Thread: Panama Canal: Have You Been? Do You Want to Go?

Hey there! It's good to see you back.

You have a very detailed web site
....are you planning any new cruises?

Thank you!

W've got a cruise planned for this summer: one week cruising through the Mediterranean with HAL (again). Rome, Barcelona, Cannes, Mallorca, Tunis and Sicily.

We're looking forward to it!

I might be the only one saying I have no desire to do this cruise. But I think that makes sense, since most people clicking on a thread about the Panama Canal are people who are either interested in going or have done it. People not interested probably won't do the poll.

But I came in to see reasons people enjoy the Panama Canal, and with an open mind I am ready to listen to why people love this cruise. I could change my mind.

Here is why I am hesitant: I have seen plenty of locks, on several European river cruises. The one on the Danube was in a big canyon. I have seen big canals, big canyons, and huge structures like the Hoover Dam and other big man made ditches, and so I don't think the hugeness of the canal alone would be enough to make me want to spend a whole cruise looking at it. The technology itself is very interesting, but I have seen it done. The first few times I saw it done everybody ran to the sides to watch and went 'wow' but after a few dozen times it was more like.. oh look...we are going through another lock.

I have not heard much about any wonderful excursions or fascinating cultural experiences on this cruise. What do you see going through the Panama Canal? Is the scenery to-die-for gorgeous? Are there fun or interesting things to do along the way?

Other than seeing your ship go through the locks and seeing a really big canal, what is the main attraction?

Good question. The locks are definitely an architectural wonder both in size and scope of importance. To those who have not been through them, it is definitely an impressive experience. But Panama is also a beautiful place to visit with gorgeous rain forests and beautiful beaches.

Let me respond with a counter question. Isn't any city really just like any other city? Isn't any beach really just like any other beach? One of the really "downer" people on our last cruise commented "All the islands in the Caribbean fall into two categories, mountainous or flat. If you have seen two you have seen them all"

Originally Posted by nealberk

Good question. The locks are definitely an architectural wonder both in size and scope of importance. To those who have not been through them, it is definitely an impressive experience. But Panama is also a beautiful place to visit with gorgeous rain forests and beautiful beaches.

Let me respond with a counter question. Isn't any city really just like any other city? Isn't any beach really just like any other beach? One of the really "downer" people on our last cruise commented "All the islands in the Caribbean fall into two categories, mountainous or flat. If you have seen two you have seen them all"

True but just like everyone on this earth....
We all are unique and different.

Each island has it's own taste and favor to language and customs and look. Each also has a different look different from each other.

We would not have gone on over 15+ cruises to the Caribbean if there was not something special that we like. We do have our special interests for each island.

The Panama Canal is a special interest that at that time before it was built, did not exist and once built made a different.

Again, different interests to different people. Some like what others don't and some dislike what other's like.

well lets see:

it's the only place that i've been to that rains more than the country that i live in.
it's the only country that we've pulled up at a roadside eatery and eaten iguana (freshly butchered ) with a type of pitta bread.
it's the only country that has native indians who apart from the pygmies in africa are the smallest in hight in the world.
totally worth a visit I M H O

Originally Posted by smitty

well lets see:

it's the only place that i've been to that rains more than the country that i live in.
it's the only country that we've pulled up at a roadside eatery and eaten iguana (freshly butchered ) with a type of pitta bread.
it's the only country that has native indians who apart from the pygmies in africa are the smallest in hight in the world.
totally worth a visit I M H O

OK, iguana on pita bread and tiny natives sounds way more interesting than the canal itself. Now you have my interest! This is the sort of stuff I was hoping to learn. Thank you Smitty.

Originally Posted by nealberk

Let me respond with a counter question. Isn't any city really just like any other city?

No. Far from it! There are some cities that are so unique and full of character that you daydream about them years after a visit. Like St Petersburg, Russia.

Isn't any beach really just like any other beach?

Oh heavens no! I grew up on Florida's gulf coast beaches, which have snow white soft sand like powdered sugar. Then I moved to Californa, and remember thinking the beach was just like cat litter. Ugh. But oh, the views were spectacular with giant cliffs and big mountains off in the distance. It made that cat litter tolerable. There were no views like that in Florida, that's for sure. But they both pale in comparison to Bora Bora's beaches, which are almost surreal in their beauty. And none are anything like the others.

Originally Posted by Texashorselady

OK, iguana on pita bread and tiny natives sounds way more interesting than the canal itself. Now you have my interest! This is the sort of stuff I was hoping to learn. Thank you Smitty.

there's other things as well julie. a fort made entirely of coral and the oldest building in central america. all of these are easily accessable from the caribbean side