What is so wonderful about a panama canal cruise?

[HappyTvlr]

I enjoyed it for reasons listed about the history of the canal. There were great lectures throughout the cruise, and on the day there was regular commentary on the PA. One other thing I enjoyed was the excitement around the ship. A lot of people were up early for the entry, and it was interesting to see all the other vessels waiting to go through. There was also some unbelievably bad behavior by people taking a space on the rail and not budging to allow others a chance to get the experience. It is an all day affair so eventually everyone got a chance, but there were some ugly exchanges. I am happy that I got a chance to go through this canal, and will hopefully go through the new one some time in the future. It was also great to see the construction on the new canal. As of last year they were still predicting a 2014 completion date, but that seemed improbable based on the lack of progress. The other factors that make it a great trip was that the price was reasonable for 15 nights, and the port stops were all very good.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

The old locks will remain. They need the new ones for the post-Panamax ships - the really BIG ones! The project is an expansion, not a replacement. The canal was 100 years old on August 15th!

 

Thanks for the information. I could not see them eliminating the old

locks if they still function because there are plenty of ships that could use them.

 

Mary Lou

[bighairtexan]

I enjoyed reading about the history (and hearing it over the loudspeakers as we approached various points.) But I am sometimes annoyingly blasé about "wonders of the world". I often feel "Is that all there is?"

Not the canal. I was IN AWE. Words fail me. No books or lecturer can really explain the hardship of the conditions the builders endured. I was dying of heat and humidity and I was just standing there, drink in hand. And the wonder of the mechanics, that 100 years later are going strong. And the TEENY TINY bit of space between the ship and the canal wall. Amazing. DO IT!

[PROCRUISE]

The Panama Canal transit, Miami to Los Angeles was on our bucket list. Great ports of call and amazing transit experience. If you are not interested in history, how this was built, how many lives were lost during the construction, current charges to use the canal, the directional light messaging system to the ships, and how it is the tropical rains that make the whole thing work, then you'd probably not want to take this cruise.

[Big_G]

I highly recommend an aft balcony for this trip. You will find the deck gets a little overcrowded with little elbow room whence traversing the locks. We finally headed back to our own balcony to watch the show.

 

 

We didn't do a complete transit but it's on our bucket list. The first locks were enough to rate the cruise in our top five.

[pris993]

It is nice to hear all of your impressions of the cruise. I too have done the reading and used to teach about the Suez Canal. The undertaking of this project during that period of time was unbelievably difficult.

 

Please keep your comments flowing...:)

 

I have often wondered about this issue, we have not done a Panama canal, partly because we live in San Francisco and feel we can always do it.

 

I can tell you I spent a few days on different cruses at Port Said in Egypt... and enjoyed watching all the ships going thru the Suez Canal.. so do believe you have a point.

[colibri93]

Please enlighten me and the rest of us who haven't been on a Panama Canal cruise. What makes it a cruise of choice?

Thanking you in advance!:)

It is our cruise of choice because of the history of the building of the Canal, it is a masterpiece of engineering. It was on our bucket list for years and now we are going December 2015 on the Island Princess for the full transit!

 

 

 

1980 Society Expeditions – Galapagos

1981 Island (old) Princess – Alaska

1988 Lindblad Expeditions – Sea of Cortez

1988 Society Expeditions – Canada/New England

1989 Society Expeditions – Alaska

1995 Cruise West – Alaska

1996 Kangaroo Explorer - Great Barrier Reef

1997 Reef Endeavour - Great Barrier Reef

1998 Reef Endeavour- Great Barrier Reef

2010 Sun Princess – Australia/New Zealand

2011 Sapphire Princess – 7-day Mexico Riviera

2011 HAL Rotterdam – Baltic

2011 HAL Rotterdam – Norwegian Fjords

2011 Sapphire Princess – 7-day California Coastal

2012 Ruby Princess – Grand Mediterranean. Barcelona to Venice

2012 Ruby Princess – Grand Mediterranean. Venice to Barcelona

2012 Golden Princess – Alaska

2012 Golden Princess – Hawaii. RT Los Angeles

2013 Sapphire Princess – 7-day Mexico Riviera

2013 Sapphire Princess – 7-day California Coastal

2013 Grand Princess – Alaska. RT San Francisco

2013 Sun Princess – Australia/New Zealand

2014 Star Princess – Alaska RT San Francisco

 

coming up

 

9/24/14 Golden Princess – 4 day Coastal Sampler

12/4/14 Grand Princess – 15 day Hawaii

4/16/15 Golden Princess – 10 day Mexico Riviera

5/22/15 Golden Princess – 10 day Alaska RT San Francisco

12/5/15 Island Princess – 15 day Panama Canal

[boogs]

..... and it was interesting to see all the other vessels waiting to go through.

