NCL Joy|18 Day Panama Canal Cruise| Colombia Tested Me, I Wasn’t Ready For It

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]Today I'm exploring Columbia, a place full of culture, color, and moments that pushed me out of my comfort zone.

[00:00:07]They're laughing soling dark underground tunnels, trying the local food, and meeting people I'll never forget. I had no idea what to expect from this place. And over the next several hours, Columbia has taught me something about myself. I'm far more resilient than I thought I was.

[00:00:39]Good morning. I'm up early yet again.

[00:00:41]It's about 5:30 in the morning, but I have a good reason. I'm up because I want to go over the cruise details and this itinerary while the rest of the ship is still sleeping and it's quiet.

[00:00:51]But the ship won't be quiet for long because today we arrive at our first destination, which is Colombia. I am super stoked. So, let's not waste any more time. I still have to get a shower and get ready uh to get off this ship once we make it. We're not there yet, but we'll be there soon. So, let's get into it. The cruise that I'm on is an 18-day Panama Canal cruise leaving out of Miami and returning to uh Seattle.

[00:01:18]This is a bucket list item of mine for one destination and one destination only, and that is Panama.

[00:01:26]I have always wanted to experience what it would be like to be on a ship going through the Panama Canal. And because of this cruise, I get to experience that and check an item off of my bucket list.

[00:01:36]I'm super stoked for Panama. I cannot wait. I have I have a really cool adventure planned, but that's for later on. That's the full cruise details. Now, let's go over the itinerary. I'm just going to go down the list of all the countries we're going to be visiting.

[00:01:51]So, today we hit um Cartahena, Columbia.

[00:01:56]Then we're going to be going to co uh Cologne, Panama, Puerto Calera, Costa Rica. Puerto Kal, Guatemala, Puerto Vata, Mexico, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and then Los Angeles. And after that, we'll be back in Seattle. Of course, in between those countries, there are C days. I I didn't put those in, but that is the itinerary. That is all of the countries we'll be visiting along this 18-day adventure.

[00:02:31]I'm super excited. I won't be filming all of them in depth because it's a that's a lot of countries, but I do have my top three countries in mind that I'll be filming in that I have um adventures planned for. As for the other countries, I will be filming a little snippets here and there, uh little things that I've done here and there, and then I will put that in one video. Uh kind of like what I did when I went on my 28 day Arctic cruise. Um, you know, these are the things that didn't make YouTube. This is what I've done. I will do that as well for this 18-day Panama Canal adventure.

[00:03:09]I've got so much planned, so much to film, so much to see, so much to do. It should be a lot of fun.

[00:03:18]That is all. That is everything. Now, it's time for me to get ready, get a shower, and get dressed.

[00:03:25]And I will see you guys once we arrive in Colia.

[00:03:34]Look how beautiful it is in Cartahana, Colombia. It's beautiful.

[00:03:44]Bit humid, but not bad. I'm sure later on it'll be really, really hot.

[00:03:50]Out there are looks like high-rise apartments, businesses, and then there's our boat guiding us in.

[00:04:02]What a beautiful city.

[00:04:09]Wow.

[00:04:12]We got about 9 hours here and then we have to be back on the ship by I think 4:00. We're able to get off at 7.

[00:04:21]I'm excited to go explore a little bit.

[00:04:37]Good morning.

[00:04:41]So, there are buses that will take us to the taxis. We can either take these shuttle buses or we can walk. I think I'll walk.

[00:04:52]I mean, they have everything. They're pretty prepared.

[00:04:56]Yep.

[00:04:59]>> Taking pictures.

[00:05:01]>> Okay, we got the And there's my ship, >> the region Joy.

[00:05:10]Yeah, I'll walk.

[00:05:16]But let's get a a look at the ship.

[00:05:19]There she is. Norwegian Joy. Right now we're about to go through like a famous garden. Welcome to Port Oasis. This is where like different kind of tropical birds are out. Just like walking around and you can see them, take pictures.

