Panama Canal Best Cruise Line.?

[misty57]

We are thinking of booking a Panama Canal cruise for next year. I like the HAL itinerary for 10-11 nights but the reviews for the ship are dismal.:eek:

We are primarily RCI cruisers but wondering what line would be best choice for this item on our bucket list. We would appreciate any suggestions :)

Thanks!

[Shmoo here]

We are thinking of booking a Panama Canal cruise for next year. I like the HAL itinerary for 10-11 nights but the reviews for the ship are dismal.:eek:

We are primarily RCI cruisers but wondering what line would be best choice for this item on our bucket list. We would appreciate any suggestions :)

Thanks!

 

We've done the Panama Canal on both Disney and Holland America.

 

My recommendation is look at the itineraries and find one that goes where you want to go on a date that you want to travel.

 

That's our priority when booking a cruise. After that comes the cost and/or ship, depending on whether there's a choice between a ship we have or haven't been on (we don't generally take other people's word on whether a ship is in bad condition or not - we'd like to find out for ourselves) and if there's a great price difference between two equal ships (in our eyes).

Edited January 2, 2014 by Shmoo here

[lcmslady]

We did a full transit in January 2013.

 

I would definitely recommend a full transit if you have the time.

 

As far as who to do it with - that depends on what you want to see. If you really start comparing the itineraries, there can be differences.

 

While we are big Celebrity fans, we ended up doing the cruise with Princess because they actually stopped in Panama City - so we could see another part of Panama.

 

Good luck making the decision and enjoy your trip. I originally said that I only wanted to do this trip once but it was so fascinating that I want to plan another one on a bigger ship once the new locks open.

[boogs]

I originally said that I only wanted to do this trip once but it was so fascinating that I want to plan another one on a bigger ship once the new locks open.

 

Of all the cruises I have been on, the Panama Canal was the most fascinating. Transiting the canal is a wonderful experience on it's own, and coupled with some great ports of call no matter which itinerary you choose, it is definitely a "bucket list" trip that anyone would be thankful they had the wisdom to do at least once.

Edited January 3, 2014 by boogs

[MermaidWatcher]

We are thinking of booking a Panama Canal cruise for next year. I like the HAL itinerary for 10-11 nights but the reviews for the ship are dismal.:eek:

We are primarily RCI cruisers but wondering what line would be best choice for this item on our bucket list. We would appreciate any suggestions :)

Thanks!

 

We sailed Zuiderdam Nov Panama Canal and had a good experience, enjoyed the more laid back atmosphere without the constant overly loud pool music and belly flop contest announcements, thought the food was very tasty, and the ship was in good shape aesthetically.

HOWEVER..... You are justified to have concerns about the long history of mechanical issues, which seems to have just again manifested itself in a recent post. Similar to our cruise (we were fortunately not in affected cabin), when the aft facing cabins on decks 6, 7, and 8 had no working ac. Worst of all on this issue, is that the facts support the idea that HAL continues to knowingly sell cabins that they know have no working ac, crew members stated that those same cabins had broken ac for the two previous sailings.

My feeling is that I would not be willing to play "cabin ac Russian Roulette" on a Panama Canal cruise.

Edited January 3, 2014 by MermaidWatcher

[JimAOk1945]

We are booked for a partial transit on Princess in December. We considered a full transit but decided to do that some other time.

 

Having been on a Princess cruise twice before, we feel confident that we will again have a fantastic time!

[paluni]

We took the Island Princess November 2013 through the Panama Canal. We really enjoyed it. The commentator was a local, Mr. Bill Hall as I recall. He was great. What was great, he didn't talk all the time, just when relevant. I watched a lot of it from the balcony with the TV on, so heard the commentary easily in the room from the balcony. I thought Princess did a very good job. We went from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale. I would recommend them. I liked the food a lot, but I'm not picky on food. Also a lot of the passengers do dress up for the formal nights, which I actually like. We keep cruising Princess because we want to build up our perks and it really suits our simple style. We'll never use a climbing wall. A tip: go in the dry season if you can and try and get lucky on the weather! We did. Port side was best from Los Angeles, I thought.

