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Best time of year?


1midsun
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When is the best time of year to cruise the Panama Canal?

 

We want a cruise that goes all the way through.

 

Also is one direction better than the other? i.e is it better to go from West to East? Or East to West?

 

Looking forward to the opinions.

 

Thanks!!

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1midsun, This is a question which comes up a lot. Like most things there is no one "best" . . . The only advantage in terms of the Canal itself of a Southbound cruise is that usually the clocks are set back so getting up at 5 am to see the entire process doesn't seem quite that early.

 

If you don't want to actually get off the ship and see some of Panama [big loss, really!] then a repositioning cruise is going to be your best option price-wise. These are offered fall and spring when the ships are moving between Alaska and the Caribbean. Fall you can run the risk of a tropical depression in the Caribbean, and in spring there are northerly winds which make it feel a lot cooler in the Canal itself.

 

The passage Atlantic to Pacific is actually a southward passage, and Pacific to Atlantic is a northern passage since Panama runs east west not north south.

 

To anticipate, one side of the ship isn't any better than the other side. There is no way to psych out which chamber of the locks the ship will be assigned.

 

The more you read and prepare the more you will enjoy our voyage.

 

Regards, Richard

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January/February work for us because it's not the "rainy" season.

We rather like going from the Caribbean to the Pacific best because of the timing of being at the locks and the Bridge of the Americas. :)

On the Pacific to the Caribbean we always seem to sleep through the Bridge of the Americas. :rolleyes:

We been on five full transits. Actually, either way is fine ... but do suggest you avoid their rainy season if possible.

LuLu

~~~

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