Panama Canal
 

Anyone cruised the Panama Canal? We will be flying to San Diego soon. Any suggestions?

Friends did they loved it the first 15 minutes and then found it boring. But it's just their rendition

Don't walk around Colon on your own if your ship docks there. I'm sure the cruise director will tell you that.

Yes we did a 14 night cruise from LA to fla. The canal is beautiful so get to front of ship 2 he's prior for a great view. Also note many stops may use tenders to reach shore

We did the entire canal in 1999.....west to east (not geographically correct). For us the attraction to this trip was the history, imagining what it was like when it was constructed, the men who died, the effort to cut through the continental divide etc. If one is not interested in the history, or has not done research, I can see how it would be boring after a short period.

Love history. Reading a book on the building of the canal and watching many educational videos.

We did it too, Miami to Los Angeles. Something we will never forget.

Well, the whole west/east thing is interesting. If you start on the West coast of the US and go thru the canal toward the Caribbean, you in fact go east to west thru the canal. (actually you go south east to north west. See map below.) Perhaps that is what you meant by not geographically correct.

Thus the western end of the Panama canal leads to the Atlantic while the eastern end goes into the Pacific.

If one does want to experience the Panama Canal, Princess has a 10 day cruise rountrip Ft. Lauderdale.

It does what is referred to as a partial transit. The full and complete experience of going through the locks and into Gataun Lake and return.

We chose this cruise because we did not want to go to the west coast and fly back.

It is a very nice itinerary in addition to the Panama Canal.
It does not matter how much one talks about it, or views pictures of it or watches movies/videos of it.....the spectacle of real life cannot not come close to being approximated.

We are going again....SOON.

It was and you are correct. For those who have never been or researched it I use west to east because I think it's easier to understand.

My cruise left Acapulco and ended up in Ft. Lauderdale, 10 days. It was initially interesting, then boring. Worth it to do it once but I would not do it again just to see the canal again.

Would not do it again! Glad I saw it, but we were very disappointed. They were starting to build the new canal and the surrounding area is dirty and unkempt. I enjoyed reading about the original building of the canal and should have left it at that.

Transiting the Panama Canal, February, 2004: So Exciting!

Nice what kind of sail boat is that?

A Hans Christian 43. Not our boat. We were on board with the couple who owned it.

Did it twice, once from Acapulco to Ft. Lauderdale, repositioning. Again from Ft. Lauderdale to Pacific on World Cruise. Very interesting, watching how ship was guided through.

Sailed thru there 2 years ago. I would recommend reading 'The Path Between the Seas' by David Mc Collough on the building of the canal to have a good appreciation of what you are seeing and to understand the great challenge it was to build. We loved the adventure.

Reading it now. Thanks!

Been thru 4 times 2 each direction. I personally enjoy the locks and like to what the ship rise and drop (depending on direction). After 4 transits it gets a bit long.

If you stay on deck make sure to use plenty of sun block and drink plenty of water.

Reading it now. Thanks!

The port city is easy to get from the airport to dock.
Walk around the ship when you go through the locks. All levels.
Note the trains that pull the ship.

There is a lot going on.
Watching how the cabling from the ship to the engines on shore are played out and connected. Then tightened so as to keep the ship dead center. Our ship had one foot or less clearance on either side.
The disconnect process is also impressive.

It is a lot more than boat in and boat out.

My wife and I lived in Panama for 5 years before moving to the Villages and are quite familiar with the country and have also cruised the Panama Canal. Would be glad to provide you whatever info you want. If so, let me know and I'll call you or you can call me if you'll provide your email address.