Oakman58 Posted December 1, 2014 #1 Share Posted December 1, 2014 A few pics from our full transit of the canal on November 13th. Before entering the canal a member of the Panama Canal Authority boarded our ship for the purpose of explaining the history of the canal and what we were seeing as the ship went through the locks and the canal. His play by play was piped over the ship’s P.A. system and the ship’s closed circuit television channel. We entered the canal very early in the morning and soon the Bridge of the Americas came into view. The bow of deck 8, which is normally closed to passengers, was open for our trip through the canal. A container ship was entering the left lane of the Mira Flores locks as we entered the right lane. Tug boats were standing by in case the Star need maneuvering assistance entering the lock. Construction on the new set of locks, planned for completion in 2016, was easily seen from our ship. One of the massive gates for the new set of locks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakman58 Posted December 1, 2014 Author #2 Share Posted December 1, 2014 More Pics Electric locomotives (mules) are used for braking and side to side control in the locks. Leaving the locks and entering the canal. For those who needed a break from the elements (it was hot), progress of the ship could be followed on the big screen in the Atrium or on the closed circuit TV channel in their rooms. Not surprisingly there was quite a bit of large ship traffic in the canal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilovesailing Posted December 1, 2014 #3 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Thanks for the pics. Have a couple questions, what time did u start going through the locks and did u leave from LA or Miami? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakman58 Posted December 1, 2014 Author #4 Share Posted December 1, 2014 More pics Entering the Gatun Locks on the Atlantic side of the canal. A view from the bow on deck 8. Viewing space on the front of the ship was somewhat limited...well, except for the balconies of the front suites. While deck 8 was open, refreshments and fresh fruit was available to passengers. A view of the locks from the rear of the ship. Personally I thought this view was every bit as interesting and much less crowded. As we departed the final lock our ship got tangled in the cable from the "mule" and stripped it from the locomotive and into the canal. A tug boat had to come by to retrieve the cable from the ship causing a slight delay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakman58 Posted December 1, 2014 Author #5 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Thanks for the pics. Have a couple questions, what time did u start going through the locks and did u leave from LA or Miami? Thanks Our cruise on the Star was from L.A. to Miami. We passed Balboa around 5:30 AM and as I recall the bow of deck 8 was opened to passengers around 6:30 AM. We arrived at the MiraFlores lock around 8 AM. Our ship was delayed in the second lock as there was a medical evacuation from our ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilovesailing Posted December 1, 2014 #6 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORD1166 Posted December 1, 2014 #7 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Thanks for the pictures:rolleyes::cool:. We sail on Feb 16 from Miami to LA on the Star west bound thru the canal. It is a bucket list trip and looking forward to it. Vic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisersjb Posted December 1, 2014 #8 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Thanks for the lovely pics Oakman, brings back wonderful memories. I think the bow area of Deck 8 must have opened about 5.30am. We got there about 5.50 and there were already lots of people there, 1/2 deep all around the rails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Bananas Posted December 2, 2014 #9 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Great pictures. Thank you. On my bucket list of cruises... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesea777 Posted December 2, 2014 #10 Share Posted December 2, 2014 (edited) Loved loved loved THOSE pictures you took - they just make the Panama Canal cruising look interesting and fun. They were just a few pictures but each one was so interesting. Including the topless next door. Panama Canal is on my Bucket List but somewhat not on my husband's. I cannot understand why. I dragged my husband and got him to see the pics. He asked afterwards if I still want to do it. I said yes - it's on my bucket list after you die. He cracked up. Edited December 2, 2014 by bluesea777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakman58 Posted December 2, 2014 Author #11 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Including the topless next door. LOL!! What happens on the balcony stays on the balcony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mugtech Posted December 2, 2014 #12 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Thank you for the pics, hoping the Sun will be as much fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakman58 Posted December 2, 2014 Author #13 Share Posted December 2, 2014 The day we did our transit of the Panama Canal this certificate was pushed under our cabin door. I thought it was a cute and unexpected touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CP Tech Posted December 2, 2014 #14 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Great pics, the certificate is a great touch. This is on my bucket list also but getting a maiden TA crossed off next fall before a Panama Canal trip. :) Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LrgPizza Posted December 2, 2014 #15 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Thank you for sharing these pictures. This is a MUST DO for me someday. Someday... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKsol Posted December 2, 2014 #16 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Me and the Lovely wife were on the same cruise, loved the certificate as well. We were fortunate to have one of those forward facing suites which keep us out of the sun for most of the morning locks on pacific side. If you are crossing through the canal and have the ability to do a forward facing it is really worth it to have a spectacular view without the crowd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORD1166 Posted December 2, 2014 #17 Share Posted December 2, 2014 The day we did our transit of the Panama Canal this certificate was pushed under our cabin door. I thought it was a cute and unexpected touch. Nice touch. This will look great framed and on the home office wall:cool:. Vic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hookah01 Posted December 2, 2014 #18 Share Posted December 2, 2014 wow = I love the pictures, thanks for posting the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailingRNC Posted December 3, 2014 #19 Share Posted December 3, 2014 I was stationed in Panama (1985 - 1988) and I watched many a ship transit through the locks. I can't wait to transit them with NCL !!! Sent from my iPad Air using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdmartyn65 Posted December 3, 2014 #20 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Thank you for the great pics. Looking forward to our transit on the Sun in April! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMLady Posted December 3, 2014 #21 Share Posted December 3, 2014 (edited) The day we did our transit of the Panama Canal this certificate was pushed under our cabin door. I thought it was a cute and unexpected touch. You're fortunate to get a certificate. We did a Panama Canal transit on the Star in October 2013 and did not get a certificate. We also did a transit of the canal on the Sun in 2006.. Because I'd had my photo taken during the transit by roving ship photographer I was able to purchase my photo listing the transit. No other souvenir was provided. Edited December 3, 2014 by NMLady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huggs Posted December 3, 2014 #22 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Thank you so much for the great "preview"of what we can expect in April 2015 Nice touch with fruit and refreshments on the forward deck - we cruised Alaska with RCL and was so disappointed that they did not have a cart on deck serving hot beverages. These touches make such a difference, I suspect we be some of the crowd sitting in Spinakkers or lounge with cold Margaritas in hand :D if the weather is too humid . My DH is so excited - heading out to find a book/s about the Canal to put under the Christmas Tree !! ( Good thing he does not go on here..lol ) Cheers Huggs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted December 3, 2014 #23 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Awesome photo's, thanks for posting them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pambo Posted December 20, 2014 #24 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Great photos...thank you so much for sharing them. We are looking forward to our cruise on the Star in January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhea98 Posted December 20, 2014 #25 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Thank you. If I hadn't already signed on for the Pearl repo/Panama Canal for September, this would have made me do so. Appreciate the time you gave to share. Sent from my son's iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now