Full transit/Partial transit

[LuvRCCL]

I am looking at a cruise on Princess including the Panama Canal, Aruba, etc. Now I am hearing about full and partial transit. Anyone care to explain this more in detail? Which should I book , how do I tell which it is and any other opinions that you care to share would be great! THANKS!

[jff50]

I am looking at a cruise on Princess including the Panama Canal, Aruba, etc. Now I am hearing about full and partial transit. Anyone care to explain this more in detail? Which should I book , how do I tell which it is and any other opinions that you care to share would be great! THANKS!
Definately a full, if you can do it. A partial transit will enter the canal (almost always on the Atlantic/Caribbean side) through the Gatun Locks, anchor in Gatun Lake to disembark passengers that are booked for the cruise lines shore excursions, then sail back out the Gatun locks and dock at the port just outside the locks (Colon) to wait for passengers that took shore excursions. Unless you take the ferry shore excursion, you will not be sailing across the entire canal--you will miss sailing through the Culebra Cut and under the 2 bridges. The canal is far more than going through the locks. Excavating the Culebra Cut was the biggest challenge in building the canal, and keeping it dredged is an ongoing process. If you end up with a partial transit, I would strongly suggest the ferry shore excursion--but I prefer doing the full transit on the cruise ship.

One other difference is that a full transit will include ports both on the Pacific as well as in the Caribbean. A partial transit will only include Caribbean ports. The Pacific ports have a much different atmosphere.

The best way to tell if a cruise is a full transit is to look at where it starts and stops. If it starts in the Caribbean (i.e. Florida) and ends up on the Pacific (i.e. Los Angeles or Acapulco) it is a full transit. If it starts and ends in the Caribbean (typically returning to the same port you left from) it is a partial.

In addition, some cruise ships will sail to the canal but not even go through the locks. If you look at the specifications and see that the ship is 100,000 tons or more, it is too big (too wide) to go through the locks. The largest size ship that can transit the locks (Panamax) is about 92,000 tons.

Generally, partial transits are 10 day cruises and full transits are longer. However, this winter the Island Princess was doing continuous full transits that included many that were 10 or 11 days. We were on a full transit on the Island Princess for 11 days from San Juan to Acapulco. It was one of our favorite cruises, and an outstanding ship.

The book "The Path Between the Seas" is a great read on the building of the canal, and a must if you are taking a canal cruise.

[dalton]

I definitely agree with "jff50" concerning a transit of the Panama Canal. You can't appreciate the accomplishment of completing this canal unless you see all 50 miles of it. Most cruise lines have local canal personal on board during the transit to narrate as you sail through. The transit usually takes 7-10 hours and gives you the opportunity to see many more ships passing through with you vs. simply going into Gatun Lake and back out. Also, go for a balcony cabin on the port side of the ship. Most of the action going through the locks is between the lanes although there's no guarantee that your cruise ship will pass on the "right" side, the odds are with you if you have a port side balcony. If not, plan to rise and shine very early (5:30 or so) and stake out a place on the bow. Send someone to get food and drink (lots of water) but hold your position. The heat in the canal can be extremely hot (90+) and it almost always rains at some point. I've been very fortunate to have been through the canal 9 times and this strategy has always worked. Have a great trip.

[dalton]

:) One more thing I forgot to mention in my last note. Check out this website but don't let these webcams stop you from booking a transit of the canal.
http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html

[RedmondCruiser]

For something different you can try a partial transit from the Pacific side. Holland America and Princess both do them either in the spring or the fall. It is normally about a 20 day cruise that picks up all the stops on the Mexican Riv. and the Central American coast. This transit goes in at Panama City and goes 95% through the canal including the Cut. Then they anchor in Gatun lake, for the night, and exits the same way they came in on the Pacific side, the next day. Normally this partial transit is priced very well and it gives you a very good view of most of the canal. HAL leaves from San Diego and Princess sails out of LA.

[TCF]

We did a partial canal cruise on Coral Princess a year ago from Ft. Lauderdale return. It was a great cruise!

Ten days...reasonable price...good itinerary.

That said...it is NOT the crusie to take if the focal point of your interest is the Panama Canal. The construction of the canal was an amazing feat...even by todays standards!

We were so happy with the partial we're booked on HAL's Veendam in September for a reposition to Tampa from Vancouver via Panama Canal and Brasil. Unfortunately we won't stop at Cristobol, Panama which has an amazing crafts/art market right on the cruise ship pier.

