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Review of Panama Canal Cruise–14 Nights on NCL Sun October 14–28, 2016 (with photos)

SeahawkSiren

By SeahawkSiren,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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PTAngel

PTAngel

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Posted (edited)

Thank you so much for this review. I booked my first NCL cruise last night on the Norwegian Jade for a 11 Night Panama Canal Partial Transit in April 2018. It was on my bucket list but a full transit was complicated since DH doesn't fly. So my friend is going with me. I'm so excited! I was really happy to read about the Canal locks. I am one of those that love history so I am really looking forward to this.

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808cruisef

808cruisef

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OP: so glad you had a great trip, and thank you for taking the time to do this review. In particular, I know it's quite time consuming to go through your photos, and select and post them. Much appreciated.

 

 

 

We'll be on our first Panama Canal cruise in a little over two months, on the NCL Jewel, same direction in which you traveled, so I'm reading along here with interest. I share your thoughts about the Canal and the engineering marvel that it is, and I'm so excited about our transit.

 

 

 

BTW -- I got a smile from your photo of the Panama Canal day balcony breakfast. I've read so much on here about NCL's Canal cruises, but this is the first anyone has mentioned that breakfast. I love huevos rancheros, so I hope the Jewel will be serving them as well. :)

 

 

 

Looking foward to the rest of your review.

 

 

We will be on the jewel for the Panama Canal. We are leaving 2/19. Let me know how yours went. Have fun

 

 

 

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Turtles06 Great Review Rare

Turtles06

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We will be on the jewel for the Panama Canal. We are leaving 2/19. Let me know how yours went. Have fun

 

 

Thanks and will do. I learn so much here on CC, and I believe it's important to give back. You have a great trip as well!

 

BTW, I have an informational web site set up for the transit, along wth a detailed list of what to look out for during transit day. You may find it useful. It's here:

 

https://panamacanalncljewel2017.shutterfly.com

 

Have a great tine!

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Rockinrobin50

Rockinrobin50

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Wow! Thank you so much for such an amazing review and pictures. We are going Feb 3, 2017 on a 15 day from L.A. To Ft Lauderdale on island Princess. Did you go on the ships excursions, on your own or with another tour company. I'm trying to finalize our excursions and there are so many choices and so much information to absorb. We usually use outside tour companies and have always enjoyed them. I like small groups rather than large crowds and being able to be flexible. But I'm not so sure about these countries and the safety factor. I guess I've seen too many movies of people being taken or kidnapped. We have 3 other couples going with us and I'm in charge of the excursions so I'm a little apprehensive. Thanks again for a marvelous review. I'm really looking forward to our trip.

 

 

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SeahawkSiren

SeahawkSiren

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Wow! Thank you so much for such an amazing review and pictures. We are going Feb 3, 2017 on a 15 day from L.A. To Ft Lauderdale on island Princess. Did you go on the ships excursions, on your own or with another tour company. I'm trying to finalize our excursions and there are so many choices and so much information to absorb. We usually use outside tour companies and have always enjoyed them. I like small groups rather than large crowds and being able to be flexible. But I'm not so sure about these countries and the safety factor. I guess I've seen too many movies of people being taken or kidnapped. We have 3 other couples going with us and I'm in charge of the excursions so I'm a little apprehensive. Thanks again for a marvelous review. I'm really looking forward to our trip.

 

 

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Glad you enjoyed the review. We only do ship excursions. If are you planning to go to Antigua the day your ship stops in Puerto Quetzal see if Princess offers an "on your own" Antigua excursion. NCL did offer that and that was what we chose for Antigua where NCL provided the transportation and then we were left to wander Antigua on our own for 4 hours. That was really nice as it did give us more flexibility and independence to go where we wanted to instead of being tied to a tour guide. I can't say enough good things about Antigua. It was our favorite excursion on our cruise. I hope you get a chance to go. And it's worth the 90 minute travel time each way from the ship. We also did not fear for our safety at any of the ports we visited.

 

And thanks to all of you who gave such nice comments and thank yous for my review. Much appreciated. I really enjoyed putting it together and reliving my cruise and am glad it is helpful and enjoyable to so many others.

 

Enjoy your Panama Canal cruises everyone! It really is such a unique wonder of the world and I am so glad I got to experience it.

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NMLady

NMLady

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Thanks and will do. I learn so much here on CC, and I believe it's important to give back. You have a great trip as well!

 

BTW, I have an informational web site set up for the transit, along wth a detailed list of what to look out for during transit day. You may find it useful. It's here:

 

https://panamacanalncljewel2017.shutterfly.com

 

Have a great tine!

 

I have bookmarked your website, presuming you will be adding to it as you cruise? I've done 2 cruises on the Jewel although neither were PC transits. I did those on Sun and Star.

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sccat

sccat

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Glad you enjoyed the review. We only do ship excursions. If are you planning to go to Antigua the day your ship stops in Puerto Quetzal see if Princess offers an "on your own" Antigua excursion. NCL did offer that and that was what we chose for Antigua where NCL provided the transportation and then we were left to wander Antigua on our own for 4 hours. That was really nice as it did give us more flexibility and independence to go where we wanted to instead of being tied to a tour guide. I can't say enough good things about Antigua. It was our favorite excursion on our cruise. I hope you get a chance to go. And it's worth the 90 minute travel time each way from the ship. We also did not fear for our safety at any of the ports we visited.

 

Thank you for the wonderful review! I am going on the Panama Canal cruise on NCL Jewel LA to MIA in 4 weeks! Doing a lot of the same excursions you did. Question: how much did the "Mexican Limo" in Cabo cost and where did you find him? Also, did you just use US $$$ in the ports ? Did you take small bills ?? or did you need local currency??

Thank you!

-Elaine "GO CLEMSON TIGERS!!!"

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SeahawkSiren

SeahawkSiren

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Thank you for the wonderful review! I am going on the Panama Canal cruise on NCL Jewel LA to MIA in 4 weeks! Doing a lot of the same excursions you did. Question: how much did the "Mexican Limo" in Cabo cost and where did you find him? Also, did you just use US $$$ in the ports ? Did you take small bills ?? or did you need local currency??

Thank you!

-Elaine "GO CLEMSON TIGERS!!!"

 

Our "Mexican Limo" was $40.00. But you can negotiate the price and time frame. He dropped us off at Medano Beach and came back for us 2 hours later. Depending on where you want to go or how long you want to be gone, the price will differ. He was right near where the tender drops you off just beyond the shopping area where the main street is. There were plenty of "Mexican Limo" drivers there and other locals who wanted to offer fishing and other excursions, etc. They will be waiting for you! ;)

 

We did not do a good job of remembering to bring small bills in ports, so I recommend you do bring some. We used US currency in every port and did not need local currency. And surprising to us, most places even gave us change back in US currency. The small change back we did receive in local currency we kept for souvenirs! Enjoy your cruise!

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tweetylori

tweetylori

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What a terrific review and pics...thank you! Especially for the food porn. :) Question for you about specialty dining. We just booked a cruise on the Dawn in November and are getting 3 specialty dining meals. It looks like they are now a la carte? If so, do you get to pick anything off their menus? Or is it limited somehow?

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Oakman58

Oakman58

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Well I hope you’re happy SeahawkSiren, my wife and I enjoyed reading your report so much that we are now planning another full transit of the canal on the Star. This time we are will be going from Miami to Los Angles.

 

Thanks for taking the time and effort to post all those great photos.

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SeahawkSiren

SeahawkSiren

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What a terrific review and pics...thank you! Especially for the food porn. :) Question for you about specialty dining. We just booked a cruise on the Dawn in November and are getting 3 specialty dining meals. It looks like they are now a la carte? If so, do you get to pick anything off their menus? Or is it limited somehow?

 

Hi tweetylori. I don't recall that we had any limitations with the specialty dining package. You can order anything off the menus, including entrees, appetizers and desserts. I do think the only limitation is that you are "limited" to one main course at Cagney's and Le Bistro. Additional main courses would be charged at the a la carte menu price. But we never had more than one entree, one appetizer or one dessert at any meal. Even that was so much more food than we normally eat at home. I do miss those nightly desserts. At home we rarely eat desserts. So we definitely indulged! But that is what you should do on a cruise! ;)

 

P.S. Don't forget to order the truffle fries at Cagney's!

 

 

Well I hope you’re happy SeahawkSiren, my wife and I enjoyed reading your report so much that we are now planning another full transit of the canal on the Star. This time we are will be going from Miami to Los Angles.

 

Thanks for taking the time and effort to post all those great photos.

 

Wow Oakman58! So glad you and your wife enjoyed the review and are going on another full transit of the PC. It was my second favorite cruise so far (the Mediterranean being my #1 favorite). I look forward to your review to see the transit through another's eyes. I hope you get more viewing of those frigate birds again! We've been on the Star too and really enjoyed our time. We have not been on any mega ships yet. We will be taking the first plunge with that next year on the Bliss.

 

Speaking of the Mediterranean, we are getting ready for another Med cruise coming up here in May. We will be on the Spirit this time. Really looking forward to that cruise and the Spirit. She looks like such a classic and stately ship, nothing like the newer builds.

 

I will plan to post a review of that cruise when we return!

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Molson99

Molson99

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Thank you so much for such a wonderful report! And such great photos! I am doing the full Panama Canal cruise in April 2017 on Holland America line Fort Lauderdale to San Diego, and we will do cabo, Antigua on your own, Costa Rica as well. Your information was invaluable. I have been debating what tour to do in Costa Rica as I with my elderly mom and while she walks well, I am concerned about how strenuous some of the tours there are. You info will help! Thanks again!

 

 

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Marshall Law

Marshall Law

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Thanks for the review! The wife and I will be taking this cruise in Nov 2017. Do you remember if the tender had any ramps for manual wheelchairs or did you step down into the boat? Just trying to get an idea if my wife will be able to get on the tender. Its always a question mark. Been cruising since 1995 and have seen different types of tenders. Again, thanks for an excellent review!

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SeahawkSiren

SeahawkSiren

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Thank you so much for such a wonderful report! And such great photos! I am doing the full Panama Canal cruise in April 2017 on Holland America line Fort Lauderdale to San Diego, and we will do cabo, Antigua on your own, Costa Rica as well. Your information was invaluable. I have been debating what tour to do in Costa Rica as I with my elderly mom and while she walks well, I am concerned about how strenuous some of the tours there are. You info will help! Thanks again!

 

 

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Thanks for the kind words and glad you enjoyed the review! So glad you are going to Antigua. We absolutely loved it there, and it was our favorite excursion on the cruise. I do recommend comfortable, sturdy walking shoes for Antigua, especially for your elderly mother. I found the cobblestone streets to be a little challenging at times and also some of the curbs are a little steep (I had ankle surgery a couple years ago and it's never been the same since, so I guess I am just much more aware and cautious of walking conditions now than I ever used to be). Just a heads up. Enjoy your cruise!

 

 

Thanks for the review! The wife and I will be taking this cruise in Nov 2017. Do you remember if the tender had any ramps for manual wheelchairs or did you step down into the boat? Just trying to get an idea if my wife will be able to get on the tender. Its always a question mark. Been cruising since 1995 and have seen different types of tenders. Again, thanks for an excellent review!

 

 

Hi Marshall. The only tender port we had on this cruise was in Cabo San Lucas. All other ports we were docked. And yes, in Cabo there was a ramp to go down before getting onto the tender boat. You probably already have this information but I've attached an NCL link here about their accessible cruising. I would call the Access Desk number in this link as it references foreign ports can present challenges for shore excursions and another reference about scooters and wheelchairs and/or guests weighing 100 pounds or more are not able to be transferred from the ship to tender and/or from tender to shore. Enjoy your cruise!

 

https://www.ncl.com/about/accessible-cruising

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