Just returned from an eleven-day cruise to the Western Caribbean and found the experience to be varied: some parts were great and others not so good. We are not first-times, so I measure this cruise against Royal Caribbean, HAL, Princess, NCL, Carnival, and WIndstar. Here are some details by category:
Embarkation: All smooth and well-managed. We arrived at the terminal just after it opened and waited registered, receiving our cruise pass/cabin keycard, credit card swipe, etc. All went smoothly and our wait to board was not more than 45 minutes. It was apparent, as we waited to board, that there were many Europeans and many, many Canadians. Bienvenue!
Cabin:
Great fun for adults! Lots of laughs...well conceived and managed. Don't miss it.
Colon is largely an industrial port. Not much to see here.
This was the worst! Beach was small and rocky, boat trip to and back was a disaster. Boat broke down on the return and we had to be rescued from the middle of nowhere!
Went to the beach with friends. Nice time, nothing special. Lovely sand and water. Took local transportation.
Just a departure point. We're locals, so can't offer much guidance.