Our February Caribbean Getaway
Part 2
As you know, we love our “at sea” days when we cruise. These 2 cruises were especially exciting for us, as each one had just as many days at sea as days in port. On the first cruise, we had 2 rough at sea days from Cuba to Colombia and another one from Curacao to Grand Cayman. However, Dramamine and ginger pills worked really well for me, so it fortunately wasn’t a big issue.
Our first port stop was at Cartagena, Columbia – since Steve isn’t interested in touristy stuff, I took the Best of Cartagena tour on my own.
Here’s an excerpt from the description of the tour: (pretty much accurate)
“Discover Cartagena’s fascinating history on this journey to several unique landmarks including the fortress, Saint Peter Claver’s Sanctuary, and the Inquisition Palace. Your adventure begins with a photo stop visit to San Felipe Fortress, the largest example of Spanish military engineering in South America. Then, learn about the role the Holy Inquisition played in Cartagena’s past. The Inquisition Palace served as the headquarters of the Court of the Holy Inquisition. See examples of torture chambers and jails from this harrowing time period. Next, you’ll discover the heart of Cartagena’s old town. Stroll the narrow cobblestone streets and squares inside the beautiful walled city. Explore the cobblestoned squares of Cartagena’s old town.”
Transport was on an air-conditioned bus, with some walking but nothing too strenuous. There was lots of free time stops for shopping, and lots of street vendors. At the end of the tour, there was an hour of free time – the rest of the group went shopping and I sat on a park bench in Simon Bolivar Square and read and people watched. I did get tired of saying “No gracias” and “No me tocas, por favor” every time a woman started massaging my leg. Not kidding. So weird.
Cartegena was pretty, but after 2 trips to Europe last year, it really didn’t seem like anything terribly new. Here are some pics.
The next day was very exciting and interesting -our first look at the Panama Canal. Celebrity was really helpful in making sure everyone got a great view of the partial crossing we did. They provided a Q & A sheet both about the crossing and the excursion process, written information about the tender boat process, and certificates for each passenger to commemorate the crossing. There was also a presentation in the theatre by their Enrichment Speaker on the history of the locks and the canal that took place a couple of days earlier, and was also available later on the TV’s in our Stateroom. The Captain also gave a presentation about how they navigate the locks.
On the morning of the crossing, starting at about 7 a.m., people gathered in several recommended spots outdoors on the upper decks to watch the process. We stayed on our balcony and alternated with watching there and watching the live commentary on TV including a view from the camera at the front of the ship.
Due to the size of the ship, we did not do a full crossing of the canal, but rather, entered the 3 new Agua Clara locks, proceeded into Gatun Lake, and then the ship turned around and went back through the locks. We had booked a shore excursion at Gatun Lake, which returned us then to the port of Colon, where the ship was waiting to pick us up. All of this took the entire day, but was really worth it. The view of the process in the locks was really cool. Pics, videos, and a description of the excursion are found here.
“Feel your heart skip a beat as the captain sends your boat racing through the Panama Canal. On the other end, you’ll find Gatun Lake, home to jungle-covered islands and abundant wildlife. A local naturalist will point out various species as you slow down to explore this protected area. Keep watch for capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, three-toed sloths, crocodiles, caimans, and colorful butterflies. From fast to fascinating, this tour has you covered.”
We saw many monkeys, Capuchins, Titi, and Howlers – we also saw iguanas, little bats, birds, caimans, turtles – alas, no 3 toed sloths likely due to the heavy rains. It was difficult to hear the guide as there were no speakers in the boat and he didn’t use his mike other than when we were on the bus, so I’m sure we missed some information, but otherwise, it was fun despite the occasional monsoon rain showers.
Next week, we’ll talk about our port stops at Aruba, Curacao, and Grand Cayman.
Where do you plan to go in 2026 and 2027? (I’m looking at 2028 bookings too!)
May I help you?
Happy Travels!
#celebritycruises