I've read a lot about the history of the canal and just before leaving I watched a youtube documentary on the construction of the canal. Standing on the deck watching the gates open to the first lock was probably the most exciting thing I've done on a cruise ship. While we were approaching the gate we were given detailed descriptions of everything that was going on and had to happen for the ship to go through. Truly fascinating.
I found the cruise to be extremely fun, mainly due to the Cruise Director. The activities, especially the games and contests were very entertaining. The ship was full and the pool area was always crowded, especially on sea days. I had purchased the thermal suite pass which was calm, quiet and well worth the money.
The entertainment, however, was lacking. The DJ was great and the Juggler was good. The other entertainers were mediocre at best. Also disappointing was the holiday decor. I have previously sailed with Royal Caribbean over the holidays and the ship was beautiful and festive. I was expecting the same thing from NCL but I've seen better Christmas decorations in a church basement.
Decorations were a minor quibble though, overall I thoroughly enjoyed this cruise and am looking forward to cruising with NCL again.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Embarkation went smoothly though there was a rather long wait in the holding area before we actually boarded the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
I thought the food was good. There was a good variety in the buffet though it did get a bit repetitive after 11 days. I had a specialty dining package and was entertained by the chefs in Teppanyaki, and thought the food in Cagney's was great. Often had breakfast in the MDR which was a lot calmer than the buffet and also helped with limiting portions.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
I am a senior citizen so I didn't need a rock climbing wall, a water slide, etc. that you find on some of the larger ships. I enjoyed the dance lessons, the game shows, the crafts, the morning workouts. I purchased a thermal suite pass and it was well worth the money.
Entertainment
1 out of 5
The one star is for the DJ who was excellent. I found the rest of the entertainment disappointing.
Children's Programs
I travelled without children.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff was uniformly courteous and efficient. The cruise director was energetic and engaging.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The Jade is an older ship and I prefer a ship of this size. It was easy enough to get around in.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The cabin was small but adequate. No complaints about cleanliness.
I thought this port was fine. We did not do an excursion into the city but the visitor's area at the port itself was interesting with a nice gift shop and a chance to see some local wildlife in a preserve. We were told by the woman in the information booth that it was possible to walk to the city but as we tried to do so we were accosted by many taxi drivers who advised against it. We decided to pass because the taxis were expensive.
Got up early in the morning to view the transit through the locks this was very exciting. Took the Two Oceans by Railroad excursion which was disappointing and overpriced. There was nothing to see from the train and much of the time on this excursion was spent on the bus to and from the train. The guide provided some interesting information and there was a stop at a tourist area in Panama City but all in all there was a mismatch between the cost and the quality of this excursion. ($209.00)
Did an excursion to the Gumbalimba Animal Preserve. Had a wonderful guide who provided excellent information on the bus ride and was very knowledgeable about all the animals in the preserve and the history of Honduras. People had an opportunity to interact with the Macaws and the monkeys. Also the park is well kept and beautiful.
I didn't do an excursion. The port is mainly a shopping village which I enjoyed. It was very crowded as there were three ships docked at the same time. (2 NCL and one Royal Caribbean)
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