du2cruise Posted October 13, 2006 #1 Share Posted October 13, 2006 I was watching the GTS Infinity transit of the Gatun Locks. I can hardly wait to do the same on MS Volendam in Feb!! I noticed there were few people at the bow of the ship - which I guess is too low to get the best view. Can one watch from the sky deck? Would that be the best place for taking pictures? I know the Crow's Nest would have a good view, but my success at taking pictures through a window is not that great. Thanks for any information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhannah Posted October 13, 2006 #2 Share Posted October 13, 2006 There are some spots topside that would be good, where you're not looking through glass. The promenade deck has places where you can get a clear shot, too. I suggest checking out the ship early on and finding where you'd like to be. Then, on the morning of transit, get out there before dawn and claim your spot. It's a super experience to go through. I hope we can do it again some day. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
du2cruise Posted October 13, 2006 Author #3 Share Posted October 13, 2006 There are some spots topside that would be good, where you're not looking through glass. The promenade deck has places where you can get a clear shot, too. I suggest checking out the ship early on and finding where you'd like to be. Then, on the morning of transit, get out there before dawn and claim your spot. It's a super experience to go through. I hope we can do it again some day. Good luck! Thanks so much. I definitely will be up early that day! Do you think 4.45 AM would be early enough(transit scheduled to start at 5AM)? Or do people tend to claim spots earlier than that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al B. Posted October 13, 2006 #4 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Based on my experience on the NCL Sun, prime spots would have been filled long before 15 minutes prior to transit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kakalina Posted October 13, 2006 #5 Share Posted October 13, 2006 We have done this twice and want to advise you to wear a hat, lots of sunscreen and find a place in the shade. Bring a bottle of water if you can. It gets beastly hot during the transit, as the ship isn't moving fast enough to get a breeze going. Generally we are out there by 5am but we are just about the only ones out there that early. You should be fine if you are out and have your place on the promenade deck by 7am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted October 13, 2006 #6 Share Posted October 13, 2006 The transit usually doesn't start until day light. The space on the bow along the railings usually fills up pretty fast so being there early is a must. The open deck area in front of the gym is a good place to watch from also. Be aware that it can get really hot in the Canal zone so wear a hat, drink lots of water and use sun screen! The canal transit is one awesome experience that you will not forget! Have a great time on Volendam!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhannah Posted October 13, 2006 #7 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Do you think 4.45 AM would be early enough(transit scheduled to start at 5AM)? You know, I can't remember the time our transit began. I do remember it was still dark when the ship stopped a few hundred yards away from the locks to await its turn. There were some people out, but not all that many. We were able to get a nice spot. We also moved around a bit, even going back to our cabin at one point to take photos from our verandah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted October 13, 2006 #8 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Many times the various ships that we have sailed on get up fairly close to the locks and then just as it is getting daylight, we began the process of going through. Sometimes it was quite crowded early -- other times very few people were on the decks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted October 13, 2006 #9 Share Posted October 13, 2006 About the observation area in front of the gym. We haven't been on the Volendam since her SOE was completed, but on the Amsterdam (same class) there is just a tiny area left for passengers on the port side. The new gym and thermal spa goes completely out to where the front railing used to be. Does anyone know if it is the same on the Volendam??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipity1499 Posted October 13, 2006 #10 Share Posted October 13, 2006 We have done this twice and want to advise you to wear a hat, lots of sunscreen and find a place in the shade. Bring a bottle of water if you can. It gets beastly hot during the transit, as the ship isn't moving fast enough to get a breeze going. Generally we are out there by 5am but we are just about the only ones out there that early. You should be fine if you are out and have your place on the promenade deck by 7am. We've also done this twice & disagree on the 7: a.m. time..OP stated they are scheduled to transit at 5:a.m....We had a scheduled 6 a.m transit..My friend & I were out on deck at 5 a.m for the 6:a.m.transit & yes were just about the only ones there...But by the time we entered the locks, people were 10 deep behind us (first time in pouring rain) Our DH's passed raincoats through the crowd to us as we did not want to lose our places at the rail.. If you can get out on the bow it would be the best place but many ships don't allow people on the bow...The Prominade deck is the next best place to be, but you will only see one side at a time from there.. Enjoy your cruise..:)Betty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted October 13, 2006 #11 Share Posted October 13, 2006 And don't forget to have some of the Panama Buns!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLACRUISER99 Posted October 13, 2006 #12 Share Posted October 13, 2006 We've also done this twice & disagree on the 7: a.m. time..OP stated they are scheduled to transit at 5:a.m....We had a scheduled 6 a.m transit..My friend & I were out on deck at 5 a.m for the 6:a.m.transit & yes were just about the only ones there...But by the time we entered the locks, people were 10 deep behind us (first time in pouring rain) Our DH's passed raincoats through the crowd to us as we did not want to lose our places at the rail.. If you can get out on the bow it would be the best place but many ships don't allow people on the bow...The Prominade deck is the next best place to be, but you will only see one side at a time from there.. Enjoy your cruise..:)Betty on a Cruiseship Eastbound enters the locks much earlier then westbound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
