partial transit canal question

We will be doing a partial transit next December and looking at the itinerary it has us transiting canal from 5am to 3:00 pm and then in Colon from 5-8pm. What is there possibly to do for 3 hours in port, really does not make much sense. Any input from someone who has done this route?

We will be doing a partial transit next December and looking at the itinerary it has us transiting canal from 5am to 3:00 pm and then in Colon from 5-8pm. What is there possibly to do for 3 hours in port, really does not make much sense. Any input from someone who has done this route?

You're there to pick up the passengers that got off in the lake and went on excursions. I think there might be a little shopping at the pier but we didn't get off.

You're there to pick up the passengers that got off in the lake and went on excursions. I think there might be a little shopping at the pier but we didn't get off.

that makes sense now thanks, so if the timeframe off the transit is 5am to 3pm , what time approx would you be at the lake to disembark for a tour?

also, are you required to do a ship tour to disembark at the lake or can you do private?

We just stayed on board for the return trip. Most of the trip in is darkness, even though the Canal is well lit. It was, after all, the primary reason for taking the trip.

If memory serves, I believe excursion transfers began around 9:00

There are only NCL sponsored excursions from the Canal.

You can only leave the ship while it's on the lake if you take the ship's tour. It's a tender so you get off the ship into a smaller boat which takes you to the busses for the drive to the tour. AFAIK no private tours available, at least I didn't see any.

You cannot leave the dock area in Colon. There are some small shops in the dock area but that's it.

FWIW we did the tour that goes all the way through the canal on the smaller boat. It's interesting to see the canal up close and personal and it's very easy to reach out and actually touch the canal. Note that you are bussed to the smaller boat, a bus ride of about an hour to about the half way point of the canal. You don't cruise the whole thing, just the "last" half. Still, though, it was pretty cool IMO.

You can only leave the ship while it's on the lake if you take the ship's tour. It's a tender so you get off the ship into a smaller boat which takes you to the busses for the drive to the tour. AFAIK no private tours available, at least I didn't see any.

You cannot leave the dock area in Colon. There are some small shops in the dock area but that's it.

FWIW we did the tour that goes all the way through the canal on the smaller boat. It's interesting to see the canal up close and personal and it's very easy to reach out and actually touch the canal. Note that you are bussed to the smaller boat, a bus ride of about an hour to about the half way point of the canal. You don't cruise the whole thing, just the "last" half. Still, though, it was pretty cool IMO.

Great thanks, we really hate ship excursions but this one seems kind of cool - since just staying in the ship is just seeing the same locks you went through in the opposite direction we will probably opt for the tour

thanks

Great thanks, we really hate ship excursions but this one seems kind of cool - since just staying in the ship is just seeing the same locks you went through in the opposite direction we will probably opt for the tour

 

thanks

Do read A Path Between the Seas before you go. Long but sooo interesting. Will make seeing the PC so much more interesting and meaningful.

great idea, thanks

Do read A Path Between the Seas before you go. Long but sooo interesting. Will make seeing the PC so much more interesting and meaningful.

Ditto that

There is no need to do an excursion, unless you REALLY want to! During the entry passage, the decks will be PACKED with everyone trying to get a good view....you can skip that frenzy if you're staying on the ship. Once in the lake, the excursion folks will leave, and will NOT return until you're back thru the 3 sets of locks at the pier. The trip OUT is when you will have all the views you could hope for. Go from side to side, and different deck levels....the locks and canal look totally different from the top deck to the promenade deck! Enjoy the ship without the masses! Once at the pier, you can get off and shop in the "flea market" type shopping area.....won't take you 3 hours, I'm sure, but it's a nice break from being on the ship. Just use this day as informative and relaxing!

Remember how HOT it is in Panama...and how long the excursions are.....I'd opt for staying on the ship!

Great thanks, we really hate ship excursions but this one seems kind of cool - since just staying in the ship is just seeing the same locks you went through in the opposite direction we will probably opt for the tour

 

thanks

NCL calls this tour Canal by Ferry and if you have come to see the Canal this tour is the one to take. Passing through Gaillard Cut and the Pacific Locks has a completely different look and feel. Completely different experience going through on a smaller vessel. If you stay on the ship for the return passage through the locks, you will only see about 8 miles of a 50 mile Canal.