[00:05:38]And this is what you see on your way out.

[00:05:50]See, they're eating different types.

[00:05:59]>> But you can't really get to them cuz people will stand there for like and take up the entire time. We'll just check them on the way back in.

[00:06:11]>> But you also got this bad boy right here. Look how beautiful that bird is.

[00:06:16]This is so pretty. Okay, I'm not going to bother you. He's looking at me like, "Girl, got you." You have this bad boy right here. It's beautiful.

[00:06:27]>> Hello. He's not paying me no attention.

[00:06:32]>> Gracias.

[00:06:34]All right, guys. Got our cab. He's taking us around and I'm excited. I'm going to show you the view from the window.

[00:06:42]>> You mean to pay the ticket to get my hand control?

[00:06:45]>> Oh, see.

[00:07:14]size.

[00:07:16]>> Okay.

[00:07:20]>> Okay. In the old city, >> Esta, >> why time they pay the car? Why time the to the side?

[00:07:27]>> Uh, one, two hour, 1 hour.

[00:07:29]>> Uh, oh, no, no.

[00:07:46]How much they pay the car?

[00:07:53]Okay.

[00:07:53]>> See, um >> two hours.

[00:08:00]>> Oops. Uh oento or uh >> as my driver and I discuss prices for the tour. We begin making our way towards Cartahena's Mangot district.

[00:08:10]Known for its mango treeine streets, waterfront views, and quieter atmosphere. Mangai is considered one of the more upscale and safer areas in Cartahana compared to its busy streets of Oldtown. This side of the city is more calmer, more residential. So for the next few minutes, sit back, relax, and enjoy the peace.

[00:09:34]Too Rico. See, see under this area is the real people.

[00:09:42]Look, look, look, look, look at the everything. The mangoes in there.

[00:09:46]>> Beautiful mangoes.

[00:09:47]>> Yeah. Everything. Mango. Yeah.

[00:09:49]>> Muchos. M.

[00:09:51]>> Wow. That's a lot of mangoes.

[00:09:52]>> Yeah. A lot of mango. Mojo. Mangoes.

[00:09:54]>> Free.

[00:09:56]>> See? See? Go the freak.

[00:10:12]Mangoes paraso.

[00:10:15]>> No, everything people go the mangoes.

[00:10:18]>> Oh, >> it's the cheap and prime mangoes in the supermarkets.

[00:10:23]Mu bars.

[00:10:26]>> Uh mango uh trees. Mango.

[00:10:32]>> No. No.

[00:10:40]>> Mass.

[00:10:41]>> My mango tree.

[00:10:44]>> Yeah.

[00:10:44]>> Wa. That's That's guys, that's a mango tree.

[00:10:48]>> Mangoes. Mangoes. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:10:49]>> That's a massive It is.

[00:10:51]>> Oh, I see the mangoes, guys. That's a mango tree.

[00:10:56]>> Wow.

[00:10:57]>> Look at the house. How is the school?

[00:11:00]This is a children school.

[00:11:01]>> Oh, it's a school. That's a school, guys. And that's a massive mango tree.

[00:11:05]Look at all those mangoes >> here.

[00:11:07]>> Another big That's a mango tree, guys.

[00:11:11]>> Look how big that is. Just tons of mangoes. This >> I go to this area.

[00:11:17]I look at the fort under this area. The number is Pero.

[00:11:22]>> So, now we're going to go to the fortress and that's where you the caves and all of that cool stuff. caves, right?

[00:11:28]>> See? Gracias. Gracias.

[00:11:55]No winters in Colombia. Solom kaliente in Columbia.

[00:12:02]>> See in Kartahena.

[00:12:10]>> No bueno. No bueno. No.

[00:12:15]>> Is different.

[00:12:16]>> Oh, okay.

[00:12:17]>> Different. Yeah.

[00:12:20]>> I look at the the condos. And this is everything. mangoes and the look at look at the cracks. Look at the cracks of mangoes.