 

Cruise lines reserve a slot well ahead of time, often two years out. The cruise companies pay a hefty fee for a specific date and time for transit - an important requirement to stay on schedule. The average wait for a ship at the back of the line is about three days. Imagine how frustrating it would be if our cruise ships had to wait along with them? Typical transit costs for a Panamax (maximum size that can fit the locks) cruise ship is over $300,000. This includes the reservation fee for the specific slot needed, the passage fee that is based on the number of berths, the fee for the pilot (the only place in the world where the captain is required to relinquish command of his ship, even naval warships), the support tugboats that all ships are required to have whether they use them or not, and the mules (electric locomotives) that guide the ship through the locks (ships move on their own power or are pulled by tugboats - the mules only guide them away from the walls which are less than a foot away).

 

In the first photo below is the tugboat that escorted us through the Gaillard cut and the narrowest part of the canal. It left us when we entered Gatun Lake, the man made lake required to store all the water needed to operate the locks. The second photo is of a container ship moving forward under it's own power to the next lock.

 

 

 

Edited August 23, 2014 by boogs

[4774Papa]

The Panama Canal is history. Going through the canal, you not only see the locks, but you get a sense of the amazing feat of engineering, especially a century ago.

 

Read the book A Path Between the Seas and you will really want to see the canal.

[Eddie's Girl]

I second every positive comment expressed here. A fabulous experience. The most important point made is read The Path Between the Seas before you leave. Enjoy :)

[Nanatravel]

We have taken the Panama Canal full crossing twice; once East to West ending in Acalupco and recently West to East San Diego to Miami plus a partial transit to Colon. Each offers different ports of call with the canal transit being the highlight. The photos in post #17 give you a good eye view of the various views while transiting the locks. It is one of those greatest wonders of the world that I can say I have experienced. Plus spending a day in Central American ports of call and experiencing different cultures was amazing.

 

It may be expensive because to travel the locks is very costly for each ship. If you want a once in a lifetime experience book and do the Panama Canal cruise with a full transit.

[X-elite]

We did an Eastbound & Westbound canal cruise back-to-back last year. Based on the large number of photos I took of the canal transit, I found the process extremely interesting. Aside from the history of the canal construction, the passage itself is enjoyable. It was fun to see the new construction now going on as well.

 

Our favorite port on the canal cruises was Cartagena, Colombia (a very photogenic UNESCO World Heritage Site). In Guatemala, an excursion to Antigua is highly recommended (another lovely UNESCO World Heritage Site).

 

A canal cruise is very relaxing with so many sea days. Not the best choice for people who enjoy being on big bus tours every single day of their vacation... :eek:

[donaldsc]

The answer is obviously the experience of going through the canal. If you have to ask why, don't waste your money on the cruise. If you do decide to do the canal, the only way to go is with a full transit. I can't imagine why anyone would do the partial transit cruise.

 

DON

[donaldsc]

A lot of people were up early for the entry, and it was interesting to see all the other vessels waiting to go through. There was also some unbelievably bad behavior by people taking a space on the rail and not budging to allow others a chance to get the experience. It is an all day affair so eventually everyone got a chance, but there were some ugly exchanges.

 

I disagree with this statement. If I get up early at any important spot on the cruise to get a really good location to see and to take photographs, why should I give up my spot for someone who slept in, had a leisurely breakfast, and then figures that he is entitled to a spot at the rail. I planned ahead. He did not.

 

DON

[cruiseaholic78]

If you get tired of reading and to be honest some books are pretty hard going (I read the Path between the Seas 700 pages) you might like to watch this.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/panama/player/

It's a very interesting documentary which shows the last part of the building of the Canal.

The first time we saw the canal it was from a land excursion and even though it was very interesting to look down at the ships passing through it was no comparison to being on a ship looking up!

 

Enjoy your planning whatever you decide.

Rosalyn

P.s. Just checked the link because it was a few years ago and it doesn't all work for my region, it might work for you but there are still some very interesting short films and info on it.

[paluni]

I loved the canal trip (November 2013). But what was unexpected to me, was how much I loved the Gatun lake part. Nobody even mentions that. We glided through silently and slowly, for quite a while saw nothing else but unspoiled tropical nature, islands, etc. Not even other craft. It was amazing. A wonderful experience to sit on the balcony with the wonderful room service brunch. It felt like I was back at a time before man. How it looked for the first explorers. It also reminded me strongly of the Disneyland jungle ride!

[weliketocruise86]

San Juan to San Francisco

Absolutely loved it. Up early around 4am I think to see the ships lining up and didn't move all day.

Amazing experience and our favourite cruise to date :D

[teecee60]

The answer is obviously the experience of going through the canal. If you have to ask why, don't waste your money on the cruise. If you do decide to do the canal, the only way to go is with a full transit. I can't imagine why anyone would do the partial transit cruise.

