Voted partial but in fact have done a full transit. The cruise ship anchored in the Gatun Lake, and we got off and completed the transit on a smaller boat, then bused back to Colon. It was a fun cruise, and we got to see the operation of the canal up close and personal...better than on a cruise ship. I'd do it again.
We have done several full transit canal cruises -- have another in 2009.
We also have entered the Panama Canal from the Caribbean cruise where we anchored in Gatun Lake and took a tour from there -- we returned to our ship in Gatun Lake.
We have also done a couple of cruises were we entered the Canal - from the Pacific side and overnighted at Gatun Lake - and then exited back out on the Pacific side -- love those cruises -- unfortunately we were scheduled to another one in 2009 but HAL has cancelled it.
CLF Navigator - if you need help for Holland America -- ask me -- Yonnie
Voted partial but in fact have done a full transit. The cruise ship anchored in the Gatun Lake, and we got off and completed the transit on a smaller boat, then bused back to Colon. It was a fun cruise, and we got to see the operation of the canal up close and personal...better than on a cruise ship. I'd do it again.
Thanks! Princess calls this one "Panama Canal Experience by Boat".
While we've never taken it, EVERYONE (without exception) we've met on cruises who has ... always raved about it ... saying it's the BEST possible way to see the Panama Canal!
LuLu ... Visit SOUTH CAROLINA!
11/21/09 Crown Princess 2/18/10 Island Pricess B2B Ft.Lauderdale to Acapulco and back (total 20 days)
OVER 40 (started young) Princess, Celebrity, RCCL, HAL, NCL, Costa, Disney, Carnival, Sitmar (Princess bought), and (a very long time ago) SS Bahama Star
I voted that we went to Colon on a shore excursion. This is sad, but I don't know if we went up to Gatun Lake?
I think we went through 2 sets of locks and then took buses back to the ship, but the reason I don't know for sure is that the excursion was the worst group of people on a smaller ship that I've ever encountered. Pushing, shoving, not enough room to sit, etc.
I would only ever do a Full Transit through the Canal on a cruise ship now.
Big Red Boat 11/1994 (Bahamas); HAL Rotterdam 9/1996(Alaska); Carnival Sensation 5/2000 (W. Carib); Carnival Tropicale 8/2000 (W. Carib); Carnival Destiny 6/2002 (S. Carib); Carnival Miracle 5/2004 (E. Carib); Carnival Legend 1/2005 (Exotic W. Carib); Louis Emerald 3/2005 (Greek Isles); RCI Explorer of the Seas (Bermuda) 9/2008; RCI Brilliance of the Seas (MED) 11/2008; RCI Adventure of the Seas (Southern Caribbean) 9/2009
We sailed Infinity through the canal - Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego. It was awesome, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested. It was a very long day going through the locks, the lake was beautiful, the machinery and process was just amazing. We had a great time!
Cindy & Marty
Solstice NYE Cruise in
Solstice, Summit, Mercury, Infinity,
Vision of the Seas,
Majesty of the Seas
So, we are considering doing the full canal in 2010, on the Sea Princess.
Am I right in assuming that a starboard balcony stateroom would be preferable? We would be traveling from FL to CA, so the starboard would be facing land predominately, and would face the north side of the canal.
We took a full transit from Seattle to Ft. Lauderdale.
I would like to do it again one day but in the other direction.
John (SJ)
Radiance of the Seas 3/10
Mariner of the Seas in
Gone cruising
Island Princess (2), Cunard Princess, Festival, Starward, Nieuw Amsterdam (3), Pacific Princess, Costa Riviera, Regent Sea, Queen of Bermuda (2), Southward, Enchanted Isle, Regent Sun (3), Fair Princess, Tropical, Regent Star (2), Nordic Prince, Celebration, Song of Norway, Westerdam, Song of America (2), Viking Serenade (2), Rhapsody of the Seas (4), Radiance of the Seas (6), Vision of the Seas (8), Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Sun, Mercury, Explorer of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas (4), Sun Princess, Mariner of the Seas (2), Golden Princess
So, we are considering doing the full canal in 2010, on the Sea Princess.
Am I right in assuming that a starboard balcony stateroom would be preferable? We would be traveling from FL to CA, so the starboard would be facing land predominately, and would face the north side of the canal.
Hm, I don't think it would really matter which side of the ship you are on, but I have heard that the cabins on the stern of the ship offer a phenomenal view.
Neal (International Association of Troublemakers)
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”- Mark Twain
Noordam, Dec 7,2008 in
See ya' when we get back!
HAL Veendam
Celebrity Century
Celebrity Constellation
HAL Noordam (the cruise from Hell)
The cruise ship anchored in the Gatun Lake, and we got off and completed the transit on a smaller boat, then bused back to Colon. It was a fun cruise, and we got to see the operation of the canal up close and personal...better than on a cruise ship.
We did the same thing from the Brilliance OTS a few years back. Into Gatun while perched on the ship, and then the secondary experience, very up close and personal, from a small boat.
Quote:
Originally Posted by daWoods
I'd do it again.
Agreed! And doing it this way was the best of both worlds.
Kent
My Almost-Fabulous XMAS Solstice Cruise, as part of the ULTRA-FABULOUS NYE "Advance Team" in