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Costa Rica/Panama review
We just returned from the Costa Rica/Panama trip (middle of February sailing, 2018)
Overall: Great!
Some tips/info for others thinking about this trip:
We sailed from Costa Rica to Panama, which is the direction I highly recommend. The highlight of this great trip was our day sailing through the canal. I, and other travelers, considered it the perfect way to finish our trip!
We sailed on a Windstar ship, and Tauck cruisers were in the minority, but overall that had no bearing on our time aboard the ship, outside of one lecture that had to be rescheduled due to a Windstar meeting taking place in the room we were to meet in.
Tauck did what it always does, which is provide top notch service, follow through, and amazing local guides.
Clothing: During the day it was hot, so it worked well for me to wear a white Columbia SPF type shirt with a Nike fitness tank underneath. Shorts, flip flops or Teva type sandals are a must. Lots of people wore those hiking pants with the zip-off legs. Bring a hat!!! Don't wear t-shirts if you can avoid it...just too humid! For the evening meals everybody simply washed up and put on something "nice" meaning, for me, pants, nice sandals with a low heel (yes, and I was not alone) and a nice blouse. No jacket needed for men, just a nice polo/collar shirt or, if you want, a button down. Dry cleaning is NOT available on the ship, but the laundry service works well, plus a pressing service is available.
Room service was available, so we would use that service if we had a long day and just wanted to relax in our cabin. They also offer room service snacks, popcorn at night, etc. Well stocked mini-bar in cabins. I had decaf tea and a plate of veggies brought to our cabin every afternoon! No coffee machine in the room, but there is an area set-up on one deck, starting at 6 am, which included coffee, fruit, rolls, etc. I just sent my husband up every morning to bring me coffee for the cabin, and then we would go up to the main breakfast around 7.
You store your luggage under your bed. Plenty of storage in the cabin available for your clothes.
WiFi on the ship works pretty well, until everybody is back on-board and sending pictures to their family!
There is a very small gym on board. You can also walk laps on the deck, but eight laps to a mile.
Nice library area stocked with books and DVDs to play in your cabin.
Plenty of loungers available on the decks, plus seating in the shade too, if you want it.
We did not encounter bugs, but that doesn't mean you should not sunscreen/bug spray up! Bug spray available daily near the ship's front desk.
The day of our beach BBQ was idyllic, our naturalist guide led us on a casual hike on the island, and there were plenty of loungers placed both in the sun and in the shade!
Service: Amazing.
Food: Delicious.
Spa: I had a great message! Hair/facials/nails also available.
Casino: Our ship had a small casino on board. I never saw anyone using it, but I never walked by it a night, so maybe some people gambled.
Cruise Director: Great.
Naturalist guide: Great.
I couldn't call this an "active" trip. That said, I never felt like I was in need of long hikes, etc. Really enjoyed our planned activities. There was a wide range of ages on this trip, from 58 to 88!
We met lovely people, and really enjoyed this trip!
Enjoy!
Robi
Overall: Great!
Some tips/info for others thinking about this trip:
We sailed from Costa Rica to Panama, which is the direction I highly recommend. The highlight of this great trip was our day sailing through the canal. I, and other travelers, considered it the perfect way to finish our trip!
We sailed on a Windstar ship, and Tauck cruisers were in the minority, but overall that had no bearing on our time aboard the ship, outside of one lecture that had to be rescheduled due to a Windstar meeting taking place in the room we were to meet in.
Tauck did what it always does, which is provide top notch service, follow through, and amazing local guides.
Clothing: During the day it was hot, so it worked well for me to wear a white Columbia SPF type shirt with a Nike fitness tank underneath. Shorts, flip flops or Teva type sandals are a must. Lots of people wore those hiking pants with the zip-off legs. Bring a hat!!! Don't wear t-shirts if you can avoid it...just too humid! For the evening meals everybody simply washed up and put on something "nice" meaning, for me, pants, nice sandals with a low heel (yes, and I was not alone) and a nice blouse. No jacket needed for men, just a nice polo/collar shirt or, if you want, a button down. Dry cleaning is NOT available on the ship, but the laundry service works well, plus a pressing service is available.
