PBH / Colombia / Forums (active) Travelguide Cheap hostels Pictures

New cruise departing Colombia and can book from the US

For some time now Royal Carribean has offered a 7 night cruise departing Panama and travel agents here in Colombia have sold it with a departure from cartagena but in the US you can only buy the Panama departure. But now starting Oct. 3, there will be a new cruise with Pullmantur (Owned by Royal carribean also) with the same option to board in Cartagena. The nice thing about this cruise is it can be booked from the US (hence seems to be cheaper that way). For the dates and category we selected we saved over 60% from what a travel agent here wanted to charge for the exact same thing. In the US, I was able to book through vacationstogo.com but through their Spanish side. I can´t say I am so happy with the booking process but am very happy with the money saved and with what I have read about the cruise itself. Nice thing about this ship is it is all-inclusive, including drinks (alcohol). It is a 7 night cruise with stops in Santa Marta, Isla Margarita, Aruba, Bonair and Curacao. We are heading out in January and I will be sure to post on how it is.

By adrienne79 on Aug 20, 2009, 09:16 in Travel tips.

adrienne79 says on Aug 20, 2009, 09:25:

Pullmantur- Ocean Dream
ESCALA DE PUERTOS

DIA PUERTO LLEGADA SALIDA
Sáb Cartagena, Colombia 19h00
Dom Santa Marta, Colombia 8h00 16h00
Lun Aruba 9h00 20h00
Mar Bonaire, Antillas de los Países Bajos 8h00 16h00
Miér Isla Margarita, Venezuela 9h00 18h00
Jue Curacao, Antillas Neerlandesas 13h00 20h00
Vie Navegación
Sáb Cartagena, Colombia 8h00

0 funny, 1 helpful.

pedro (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 20, 2009, 09:30:

Thanks for the info.

Price?

"this may seem a strange post but it is not...when in colombia men need to be aware that colombia women may try to be seductive and entice a travelling gringo to have sex with them..to be forewarned is to be forearmed..." -- pow wow

0 funny, 0 helpful.

adrienne79 says on Aug 20, 2009, 09:35:

Depends on the dates and how many are in your party and what category you want. We are going during high season but not quite on Christmas which is much more and we are paying just under 1k each (for the two of us) but we also have an interior room. There are much less expensive dates and much more expensive dates. Be advised most of the passangers will be speaking Spanish since this is a cruise line out of Spain but from what I have read the staff still speaks English and things are printed in English, too.

0 funny, 1 helpful.

juli says on Aug 20, 2009, 09:45:

Colombians with just a passport need visa stuff worked out beforehand otherwise they are not admitted on the boat or not allowed on the island(s). Royal Caribbean is laxed in their information regarding this via phone or otherwise but after tons of investigation I have found this out. Also the crew and the whole cruise is Latino including the food, music, entertainment, language, standards, etc..... Don't think this is going to be like the other Royal Caribbean cruises you have taken on the bigger boats from Florida/Puerto Rico. These Latino cruises are scaled down. Still nice nonetheless.

1 funny, 0 helpful.

adrienne79 says on Aug 20, 2009, 09:49:

this cruise is advertised as a no need for visas cruise here in Colombia. Already talked to an agent here about my Colombian husband and she says he will just need his passport. We have also done our homework to look on the island website and they allow Colombians in on these cruises since they will be there for less that 48 hours. Yes, it is a very Latino/European cruise but notheless is a good cruise from what I have read and seen.

0 funny, 1 helpful.

kingfish5515 says on Aug 20, 2009, 09:59:

I take a cruise every year, always from miami or fll and love Royal Carib better than any of the others. However when you say "all inclusive including drinks", this is true as far as coffee and tea ect but not beer or mixed drinks. I hope they do well with a latin america departure port as there are probably millions of latin residents that would love to cruise out of miami but cant get a visa,, like my ex novia. I would have loved to have taken her on a cruise but could not due to lack of visa. With a huge population of spanish residents in Central A and South A they should do well. However 1k each for an inside room is close to double what I see offered on the bigger ships out of miami. Have fun!! KF

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jonny305 says on Aug 20, 2009, 10:02:

cool thanks for the new oinfo had no idea
pictures
never heard of bonaire

0 funny, 0 helpful.

adrienne79 says on Aug 20, 2009, 10:09:

¨However when you say "all inclusive including drinks", this is true as far as coffee and tea ect but not beer or mixed drinks.¨

Not true, with Pullmantur and with this cruise drinks with alcohol are included. Top shelf is extra as you can imagine but mixed drinks, beer, wine is all included on this cruise. That is one reason we chose it over then regular Royal Carribean one.

Yes, I know there are much better deals when you live at a port in the US but we live in Colombia and want to travel from here so I think that is who I posted this for.....for people looking for a quick getaway from here but still want to pay on the US side.

0 funny, 1 helpful.

adrienne79 says on Aug 20, 2009, 10:30:

Jonny- Look up Bonair. It is the smallest and the ¨B¨ of the ABC islands. It is most known for being a great diving and snorkling spot. As soon as I have some pics, I´ll be glad to some with my report. There are some good videos of the ship on youtube from the current cruise route that it is on.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

cstew47 says on Oct 24, 2009, 14:00:

Adrienne, I couldn't find the cruise on the vacationstogowebsite. How was it titled? Wetern Caribean? Any other info you can give me would be helpful.

Thanks,

Craig

0 funny, 0 helpful.