Thread: panama canal information

Hi,
My husband and I are looking into booking a Panama Canal cruise this winter, possibly on Princess, Holland Am or NCL. I'm a bit confused about what happens when the ships go through the canal, how long they stop for shore excursions if it is necessary to get off the ship if you want to learn about the construction and operation of the canal and how a partial transit (east) is different from a full transit. Although the other Panama shore excursions sound very nice, it is specifically the canal that we are interested in.

Thanks for your help.

Anne J

HAL -- has full transit cruises -- Ft lauderdale to San Diego and San Diego to Ft lauderdale. On these cruises you spend the day on the ship -- there are no stops for excursions. There will be a nararator on board that will start talking early morning and explain about the various locks -- all the new construction going on etc. There are also some yummy Panama buns to enjoy in the morning.

HAL also has partial canal cruises entering from the caribbean. You go through the Gatun Locks early i the morning. The ship will anchor in Gatun Lake for a short time -- just enough for the tenders to be lowered and passengers that have booked HAL excursions to leave on them to go ashore. Only those passengers who have booked HAL tours can get off the ship here.

Once everyone is ashore and gone on their tours -- then the tenders are brought back on board and the ship prepares to leave via the Gatun Locks and head to Cristobol where it will dock around 3 PM. The people who went on tours will return to the ship here.

This is a freight area -- but there are many vendors right in the area -- DO NOT GO OUT OF THIS AREA ON YOUR OWN.


This ship will be here until about PM.

Can't speak for the other cruise lines.

Originally Posted by Krazy Kruizers

Locks and head to Cristobol where it will dock around 3 PM. The people who went on tours will return to the ship here.

This is a freight area -- but there are many vendors right in the area -- DO NOT GO OUT OF THIS AREA ON YOUR OWN.


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Very much agree with KK about not going out of this area ALONE ... no matter the time or the cruise line!