Please help full transit

We have about 10 hours do we disembark to do excursions or are we going through the locks all the time. sorry if this is a dumb question.

We have about 10 hours do we disembark to do excursions or are we going through the locks all the time. sorry if this is a dumb question.

In general, you are on the ship the entire time on a full transit but not in the locks the entire time. Here is what happens on transit from the Pacific to the Atlantic for example... You leave the anchorage at the Pacific entrance of the Canal early in the morning around 6. This first portion is about 6-7 miles past the port of Balboa and on to the first set of locks which is Miraflores. After the two steps at Miraflores you cross a small artificial lake and enter Pedro Miguel Locks. This one step locks lifts you to the level of Gatun Lake (85' above sea level) where you enter the Gaillard (or Culebra) Cut. The "Cut" is where the bulk of the excavation took place during the construction of the Canal. After your 8 mile passage through the Cut the channel will widen somewhat where you will complete your sail across Gatun Lake to Gatun Locks. The trip through the Cut and across Gatun Lake takes around 3.5 hours. At Gatun Locks you will step down in 3 steps back to sea level. After 5 to 6 mile passage you will sail through the Cristobal breakwater and into the Atlantic... to be precise, the Caribbean Sea.

If your transit is Atlantic to Pacific you will see it all in reverse order, either direction is equally rewarding. If you have any questions whatsoever, don't hesitate to ask them:)!

One last thing...many of the full transit Canal cruises do not include a stop either before or in Panama in addition to your transit. Look at your cruise itinerary carefully to see if a stop is included if that is what you are looking for. Some cruise lines offer a stop on the Pacific side at Ft. Amador while others make the stop in Colon on the Atlantic entrance of the Canal. Each one has some pros and cons, but I don't have an issue with either.

One last thing...many of the full transit Canal cruises do not include a stop either before or after in Panama in addition to your transit.

Re-read the post after the coffee had kicked in and added the "after."

Thank you so very ,much for the very detailed and informative reply. I appreciate the time you took to so thoroughly respond,. We are looking so forward to this cruise and you have made it more exciting.

Travelinyolo

You do NOT have to leave the ship at all....the transit is an excursion in itself!

When taking a FULL transit, it's THE excursion. :)