dmwnc1959

Viking Mars

Thank you for the great response. The “…sometimes the tour can run in the opposite direction from the description” threw me off for a moment, me wondering how are they going to get the ferry to Gamboa. lol It really dislike tendering, so here’s hoping that in the next +415 days they’ll have the terminal all shiny and already in use. The opportunity to do a small vessel transit in that stretch of the canal between Fuerte Amador and Gamboa is very exciting!

I’ve been browsing Jan. 2025 excursions. Just out of curiosity, where does the tour actually board the ferry from Fuerte Amador? Looks like we will be the only cruise ship there that day, so I’m guessing that the ship is docked and not anchored running tenders to the pier. Once the tour is done, and we are on our way back to the ship, where does the ship go when, according to the schedule, it ‘Departs 6pm’? The note at the bottom of the first image: “Note: Depending on the voyage, Fuerte Amador may be an anchorage port, passengers transfer to shore via ship's tender. On complete transits of the Panama Canal, the ship typically arrives in Fuerte Amador in the morning, operates tours and spends the full day at anchor.” Thank you. 😊

Serenade of the Seas passed the Amador cruise port area inbound approx. 610am and was at the Bridge of the Americas just before 630am, the Miraflores Locks pier head by 7am, and was exiting into Miraflores Lake around 820am.

One thing I’ve done in highly anticipated situations while on a cruise is to set my alarm for 330am, then do a quick check my Marine Traffic app just to see where the ship is. I’ll grab a shower, maybe step down to somewhere and grab a coffee and snack if it’s available. I may have to make sure that I have some kind of fruit, muffins, and yogurt handy just in case. Then, like you, head out to be on deck by 5am and claim some space. 👍🏻😁

Looks like it’ll be early to bed, very early to rise for that day. Hope to beat folks to those forward viewing decks. Maybe it’ll be a well-kept secret from my fellow passengers. 😉

Sounds like a plan! THANKS!!!

I booked an inside cabin at the back end of deck 11, so when I get up in the morning the first thing I can do is going outside and check out the wake. It’ll also come in handy when transiting the locks to be able to get some pictures of the closing lock gates behind us. I’m going to have to see if I can work out some kind of strategy to make sure I’m all over the ship getting some great pictures from different decks and different levels.

I found this picture that I took of Coral Princess in December 2012 while she was docked in Fort Lauderdale. Are the two decks (Baja and Caribe) viewing areas below the bridge accessible from both the port and starboard forward passenger cabin corridors?

GREAT tip!!! THANK YOU! 🥰

THANKS for the tip, it’s been a good number of years since I’ve been on the forum. Booked the Coral Princess specifically because she is Panamax (going through the original locks was the only option to me) and I didn’t want to take any chances. Plus I do love Princess Cruises, and I’m Platinum with them. Have never sailed on NCL, the Gem and Coral appear to be approximately the same size.

GORGEOUS picture!!! Did the Norwegian Gem transit the historic locks? I am most definitely a very early riser, even when on a cruise. And I’ll order the book, since I’ll have plenty of time before the cruise to read.

THANK YOU! I think my co-workers were more excited about me booking this than I was! j/k LOL. It’s still a ways off but I’m quite happy with this one and am already looking at shore excursions and flights. All I can do is countdown and find someway to keep myself busy until then!

After much personal ‘research’ booked this bucket-list cruise on Coral Princess, deciding on a northbound transit. Won’t have a balcony cabin in order to save some money for shore excursions. I know it will be a very early morning at the Bridge of the Americas, but does this happen before sunrise? Curious too as to what time she’ll arrive at the Miraflores Locks? No doubt I’ll be watching the Panama Canal webcams a lot this winter. This is something I’ve always dreamed of doing, and it’s a retirement gift to myself.