du2cruise Posted October 13, 2006 Author #13 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Thanks all. The Infinity was scheduled to start at 6AM, and it was just starting to get light at that point. Early Feb will be further from an equinox than today, and we're scheduled to start an hour earlier, so I would guess it will still be dark for us as we approach the Gatun Locks. The locks were just coming into view for them at 5:45, so I'd want to be out, camera in hand at least by 4:45 :). The approach looked as though it would be quite impressive also, with the lights from the locks showing. Once we've cleared Gatun locks I imagine we'll go for breakfast and prepare for the hotter part of the day. I guess we'll have to find out ahead of time where all they will be allowing us to stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
du2cruise Posted October 13, 2006 Author #14 Share Posted October 13, 2006 And don't forget to have some of the Panama Buns!! OK, I'll bite. What are Panama buns?:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kakalina Posted October 13, 2006 #15 Share Posted October 13, 2006 They are an amazing local confection brought on board for the pax. A sweet bun filled with oranges and cream. They are very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 13, 2006 #16 Share Posted October 13, 2006 We've done at least 4-5 transits and have never had a hard time finding a good spot. We don't go out hours in advance....more like 20 minutes. If one spot is too crowded we go elsewhere. Roam around the ship until you find a spot that works for you. There are plenty of viewing spots. Many people choose to remain on the verandas....especially if they have done a transit in the past. It's a wonderful experience. Enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
du2cruise Posted October 13, 2006 Author #17 Share Posted October 13, 2006 They are an amazing local confection brought on board for the pax. A sweet bun filled with oranges and cream. They are very good. Mmmm Yummy. That does sound good! And I guess I'll just have to hope there are lots of people on our cruise who have done it before, and choose to watch from their veranda:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMICUS Posted October 13, 2006 #18 Share Posted October 13, 2006 About the observation area in front of the gym. We haven't been on the Volendam since her SOE was completed, but on the Amsterdam (same class) there is just a tiny area left for passengers on the port side. The new gym and thermal spa goes completely out to where the front railing used to be. Does anyone know if it is the same on the Volendam??? Yes it is the same. There is a similar area for use of the thermal suite guests on the starboard side which had 2 chaise longues on it on the Volendam's last trip of the year (Sept 20-27) to Alaska. (in the interests of preventing the instant certification of the individuals involved as "insane" none of the photos of thermal suite guests in their bathing suits/robes in this area with the rain swept coast of the Inside Passage in the background will be posted) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O2cruise Posted October 13, 2006 #19 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Our first time through the canal we got up early, got our spot, and stayed there till mid-afternoon (w/lots of water, etc. as others have mentioned). The second time through, we went to "our" spot and stayed for an hour or so, then went up to the crow's nest for an hour or so, then down to the promenade deck for a while. Oh, my, - by going to all the different areas we were able to get such different perspectives, views and sensations. Unless you are standing on the promenade deck, you really can't appreciate just how close the ship is to the side, and you can see all the gouge marks from other ships, the perspective from the Crow's Nest is awesome. So, in essence, my suggestion is Do It All!! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kakalina Posted October 13, 2006 #20 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Mmmm Yummy. That does sound good! And I guess I'll just have to hope there are lots of people on our cruise who have done it before, and choose to watch from their veranda:) For the best overall view you need to move around, some times you can reach out and touch the wall. Virgil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
du2cruise Posted October 14, 2006 Author #21 Share Posted October 14, 2006 Thank you everyone for all the suggestions and discussion. Initially I was interested in opinions on a good place from where to take pictures of the ship's transit through the locks and how far ahead of the first sighting we should be "in place". But I appreciate all hints and recommendations. Likewise, I've enjoyed reading such enthusiastic remarks about this cruise and really look forward to my own chance to experience it.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cands Posted October 14, 2006 #22 Share Posted October 14, 2006 Moving around is really the key. There are so many different perspectives to enjoy. We were on Summit during a transit last November. It was raining and so relatively cool on deck. We did go out to the bow viewing area at one stage, but really enjoyed roaming the ship, looking fore and aft and at all the activity on the sides as well. Here is a link to our photos going through Gatun Locks - 7:30 - 9:30 am or thereabouts. Steve and Chris. www.flickr.com/photos/24646122@N00/262707239/in/set-72157594304452952/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollynme Posted October 14, 2006 #23 Share Posted October 14, 2006 When we were on the Volendam last October, they put a canopy out in the center of the bow area with chairs under it. There wasn't all that great a view from there but it did get you out of the sun for a while. (My 82 yr old Mom took advantage of it as we were traversing the canal.) Don't forget to go to the stern after you have entered one of the locks. I have some great pictures of the gates closing behind us and closeups of the engines on either side taken from the back of the lower promenade deck. HAL had a woman (an historian, I think) who knew this area very well. She gave us a running commentary over the loudspeaker system as we passed through the locks and the canal, pointing out interesting sights along the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
du2cruise Posted October 14, 2006 Author #24 Share Posted October 14, 2006 Thank you both for your suggestions on viewing sites. Chris your photos are excellent. All the different perspectives do give a more complete "picture" of the transit. Mollynme. Glad to hear that we can probably expect there will be a local expert to comment about what is on view. There is so much packed into that one day, it will be very useful to have someone help us focus on the highlights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sswitenki Posted October 14, 2006 #25 Share Posted October 14, 2006 One you hit the lock, how long is the transit - hours or minutes? It may sound like a silly question but do you need insect repellant since you are almost considered on land - touching distance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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