[00:12:29]>> Those are huge. This is a mango tree, guys. And these are condos.

[00:12:34]And you can see security.

[00:12:36]>> Yeah. So the pia.

[00:12:38]>> So rich person.

[00:12:40]>> Rich people. Yeah.

[00:12:41]>> Rich people. Persona.

[00:12:45]>> Everybody on bikes.

[00:12:46]>> See? See, >> I did not know that. Uh, no. Um, I did not know Colombia has mangoes to >> see to see. Gracias to >> Wow.

[00:13:27]I'm at my first destination. His car is 534.

[00:13:33]Gracias.

[00:13:39]Now I'm about to go in. We're at the fortress.

[00:13:45]That's the Cartahena flag. And this fortresses, this fortress was used to protect and defend the Spaniards against the British.

[00:14:00]There's all kind of tunnels and stuff. I got about 30 minutes and then I got to leave.

[00:14:09]Guys, this hill is tall. Hola.

[00:14:15]Let's go up here cuz I literally don't know where to go.

[00:14:20]I only got about 25 minutes left, man. It's hot.

[00:14:34]Here it is. It's called El Camino par in amigo.

[00:14:43]I just know enemy. But this is what like the fortress looks like on like a picture or a map. That's what it looks like.

[00:14:55]>> Guys, I'm drenched in sweat. Uh they're trying to find me a guide. No English, but I was able to communicate a little bit with a little bit of Spanish that I do know. So guide is g I I presume. But right now, I've got a beautiful view of Cardana from up here.

[00:15:17]See, they're looking I'm like they're laughing.

[00:15:24]Solent.

[00:15:26]>> See? See?

[00:15:31]>> Gracias. But look at this beautiful view of Cartahana.

[00:15:37]I think this is a security. Yeah, he's security. I told him I only needed 20 minutes because I wait, you know, I'm I've been up here for like 10 drenched.

[00:15:44]I don't I don't know if he understands English though.

[00:15:52]>> See, see. Ah, okay. See? Gracias.

[00:16:07]Very steep. Got a little anxiety a little bit.

[00:16:13]Claustrophobia.

[00:16:16]Oh my goodness.

[00:16:22]Oo, talk about claustrophobia, guys. I mean, look at the ceiling.

[00:16:35]No, no, no.

[00:16:40]Gracias.

[00:16:49]It's pitch black in here, guys.

[00:16:53]I got anxiety.

[00:16:55]I feel like the walls are closing.

[00:17:04]>> Lost.

[00:17:14]>> Beneath this fortress is a maze of narrow tunnels built centuries ago to protect Cartahana from invasion. As I walked deeper underground, the tunnels became hotter, tighter, and honestly, I began to feel a little claustrophobic.

[00:17:28]These tunnels were designed to confuse and trap enemy forces trying to enter into the city. For centuries, Cartahena was one of the most important cities in the Spanish Empire, attracting attacks from rival European powers and pirates.

[00:17:43]And even today, as I walk through these tunnels, I feel incredibly grateful to be a part of history.

[00:17:50]But experiences like this are what make travel memorable, especially getting to share it with locals who help translate parts of the tour for me along the way.

[00:18:04]>> Oh no.

[00:18:05]>> Stop it.

[00:18:06]>> Stop here. Okay. Gracias.

[00:18:09]>> Come on.

[00:18:09]>> We're going to simulate that. We are looking for a treasure.

[00:18:12]>> Okay.

[00:18:19]He wanted The old town estonos for prime west. Okay.

[00:19:42]>> Cece. Ah okay. See and then come back.

[00:19:46]>> See it's Laguna Chambaku.

[00:20:05]>> And look at the new town.

[00:20:07]>> No, no, no.

[00:20:09]>> Look at the new town.

[00:20:10]>> Wow.

[00:20:11]>> Look at the beach.

[00:20:14]condominino >> old cars.

[00:20:16]>> Yeah, look at the old car. Look at we just stop here. Go they walking for me.

[00:20:21]>> Columbia Bonita.

