Thread: Holland America Statendam October 30 San Diego - FTL

My name is Phyllis Green. My husband and I are scheduled to begin this cruise (San Diego - Fort Lauderdale) on Friday, October 30. We are intersted in doing various shore excursions from the different ports of call, however, we are concerned with the security warnings paticularly in Colombia and Guatemala.

I welcome comments regarding my concerns as well as a list of the "must visit" places on the way that members can suggest.

Any other tips relevant to this cruise will be very welcome. We have cruised before: Holland America from Vancouver to Alaska and Royal Carribean Port Canaveral to the Eastern Carribean.

Hey Phyllis! Welcome to our friendly cruise community!

I have moved your post here,to the Holland America forum, so more folks who sail on HAL will see it.

What are your other ports of call? Have you checked our Cruise Places to see if anyone has posted about the one's you will be visiting? Here is the link --> Cruise Places

Enjoy your cruise!

Cartagena, Columbia -- do not go out on your own!! This is a dangerous place. We have been here several times -- really don't like it. We did a couple of tours -- now we just walk to the shops.

Take a ship's tour and stay with the group.

The ship will be docked in the freight area. There are a couple of shops here -- you can either walk to them or take the shuttle bus. This area is completely sealed off so that those who are not licensed can't get in.

Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala -- have been here quite a few times -- never had a problem with this port. Again we took a ship's tour.

If you are right at the new pier -- there are tons of vendors here -- there is an area where they put on dances and music -- a restaurant nearby. At the front of the complex you can book independent tours -- they are safe.

If you end up at the freight dock like we did this past spring, there were complimentary buses to take you over to the shops/vendors.

Welcome aboard!! I visited Cartagena Columba on my last cruise last Feb.
we went on this pirate ship and did a tour of the city. According to the tour guide, it was okay to visit the city if you went in groups of people and did not flash jewelery or cameras. i did not feel safe walking around the town.

We went on that pirate ship a number of years ago -- it was so hot under that plastic "top". The dancers were good. But the boat went so slow that we roasted to death as there wasn't a breeze. And that one small bottle of water they gave everyone didn't last long.

A couple of people got sick from the heat.

My husband, mother and I are also taking the statendam Oct 30 from San Diego. I would like to spend the day in Antigua in Guatemala but the ship day trip is wait llisted. Is is okay to take a private tour from the port to get there/. Thanks for all help Sheila and Ross

I would not take an all day trip on my own. Too many things that could go wrong and then you might miss the ship.