Room service was available, so we would use that service if we had a long day and just wanted to relax in our cabin. They also offer room service snacks, popcorn at night, etc. Well stocked mini-bar in cabins. I had decaf tea and a plate of veggies brought to our cabin every afternoon! No coffee machine in the room, but there is an area set-up on one deck, starting at 6 am, which included coffee, fruit, rolls, etc. I just sent my husband up every morning to bring me coffee for the cabin, and then we would go up to the main breakfast around 7.
You store your luggage under your bed. Plenty of storage in the cabin available for your clothes.
WiFi on the ship works pretty well, until everybody is back on-board and sending pictures to their family!
There is a very small gym on board. You can also walk laps on the deck, but eight laps to a mile.
Nice library area stocked with books and DVDs to play in your cabin.
Plenty of loungers available on the decks, plus seating in the shade too, if you want it.
We did not encounter bugs, but that doesn't mean you should not sunscreen/bug spray up! Bug spray available daily near the ship's front desk.
The day of our beach BBQ was idyllic, our naturalist guide led us on a casual hike on the island, and there were plenty of loungers placed both in the sun and in the shade!
Service: Amazing.
Food: Delicious.
Spa: I had a great message! Hair/facials/nails also available.
Casino: Our ship had a small casino on board. I never saw anyone using it, but I never walked by it a night, so maybe some people gambled.
Cruise Director: Great.
Naturalist guide: Great.
I couldn't call this an "active" trip. That said, I never felt like I was in need of long hikes, etc. Really enjoyed our planned activities. There was a wide range of ages on this trip, from 58 to 88!
We met lovely people, and really enjoyed this trip!
Enjoy!
Robi
0
Comments
I posted a few observations after we did our canal crossing in January 2018 -- under my initial thread about snorkel equipment -- but it was mostly about the canal and things that MR. British will like.
The answer I would give about British's question concerning the division of time between land and being onboard the ship is that Tauck keeps its travelers very busy. The WindStar is set up to run tenders back and forth all day long, but it seemed that we were always out early and on the last tender back to the ship each day. Some of the day excursions included some funky little lunch places, so one did not necessarily want to return to the ship for lunch.
There is one full day of sailing as we approached Panama City. Our entourage of handlers gave us lectures (and we were allowed to attend the WindStar lectures too). That day at sea went fast and is not memorable.
I shot a video of the Canal Crossing process that we have shown to some friends. They all laugh when the little movie gets to the part where we reached Lake Gatun just in time for lunch. It really was that way -- we missed nothing about the canal by taking time out for food.
The Costa Ricans live in a paradise and the Panamanians are thriving on the Pacific side. There is plenty to see on land.
After a few days of CR touring and our beach BBQ, we had one full day at sea on the ship. Then, after one day of land touring in the old city in Panama, the actual canal crossing was also a full day on the ship.
I was actually very ready for our first full day on the ship, simply because I live in Seattle and was looking forward to parking myself in the sun with a book (it ws snowing back home!) After lunch that day, Windstar showed the hour long Nova movie about the history of the canal in the main lounge room, then I had a massage, and then our Tauck guide gave a second, more specific talk about Panama. My husband toured the engine room that day while I had my massage. I got my sun time and enjoyed everything else as well.
Our day crossing the canal was fascinating! We were up on the deck, walking around, most of the day. A canal guide gave a fairly constant naration about what we were seeing and our Tuck guide was available as well to answer questions.
Two days is about all I would want to be at sea on the ship, but it worked well with this itinerary.
Regards!
Robi
A note on the hotels, we have stayed at both the Marriot and the Intercontinental on previous tours. We did not care for the location of the Imtercontinental, we were there just 18 months ago. The Marrriot was a long time ago, but we remember it was tropical with a nice pool so we have chosen that for the end of the tour when we will be ready to relax.