouldn't want to be flying there and spending a pre or post cruise visit. Just my thoughts.

[PH8]

Where in the world will you stay if you fly in a day early? We weren't even allowed off the pier in Colon, because the surrounding area is sooooo bad!

I think one would stay in Panama City.........when we stopped in Colon, they warned us not to go outside the fenced in pier area without a SHIP escorted tour.....dont think I would have ever tried anyway.....the guys with machine guns was enough to make me not want to venture alone...........

[Ocean Boy]

And of course, we here in FL are not happy another ship is leaving,but we understand we still have plenty more to pick from.......

 

I think that I would hardly be concerned about loosing Enchantment considering what FL has for ships and what it is likely to gain over the next few years!

[sept10dsm]

I think one would stay in Panama City.........when we stopped in Colon, they warned us not to go outside the fenced in pier area without a SHIP escorted tour.....dont think I would have ever tried anyway.....the guys with machine guns was enough to make me not want to venture alone...........

Nice. I'm surprised Royal Caribbean would go through all the trouble to set up a home port in such an area!!

[Ocean Boy]

Nice. I'm surprised Royal Caribbean would go through all the trouble to set up a home port in such an area!!

They set up Labadee on Haiti with a fence, locked gate and a guard.... with a gun.

[sept10dsm]

They set up Labadee on Haiti with a fence, locked gate and a guard.... with a gun.

Haiti ( although I've heard RCCL makes it look nice) is a reason why I have avoided any of the Royal Caribbean cruises going there. No desire to visit there. There are so many places to visit, why put yourself in that danger. Guns don't scare me. They are a part of my life. My husband is retired police so guns are around me and I know how to use one, but I don't want to be around someone on the wrong side of the law. By having guarded fences really leads me to believe the entire area in no particularly safe. Like I said, so many nice places to visit, why bother to go to one of the world's most dangerous areas.

[PH8]

I think that I would hardly be concerned about loosing Enchantment considering what FL has for ships and what it is likely to gain over the next few years!

And thats what I said...:rolleyes:

 

And of course, we here in FL are not happy another ship is leaving,but we understand we still have plenty more to pick from.......

[Loves_Dogs]

HOLY COW! All the ABC islands in one cruise. A SCUBA DIVERS DREAM :-) .....too bad my dive buddy (my son) can only cruise when school is out. Wish they were offering that cruise through the summer months.

[Chawoobie]

Oh Boy!!! If I depart from a Colon, what does that make me???:rolleyes:

[klingoncruiser]

O.K. I am mystified. What on earth is RCCL up to? Colon? What a toilet of a port. (Nice cruise terminal though) I guess they are great ports of call, and right close at hand. We fly there, save them the fuel from Texas and Florida and they keep the prices high. :rolleyes:

 

I think the bean counters are winning. (for now) I don't like to fly and would not even concider flying into Colon. Sheese.

 

Count me on the negitive side as well. However they will manage to sell the ship I am sure.

[BillB48]

cbatsea and Parrothead8 go back and look at post #63. There is a very nice facility far enough from the "hustle and bustle" of Colon. When you click on the link, enter Panama. The area where the hotel is located is nothing like Colon.

[Ocean Boy]

And thats what I said...:rolleyes:

 

I know what you said. I was simply agreeing with you. So keep right on rolling your eyes...:rolleyes: