Gatun Lake on partial transit

[qm2lover]

If you are on a partial transit and go through Gatun locks early in the morning and back through the locks some time in the afternoon, what happens inbetween?

 

Does the ship just stop? Or does it go a little way round the lake? Does it anchor/hold position? Or just turns around?

 

I would be particularly interested in any tour information on P&O from Colon.

Do you get off the ship (by tender/local boat?) whilst ship is in the lake? Or do you have to wait until the ship is berthed in Colon?

 

TIA

[CruiserBruce]

The ship goes to a position where it tenders ashore excursion pax. Only people who are on ship's excursions may get off. Then the ship returned through the locks around 1pm, and docks at Colon, where the shore excursion pax rejoin the ship.

[BillB48]

After you lock up through Gatun Locks in the morning the ship proceeds to the Gatun Lake anchorage where passengers who have shore excursions tender off to meet their tours. When tendering is complete the ship will essentially wait in place for the return lockage down through Gatun Locks. The Gatun Lake anchorage is in close proximity to Gatun Locks and it is possible you will be able to see a small portion of the Locks.

 

As Bruce pointed out, only passengers who have shore excursions are permitted of the ship at this point. There is no town, no commercial area and no transportation available except for the buses for the shore excursions.

 

I'm sure P&O will operate the partial transit the same way other cruise lines do... which is the stop in Colon is brief, only to re board the passengers who are on tour. The stop in Colon is being brief, 3 hours or so, not leaving you sufficient time to take a tour a this point. There is time for you to go ashore and wander around the shops at the mall connected to the pier.

 

This picture shows the approximate location of where the tendering takes place... you can just see the approach wall of Gatun Locks from here.

 

Edited October 2, 2015 by BillB48

[qm2lover]

Great information - thank you.

[cb at sea]

Once you are in the lake and holding position, it's a great day for relaxing in that heat....you will welcome the AC on the ship!

 

All tours will be thru the ship..you can't go off on your own. When you get to Colon, you will see buildings in the distance, and think, "That would be fun to explore", but if you look thru binoculars, it looks like a war zone...no place you'd really want to be!

[qm2lover]

Thanks everyone for your input - but it no longer matters as P&O are not bothering with any tours for Colon on their partial transit!

 

But looking forward to going back through the lock from the other direction!