Amazing Panama Canal Cruise

Norwegian Encore Cruise Review to Panama Canal, Central America

Cruises: 2-3 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 5

Overall rating:

4.6 out of 5
Verified Review
Norwegian Encore

19 Night Panama Canal: Mexico & Colombia (San Francisco To Miami)

Sail date: October 31, 2023

Ship: Norwegian Encore

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9284

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 months ago

Review summary

Was not impressed at all with the addition of Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. We should have booked an excursion through the ship.....alas we ended up staying on the whip the whole day. Considering we were on a cruise for 20 days......would have been nice to have a slightly bigger selection for the 3 main dining rooms.

Embarkation

5 out of 5
Great!

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5
Specialty dining was excellent, main dining rooms were very good, especially the Manhattan Room, and the buffet was as expected.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5
The Art Auctions and Seminars were expecially fun.

Entertainment

4 out of 5
Choir of Man was a very good show, would have been nice if there was another show, on a 20 day cruise!

Children's Programs

Didn't have children with us on the cruise.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Our steward, Augus, was wonderful, Sunshine in the Manhattan Room was extremely attentive and two bartenders were exceptional: John in A-List and Helio in McCallan's Whisky Lounge

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
The room was a good size and very comfortable.

Ports of call

San Pedro (Los Angeles), California

4 out of 5
Was disappointed that Ports of Call was torn down!

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

4 out of 5
The port is small, would have liked to see more of the rest of the town. The lunch we had in town, made up for the everything! We booked an excursion through a third party, to see the Arches, and it was terrific.

Mazatlan, Mexico

5 out of 5
Again we booked an excursion through a third party. Biking through Mazatlan was so much fun. What a beautiful City!

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

4 out of 5
Puerto Vallarta has changed since we had last been there. We had a nice Birria Tour, which we booked through a third party. Also took their Hop On-Hop Off bus tour.

Manzanillo, Mexico Did not visit port

Cruise ship cancelled this stop

Acapulco, Mexico Did not visit port

Cruise ship cancelled this stop

Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

5 out of 5
We did the Coffee Plantation tour, which we booked through the cruise line. Excellent tour guide both on the bus and at the plantation.

Panama City, Panama

5 out of 5
We had a very nice time in Panama City on the Hop On-Hop Off bus tour we booked through a third party. The stop at the Canal Locks was the highlight of the tour. Back at Isla Perico we had a wonderful meal at El Tablazo.

Panama Canal Transit

5 out of 5

Cartagena, Colombia

5 out of 5
Even if our tour guide (Panoramic City tour booked through the cruise line) was a bit repetitive, Cartegena is a beautiful city. Not at all what I expected! I would go back again!

George Town, Grand Cayman

5 out of 5
Such a cute and fun little town. We walked around the whole town, and had lunch at a local restaunt. Guy Harvey's gallery is a must see!

Miami, Florida

5 out of 5
We did a Hop On-Hop Off bus tour that we had purchased in advance. Miami and South Beach are very fun. (We spent extra days there!)

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
Piece of Cake......so easy!
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