Panama Canal on the Volendam?

[synet165]

Hi,
We are thinking of the 4/08 cruise on the Volendam, out of Ft. Lauderdale on the way back it goes through the canal partially to Costa Rica.
Which side is best for viewing the canal and locks, port or starboard?
We have never sailed HAL before but now that they have a form of free style dining, we might be interested.
I have an appointment with my TA on Monday and even though the cruise is 9 months away, our choice of balcony cabins is already limited.
A prompt answer would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
synet165
NCL Star 6/05
NCL Dawn 4/06
Carnival Victory 8/06
NCL Sun 4/07:)

[Druke I]

There are two sets of parallel locks, and until the ship gets there, it is unknown which set you'll go through. They operate on a one-way (defile) system, and it is pure luck of the draw.

There is something always to see, but it is fun to look over the other set of locks if there is a ship in it, as the ships often go up and/or down at different rates and times.

If you are like many others, you will find yourself crossing from one side of the ship to the other often, to maximize the view.

Beware the tropical sun - it can be brutal, and you can burn very fast.

Pick up a copy of McCullough's Path Between the Seas, an excellent book on the building of the Panama Canal.

[Jade13]

There are two sets of parallel locks, and until the ship gets there, it is unknown which set you'll go through. They operate on a one-way (defile) system, and it is pure luck of the draw.

There is something always to see, but it is fun to look over the other set of locks if there is a ship in it, as the ships often go up and/or down at different rates and times.

If you are like many others, you will find yourself crossing from one side of the ship to the other often, to maximize the view.

Beware the tropical sun - it can be brutal, and you can burn very fast.

Pick up a copy of McCullough's Path Between the Seas, an excellent book on the building of the Panama Canal.

Interesting. I wish we could go on HAL but they do not have the dates that we would need during Presidents week vacation, so may try Princess (plus can get VA mini-suite for less than a 10 day HAL). I was going to ask the same question on the Princess board. Don't the locks open on both sides? I guess i have never really looked at a picture along the canal.

[NoNoNanette]

Tell me, gang... are there any decent beaches on the Volendam Panama Canal itinerary?

Dominic is showing an interest in a partial transit, but I'm a "beach freak". Any feedback?

Thanks:)

[schwabby]

We sailed the Volendam in March on the partial transit of the canal. We had a balcony on the port side. Either side of the ship is about the same. You will probably end up going up to the bow area or the Crow's Nest to hear the information about the canal and you prepare to and do the transit.

For great beaches, this year on that cruise the itinerary went to Half Moon Cay, Aruba and Curacao (also to Purerto Limon, Costa Rica, but no good beaches in that area).

Jade13 you want to be sure to look at the Princess itineraries -- I'm not sure their ships go into the Canal. Last year I think most of them stopped at Colon, Pamama, and then passengers got off there for their shore excursions. Some passengers who didn't really look at the itinerary were disappointed they didn't actually enter the locks.

Schwabby

[RevNeal]

Rather than port/starboard I would urge fore/aft.
For entering the canal, go forward and up to best see the operation. For leaving the canal, go all the way aft on the lower Promenade Deck, and then down to Main Deck's exterior observation point: the view of Lock operations from here, as one is leaving lake Gatun and going down the steps of the lock to ocean-level, can't be beat. This is precisely what I did in my Canal passage back in 2004 and it may be what I do on the Volendam this coming November.

[RevNeal]

As for beaches, schwabby is correct. My favorite beach on this itinerary, however, is Half Moon Cay. I'm not a beach bum, but I DO love that beach and will go do the "beach thing" with much rejoicing. :D

TRY to get a Cabana ... it makes HMC that much more fun. And, the price is worth it.

[RedmondCruiser]

On a partial transit either side will do. If you are going for a full transit then port for westbound and starboard for eastbound. The front of the ship is one of the best places to see the canal. The bow is very crowded in the morning then the crowd thins out. Have a great cruise.

[jtl513]

The Volendam is one of 4 ships we're looking at for a trans-Panama in April. Whatever ship we choose, we're NOT going to be in our cabin when the ship is in the canal, so side is not important IMO! :)

[Jade13]

We sailed the Volendam in March on the partial transit of the canal. We had a balcony on the port side. Either side of the ship is about the same. You will probably end up going up to the bow area or the Crow's Nest to hear the information about the canal and you prepare to and do the transit.

For great beaches, this year on that cruise the itinerary went to Half Moon Cay, Aruba and Curacao (also to Purerto Limon, Costa Rica, but no good beaches in that area).

Jade13 you want to be sure to look at the Princess itineraries -- I'm not sure their ships go into the Canal. Last year I think most of them stopped at Colon, Pamama, and then passengers got off there for their shore excursions. Some passengers who didn't really look at the itinerary were disappointed they didn't actually enter the locks.

Schwabby

Schwabby,

Thanks for the tip. I just assumed if something was called Panama Canal Cruise you would go through three sets of locks into Gatun Lake? This one shows Colon. I need to call their shore excursions department as they would know what is going on...I won't go on the cruise if it does not enter any locks. Other than that the itinerary in my opinion is better than HAL with the stop in Columbia. I would be on HAL in a minute but they don't have anything for the week we would need. Apparently there was a ship in the carribean that got chartered bsed on some people that were on a roll call.