We done the full transit twice. Personally, if I've gone all the way to the canal, which is what the cruise is specifically about, I'd take the ferry tour through the rest of it. My opinion, you need to see the full canal, end to end, to really understand what it is and how it works....still working good after 103 years now. The 8 mile Culebra cut, which is actually the part that could be considered a true canal, was the stretch that almost made the whole project impossible. Read the book and you will understand then what a magnificent project it all was, including the initial efforts by the French.

We done the full transit twice. Personally, if I've gone all the way to the canal, which is what the cruise is specifically about, I'd take the ferry tour through the rest of it. My opinion, you need to see the full canal, end to end, to really understand what it is and how it works....still working good after 103 years now. The 8 mile Culebra cut, which is actually the part that could be considered a true canal, was the stretch that almost made the whole project impossible. Read the book and you will understand then what a magnificent project it all was, including the initial efforts by the French.

99 percent sure this is what new will do, i will bite the bullet and do the ship excursion. do you actually wind up in the pacific at the end or just through the last lock and turn around?

99 percent sure this is what new will do, i will bite the bullet and do the ship excursion. do you actually wind up in the pacific at the end or just through the last lock and turn around?

We did the partial last December on the Pearl. Did not do a excursion at the canal and do not regret it one bit. We had a forward suite that was right under the bridge so we had perfect viewing for going through the locks. Our butler set us up with some snacks and we made frequent trips to the bar.

They open up the bow of the ship EARLY in the morning for the transit for those who want to go there. It does get crowded and NCL sets up a bar. No where to sit though, so be forewarned. My daughter said she went up to the top of the ship, don't remember where exactly maybe in the thermal spa, and they had a great viewing.

Once everybody got off of the ship to do excursions, we loved it! Went to the spa, casino, eat etc...the ship was empty. We then went back to the balcony to watch going back through the locks.

We did get off in Colon. The line for passengers returning from their excursion to get back on the ship was long....there were a lot of people who looked tired and ragged and ready to get back on.

Not much there to do in the port but there is a little shopping area and places to eat. We found a great little local place in the area and just ate and relaxed until it was time to go back. Getting back on the ship was a breeze....loved the fact that a lot of crew members line up to greet you. Saw my favorite bartender who said he would have a drink waiting for me in the Casino.

Enjoy the cruise no matter what you do....the canal is remarkable. Can't wait to do a full transit.

We did the partial last December on the Pearl. Did not do a excursion at the canal and do not regret it one bit. We had a forward suite that was right under the bridge so we had perfect viewing for going through the locks. Our butler set us up with some snacks and we made frequent trips to the bar.

 

They open up the bow of the ship EARLY in the morning for the transit for those who want to go there. It does get crowded and NCL sets up a bar. No where to sit though, so be forewarned. My daughter said she went up to the top of the ship, don't remember where exactly maybe in the thermal spa, and they had a great viewing.

 

 

Once everybody got off of the ship to do excursions, we loved it! Went to the spa, casino, eat etc...the ship was empty. We then went back to the balcony to watch going back through the locks.

 

 

We did get off in Colon. The line for passengers returning from their excursion to get back on the ship was long....there were a lot of people who looked tired and ragged and ready to get back on.

 

 

Not much there to do in the port but there is a little shopping area and places to eat. We found a great little local place in the area and just ate and relaxed until it was time to go back. Getting back on the ship was a breeze....loved the fact that a lot of crew members line up to greet you. Saw my favorite bartender who said he would have a drink waiting for me in the Casino.

 

Enjoy the cruise no matter what you do....the canal is remarkable. Can't wait to do a full transit.

We also have a forward facing suite on deck 9, one of the Penthouses, very excited love the Jade, third time on her.

Booked this yesterday and got the last suite. Dont mind paying for a suite on the JADE but wont pay for a haven on that ship.

99 percent sure this is what new will do, i will bite the bullet and do the ship excursion. do you actually wind up in the pacific at the end or just through the last lock and turn around?

NCL's tour description has the excursion starting in Gamboa and ending in Balboa, just be aware that they frequently operate the excursion in the reverse direction as it is totally dependent on Canal traffic. Either way is equally rewarding and you will be in the Pacific at the end or beginning of the excursion. Also I don't believe they use Balboa as the end or beginning, but rather Ft. Amador. If that is the case then you will experience even more of the Pacific and a great view of the Panama City skyline.