Customer Reviews for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Traverse the Trans-Isthmus Highway from the Atlantic to the Pacific—the same route once used by the Spanish Conquistadors and the Forty-Niners seeking a short cut from the east to the gold fields in California. Panama is a country whose name is utterly inseparable from the image of the canal that changed the world—considered by many to be the Eighth Wonder of the World. Yet the "other" Panama is just as interesting, with an amazing history of glory and tragedy that has shaped this country that was once known as the Pearl of the Pacific. A 90-minute drive from Gatún brings you to Fort Amador, where you will have some free time to shop for items from all over Panama. Continue through the streets of the old French Quarter of Panama City, founded in 1673 by French colonists. You’ll hear tales of the extraordinary gallantry and shocking piracy that kept the inhabitants in a state of constant high alert in colonial Panama, known as Casco Antiguo. On a leisurely 45 minute guided walk, appreciate the unique architecture, influenced by a wonderful blend of French, Spanish and Italian styles. After a buffet lunch, re-board you motor coach for the drive to Old Panama, which was founded in 1519 and destroyed by the infamous Welsh Captain Henry Morgan in 1671. You will see the ruins of the churches and convents, colonial palaces, bridges and military buildings that attest to the grandiose past of this country.
Average Customer Rating:
(14 Reviews) 14
Rating Snapshot (14 reviews)
5 stars
6
4 stars
0
3 stars
3
2 stars
2
1 star
3
6 out of 14(43%)reviewers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Review 1 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
HAL's Worst
Date:April 2, 2013
MickeyMouse
Location:Orlando, FL
Cruise Date Year:2013
Cruise Date Month:February
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Enjoyed it?
1
out of
5
Value
1
out of
5
We got a long bus ride, didn't stop for the bathroom break and drove by some ruins. We were supposed to see Ft. Amador but there was no room for the bus to park. We drove to the Holiday Inn for a less than spectacular "rubber chicken" lunch and then did get to see the French Quarter. Luckily we got a different guide for the French Quarter, he was great. Our original guide made it evident that he normally did the train tour and didn't appreciate being assigned to the bus tour. It was quite evident that he didn't want to be our guide. In twenty tears of cruising with HAL this is the first time that I have not tipped the guide; it was that bad!
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
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0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 2 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
Long bus ride
Date:March 8, 2013
Cruising3RN
Location:OR, USA
Cruise Date Year:2013
Cruise Date Month:February
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Enjoyed it?
3
out of
5
Value
3
out of
5
Be prepared for a long bus ride and heat when you're out of the bus. Lunch at a hotel was mediocre. The walking tour of the French Quarter was interesting, but very slow. The garbage along the route was always in view. I wish we had stayed on the ship!
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Share this review:
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 3 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
A Waste of My Time and Money
Date:February 20, 2013
Traveldog
Location:Arkansas
Cruise Date Year:2013
Cruise Date Month:February
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Enjoyed it?
1
out of
5
Value
1
out of
5
I've never been as disappointed in an excursion as I was in this one. Our guide's English was not good so it made it very difficult to learn anything. He seemed to repeat himself often. Also there was an elderly couple on the tour that weren't really capable of the walking portion but the lady seemed to think she could do it. This resulted in her asking everyone to slow down for her and at one time she even asked if the bus could come to pick her up as she didn't know if she could make it back to the bus. This ruined it for me. The lunch at the hotel was acceptable and service was good. As others have said, there was a long line for bathrooms. This was a lot of time to spend touring without getting much out of it.
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
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+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 4 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
The guide is important
Date:January 2, 2013
kcscrapper
Location:Kansas City, MO
Cruise Date Year:2012
Cruise Date Month:December
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Enjoyed it?
3
out of
5
Value
2
out of
5
We took the ship’s excursion “The Shaping of Panama” – which was a bus over to Panama City, a rolling bus tour of the oldest ruins, a ride through the modern part and a walk about in the old walled city. These types of excursions are totally “guide dependent” and the guide we had on the motor coach was a total dud. She commented about the Chagres River AFTER we’d driven over it because she was too busy chatting up the driver; her best comment about Panama City was that the traffic was “crazy”. Thankfully, an excellent guide, Julian Ward, who entertained and informed us about the history and current culture as we slogged through the driving rain, saved the walk through the Caseo Viejo. A big thank you to Julian!
Lunch was included -- at a modern hotel -- the only remarkable thing about that was the delicious flan and the difficulty trying to get wifi.
Shopping was at a duty free place -- nothing remarkable about that either.
Lunch was included -- at a modern hotel -- the only remarkable thing about that was the delicious flan and the difficulty trying to get wifi.
Shopping was at a duty free place -- nothing remarkable about that either.
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Share this review:
0points
1out of 2found this review helpful.
Review 5 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
Trip was excellant and lunch was very good.
Date:May 1, 2012
jebsjb
Location:San Diego ca.
Cruise Date Year:2012
Cruise Date Month:April
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Enjoyed it?
5
out of
5
Value
5
out of
5
The mode of transportation was good. the road were better than one could expect . the market was great.
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Share this review:
+2points
3out of 4found this review helpful.
Review 6 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
Panama City
Date:February 19, 2012
Martin
Location:New York City
Cruise Date Year:2012
Cruise Date Month:January
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Enjoyed it?
5
out of
5
Value
5
out of
5
The trip was excellent. We enjoyed walking in the old city. The guide was very knowledgeable and kept the tour informed of all the key spots visited or seen while in the bus. The craft market was a good place to buy souvenirs.