Princess itinerary

PortArrival
Departure
1
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
5:00 PM2
At Sea
3
At Sea
4
Aruba7:00 AM
1:00 PM5
Cartagena, Colombia9:00 AM
3:00 PM6
Panama Canal, Panama7:00 AM
3:30 PM6
Colon (Cristobal), Panama4:00 PM
8:00 PM7
Limon, Costa Rica6:30 AM
7:00 PM8
At Sea
9
Montego Bay, Jamaica8:00 AM
4:00 PM10
At Sea
11
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida7:00 AM

[Krazy Kruizers]

The Volendam will begin to enter the Canal around 5 AM at Cristobol. From around 7 AM - 9 AM she will go through the locks and anchor in Gatum Lake. For those tacking shore excursions, the tenders will take people to the dock to get onto their buses. Front of the ship is best for viewing the trip through the locks on this run.

Shortly after 10 AM when the tenders are back in place, the ship will then proceed to get into position to go back through the locks. If you have chosen to go on a tour, of course you will not be able to see the locks again or watch the mules work.

All the tour buses end their excursions im Colon.

There was a time when HAL ended the excursions at Gatum Lake and everyone got back on the ship and everyone was able to watch the locks again.

[RevNeal]

The Volendam will begin to enter the Canal around 5 AM at Cristobol. From around 7 AM - 9 AM she will go through the locks and anchor in Gatum Lake. For those tacking shore excursions, the tenders will take people to the dock to get onto their buses. Front of the ship is best for viewing the trip through the locks on this run.

Shortly after 10 AM when the tenders are back in place, the ship will then proceed to get into position to go back through the locks. If you have chosen to go on a tour, of course you will not be able to see the locks again or watch the mules work.

All the tour buses end their excursions im Colon.

There was a time when HAL ended the excursions at Gatum Lake and everyone got back on the ship and everyone was able to watch the locks again.

That makes for a hard decision for me on the Volendam this November.
I would like to go through the locks twice this time, too. However ... I've not been on a shore excursion in Panama since such was not offered on my last full transit. Hence, I may take one of the excursions that they're offering that has to do with the Canal Operations/Experience. I would like to see the Canal from land, with ships going through.

[Krazy Kruizers]

It does make for a hard decision.

The one time we did the partial canal, we were lucky to stay at Gatum Lake. We did the train over to the other side which included a stop Miraflores Lock. They had a couple of the mules there. Also showed a short movie of the operation of the locks. There is also a set of bleachers where you can sit and watch a ship go through if one happens to be there at that time. Both times we were there - no ships.

We really loved the full transits that we have done a few times.

[RevNeal]

It does make for a hard decision.

The one time we did the partial canal, we were lucky to stay at Gatum Lake. We did the train over to the other side which included a stop Miraflores Lock. They had a couple of the mules there. Also showed a short movie of the operation of the locks. There is also a set of bleachers where you can sit and watch a ship go through if one happens to be there at that time. Both times we were there - no ships.

We really loved the full transits that we have done a few times.

I wish HAL would do a full transit and then STOP at one of Panama's ports for a full day, too. That way one could get a good sampling of the marvel, the country, and its people. I guess to do that we'll have to go back a bunch of times. :) For me, that's good ... for Christopher ... nope. He's really not that happy about going back in November. "We went all the way through in 2004 ... why go again and only do an in/out on one side?" Christopher can be fickle ... and impatient. Oh, well ... his loss. I plan on doing the Canal a bunch of times before I'm done on this Earth. :D

[terrydtx]

Jade13 you want to be sure to look at the Princess itineraries -- I'm not sure their ships go into the Canal. Last year I think most of them stopped at Colon, Pamama, and then passengers got off there for their shore excursions. Some passengers who didn't really look at the itinerary were disappointed they didn't actually enter the locks.

Schwabby[/QUOTE]

Jade 13 we are on the Nov 23 Volendam Panama Cruise. We looked at Princess and while it was lest money, the reason according to our TA is the added fees charged to enter the canal by Panama. TA told me that Princess stops at Limon but does not enter the canal. HAL is the cruise line that has regular non repositioning cruises that actually enters the canal. The biggest reason for this is the cost to tranverse the canal by Panama.

[user8]

I took this cruise on the Volendam about 5 years ago. At that time, we sailed from Ft Lauderdale, completely through the Panama Canal and departed in San Diego. I also took the same cruise, with the same itinerary, on the Zaandam the following year. The only difference in the two cruises was the Zaandam stopped in the San Blas Islands ( off the Atlantic coast of Panama ) and the Volendam did not.

If I were going again, I would definitely choose a cruise that goes all the way through the canal instead of one that just goes in part way and then comes back out. It takes nearly all day to go completely through and the transit is exciting!

[Jade13]

Jade13 you want to be sure to look at the Princess itineraries -- I'm not sure their ships go into the Canal. Last year I think most of them stopped at Colon, Pamama, and then passengers got off there for their shore excursions. Some passengers who didn't really look at the itinerary were disappointed they didn't actually enter the locks.

Schwabby

Jade 13 we are on the Nov 23 Volendam Panama Cruise. We looked at Princess and while it was lest money, the reason according to our TA is the added fees charged to enter the canal by Panama. TA told me that Princess stops at Limon but does not enter the canal. HAL is the cruise line that has regular non repositioning cruises that actually enters the canal. The biggest reason for this is the cost to tranverse the canal by Panama.[/quote]

Answer I received on the Princess boards is that the Coral can and will enter the canal. The Grand was going from Galveston (7 days) and could not and so did not enter the canal but stopped in Colon.

Limon is in Costa Rica.

[Krazy Kruizers]

And the Panama Canal fees are going up again this year.