[Avista]

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

[asianthree]

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

[Carla B]

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

[hulahips]

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

[JoMar]

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.

[Avista]

Originally Posted by JoMar

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.

[leftyf]

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

[blueash]

Originally Posted by JoMar

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.

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.

[billethkid]

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.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by blueash

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.

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.

[manaboutown]

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.

[Madelaine Amee]

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.

[Carla B]

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

[jimbo2012]

Nice what kind of sail boat is that?

[Carla B]

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