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
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+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Review 7 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
shaping of panama
Date:April 22, 2011
Liftman
Location:Saint John NB Canada
Cruise Date Month:March
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Enjoyed it?
5
out of
5
Value
5
out of
5
found it very informative and interesting. if you are interested in the history of Panama and want to see the country it is a very good trip
Cruise Date Year:2010
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Share this review:
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Review 8 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
Amazing Way to See Panama and Panama City
Date:March 12, 2011
markfd
Location:Fairfax, VA
Cruise Date Month:December
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Enjoyed it?
5
out of
5
Value
5
out of
5
We had a great tour guide and it was a unique experience to see Panama City, we could not get over how developed Panama City is getting, the walk around the French Quarter was very neat we would love to return and check out the city and the rainforest.
Cruise Date Year:2010
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Share this review:
+5points
5out of 5found this review helpful.
Review 9 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
Panama City tour
Date:February 21, 2011
GeorgeAl
Location:Arizona
Cruise Date Month:February
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Enjoyed it?
2
out of
5
Value
2
out of
5
We were very disappointed with our tour guide- Her accent made it very difficult to understand her and her microphone didnt have the volume to reach the back of the bus. When told her about it she said it worked before and that we would just have to put up with it. When we arrived at the hotel for lunch we were given the opportunity to change to another bus to divide the group up and that guide was great- The bus was also smaller and very easy to hear when talking. The tour also didnt allow for picture taking along the way- the food was mediocre and they ran out of dishes of food.
Cruise Date Year:2011
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Share this review:
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Review 10 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
Go before you go.
Date:February 19, 2011
GreenBean
Location:Richmond Hill, GA
Cruise Date Month:February
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Enjoyed it?
3
out of
5
Value
2
out of
5
Make sure you go to the bathroom before getting on the bus. This is a very long bus ride without a toilet. Our tour guide was knowlegable and professional (the driver as well). I was amazed at the size of Panama City. Lunch was delicious, however the hotel where lunch was catered was being renovated. The restrooms at the hotel were clean, only wish there were more stalls (everyone got off the bus and went straight there = long lines with your legs crossed). Old Panama City was interesting, I only wish our tour group would have been more interested in seeing and learning about the city than wasting time shopping for hats. We stopped at a different "shop" also. The hand made items were nice, but way too expensive. This excursion was OK, but could've been better.
Cruise Date Year:2011
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Share this review:
+4points
4out of 4found this review helpful.
Review 11 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Date:January 31, 2011
Nanadee
Location:South Carolina
Cruise Date Month:January
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
I usually do not write reveiws but in this case I feel I must. We have traveled quite a bit & have taken many "shore" excursions with much enjoyment and sites. This tour was actually not worth the money. The second half of our tour was better but the first part left much to be desired. When we boarded the motor coaches we went directly to a "shopping mart"...very dirty, restroom facilities were inadequate. In the ladies room only one stall was available and DISCUSTING, very unsanitary. I'm not a prude but this was very bad. My husband said the men's was worse. Everyone one the bus commented on how bad this was. We did not have any time for shopping. The entire site looked like the slums. As far as history, not much was pointed out eventhough we were surrounded by the ruins. Lunch was good but crowded and rushed, 5 large buses were there at the same time. Now for the second half, much better...walked downtown wiith guide...lots of photo opportunities and history. When we returned to the ship, our group was compairing the excursions. There was another excursion that went all the way through to the pacific coast and took somewhat the same land route home by bus which was described to be much better than ours. According to the group their guide gave more history and pointed out interesting sites to see. We now wish we had taken the latter trip instead which was about the same price. Much more worth the money.
Cruise Date Year:2011
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Share this review:
+5points
5out of 5found this review helpful.
Review 12 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
My experience
Date:January 31, 2011
maggie
Location:Missouri
Cruise Date Month:January
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Enjoyed it?
5
out of
5
Value
5
out of
5
It is a very good one to get a real look at the old and new and newer part of Panama City. And the lunch was very good. I enjoyed walking thur the 2nd Panama City which is in the process of rebuilding the old buildings. I too wish there had been more time to shop but time was limited. (bathrooms could have been taking care of better)
Cruise Date Year:2011
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Share this review:
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Review 13 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
across Panama
Date:January 30, 2011
Lulu13
Location:TN
Cruise Date Month:January
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
Enjoyed it?
2
out of
5
Value
1
out of
5
don't bother. too long, too boring, poor lunch.
we had an excellent tour guide, but even she could not make up for long hours of sitting. Lunch in a hotel meeting room. Good tour of colonial Panama City, but the drive back to Colon was during rush hour and the traffic was terrible. A lot of the visiting described is from a bus window, not a lot of walking and interaction with Panamanians. The craft market was wonderful but pricey.
Cruise Date Year:2011
Would you recommend this product to a friend? No
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+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Review 14 for The Shaping of Panama to Colon
Overall Rating
Wonderful Experience
Date:November 8, 2010
maggiej
Location:upstate New York
Cruise Date Month:October
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Enjoyed it?
5
out of
5
Value
5
out of
5
I was originally worried about such a long excursion but actually it was great. Leigh the tour guide was great, she was informative and made the journey fun. The tour bus was large and comfortable with AC. We had a great lunch in a beautiful banquet hall at a hotel in Panama city. Then onto the smaller touring buses to travel through the old part of the city. There was so much to see I only wish we could've gotten off more the bus more often to take more pictures, but I realize we had a lot to do in a short amount of time. We had a wonderful time and would do it again.
Cruise Date Year:2010
Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes
Share this review:
+4points
4out of 4found this review helpful.