Panama Canal - shore excursions

#1 (**permalink**) January 21st, 2004, 08:24 PM

We are going from San Diego through the canal and on to Miami in Feb. Has anyone done any shore excursions that they would highly recommend. Also, can we get a cab to go see the cliff divers in Acapulco? Is it safe? Anywhere else in Acapulco worth seeing? Thanks- PS - we are sailing on RCCL Legend of the Seas

Lisa · #2 (**permalink**) January 22nd, 2004, 01:05 AM

I definitely agree with Mike....if doing the full transit of the canal, stay on the ship! You will see and learn more that day than any time spent on shore.

LisaK · #3 (**permalink**) January 22nd, 2004, 09:03 AM

a full canal transit is amazing! You have no idea how huge Gatun Lake is until you cross it. Miraflores Locks are very impressive, stay on the ship and take in the total experience.

#4 (**permalink**) January 22nd, 2004, 01:30 PM

Panama Canal was one of my favorite cruises. I didn't know you could get off the ship
before it went thru the locks. By all means, stay on the ship. It's quite an experience going thru the locks.

J

hagnel · #5 (**permalink**) January 25th, 2004, 08:14 PM

We did this cruise on the Legend Oct 2003, sailing out of San Diego. Wonderful cruise & loved the ship. Ports: Acapulco, Los Cabos, Huetulco, Puentarenas, Panama canal transit, CristobelPier Panama, Aruba, Miami.
We did not take a ships tour in Acapulco, we like to walk so we walked about 20 min to watch the cliff divers, taxis are cheap and easy to aqquire at the port, mind you some of the operators are a bit pesky so make sure you negotiate. After the divers we walked to the artisians market, about a ten minute walk from the ship. Cabo St Lucas is a delight, everything around the port . Huetalco, we swam in the beach area near the docked ship. Aruba{ Very pretty} we took a tour from the dock for around $10 each, well worth it. Some of our group took other tours from the ship and payed much more. Puntarenas, The poas Volcano National park is a good trip. Most of the ships tours in Panama were cancelled but the scenic train is a popular one and sold out quickly. we were not allowed { Or rather advised } not to leave the port inCristobel but they had a huge market set up there and local entertainers, The transit through the canal was the highlight, awesome.
Any more info, will be glad to give.
Have a great trip