[DesertDogs]

For something different you can try a partial transit from the Pacific side. Holland America and Princess both do them either in the spring or the fall. It is normally about a 20 day cruise that picks up all the stops on the Mexican Riv. and the Central American coast. This transit goes in at Panama City and goes 95% through the canal including the Cut. Then they anchor in Gatun lake, for the night, and exits the same way they came in on the Pacific side, the next day. Normally this partial transit is priced very well and it gives you a very good view of most of the canal. HAL leaves from San Diego and Princess sails out of LA.

Can anyone tell me where specifically, the HAL ships drop anchor to spend the night? Is it close to Gatun on the Atlantic side or closer to Gamoba? Does HAL offer tours after the ship stops and if so, where do the tenders go ashore?

We just booked the 21-Day Panama Canal cruise RT Los Angeles on the Amsterdam for Dec 2009. We want to take a shore tour in Panama if possible.

[woody14h]

We did the partial 2 years ago and full transit in April on the Infinity. No comparison. Partials are for 10 days and 14 for full. We were glued to the bow of the ship the entire time. Appr. 11 hours. Wonderful prospective and exciting. Partial may or may not go through Gatun Locks, if not take a taxi or guide there and watch awesome transits. Some ships seem to have only inches on each side. Definitely a must do in cruising.

[born2cruize]

We are in the process of retuning from the 19 day Panama Canal from LA. If all you can do is 14 days then a full straight shot is your best bet. If on the other hand you can afford a longer time, then a partial from the Pacific side is better.

Why, our transit started at 5 AM, since I'm not 20 years old it allowed me to relax coming and going. I didn't have to be out on deck for 7 -10 hours so I wouldn't miss anything.

If I missed something, I could catch it on the return. We didn't turn around until we were in sight of the Gatun Locks. As some by now know Princess has changed their itinerary and no longer spent the night in Gatun Lake.

We exited the Mirafors Lock around 7 PM.

[jff50]

We did the partial 2 years ago and full transit in April on the Infinity. No comparison. Partials are for 10 days and 14 for full. We were glued to the bow of the ship the entire time. Appr. 11 hours. Wonderful prospective and exciting. Partial may or may not go through Gatun Locks, if not take a taxi or guide there and watch awesome transits. Some ships seem to have only inches on each side. Definitely a must do in cruising.
Actually, the Island Princess had a number of full transits that were 10-11 day cruises this past winter. We were on an 11 day cruise from San Juan to Acapulco December 2007. It was a great cruise, and could be done in about the same time (1 day more) than the partial out of Ft Lauderdale. If you have more than 11 days. San Juan and Acapulco are both interesting places to visit.

[Richard in Panama]

Best idea: do 'em both!!

They are different. Full transit you transit the entire Canal, however, this is just through the Canal with generally no opportunity to see or experience any of Panama.

Partial transit, or turn around, gives you the opportunity to get off the ship and experience Panama.

For more, see my blog www.richarddetrich.wordpress.com (http://www.richarddetrich.wordpress.com) There is a section on Canal cruises and some stuff about some of the tour options in Panama.

Regards, Richard

[Chief Paul]

I definitely agree with "jff50" concerning a transit of the Panama Canal. You can't appreciate the accomplishment of completing this canal unless you see all 50 miles of it. Most cruise lines have local canal personal on board during the transit to narrate as you sail through. The transit usually takes 7-10 hours and gives you the opportunity to see many more ships passing through with you vs. simply going into Gatun Lake and back out. Also, go for a balcony cabin on the port side of the ship. Most of the action going through the locks is between the lanes although there's no guarantee that your cruise ship will pass on the "right" side, the odds are with you if you have a port side balcony. If not, plan to rise and shine very early (5:30 or so) and stake out a place on the bow. Send someone to get food and drink (lots of water) but hold your position. The heat in the canal can be extremely hot (90+) and it almost always rains at some point. I've been very fortunate to have been through the canal 9 times and this strategy has always worked. Have a great trip.

You suggest the port side - for what direction; e.g. east-west transit or west-east transit? In other words, do I want to viewing to the north or to the south during the transit?

[Richard in Panama]

Chief, Which side of the ship your cabin is on in the Canal really doesn't matter. To get the most out of your transit experience you want to move around the ship. There is no one best vantage point. You will get a different perspective from the bow, from the stern, from the promenade deck, from the sky deck, and from your stateroom. Particularly in the locks you want to be out and about!