[JimAOk1945]

We took the Island Princess November 2013 through the Panama Canal. We really enjoyed it. The commentator was a local, Mr. Bill Hall as I recall. He was great. What was great, he didn't talk all the time, just when relevant. I watched a lot of it from the balcony with the TV on, so heard the commentary easily in the room from the balcony. I thought Princess did a very good job. We went from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale. I would recommend them. I liked the food a lot, but I'm not picky on food. Also a lot of the passengers do dress up for the formal nights, which I actually like. We keep cruising Princess because we want to build up our perks and it really suits our simple style. We'll never use a climbing wall. A tip: go in the dry season if you can and try and get lucky on the weather! We did. Port side was best from Los Angeles, I thought.

 

You mentioned passengers dressed up on formal night. Do you mean tuxes and long gowns?

 

Also, do you know how many formal nights can we expect on our 11 day partial transit?

 

Thanks in advance!

Edited January 3, 2014 by JimAOk1945

[Krazy Kruizers]

What type of a Panama Canal cruise are you considering?

A partial transit?

Or a full transit?

We have done both quite a few times and really love the full transits.

We have done them on both HAL and Princess.

[Keith1010]

There is no best cruise line because each of us had different preferences.

 

I would take an open look at all of the lines sailing the cruise line.

 

Include Celebrity and Princess in your evaluation.

 

Do take a full transit of the Canal.

 

Keith

[BillB48]

To the OP... Just like all cruise lines are not the same, all Canal cruises are not the same as well. The difference being there are two types of Canal cruises... a partial Canal cruise, generally 10/11 days and are a round trip out of Florida. What this cruise does at the Canal is enter the Atlantic Locks, locks up to Gatun Lake where it turns around, goes back through the same locks and proceeds to the dock in Colon. The other Canal cruise is the full transit, which as it sounds is a complete transit of the Canal, usually 14 to 16 days. These cruises can start in either California or Florida, transits the Canal and winds up on the opposite coast. While the partial transit cruise is a great cruise and I would take it in a NY minute, I agree with the majority that the full transit would be my preference as well.

[boogs]

To the OP... Just like all cruise lines are not the same, all Canal cruises are not the same as well. The difference being there are two types of Canal cruises... a partial Canal cruise, generally 10/11 days and are a round trip out of Florida. What this cruise does at the Canal is enter the Atlantic Locks, locks up to Gatun Lake where it turns around, goes back through the same locks and proceeds to the dock in Colon. The other Canal cruise is the full transit, which as it sounds is a complete transit of the Canal, usually 14 to 16 days. These cruises can start in either California or Florida, transits the Canal and winds up on the opposite coast. While the partial transit cruise is a great cruise and I would take it in a NY minute, I agree with the majority that the full transit would be my preference as well.

 

To be clear, a full transit of the canal doesn't take 14 to 15 days. :D A transit will take approximately 10 hours from start to finish.

 

Interesting facts about the transit for those curious:

 

• A transit date and time by a cruise ship is reserved months if not years in advance to stay on it's tight schedule. Typically, a ship will arrive and wait in line behind the other ships who arrived before them. There are often fifty or more ships waiting in line, sometimes requiring wait times of two or more days to gradually move up to the front of the line. Cruise ships pay an additional fee to jump to the front of the line.
   
  
• The total transit fee for the largest cruise ships that can fit the locks is about $350,000. A cruise ship is charged a set fee for each berth on board, whether filled or empty.
   
  
• About 40 Panamax ships transit each day. A Panamax ship is constructed to the maximum dimensions to fit in the locks.
   
  
• Most ships move in and out of the locks under their own power. The electric locomotives (called "mules") that follow it are used only to center the ship in the locks and keep it from rubbing against the walls.
   
  
• A tugboat must accompany the ship through the narrowest channels in case of engine failure.
  

Edited January 3, 2014 by boogs

[MermaidWatcher]

To be clear, a full transit of the canal doesn't take 14 to 15 days. :D A transit will take approximately 10 hours from start to finish.

 

Interesting facts about the transit for those curious:

 

• A transit date and time by a cruise ship is reserved months if not years in advance to stay on it's tight schedule. Typically, a ship will arrive and wait in line behind the other ships who arrived before them. There are often fifty or more ships waiting in line, sometimes requiring wait times of two or more days to gradually move up to the front of the line.
   