[00:20:23]>> See Kartahena.

[00:20:24]>> Wow.

[00:20:25]>> Kartahena Linda.

[00:20:26]>> Kartahena.

[00:20:28]>> Kartahena Bonita.

[00:20:34]is Kartahena de India.

[00:20:37]>> My taxi driver dropped me off in front of the Museo Neville de Karibi. So it sounds like that is the Caribbean, the Naval Caribbean Museum. Museo Neville del Caribbe. And he said just take a picture, remember it so I don't get lost. So I'm about to take a picture real quick so I know where I'm at and then we'll go look around.

[00:21:01]Oh, it's fun. Having a lot of fun. I love my tour guide. He's awesome. I got 3 hours with him, but I might melt, guys. I love the color of the buildings.

[00:21:12]There's a lot of police out here, and he told me it's just because there's a lot of tourists in the city, so they want to stack the police officers and stuff for safety, which makes sense.

[00:21:25]It is so beautiful here. It's hot, guys.

[00:21:29]I want a coffee, but like I'm going to see if I can get it iced.

[00:21:35]>> We're just going to walk this strip all the way down and then turn around and go a different way.

[00:21:42]I mean, look at that. Wow.

[00:21:46]Vines and stuff growing off of the balcony and the building all the way down.

[00:21:53]Amazing.

[00:21:57]Just want to do a little bit of exploring and find like a nice coffee shop.

[00:22:10]>> I try to show you guys as much as I can, but fam, I'm melting.

[00:22:19]I mean, look how beautiful that looks.

[00:22:22]I love this feel.

[00:22:25]Such a quaint, beautiful city.

[00:22:33]Wow.

[00:22:48]That looks like a hotel. I'm just guessing. Or maybe an apartment complex.

[00:22:52]That building right there.

[00:22:55]And then just little narrow strips.

[00:22:57]>> Hola.

[00:23:02]>> Say, want to say hi?

[00:23:04]>> Hola.

[00:23:06]>> Can I try?

[00:23:08]>> I'm going to try.

[00:23:20]>> Those ladies were beautiful. Colorful dresses.

[00:23:24]police coming through on their bikes and stuff. H I was uh good at balancing the basket on my head, guys. You know, the bottom is very very flat, so I I could see how balancing it would be easy, but like walking with it, that's a whole other story, guys. Wow. I just love the color.

[00:23:50]It's not that hot out, shockingly. And I think because the buildings are is blocking the sun.

[00:23:57]But I like like the balconies.

[00:24:00]Hola.

[00:24:03]I'll just be saying hola to everybody guys.

[00:24:07]But they they say buenos diaz. So good day. So maybe I'll say that instead.

[00:24:12]I'll say buenos diaz instead of hola.

[00:24:15]Look at me thinking too hard. I like my cab driver, my tour guide, because he speaks Spanish and English to me and he's teaching me and I'm learning and I realized that like his way of speaking Spanish is not that fast so I can understand it. I like the colors.

[00:24:44]We're still exploring. I coffee does not sound good at all. I I wanted to try Colombia Colombian coffee so bad, guys, but I don't have the mental fortitude because I'm literally melting melting at the seams.

[00:25:05]But it is beautiful down here. I see tour groups down there, but nothing like being on your own.

[00:25:18]Look at that stone.

[00:25:29]My guide, the guy who's driving the taxi, he told me that Kartahena, Cartahana is called Cartahana de Indas.

[00:25:40]And I asked him why. He said that's the history. But long story short, Cartahena de Indas, which is Colombia, they're named that cuz they want to be, you know, they want to distinguish themselves from their Spanish counterparts of Cartahena, Spain. So there's two Cartahanas. There's Cartahana, Spain, and Cartahena de India, Colombia. But long story short, he said my guide said like the history of this place, people from I if I'm understanding him correctly cuz he spoke Spanish. So please correct me if I'm wrong, but he said the history of Cartahena, Colombia is that people from India were here a long time ago. And I think he said they were here first. I could be wrong, but that's where the indas comes from.

