COLON
Spotlight on
Colón
PORT & SHOPPING MAP
History
Panama has always been an attractive port for explorers and visitors. Christopher Colombus and Vasco Núñez de Balboa both visited the isthmus of
Panama.
In the 1530’s, Panama became a marketplace for the Spanish Empire. In 1718,
Panama joined the viceroyalty of New Granada, and declared independence
from Spain 130 years later to become part of the Republic of Colombia.
Colombia and the United States signed a treaty in 1846 that allowed the United
States to construct a railway across the isthmus. The California gold rush of
1848 made the Transcontinental Railroad a profitable venture as thousands of
people traveled to California through Panama. Americans building the Transcontinental Railroad, founded Colón in
1850. One-hundred years later Colón was made a Free Trade Zone.
In 1882, Ferdinand de Lesseps, who built the Suez Canal, began building the Panama Canal. Because of equipment delays, tropical diseases, financial problems, and poor planning, his efforts failed. At the turn of the century,
the United States urged Panama to declare independence from Colombia so a treaty could be signed allowing the
United States to build a canal across the isthmus. On November 3, 1903, Panama gained its independence, and the
United States began construction. The canal took ten years to complete and brought more than 150,000 people to
Panama. In 1977, a new treaty was signed that turned over the canal to Panama on December 31, 1999.
Capital
Language
Location
Currency
The capital of Panama is
Panama City.
Spanish is the official language
of Panama.
Colón is located at the
Caribbean end of the Panama
Canal.
The Balboa dollar is the official currency, United States
dollars, travelers checks and
major credit cards are widely
accepted.
Size
Panama is approximately
30,420 square miles.
Population
Colón is the second largest city
in Panama with a population of
more than 150,000 people.
Panama is famous for its straw weaving. From intricately woven baskets to the famous Panama hats, visitors will
find all manners of straw crafts in this region.
shore excursions
Please check your tour ticket for the correct
meeting time and location for your tour. Your
cruise line representative will direct you to
your transportation. It is recommended that
the cruise ship passengers take organized
tours or remain within the duty free shopping
complex.
How To Get To Town
To get to town when your ship docks, you
will most likely travel by car or bus to the
capital city, and it will take about an hour. The
recommended shopping area is right off the
skyway.
Shopping
Shopping is available within the Colón 2000
duty free shopping complex and Pier 6.
Store Hours
Most stores are open when cruise ships are
in port.
Transportation
For getting around, you’ll find taxis and buses
to be plentiful and inexpensive in Panama
Bank Hours
City. Taxi fares aren’t metered, so always
Banks are open Monday to Friday from
establish a price with the driver beforehand.
8:00 am to 1:30 pm.
Post Office Hours
The post office is open 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Monday to Friday, and 8:00 am to noon on
Saturday.
Beaches
The closest beach to Colón is María Chiquita,
which has a “Turicentro” offering many facilities. Playa Langosta is a few miles further
and offers facilities for diving and snorkeling.
Phone Locations
Phones are located on the skyway.
Tourist Information
Shop with confidence, knowing that all merchants on this map have been
carefully selected and each offers a 30-day guarantee to cruise line guests.
This guarantee ensures buyers that all recommended merchants will repair
or replace any unsatisfactory item, excluding buyer’s negligence, buyer’s
remorse and lost or stolen merchandise. For purposes of determining quality
and value of jewelry related to a buyer’s complaint, only appraisals secured
by a buyer from independent graduate gemologists, not affiliated with any
retail jeweler, will be acceptable. Please inquire about individual store return
policies before finalizing any purchase.
The port shopping program is operated by Onboard Media; Inc. Participating
merchants have paid an advertising fee to Onboard Media for inclusion in this
program. Onboard Media handles all customer relations claims relating to
places to see
Gatún Locks
Gatún Locks raise ships entering the Panama Canal from the Caribbean Sea to the
water level of Lago Gatún. Gatún Locks contain two sets of three large chambers,
each a thousand feet long, where ships are raised 85 feet above sea level to cross the
Isthmus of Panama. For the ship to be raised, the ship enters a lock while gates close
behind it. Water is let into the lock until its level equals that of the water ahead. The forward gate is then opened and the ship proceeds through. Approximately 14,000 ships
a year pass through, guided by the special locomotives of the Panama Canal.
Emergency
In case of an emergency, dial 104.
Guarantee
12/07/07
Panama is on Eastern Standard
Time. The ship may not always
follow local time. Please adhere
to the ship's time while in port.
Information is available at
Aventuras 2000 Information
center in the shopping complex.
Local Flavors
docking/tendering
Ship will dock next to the Colón 2000 dutyfree shopping complex.
Time Zone
the guarantee. If you become aware of a problem during the cruise, please
contact the Shopping Guide onboard for immediate assistance. If a problem
arises after the cruise but within 30 days of the purchase date, contact the
Customer Relations Department at Onboard Media, 1691 Michigan Ave. Suite
600, Miami Beach 33139, Phone: (800) 396-2999, Fax: (305) 673-2741,
Email: [email protected], Hours: Monday through Friday
9:00 am to 5:30 pm EST (Eastern Standard Time)
Please send a letter and include the name of the ship, cruise date, store
name and merchandise problem. Also enclose a copy of the sales receipt
and any relevant documents relating to the sale. Onboard Media will contact
the recommended store on your behalf for repair or replacement, and you
will be notified accordingly.
Gatún Lake
Once the largest man-made lake in the world, it was created as a passageway for ships
transiting the Panama Canal and to supply fresh water for the operation of the Canal.
Wildlife surrounding the lake has been protected for almost a century. The Smithsonian
Institute has an important tropical investigation site here, on the 3,300 acre island “Barro
Colorado”, where 366 species of birds, 93 species of mammals and 90 species of
amphibians and reptiles live.
shopping notes
shopping in colÓn
1
panama gem
BAR
PANAMA GEM
UT Y
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Your One-Stop Shop for Emeralds
WIN A FABULOUS 18K GOLD EMERALD PENDANT.
Name:
E
FRE
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1
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Cabin#:
Deposit at Panama Gem, Winner will be announced onboard.
shopping notes
SKY WAY
FRE
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UT Y
TAXI
&
BUS
MAIN PLAZA
UT Y
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•Direct from Colombia's Mines: Loose emeralds
and 18K gold jewelry
•18K gold jewelry with rough Colombian emeralds
•Great gift ideas
•Fabulous duty-free prices
Legend
Phones
Restrooms
i
Information Center
Taxi & Bus
ONLY THE STORE LISTED ON THIS MAP IS GUARANTEED BY THE CRUISE LINE