Rotterdam - Panama Canal - Tours

[jazzsea]

We're sailing on Rotterdam in January of 2005. This itinerary has a partial transit of the Panama Canal. The brochure indicates that there will be tours available that leave from the ship at Gatun Lake. Does anyone have any idea what these tours will be or, better yet, has anyone done tours that actually leave from the Canal?

We cruise to Colon, Panama after we leave the Canal and that is where the tours will return.

We've sailed through the Canal and have also done one other partial transit. We're excited about being able to get off in the Canal. Is it something to get excited about or are we overreacting? Thanks,

[doone]

I did this cruise this past March. We booked the train excursion and were able to get off at Gatun Lake. If you didn't have an excursion booked, you could not get off the ship here, BUT, the ship goes back through the canal again and docks, here you can get off and go to a shopping area. You cannot go out the gated area, but its like a little mini mall type of thing and you can do some shopping. And yes, the tours do return here.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

We have also done the train in the Panama Canal - loved it. The train takes you along the canal from the Gatun Area over to the western side. You get a chance to see the Miraflores Locks up close. Unfortunatly when we were there no ships of any type were going through. We had the dome car.

At Gatun Lake you can buy a pass to go ashore to what is called a yatch club - not much there. That is the only way you can go ashore.

:)

[maril]

I am shocked that they won't let you off at Gatun without having to first book a shore excursion with the ship. What gives them the right to do this? We are going over Thanksgiving and many times we have gotten off the ship and did things on our own. Why is this stopover so special and restrictive?
thanks
maril

[doone]

Maril, this is Panamanian Law, nothing to do with HAL.

[maril]

Doone
Thanks I didnt know that. Is there anything I/we can do beforehand to get the okay to get off the ship before we sail?
thanks

[jhannah]

There are no exceptions to getting off in Gatun Lake unless you have a ship's tour. A big issue is that (if they let everyone off in the lake to tender ashore) there would have to be arrangements made to get everyone back around to the pier to reboard the ship. I don't remember there being anything to do or see where the tenders drop you off to get on the busses to take you to the train or other excursions. As mentioned, once the ship passes back through and docks, you may get off.

We also took the train and loved it. Others spoke highly of getting onto the smaller vessels and locking through Miraflores "up close and personal." At dinner that evening, some were raving about visiting the Imberra (sp?) Indian village. They said it was totally fascinating. We decided that we'll have to return some day and do that.

[jazzsea]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm excited to be going.

[maril]

Hi All
Now having done the 10 day trip to Panama, we found out that YOU COULD GET OFF THE SHIP AT PANAMA. We did sign up for a tour but our friends did not. When we returned from our excursion, they were off the ship and spending money in the downtown area and that mall right before you reboard the ship. So,YOU CAN GET OFF AND SHOP EVEN THOUGH ONE DID BUY A SHIP'S TOUR.
maril

[localady]

Maril- That's correct. You are free to get off the ship in Colon, which we did. Found beautiful molas there and met some people from the San Blas Islands there. Since I love the molas art, this was my favorite shopping port! :cool:

P.S. The day we were in the Canal was extremely hot and humid and those coming back from the tours look absolutely "beat", especially the Kayakers!:eek:

[Seacruiserss]

We are joining the Rotterdam on Feb 4 2005 and were considering the Kayak tour. Any info on the Kayaks ... singles , doubles.