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BillB48

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  • Location
    Florida
  • Interests
    Cruising!
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    Royal Caribbean
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    Panama Canal, TAs, Alaska

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  1. I suppose this is not the best time to talk about the bad news of the lower lake levels at Gatun. The link to gCaptain below not only addresses the drought, but also speaks to what has become the 800 lb gorilla in the room. That is the increased salinity of Gatun Lake, which is something they have been concerned about even before the troubles caused by this years El Nino induced drought. In the article it describes the salinity levels reached 0.35ppt four years after the new locks opened and there was concern that the levels could go higher before the Rainy Season kicks back in. The concerns have become a reality. https://gcaptain.com/the-panama-canal-averts-a-crisis-for-now-but-at-a-cost-to-drinking-water/
  2. The pier and cruise terminal are located on the top right portion of Perico Island, the bulk of any shopping, eateries and watering holes would be on the part of the causeway that links Perico Is. and Naos Is. There are a few things towards Flamenco, but I have not been there other than I drive by. The biggest question is the ease on which to get there, even though by all reports the terminal is open I do not know what transportation facilities are available. Distance wise it could be walked, however I don't know if walking will be practical.
  3. Seems the ACP is putting more confidence in a timely return of the Rainy Season forecasts. They have increased the amount of permitted daily transits from 24 to 27 beginning the week of March 18.
  4. The Azamara Onward is definitely original locks material, as well Oceania Vista and Allure. Actually they are on the "small" side and don't crowd the maximums for the original locks. If the dimensions of a ship are 965x106 or less, she is a candidate for the original locks.
  5. Glad it was swung to the starboard a tad... the Canal's heavy lift crane the Panquiaco is working on the sea gates on the east. Don't have any word on what is being done. The crane has been there a couple of days.
  6. Since the new Agua Clara Locks were opened the ACP discontinued the visitor's center on the east side upper level of Gatun. Accessing that viewing area requires crossing the gates at Agua Clara or crossing the vehicle gates at Gatun Locks, something they are looking to avoid. They are in the process of building a viewing area that would be accessible via the new Atlantic Bridge in the upper level on the west side. Looks like it is complete or at least almost complete in that picture. My contact is not in Panama at the moment so I can't confirm what the status of the facility is
  7. Thanks, my good friend is still on the Emerald (it is his last trip) and I sent him a few of the pics. He gives a very detailed presentation to the passengers.
  8. What may have occurred with the Aurora is due to the reduction of transits, currently 24/day, they could slot the ship immediately for a down lockage. Previously they were running 10-12/day neos through the new locks and about 24/day through the original locks. Now, with the reduction of transits 8 neos through the new locks and around 16 through the original. With less ships in the schedule it was probably very easy to schedule an in and out since they did not want any time to tender passengers ashore.
  9. Finally got around to watching the video, it probably is one of the better ones that I have watched recently. A lot of the others are not much more than hand wringing, the world is going to end click bait.
  10. To answer your question first, it is not regular practice to send a Panamax ship through the new locks instead of the original locks. While it has been done in the past for non passenger ships for Canal convenience it is rarely done with a passenger ship. In fact it has been done only once as far as I know and there was a laundry list of special considerations for that particular transit. From looking at the sister ship Silver Nova I see nothing in her dimensions that would require the Nova or the Ray to use the new locks. In fact the dimensions do not really push the limits of a Panamax ship. There is one caveat to that statement however, in my search to find info on the Ray I came across a statement promoting their "asymmetrical design". To be honest, I have no idea what that means. From the pictures I ran across of the two ships it doesn't appear to involve the shape of the hull that would require some sort special handling that could be provided at the new locks. Perhaps as I suspect it may have to do with the interior design, but I really don't know. The only other possibility is the vessel operators want the ship to use the new locks for some reason and have requested to use the new locks. While the Ray would pay a premium to transit the new locks, the tolls still would not be as high as the Canal would be able to charge a neo Panamax ship which normally have deeper pockets. Not knowing how authoritative the information you received I am a little suspicious as to the accuracy of which locks the Silver Ray will use. Often times the people who are on the customer service end don't always have the most accurate info. I completely understand your concerns and preferences to use the original locks.