Regards, Richard

[TexBear]

You suggest the port side - for what direction; e.g. east-west transit or west-east transit? In other words, do I want to viewing to the north or to the south during the transit?

If you're going west-to-east, take a port side cabin. You get to see the ports as the ship docks or anchors. Going the other way, take a starboard cabin for the reverse route.

I'm on the Island Princess from ACA to FLL in February and have a port cabin for the reason I mentioned.

[doreen22]

Hi, we are doing the Island Princess full transit in October. The shore excursions are not available yet; but on the info page for this cruise it details excursions out of Panama, yet the itinerary describes this day as "Panama Canal cruising".
We are confused- if the ship doesn't stop in Panama, we assume no excursions are available; therefore the Panama excursions descriptions must be incorrect?
Perhaps someone that has been on a similar full transit can clear up our confusion. Thanks:)

[goat rancher]

yep...it IS confusing.....
However I called Princess about that very issue, as they list shore tours and yet I had read on several threads that we don't stop in Panama.
Here's the deal:
The listing of shore tours is only a "GENERIC" one....including all shore tours that are available in Panama, but NOT necessarily ones that are offered on every itinerary. You won't know what shore tours are going to be available for your exact itinerary until they are available on your cruise personalizer at 120 days before the sailing date. HOWEVER, Princess rep was absolutely POSITIVE that for the full transit trips, there are NO stops in Panama and no tours there...it is "scenic cruising", spending the whole time there traversing the canal.

[goat rancher]

Oops...I did forget to mention that the NO STOPS for full transits is for cruises now through the spring of 2009...Starting in FALL 2009, there will be an extra day on the cruise and they will stop for tours there

[doreen22]

Thanks so much, that clears up all our confusion...we will just have to make a second transit in a few years!

[cardfans]

Actually, the Island Princess had a number of full transits that were 10-11 day cruises this past winter. We were on an 11 day cruise from San Juan to Acapulco December 2007. It was a great cruise, and could be done in about the same time (1 day more) than the partial out of Ft Lauderdale. If you have more than 11 days. San Juan and Acapulco are both interesting places to visit.


We are looking into a Panama Canal Cruise in 2010 and I just found one on the Island Princess that goes from Acapulco to Fort Lauderdale and is 10 days. Can you give me anymore information on the one you took? We have never cruised on Princess, but the ship has gotten good reviews. Any and all info would be appreciated.

[grayling]

looking at going on the 10 day partial panama canal. It goes to Gutan lake. How many locks will we go through? I also see there is a shore excusion on a ferry that takes you through more locks. would this excursion then take us right through the rest of the locks to the Pacific side?? has anyone done this excursion. Don't have the time to do the 14 day trip.

[BillB48]

Sounds like you are doing a partial transit from Florida. You will go through one set of locks, Gatun Locks, which have three steps to take you up to the level of Gatun Lake. The ferry tour does take you through the Pacific Locks and Gaillard Cut, below is a description of that tour I posted elsewhere.

If you want to get more of the Canal there is one tour called something like "Canal by Ferry". This tour takes you to the Pacific side after you have tendered off the ship in Gatun Lake. You will sail briefly in the Pacific, (the approach channel) as well as Miraflores, Pedro Miguel Locks and Gaillard Cut. This tour will take you through about 80% of the Canal. The only portion of the Canal you won't see is the 20 mile stretch of Gatun Lake from Gamboa to Gatun Locks. You will also be able to see some of the country side on the bus ride to meet your ferry.

While you are on you tour, your ship will lock back through Gatun and proceed to dock in Cristobal. This is where you will rejoin the ship.

[terry55]

A question for Richard in Panama .... Royal Caribbean has changed their partial transit cruises and will no longer go into the canal at all (starting April 2009, I believe) but will dock at Cristobal for the day. Is it worth looking for an excursion that will take you from Cristobal through part of the canal? Seems that nothing official has come from Royal as an explanation. Our cruise is planned for April 2010, so I guess I might have to get saving a bit more to experience the canal at all!! Your advice is appreciated.

[terry55]

Sorry ... correction in my above post. The itinerary shows stopping in Colon NOT Cristobal. Guess I needed that second cup of coffee before I got on the computer this morning.:rolleyes:

[Richard in Panama]

Colon 2000 and Cristobal are basically two ports on opposite sides of Colon. See http://richarddetrich.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/cruising-to-panama/ which includes a map showing both ports. Take a shore excursion, and I'm sure in the coming months you will get all the info you need. Regards, Richard