Why the Panama Canal? - Page 2 - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

jstducky · 03-03-2006, 07:20 PM

oh wow, I didn't know. I remember Laurie telling me that a co-worker was recently there and really liked it.

MCcruiser · 03-03-2006, 07:21 PM

Julie, I was the one who wanted to see the Panama Canal, but I think my husband may have gotten more out of that part of the cruise. Besides watching how the locks work, you get to see the Panamanian jungle, and you get a feel of what it was like to arrive there back when this was being built. Also, there is a lot of history surrounding the Canal, and we got to learn about that.

Every day prior to arriving at the Canal, there was a lecture by a man who had grown up in the Canal Zone, and who had served in the military there until it was turned over to Panama. He went thru his family history - how they got to Panama, which was fascinating in itself, - the construction of the Canal, the history of the area, and of the events surrounding the US leaving the area. While we didn't go sit in on the lectures, they were replayed on the cabin TV's and we got to hear all about it while we were relaxing or getting ready for dinner. He also gave commentary while we were in the Canal. I didn't think I would like that, but it did enhance the trip quite a bit.

As I said, my husband really enjoyed going through the canal. We have tons of pictures of where they cut thru mountains, and of the jungle. It was rainy that day, so I was wet and cranky - well, only a little.

As for excursions, there are all kinds! We stayed on the ship thru all the locks, but some people got off in the middle of the Canal, and went fishing and kayaking among other things.
For excursions elsewhere on the cruise, it would depend on your itinerary. Most likely, there will be one stop in Costa Rica, and I recommend you do SOMETHING related to nature there. Visit a coffee farm, or a natural park near a volcano, or go visit some natural springs or see monkeys. There are tours that take you into the capital, but you can always go to a city. Costa Rica is known for its ecotourism, and it's for a good reason. Our other ports of call were Acapulco and Aruba, and those you can read about elsewhere.

jstducky · 03-03-2006, 07:34 PM

wow that is really great about the local guy who grew up in the Canal Zone MC. What ship was this on? Serenade? The member cruise>

cruising with marti · 03-03-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texashorselady

My DH mentioned he might someday want to do a Panama Canal cruise. It has never been a place I had ever thought about for a cruise...but I am openminded and willing to learn.

I wondered if there are any experts here who can tell me why the Panama Canal might be a wonderful cruise. I don't know that much about it other than where it is, a little of the history, and that there is a series of locks you travel through when you cruise the length of it.

Other than the technology of the locks...which is mildly interesting to me but I am not sure if it's fascinating enough to book an entire cruise based on just that...what is there to see or do? Is there gorgeous scenery? Is there fascinating history and cultures to explore? Why do some people do this cruise over and over?

Or is this maybe one of those cruises where you mainly enjoy the ship, the company you're with and just and being on a cruise...and not so much the location?

We have cruised the Panama canal twice and loved both of them.
Its not just the Canal its self, but many of the port of call. on the pacific side several Mexico ports and costa rica, on the gulf side, Cosumel, Cauraco, Grand caym en, aruba and others and don 't forget the sea days.

Phil

MCcruiser · 03-03-2006, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstducky

wow that is really great about the local guy who grew up in the Canal Zone MC. What ship was this on? Serenade? The member cruise>

Yes, Alisa, that's the one. I've been told that there is usually this kind of format for Canal cruises; I can't say that the speaker is always as informative as ours was.

Phil, our cruise didn't have many other ports - one of the ways I convinced my husband to go was that we had almost 8 days at sea!

Captain Larry · 03-03-2006, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isujim

Actually Alisa the book I am reading (Anne Vipond) says this port was built exclusively for tourism by the government of Mexico.......still not much there......completion is scheduled for the year 2008 to 2010......they are building this port apparently in stages.

I believe Huatulco is actually the state, and the port is Santa Cruz de Huatulco. If it is being built in stages, I think it was in stage -2 when I was there in 2002. The ship was there for five hours and most passengers thought that was six hours too long. Nothing there but shops and boat rides. The shops were all branches of Acapulco stores, and the boat rides were ridiculously expensive. Admittedly it was the second week of May, but that was the most extreme heat we encountered during the cruise - worse than Cartagena or Panama. I would not skip a cruise just because it called in Santa Cruz de Huatulco, but it would take some convincing to get me ashore there.

Texashorselady · 03-03-2006, 09:48 PM

I'm learning so much!! Thank you everybody for your ideas and memories. Keep it coming!

newhips · 03-03-2006, 09:50 PM

We're doing the 4-14-07 Summit transit. I have always wanted to see it since we read about it in high school but never thought I ever would. When we started cruising and I found out it was a cruise you could take, I wanted to do it but then found out that it was 14 days and I never thought we'd be able to do more than 7 day cruises - Well after our 11 day last Nov. I told the wife that's the next cruise, and she at first hesitated, thought it would be too expensive, but after thinking about it and after a little coersion from me we now are salivating at the thought. The best part is we only duplicate a couple of ports we've already been to.

isujim · 03-04-2006, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Larry

I believe Huatulco is actually the state, and the port is Santa Cruz de Huatulco. If it is being built in stages, I think it was in stage -2 when I was there in 2002. The ship was there for five hours and most passengers thought that was six hours too long. Nothing there but shops and boat rides. The shops were all branches of Acapulco stores, and the boat rides were ridiculously expensive. Admittedly it was the second week of May, but that was the most extreme heat we encountered during the cruise - worse than Cartagena or Panama. I would not skip a cruise just because it called in Santa Cruz de Huatulco, but it would take some convincing to get me ashore there.

Larry you are correct......thanks for correcting me........and from what I have heard.......you are right.......this might be a ship day

isujim · 03-04-2006, 07:23 AM

On the Brilliance in April of 04.........they ran on a couple of the TV channels the PBS special The Path Between the Seas and it ran it the day of going into the cannal........I also have this book........but it is much more difficult to read than Anne Vipond's book.........you really have to love the canal, engineering and the history of it to read the Path Between the Seas.............all 800 page of it.