  
• About 40 Panamax ships transit each day (a Panamax ship is constructed to the maximum dimensions to fit in the locks)
   
  
• The total transit fee for a cruise ship is about $350,000. A cruise ship is charged a set fee for each berth on board, whether filled or empty.
   
  
• A tugboat must accompany the ship through the narrowest channels in case of engine failure
  

 

My favorite...All canal transit payments must be made in CASH.

[fortinweb]

My favorite...All canal transit payments must be made in CASH.

 

Commercial ships have business arrangements with the Canal Authority for payments. For private vessels, "...options for payment are to hire an agent, to pay by cash, or to have your bank make the payment by telegraphic transfer..." Source: http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2009-06-02-2

Edited January 3, 2014 by fortinweb

[MermaidWatcher]

Commercial ships have business arrangements with the Canal Authority for payments. For private vessels, "...options for payment are to hire an agent, to pay by cash, or to have your bank make the payment by telegraphic transfer..." Source: http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2009-06-02-2

 

By whatever terminology you want to reference, all mean the same...cash payment in advance to canal authority bank account, no transit proceeds until the deposit of funds is verified.

[boogs]

By whatever terminology you want to reference, all mean the same...cash payment in advance to canal authority bank account, no transit proceeds until the deposit of funds is verified.

 

Not so with commercial companies. If they are a regular customer, they set up an account and are billed for each transit. For one time transits, as with personal pleasure craft, the fees are paid at the time of transit.

Edited January 3, 2014 by boogs

[OCruisers]

Island and Coral Princess were especially built for going through the Panama Canal ... very long but narrow.

Our two full transits on Island Princess were the best of any other ship we've ever taken through the Canal! :)

 

