Thread: Did you actually ENJOY the Panama Canal?

I thought the Panama Canal was great, I enjoyed every bit of it. We just had an outside room so I was walking all over getting different perspectives. For a while I was top up front laying on my belley in a kiddie pool looking forward as we traveled through the divide, awesome. No one else was up there, and I could hear all the commentary very well, plus I kept cool and got a tan!
This was my favorite cruise (LA to Ft Lauderdale) until the Baltic. I would do it again if the chance ever came up.

Hi Lulu -- We took the Celebrity Summit 14 day Panama Canal cruise a yr. ago in Nov. We left out of San Juan, visited Aruba and Curaco before going thru the Canal, stopped in Costa Rica and 3 Mexican ports and ended up in LA. Was an experience of a lifetime. Humidity was extreme. Had a balcony which had soooo many benefits. I'd highly recommend this trip to anyone....

Iowa Cruiser

I did this in 1986, and it was my first cruise and everything was wonderful! But have no desire to go through it again, once is just perfect and I recommend at least once for all

We had our first longer than 7 day cruise when we did the PC. For this reason, we loved it. I would not do it again though. DH thought it was fascinating, but after the 1st hour I was bored.

Originally Posted by hanna

We had our first longer than 7 day cruise when we did the PC. For this reason, we loved it. I would not do it again though. DH thought it was fascinating, but after the 1st hour I was bored.

My DH was REALLY bored after the first hour! He slept the rest of the way!

For SURE ... when taking a Panama Canal Cruise, a BALCONY is a very big plus!

Guess Id better keep watching for a rock bottom special, then. Those through the canal balcony cabins are pretty expensive, and they go fast.

Our first, and so far only, experience with the Panama Canal was on our cruise on the Island Princess. We were up early, well before dawn, and looking out on the bevy of ships waiting to transit. We were among the first to go through the Gatun Locks into the lake, where we anchored. We got off the ship and transferred to a smaller boat (about 100 to 200 people) and continued on to the Pacific, and around the islands at the other end, viewing Panama City in the distance. We then bused back to the ship. Seeing the canal from that level is quite impressive, being in a lock with giant container ships and small sailboats at the same time. We'd do it again, and would like to do a complete transit on a cruise ship sometime in the future.

Just returned from an 11 day cruise on the Island Princess. The Panama Canal was very interesting. Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just returned from an 11 day cruise on the Island Princess. The Panama Canal was very interesting. Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by canarymoon

Guess Id better keep watching for a rock bottom special, then. Those through the canal balcony cabins are pretty expensive, and they go fast.

Suggestion on the balcony: Get the lowest possible balcony cabin so you'll be able to see better.

On our last Panama Canal cruise ours was too high. We were able to see ground activities (locks,etc.) much better the time we were on a lower deck.