 

DON

 

Unfortunately, I tend to agree with your statement. :(

 

An undertaking of this magnitude would not even be seriously CONSIDERED today. "Impossible, too expensive, impractical, to difficult, we have problems here at home, what a waste of money... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera." :rolleyes:

 

The same mantra of modern day Luddites who are destroying the future of our nation and human civilization, with penny wise pound foolish, short sighted decisions like the cancellation of the super conducting super collider, (google it) and the gutting of the space program.

 

The situation brings to mind a favorite quote...

 

"For those who understand, no explanation is necessary... ;)

 

...for those who DON'T understand, no explanation is possible." :cool:

Edited August 23, 2014 by teecee60

[pspercy]

unfortunately, i tend to agree with your statement. :(

 

an undertaking of this magnitude would not even be seriously considered today. "impossible, too expensive, impractical, to difficult, we have problems here at home, what a waste of money... Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera." :rolleyes:

 

The same mantra of modern day luddites who are destroying the future of our nation and human civilization, with penny wise pound foolish, short sighted decisions like the cancellation of the super conducting super collider, (google it) and the gutting of the space program.

 

The situation brings to mind a favorite quote...

 

"for those who understand, no explanation is necessary... ;)

 

...for those who don't understand, no explanation is possible." :cool:

 

+1:)

Edited August 23, 2014 by pspercy

[LF2C]

After reading all the posts (so far) I'm even more excited about our forthcoming trip. :)

We're meeting up with some American cruise friends who did this exact same cruise 10 years ago to the day (on the same ship) and because it is the 100th anniversary.

[theborders]

I will respectfully take a different view. We did a Panama stop on the Equinox last January and did a day excursion though the canal on a ferry. We were told that the small vessel was better than a large ship as you get the feel of the movement in the locks better. The first lock as great,the second OK the third was a bore. All this made worse by having to wait almost an hour in each lock as we were paired with a large freighter which was slow to load.

The history of the building was fine but could be read in a book.

I am going back on the same southern Caribbean cruise this winter and not be doing the canal...once,one lock was plenty for me.

 

We have to agree we went from San Fran to FLL on Princess, we have nicked named the canal snoresville loved the first couple of locks then its like you have seen one you have seen them all. I would not do it again and wished we did not pay the money to do it the first time.

[terrierjohn]

Having done both a partial and a full westbound transit, and after reading the path between the seas, I can agree with both the positive and negative posters.

The immense difficulties the builders encountered which are vividly portrayed in the book are not apparent as you effortlessly glide through the gatun lake and even the gaillard cut, and all without any monsoon rains, raging yellow fever or a mosquito in sight. But I guess this is part of the problem with living in our modern world, there are precious few difficulties needed to be endured.

Despite this I am very glad we made the trip, the massive locks can still be appreciated for the early 20th century engineering marvel they are, and the number of ships paying such huge fees and the fact that new locks are being built belies Teecee60's view that an undertaking of this magnitude would not happen today.

So I would say take the cruise tick it off your bucket list and see how you feel afterwards.

[BillB48]

Every one recommends Path Between the Seas as "the" book to read before a Canal cruise as it is certainly the book of record for Panama and the Canal. Previous mentions of David McCullough's A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama and the PBS program The American Experience on the Panama Canal are great additions too.

 

There are some other great selections to add as well... "Panama Fever" by Matthew Parker, very comprehensive and a quicker read than "Path". Parker also contributed to the PBS program American Experience. "The Panama Canal, The Invisible Wonder of the World" by Ron Armstrong is a collection of rarely seen photographs from the Goethals collection at West Point. Gives you a little insight of what a task that was faced over a hundred years ago. Last but by any means not least is "Panama Canal Day" by Richard Detrich, this is great book that can be at your side during your transit, a great resource for what you are actually seeing plus topical background info. Richard posts over on the Panama Canal forum under the screen name Richard in Panama.

[4774Papa]

Unfortunately, I tend to agree with your statement. :(

 

An undertaking of this magnitude would not even be seriously CONSIDERED today. "Impossible, too expensive, impractical, to difficult, we have problems here at home, what a waste of money... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera." :rolleyes:

 

The same mantra of modern day Luddites who are destroying the future of our nation and human civilization, with penny wise pound foolish, short sighted decisions like the cancellation of the super conducting super collider, (google it) and the gutting of the space program.

 

The situation brings to mind a favorite quote...

 

"For those who understand, no explanation is necessary... ;)

 

...for those who DON'T understand, no explanation is possible." :cool:

Agree completely.

[Truffle]

We LOVED the Panama Canal transit cruise we did on the Mercury in 2000. The canal experience itself was wonderful, but we also enjoyed the longer length of the cruise (14 night) and the fact that there were quite a few days just cruising.

 

I must say, however, that while I appreciate the initiative of those who got up early and had staked out a spot at the rail, there was some incredibly rude behavior by many who did. One women several rows back politely asked if she could move up just long enough to snap a photo and then she promised to move back--I thought they might lynch her! It is, after all a long process and I can't imagine why people couldn't take turns.:confused.