Turtles06

The Sun Deck on Deck 14. Take a look at the folks in my photos in comment 10 above. (There is of course a transparent barrier in front of them.)

We'll be leaving on a cruise out of Miami next January, but staying in a hotel there a couple of nights pre-cruise. Looking at air fares, they are much cheaper if we fly into FLL than into MIA. I know that there are shared shuttle services (like SAS) that would take us from FLL to the Miami cruise port, but what we'd need is a transfer from FLL to our hotel in Miami. If you have any car, limo, van or other transfer services to recommend for this, I'd really appreciate it.. Thanks in advance for any information!

Sailaways from a port or sails into one are very different from full transits of the Panama Canal. It is quite common on cruise lines for the bow to be open to all guests during a Canal transit, which takes an entire day.

Excellent! You were fortunate to be there in January, during the height of the humpback whale migration season. For future reference for anyone reading this, taking a whale-watching excursion in Cabo during those months is well worth it.

Thanks for your kind words. I don’t recall any announcements of a specific time that the bow would be open. They did post in the Freestyle Daily the expected arrival time at the various locks, etc. I was surprised, though, that for our NB transit, the list of estimated arrivals did not include the Bridge of the Americas, but instead began with the Miraflores Locks. We went under the Bridge just after 5:30am; it was still dark out, and a beautiful, quiet approach. I think some folks missed this because of the lack of notice. (BTW, as you can see, the crew hadn’t set up the bow yet.)

On our three SB transits, the bow was pretty much packed well before the ship entered the Canal. I'd say that if you really want to be "at the very front," you'll want to be down there around 6am, maybe even a little earlier. Just by way of example of the crowds, these are photos I took aboard the Jewel in the winter of 2017. In the first one, the ship hadn't even reached the new Atlantic Bridge yet (obviously, still under construction). The second of course is in the Gatun Locks. By late in the day, the crowds tend to thin out. This is the Jewel entering the Miraflores Locks.

As noted above, you need to post your question on the Roll Call for your cruise. Here’s it is:

We’ve eaten there several times over many years. Walk up or with a reservation. Frankly, and with the caveat that food is very subjective, it’s not that good a place. We go there for apps, mainly; haven’t found the entrees very good. On long cruises (which is what we tend to take now), it’s an alternative when we’re looking for a break from the other dining venues.

You definitely want to experience the Canal from all over the ship -- forward, aft, high, low, midship. From the promenade deck, you'll get great closeup views of the locomotives, as well as the lock walls and how little space there is between the ship and the walls. Besides being up front as the ship goes through a lock, it's good to look back at the locks from the Great Outdoors. And get up high on the sun deck. The transit is slow, so you'll have plenty of time to move around. And as you already know, it will be a hot and humid day, so pace yourself. If you are sailing SB, once you get to Gatun Lake it will probably be a good time to get back in the a/c and have some lunch. But don't miss the traffic coming from the opposite direction. Incredibly interesting cargo, LNG carriers, and other commercial ships. And the occasional cruise ship. Last year in Gatun Lake on the Gem going SB, we passed the Jewel going NB. It was pretty exciting, since our first transit was on the Jewel.

We did two-week Med cruise on the Jade, years ago, in the winter (!). It was great. We love the Jewel-class ships. They are a comfortable size, with great public spaces, including the Spinnaker Lounge, the Great Outdoors, and a true promenade deck. We don't need an amusement park at sea. 🙂

You’ve definitely been doing your research! 😊 Yes, these were taken on B2B cruises. The NCL Gem sailed one-way from NY to Panama City, and then returned to NY. Quite a good-sized group doing the 23-day B2B. It was a great trip! The second leg was our first northbound transit, and it turned out to be so much more than just seeing things in reverse order. We loved the whole experience. Re Centennial Bridge — I’m pretty short, so it’s hard for me to see over the bow. I don’t go down there when it’s very crowded, usually during the first locks. But on our NB transit, the bow crowds were small, and so I went down there after Miraflores, and had a nice view of the Gem passing under the Bridge.

I wanted to add one additional comment. I don't know whether this would be your first transit of the Canal. If so, I think you'll find, especially if you read over in the Panama Canal Port of Call forum, a general consensus that, especially for a first transit, going through the original locks is a more interesting experience. Of course, that will be your call (and there are other factors in play in deciding on a cruise, including ship and itinerary). It's one day out of your entire cruise (but, imho, the most important day. 🙂) And if it will be your first transit, I highly recommend reading David McCullough's masterful book, "The Path Between the Seas." You will appreciate the Canal even more.

We’ve done four full transits of the Canal, three on the Gem and one on the Jewel. The bow was opened every time. Canopies were set up for shade, and cold beverages were provided. And yes, barring something extremely unusual, the Jewel-class ships use the original locks. I took the photos below on the Gem in February 2023.

Giving an additional bag (or more) of free laundry as a Latitude perk on a longer cruise is not a Latitude policy but up to the discretion of someone on the ship (I’m not sure how high ranking.).

Yes, that’s been our experience. Always brings a smile to my face. 😊

@PistolPete13 a slightly belated welcome home! Thanks so much for taking the time you did to share your trip, your thoughts, and your always beautiful photos. You’ve been very helpful in our thinking about trying MSC. Enjoy your return to the real world, and your photo and video editing.

The East Coast Departures forum will give you all the info you need to get to the Brooklyn cruise terminal from Manhattan

That’s great to hear. (Assigned dining is certainly a major difference between MSC and NCL!) Did you have any choice in the assigned dining time, or in the size of your table? Do you happen to know if a couple could request (and be given) a two-top?

We’ve been very happy sailing NCL’s Jewel-class ships out of NY in the winter. Yes, you have a couple of cold days, but you also have (for many folks) the convenience of a drive-to port, and, for all, the magnificent sailaway out of Manhattan. NCL has had some great winter itineraries out of NY, including full transits of the Panama Canal.

@PistolPete13 Hi Pete, I just discovered your thread here. Like other NCL vets, I’m interested in your thoughts about MSC. I too am disappointed in NCL’s offerings out of NY this winter. I hope you have a great time on the rest of your trip!

There’s an entire forum here on CC, the East Coast Departures forum, where the subjects of where to stay and what to do when sailing from NY or NJ are regularly discussed.

I’m sure you meant to say “the only difference between a Haven cabin and a non-Haven suite ….” 😉

What you will need entering Panama depends on what Panama requires. Check for any requirements on their government web site. (Some tourist sites may also be helpful.) Be aware that some countries prohibit visitors from bringing in certain specific drugs that Americans consider pretty common and innocuous. Others may require a letter from your prescribing doctor for certain meds, like sleep meds and narcotic pain meds. Even if there are no specific rules for Panama, I think it’s safest when traveling internationally to have things like prescription pain meds and sleep meds in their original containers. (I take a doctor’s letter as well.) For innocuous Rx meds, like statins, if I don’t take the original container, I do take a photo of it. Most folks here on CC will tell you they’ve never had any problems (I haven’t and hope I’m not jinxing myself), but it’s wise to be prepared and you’ve asked a good question.

I loved seeing those buses. No two alike, very colorful. Here's one photo I was able to get, I hope you don't mind my posting it so folks have a visual of what you are talking about. (photo by turtles06)

So glad you enjoyed your cruise! Thank you for taking the time to post your detailed review and photos. We’ve done four full transits of the Canal, and our first was from Miami to LA (on the NCL Jewel), so I’m particularly enjoying “revisiting” that route. The Panamanian authorities provide an on-board “narrator” for the transit. Some are more interesting than others. I’m sorry yours was dull. Looking forward to reading about the rest of your cruise to LA.