LuLu

~~~~

[dorisis]

Island and Coral Princess were especially built for going through the Panama Canal ... very long but narrow.

Our two full transits on Island Princess were the best of any other ship we've ever taken through the Canal! :)

 

LuLu

 

I agree with LuLu. we have been on quite a few Canal cruises with various lines and the Coral and Island have been the best experiences.

[BillB48]

To be clear, a full transit of the canal doesn't take 14 to 15 days. :D A transit will take approximately 10 hours from start to finish.

 

Interesting facts about the transit for those curious:

 

• A transit date and time by a cruise ship is reserved months if not years* in advance to stay on it's tight schedule. Typically, a ship will arrive and wait in line behind the other ships who arrived before them. There are often fifty or more ships waiting in line, sometimes requiring wait times of two or more days to gradually move up to the front of the line. Cruise ships pay an additional fee to jump to the front of the line.**
  
• The total transit fee for the largest cruise ships that can fit the locks is about $350,000***. A cruise ship is charged a set fee for each berth on board, whether filled or empty.****
  
• About 40 Panamax ships transit each day. A Panamax ship is constructed to the maximum dimensions to fit in the locks.*****
  
• Most ships move in and out of the locks under their own power. The electric locomotives (called "mules") that follow it are used only to center the ship in the locks and keep it from rubbing against the walls.
  
• A tugboat must accompany the ship through the narrowest channels in case of engine failure.******
  

 

Not so with commercial companies. If they are a regular customer, they set up an account and are billed for each transit.******* For one time transits, as with personal pleasure craft, the fees are paid at the time of transit.

 

Wow, you must write laws for Congress if you can extrapolate that I meant that a transit takes 14+ days and not a full transit cruise! Anyway I take your ribbing in good humor.

 

I am sure you won't mind if I clear up some things in your post:D.

*Normally 18 months are as far out as you can book a transit reservation.

**Not just cruise ships can do this, any ship can pay the additional fee for a transit reservation.

***The total can be significantly higher than that... not too long ago a NCL cruise ship paid well over $400,000.

****Actually there is a formula used to see if ship will pay the per passenger berth rate or the tolls based on the PC/UMS (Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System). Most of the ships we discuss here on CC will pay the per passenger berth rate. If by chance there are no paying passengers on board the per passenger berth rate is reduced.

*****The term Panamax is used for the largest ships and normally less than half of that 40 ships a day are made up of Panamax or near Panamax ships. The Canal requires these larger ships to make the transit during daylight hours leaving nighttime for the less than Panamax ships to transit.

******Tug escorts are not required for the narrow portions of the Canal by all ships. Generally speaking tugs are not uniformly required for a ship under 91' in beam . The Panamax ships require tug/s to assist in to and out of the locks and through Gaillard Cut as well. They are there not only for the possibility of engine failure, but also to provide assistance in maneuvering if needed.

******* A shipper has to engage a bank that is approved by the Canal to provide for a guarantee of all the tolls and fees. Tolls must be paid before the transit of any set of locks.

 

In any event I am more than ready to help a cruise line fill one of their berths, transit or not!!

 

Here's to smooth sailing....

[donaldsc]

Just make sure that whichever one you pick, you are not suckered into a partial transit instead of a full transit.

 

DON

[boogs]

Wow, you must write laws for Congress if you can extrapolate that I meant that a transit takes 14+ days and not a full transit cruise! Anyway I take your ribbing in good humor.

 

I am sure you won't mind if I clear up some things in your post:D.

*Normally 18 months are as far out as you can book a transit reservation.

**Not just cruise ships can do this, any ship can pay the additional fee for a transit reservation.

***The total can be significantly higher than that... not too long ago a NCL cruise ship paid well over $400,000.

****Actually there is a formula used to see if ship will pay the per passenger berth rate or the tolls based on the PC/UMS (Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System). Most of the ships we discuss here on CC will pay the per passenger berth rate. If by chance there are no paying passengers on board the per passenger berth rate is reduced.

*****The term Panamax is used for the largest ships and normally less than half of that 40 ships a day are made up of Panamax or near Panamax ships. The Canal requires these larger ships to make the transit during daylight hours leaving nighttime for the less than Panamax ships to transit.

******Tug escorts are not required for the narrow portions of the Canal by all ships. Generally speaking tugs are not uniformly required for a ship under 91' in beam . The Panamax ships require tug/s to assist in to and out of the locks and through Gaillard Cut as well. They are there not only for the possibility of engine failure, but also to provide assistance in maneuvering if needed.

******* A shipper has to engage a bank that is approved by the Canal to provide for a guarantee of all the tolls and fees. Tolls must be paid before the transit of any set of locks.

 

In any event I am more than ready to help a cruise line fill one of their berths, transit or not!!

 

Here's to smooth sailing....

 

Thanks for the additional information! Anyway I take your corrections in good humor. :D:);)

[barante]

We are on this one:

 

20 Days Transcanal/Panama Canal

Holland America Line • ms Amsterdam

Fort Lauderdale, Half Moon Cay, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Puerto Caldera, Corinto, Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Chiapas, Cabo San Lucas, San Diego, Astoria, Vancouver, Seattle

1 departure date: Apr 28 2014

 

In comparative terms, this is a rather expensive cruise. But it takes us to Corinto and Puerto

Quetzal so we can visit colonial Spanish towns nearby, one reason for the cruise. A day in San Diego, Vancouver. The pacing is great, and I like the fact that the first day is a beach day at Half Moon Cay.

 

If those are not considerations, there are many far cheaper alternatives. Up to you.

 

We did a HAL "Panama" without transiting the canal. I personally would not recommend that but again, it's up to you.

 

By all means read David McCullough's "The Path Between the Seas," a magnificent tome about constructing the waterway that is currently being widened.

[JimAOk1945]

Just make sure that whichever one you pick, you are not suckered into a partial transit instead of a full transit.

 

DON

 

Sounds like you had a bad experience on a partial transit. What happened and why did you like your full transit better?

[springfire]

Island and Coral Princess were especially built for going through the Panama Canal ... very long but narrow.

Our two full transits on Island Princess were the best of any other ship we've ever taken through the Canal! :)

 

LuLu

~~~~

 

Thank you for this information, we are planning a trip through the Panama Canal and just started researching. I did not know that these ships were built to go through the Panama Canal.

[barante]

Methinks there is nothing special about Island and Coral Princess. They are just like any other pre-expansion cruise liners, built to fit the canal.

 

All that will change after the widening is completed in 2014 or later.

Edited January 4, 2014 by barante