BillB48

While I have not been on Celebrity's version of the tour, from what I can gather from their tour description you will be transported across the Isthmus to the Visitor's Center at Miraflores Locks which is one of the original locks. From there it is back to the Atlantic side to the Expansion Observatory Platform at the new Agua Clara Locks. After viewing the operations there it is back to the ship in Colon. Allow about an hour and half for the ride each way. Actually the drive is closer to an hour over mostly good roads. Gives a good chance to see some of the countryside.

I don't think there are mistakes on a cruise... maybe just another choice! Although I do recommend a shore excursion when you are on a partial transit cruise, it still is a pleasant day if you stay on the ship for the return out of the Canal. If your intent is to see the Canal on a partial transit cruise, one of the best excursions for that is the excursion that takes you through the two original Pacific Locks and Gaillard Cut. Each cruise line has their own name for this excursion, so you may have to sift through the tour description a bit. This is the excursion that often is criticized for running long and being warm. While that is the case at times, not every one of these tours runs amuck, just being aware that it can happen often is the best precaution. As they say ... ship happens. Tours that involve Panama City or the train generally don't run into the delays that can happen on the partial transit of the Pacific Locks/Gaillard Cut excursion. However it is always possible to "enjoy" the warmth and humidity when you outside the comforts of air conditioning.

The biggest difference in those seasons is the chance of rain. The Rainy season runs from May through mid December. Canal cruises that occur at the end of the Alaskan season (Sep-Oct) probably have the greatest chance of rain. When it does rain it usually is more of a local event and won't be an all day deluge. IMO the absolute best time for a Canal cruise based on weather alone would be January and February. Just use that as a tie breaker if you have more than one particular date under consideration. The differences are slight and the chances of drier weather are still pretty good.

Presently the Canal can only handle about 12 ships that cannot use the original locks per day. Since there is normally a backlog of the larger ships they won't use one of those slots on a vessel that can use the original locks. Since the new locks opened in 2016 there has only been one instance where a passenger ship that could use the original locks end up using the new locks. That was an extraordinary situation and hopefully a "one of" occurrence.

Radiance and any of her sisters are an excellent choice for a Canal transit. Not only does it have ample open deck spaces both upper and lower, but it also has passenger access to the bow. Another plus it will do the original locks which would be my choice particularly if it is your first transit.

There is a shopping mall adjacent to where the ship docks, can't say if you will be able to find a real Panama hat or not. But I would think there would be a good chance to get a genuine knock off! There are two berths for ships calling at Colon, one of the berths is attached to the shopping mall and the other berth is a short distance away. When I was last there they were building duty free shopping near the second berth. I can't tell you what to expect for the duty free shopping area as I don't know if it has been completed or not.

This is a little dated because when I stayed at the hotel on Ft. Amador it was a Country Inn and Suites, it now is a Radisson. The hotel is located about 4 miles from the cruise terminal. The convention center on Ft. Amador which is temporarily being used for check in for the cruise is even closer. The hotel was good and had great views of the Pacific entrance to the Canal and the Bridge of Americas. I don't know if they offer transportation to the check in location.

They used to get a lot of mention on this board, but I have not seen or heard anything of them since the restart. Actually I don't recall hearing much of them even before the shutdown. In the past they seemed to have good reviews.

The last "event" of Carnival will be the burial of the fish at dawn Wednesday marking the beginning of Lent. Aside from church services for Ash Wednesday it really should be a fairly subdued day with some people wishing they had not been over served the previous night.

You might have to go with a van or something similar. I just replied on another thread in this forum noting that many of the regular taxis run on LPG and the fuel tank really cuts into the luggage carrying capabilities of the trunk. I don't think you would have any issue getting a larger vehicle at the airport.

When I was last at the Colon 2000 facility taxis/vans were available as well as people offering to sell you various tours. Don't know what it would cost to get to Tocumen, but the price would be negotiable. One thing to consider is many of the regular taxis run on LPG and they have a rather large fuel tank in the trunk. As a result they might be limited on the amount of luggage they can carry, so you may have to end up using a van.

Been awhile since I have flown into Tocumen, however getting a taxi was not a problem.

Hope you are enjoying the second half of the B2B and your northbound transit as well. Here are few webcam pics I grabbed from the Pacific side on your transit back north.

Not really, the primary purpose of the stop is to pick up passengers who went on shore excursions after locking up to Gatun Lake at the Atlantic Locks. Passengers who do not take a shore ex will lock back through the same locks they locked up that morning and have a short sail to Colon. There is a limited amount of shopping at the pier, so there is time to buy the obligatory T shirt that says something about Panama!

By all means go for the full transit and the Radiance is a great ship for the Canal, lots of topside, forward viewing areas as well as the bow is open for passengers to view the transit from there as well. I know the tour that takes you through the Pacific Locks and Gaillard Cut can wind up being a long day, but not every one of those tours end up being hopelessly delayed with late return to the ship. Even though you are planning a full transit, this excursion provides a different experience being on a smaller vessel, very different from when you transit on a large ship. Give the excursion another thought when you visit Colon. Whatever you eventually wind up doing... enjoy!