[00:26:36]But this looks like kind of downtown a maybe a downtown area. I would try that guys, but I don't have enough change.

[00:26:46]I did not bring enough change.

[00:26:48]But this is looks like a downtown area for tourists. You got a tour group right there.

[00:26:57]I want to try that shrink so bad.

[00:27:01]And I know they only take cash and I don't have enough cash.

[00:27:05]I do, but I don't have small bills. My mistake. I'm gonna ask them how much.

[00:27:12]And uh we'll go from there. And if I mean, we'll see.

[00:27:16]>> Buenos.

[00:27:18]>> Hello.

[00:27:18]>> Uh hello. Uh how much?

[00:27:20]>> And this two price and the 10,000 and big and the small and the 7,000.

[00:27:25]>> See? Uh, >> I found this on the define and this big 10,000 and this a small.

[00:27:33]>> It's 4 USD. So, I'm just going to give them a 10 and let him keep the change.

[00:27:38]Looks really, really good. So, I'm getting a bigger one. Oh my gosh.

[00:27:43]Gracias. Keep the change.

[00:27:46]>> Oh, okay. Thanks.

[00:27:47]>> Gracias.

[00:27:52]Wow.

[00:27:53]What is this >> on this on tangerine? Tangerine tangerine or mandarin and this mixed orange.

[00:28:01]>> Orange >> on this thing. More tangerine on this and 5 kilog orange and 15 kilograms tangerine.

[00:28:09]>> Mass tang.

[00:28:10]>> See more tangerine mas mandarin.

[00:28:14]>> Gracias. Oh, this is so good guys.

[00:28:16]Tangerine and oranges. More tangerine than orange. Oh my gosh. Gracias. This is so good. So glad I bought it.

[00:28:29]Oh my gosh.

[00:28:37]This is the freshest juice I've ever had in my entire life. The history of my life. I am not exaggerating.

[00:28:45]I'm not just saying cuz I'm hot and thirsty. This is the best drink I've ever had in the history of my entire life. It's fresh. You can tell it's fresh. It tastes fresh. There's no like additives.

[00:29:00]I could drink this every single day. I am not exaggerating.

[00:30:12]The tour is over. I'm on my way back to the ship. But you can stop in this little shop area, get souvenirs, shop a little bit. They got coffee, jewelry, t-shirts.

[00:30:30]As for me, I think I'm going to get some hot sauce.

[00:30:35]5 USD. Not bad. I'm gonna find something really Oh, this is Pakante. Salsa de Aia Pakante. I really love that cab driver.

[00:30:46]He like talking to him more. I got more confident and it's my Spanish started to come back to me. Like it's not perfect, but I understood him more than anybody uh that I've spoken Spanish to. When I was in Morz, their Spanish is a little faster, a lot faster. his I I understood him completely because he was speaking a lot slower.

[00:31:08]I may not have understood him 100%, but I understood him enough to have a conversation and know what he was talking about. And he also spoke a little English, too, so it was perfect.

[00:31:17]Let's look around and see what I can buy before I get back on the ship.

[00:31:21]This looks good.

[00:31:29]This is something I'm going to put on my food the entire cruise. Mango pepper sauce. There were so many mango trees.

[00:31:36]So many mango trees.

[00:31:43]Oh, that looks hot.

[00:31:48]I got to figure out what I habanero. Oh no. Mm- >> That's too hot for me, guys. I'm scared.

[00:31:56]This looks good.

[00:32:01]>> Everybody's a lot of this is being sold.

[00:32:04]I just think it might be too hot for me, guys.

[00:32:08]It says very hot when we picante. Oh, no. Uh-uh. And look at the hot. It's like on the RTOR scale. It is hot. Hot.

[00:32:18]This is one notch down.

[00:32:21]This that might be too hot for me.

[00:32:24]I think this might be my best bet is this right here.

[00:32:29]>> Oh my goodness.

