We docked in Cartagena on Oct. 31, 2019. The port is largely industrial, but one can see the modern city in the distance.
The Cartagena cruise terminal is one of the most unique terminals we have ever visited. A conveniently marked walking path guides us from the pier to the terminal.
This is a very visitor-friendly cruise terminal. 
There is a lot to see and do at the terminal including a complimentary aviary and mini-zoo. 
Guests walk through the terminal and can spend as much or as little time as they want. We saw flamingos, peacocks, parrots, and more.
This anteater is huge!
Our ship arrived super early, and passengers began debarking about 6:30 AM. We were some of the first to debark, and I am so glad we did. We had much of the aviary to ourselves to enjoy before the crowds arrived.
Our ship offered several excursions, but we opted to take our chances and find a tour from a local guide. As we exited the terminal we were approached by a tour guide who offered a, “group” city tour for $20 per person, and he said we would be back by 1:00 PM. All aboard time was 1:30, and I just don’t like to push it too close. I DO NOT want to be left in the port. So, we continued on to the taxi area and asked for a taxi tour with an English speaking driver. He quoted $40 per person and we would be back in 3.5-4 hours. We had him all to ourselves! Our drive and guide was Albert. All of the authorized taxi drivers wore shirts like his.
He took us on a drive around the old city. Since we arrived so early, many spots on his tour were not yet open. This was fine with us because we got several pictures while the streets were uncrowded. 
We stopped at a square with a monument to Simon Boliver.
Hubby told Albert that we wanted to purchase some good, Colombian coffee to bring home. He took us to the supermarket where his family shops because he said the prices would be much better than purchasing the coffee in the souvenir shops. We found Juan Valdez Coffee. There are Juan Valdez Coffee Shops on many of the corners in Cartegena. Albert said they are similar to our Starbucks. I had not researched the exchange rate, so I hoped that I wasn’t spending a fortune. As it turned out, once I saw my credit card bill, the coffee was comparable to what I would pay for a good bag of coffee in the US.
The old, walled city is impressive with colorful buildings and narrow streets.
Our next stop was at the Church of San Pedro Claver. 
Outside this church in the square are some fun sculptures. This one is of a group of Domino players.
Since many sites were still not open, Albert took us for a great photo spot of the harbor and new city.
Like many large cities, morning rush hour is crazy here. A million people live in the city and all of them are going to work. Two marked lanes of traffic had three lanes of cars. Motorcycles and bicycles weaved in and out among the cars and buses. CRAZY, but we saw no accidents! Some of these are motor taxis. The driver carries the person behind him for a fee.
Albert said there is no unemployment here. Everyone works – even if they sweep streets or are a street vendor. If the police see anyone asking for a handout, they make them leave.
We parked at El Castillo San Felipe and paid for a ticket to enter the fort. ($10 USD per person)
One view from the fort:
Then we did a little souvenir shopping at Los Bovedas in the tourist area of the old city.
Our tour came to a conclusion back a the port and we said Adios to Albert. Almost every port terminal has a souvenir shop that funnels all guests inside on their way back. This was no exception, but the shop was really nice, and they even had a counter for purchasing postage stamps. I was able to get a postcard, a stamp and get it cancelled and mailed from Cartegena. (Unfortunately, though, I am writing this blog six weeks later and the post card has not yet arrived to my home.)
Remember how I said that I was afraid to take a tour that would get back too close to all-aboard time? As it turned out, traffic was unusually hectic all day and many ship tours were late returning. The cruise ship will wait until all passengers on ship-sponsored excursions have returned. But they do not wait for people who are “on-their-own.” Guests are expected to return on time and are warned repeatedly to be sure to return on time throughout a cruise. At 2:30, we saw what we believed was the last group returning because the crew were quickly loading everything back onto the ship so that they could make a hasty departure. (Cruise ships have to pay port fees based on the time in port, so they are anxious to leave on time.)
Here we are pulling away from the pier. (We had docked next to the Island Princess.) Notice the vehicles in the center of the pier and people walking toward them.
From my balcony I saw people get into a truck, pull away from the pier, and drive to another dock.
As our ship was reversing, a small boat was coming our way.
After the cruise ship was still, the small boat approached. Several guests were watching from the outside deck on Deck 7. I decided to make my way down there for a closer look, too. A cruise ship employee was also on deck 7 watching. She told me that she is from Colombia and had the morning off so she could go see her family. She said that she was worried that she wouldn’t get back to the ship on time. If crew are late, they can be immediately fired and sent home. She got to the ship with only 10 minutes to spare only because she decided to take one of the motorcycle taxis that could weave in and out of traffic!
Life vests were lowered down to the people on the small boat, and one by one they climbed a little rope ladder to board the ship.
I did happen to run into them in the elevator soon afterward. I only know because they were talking with another guest about it. They were so afraid.
What a heart-racing experience these cruisers had. Can you imagine seeing your ship sail away while you are standing on the pier in Colombia! Fortunately for them, they were able to make it back on board and did not have to make their way from Columbia to our next port. I also have no idea if they were charged or not for this extra unplanned “excursion,” but in the cruise contract it warns that returning to the ship would be at the cruisers’ own expense if it leaves port without them. I’m just glad they made it back safely. And I am even more thankful that I wasn’t caught up in traffic in Columbia while my ship was leaving!