  11. Of course the good news is all predicated on the ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) shifting toward neutral in the April May June time frame. This prediction has allowed the Canal to maintain the 24 per day lockages through the Dry Season which normally ends at the end of April. Plans had been in place to reduce lockages to 20 per day and then on to 18 per day. From gCaptain... https://gcaptain.com/end-of-el-nino-could-bring-relief-for-panama-canal-water-crisis/ From NOAA...
  12. Your quoted portion is exactly what happens. Once the ship reaches Gatun Lake is when the tendering begins, normally from where the ships anchor it is only about a 5 minute tender ride to the Gatun Yachtless Club. Absolutely the Gatun Locks are not involved with the tender. Just an aside, I say Yachtless because a yacht at that club would be hard to find. Even in it's heyday yachts were not usually in evidence, it really was just a local watering hole. Spent many of Sundays there swimming. . Sometimes those tour descriptions read more like a novel or at least something from a creative writing class! At first I did not pick up on it, but then I went back and read it again and thought I would jump in and just make sure we all had the same sheet of music!
  13. dmwnc, when I came back an re-read your post, I am not sure if I understand correctly what you are saying here... "The NCL version @ $200 from Colon is about that price now for an April 2025 transit. If I’m reading this correctly it is quite literally a full transit of all three lock systems as well as the Culebra Cut, then back to Gamboa and Colon." Not sure if you mean you will have gone through all three locks when you are on a partial transit cruise when you include the first set of locks on the Atlantic side on your ship and the two sets of locks on the Pacific side while you are on the excursion. I agree you do go through a large portion of the Canal, however what is missing here is the section of Gatun Lake from Gatun to Gamboa, a distance of about 22 miles. The excursion describe above covers from Gamboa, the Cut and the two Pacific Locks and essentially is a partial transit of the Pacific portion of the Canal A good part of the time the cruise lines offer that very excursion to cruise ships that are making the full transit and calling at Colon or Ft. Amador. Think what may happen in these cases the poor writer with the job of writing excursion descriptions just starts copying and pasting a subject they probably know nothing about🤪. A FYI, often times the excursion is ran the in reverse order from the way it is described above. In other words they will start the excursion in Ft. Amador (they use Balboa above), pass through Miraflores Locks, Miraflores Lake, Pedro Miguel Locks and through Gaillard (Culebra) Cut ending in Gamboa. From Gamboa you will return by bus to wherever your ship is. Either way is equally rewarding, although just personal preference I like up lockages better. In any event I hope this doesn't muddy any Canal waters!
  14. Shiner, I am only familiar with one of the vessels used in this excursion, they have more than one. The Pacific Queen does have and air conditioned area, however I don't know about the others. The only advice I can offer is there is almost always some shade to be found and as long as you are out of the sun even the slightest breeze will provide some relief. Much of the time the waits occur when the tour vessel arrives at the locks way before the larger ship that they will normally lock with arrives. In times when water wasn't an issue they would often lock the excursion vessel through alone. Conserving water is a high priority now, so the excursion vessel will wait if necessary. Also when there are delays they usually are not one long delay but a series of shorter delays. It all can translate into a longer excursion time. Not all of these excursions end up being some sort of lesson in testing your patience, but it can happen. As they sometimes will remind you ship happens!😉
  15. The ferry excursion is a great way to see a large part of the Canal when you are on a partial transit cruise. The biggest negative about the excursion is it can turn out to be a long day, not always but it is a possibility. The excursion also gives you the opportunity to experience your ship passing through the locks and then experience the trip through the locks on the much smaller ferry. This provides you a view of the locks operation from two completely different perspectives.
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