[00:32:31]Patches. They have Cartahana and they have Colombia.

[00:32:36]Oh, I I always get one. I told myself I would never go get more than one.

[00:32:43]Which one should I get? Oh my gosh, guys. This is when I wish I had somebody to be like, "Hey, get this one."

[00:32:51]>> Uh, Should I get the one that says Colombia?

[00:32:55]I am in Colombia. This is the Cartahana flag.

[00:33:05]And I'm assuming this is just the uh the Colombian flag.

[00:33:12]Uh which one, guys? Should I just get the Colombian flag?

[00:33:17]Tell me. I don't have much time. Or should I get the one that says Colombia on it?

[00:33:25]You know what? I'mma get the one that says Colombia on it. I can't forget my hot sauce. I think I'm getting sick. I'm not sure. I don't want to put that energy out, but they do have halls. So, I'm going to buy a few of these hauls. I took some emergency this morning. I took some Tylenol CO and flu a few days ago.

[00:33:43]I just You know how you can feel like you're getting sick? I feel it. So, I'm going to get a couple of these and I think I'm I'm done. Do a little more looking around and then I'm going head back to the ship. I'm drained. I think I sweat like three cups of salt.

[00:34:00]No lie. They have a place where you can get some food. I see empanadas. So, I'm going to try to get a couple of those and give them a try. Oh, look at that bird up there.

[00:34:10]I got one chicken, one beef, and the beef just came like fresh out the oil. Oh, I'm so excited.

[00:34:21]Here's the beef. Now, this one's scorching hot.

[00:34:30]>> Oh, it's hot.

[00:34:34]A hot m.

[00:34:45]>> That's hot.

[00:34:50]This is so good.

[00:35:04]Hello.

[00:35:12]>> Oh, wow.

[00:35:20]Guys, he's just walking up to me. I think he wants some of my food.

[00:35:27]Ma'am, >> now he's they the people behind me scared him away. Here's another one.

[00:35:33]Hey, fella. How you doing? You're so cute.

[00:35:38]All right.

[00:35:39]Bye. All right, we're headed back. We're headed back. It was a a fun day, but man, look at this cruise ship. This is freaking insane.

[00:35:54]Wow.

[00:36:07]We're getting ready to leave Columbia.

[00:36:18]I can feel the boat moving.

[00:36:24]And there's our there's the ship that's going to guide us out of here. We're turning.

[00:36:31]Bye, Gartana.

[00:36:37]We're still turning.

[00:36:40]I've been trying to hydrate. I drank three bottles of water and I'm on my fourth.

[00:36:45]I'm going to try to get in six or seven.

[00:36:48]And I need some salt. I'll get some salt at dinner tonight.

[00:36:57]still turning.

[00:37:01]It feels so good out here now that the sun is gone.

[00:37:17]There's the boat that's still guiding us. I wonder if it's going to honk once we get to a certain point. I remember being on one cruise where we were leaving a country and the boat that was guiding us out once we got to a certain part of like the ocean, it honked really really loud and I thought that was so cool and I wanted to get that on camera for you guys. But I wonder if that boat out there is going to do it after it gets through guiding us as a way of saying goodbye.

[00:37:56]There is a boat that is flying past us like a a speedboat out there right there and it is playing really loud music. It sounds very partyike festive.

[00:38:12]I'm still waiting to see if the boat that's guiding us out if it's going to honk and say goodbye.

[00:38:23]Adios.

[00:38:25]We'll see. We'll see.

[00:38:29]Guys, I'm burnt.

[00:38:31]I love getting natural vitamin D. I feel so good physically. I love when the sun just like beams down on me. Finally, my my scalp is like tan, too, because it it wasn't at first. It was very It wasn't matching the rest of my body, but now we're pretty much matched up.

[00:38:51]No, I don't think it's going to say goodbye.

[00:39:05]>> No, it's not going to say goodbye.

[00:39:09]because it's pretty much fading into the distance.

[00:39:15]It's all the way out there.

[00:39:18]Bye.