The cruise terminal is about 20 miles from the international airport. The name of the main airport is Tocumen International PTY is the airport code.

The Vision and Radiance class ships use the original locks. To date Royal has not sent any of their larger ships through the Canal. Many of their larger ships such as the Oasis class won't fit under the Bridge of Americas. At the top of this forum there is a pinned post Panamax Ships, the last post in that thread has a fairly complete list of ships from various cruise lines that can use the original locks. Royal Carib is listed with all of their ships that can use the old locks.

As long as the M class ships are the Millennium sized ships which can use the original locks, there would be no advantage to either size ships (the Azamara being a little smaller), just what ever you prefer size wise. The only other factor is what itinerary are you most satisfied with. If this is your first transit of the Panama Canal, I think the original locks are more rewarding and would be my first choice.

As near as I can tell from the picture you posted, you met the Gem either in Buena Vista or Tabernilla Reach. Barro Colorado Island is the largest island in Gatun Lake ( on your starboard side) and has been the Smitsonian's Tropical Research Center for a long time. You were traveling left to right (southbound) and the Gem right to left on this map. The red areas are "beaching" areas in case something goes uh oh.

Does seem a little odd there was no recognition, particularly when you are in one of the more remote sections of the Canal. Not that there was any way the whistle blasts would be confused with other ships. They will sound ship's and locomotive whistles while in Locks for employees who are leaving for the last time, so definitely not a banned gesture.

That's PanCanalese or Panama Canal Speak😁. A Panamax ship ship is a ship that has dimensions that permit it to pass through the original locks of the Canal. A NeoPanamax is the "new" maximum sized ship that must use the new locks which were completed in 2016. Often times many people just refer to the locks as original or old locks and the larger locks as the "new" locks. The Canal generally refers to the different set of locks as Panamax Locks or Neo Panamax Locks.

Hi Turtles, had been wondering when exactly was your B2B. I saw the Gem heading up this morning on the Pacific side, great you witnessed passing. Have a great northbound trip as well! Whistles would have been pilot discretion, no prohibition unless the whistles could have caused confusion. In the middle of Gatun Lake, not much chance for confusion.

1. What time range is optimal viewing from the ship? You will probably enter the Atlantic breakwater some time around 5, picking up the pilot. 2. Even if the ship is in the lock between Cristobal and Gatun Lake, it's between 5 and 9 AM. Between getting up in the morning, breakfast, and getting ready to go on the excursion, we won't have time to see any of the canal. Is this understanding correct? It boils down to one key question: if we take an excursion and get off the ship at 9 AM and rejoin at 3 PM, are we missing all the good viewing? More than likely you will arrive at Gatun Locks a little after 6. While the sun doesn't rise until about 6:20 there are things to be seen as you travel from the breakwater to Gatun Locks. Colon and Cristobal on the port side, sailing under the Atlantic Bridge, after passing under the Bridge a good view of the new Agua Clara Locks again on the port side. On the starboard side before you get to the Gatun Locks you will have a quick opportunity to see what is left of the original French excavation. Even though it will be dark moving towards twilight and dawn, there is a lot of illumination for you to be able to see. Breakfast could be a little challenging on this day. Maybe a good time to fill up on those Panama Rolls HAL is famous for. After you leave the ship for your excursion you will miss the return down trip through Gatun Locks. This is mostly a replay of what you experienced in the morning. 3. Where exactly does the ship dock at Gatun Lake to let people off for excursions? No docking in Gatun Lake, only tendering. The tendering takes place in the Gatun Lake Anchorage very near the former Gatun Yacht Club which is in sight of Gatun Locks... maybe half mile away. 4. Also, just for my own understanding, on a partial transit, does the ship go through the Gatun locks, hang out in Gatun Lake for a while, then go back through the Agua Clara Locks? How far into the Gatun Lake does the ship usually go? Based on Google Map, the The ship generally stays very near the same location where the tendering took place. Normally you will be able to see Gatun Locks from where you are anchored. Your ship will return through Gatun Locks. 5. One of the excursions we are looking at is a kayak trip. Its description is not very clear about exactly what's entailed. It talks about Agua Clara locks, but I am not sure if we actually paddle through the locks or we are just paddling in the lake for a while, then be taken to the Aqua Clara locks on land. And where is the area that we will be kayaking? If anybody has done this excursion, I would appreciate a detailed play-by-play. I don't have any direct knowledge on the kayak excursion, but I suspect they may include a stop at the Visitor's Center at Agua Clara Locks on your way to the kayaks. I believe the kayak activity takes place at the Melia Hotel facilities which are located at another area of Gatun Lake, I am confident you won't be any where near either locks in a kayak.

I don't know when the change went into effect, but at the beginning of January the first available time for my time was 6:45. Extremely popular time.

Depending on where in Panama City... For example the Casco Antiguo, of course depending on traffic 20 to 40 minutes. Distance wise probably 5 to 7 miles. Other parts of the City like the ruins of Old Panama, probably closer to 40-50min, again depending on traffic. From the port to Miraflores (traffic??) 30 minutes. Distance wise, about 10 miles.