Panama Canal - Partial or Full Transit

[LMaxwell]

I am not seeing ANY RCI cruises for Panama canal at all for 2016 and 2017; is this right? None of the 15 day full transits, no 10 or 11 day partial transit.

 

Does anyone think any of the smaller ships could be deployed for 2017 to do Panama Canal? Looks like NCL, HAL, and Princess mostly.

[Eng23]

That's correct. No Royal Caribbean ships are scheduled for the Panama Canal. You would have to book on Celebrity if you wanted to stay within the RCI family.

[LMaxwell]

That's correct. No Royal Caribbean ships are scheduled for the Panama Canal. You would have to book on Celebrity if you wanted to stay within the RCI family.

 

Unfortunately no partial transit (round trips). Only longer full transits.

 

These itineraries usually command pretty strong prices; wonder why they aren't using a vision or radiance class to do some.

[shipfriend_max]

That's poor for RCCL...

 

On the one hand, they're proclaiming showy not being a low-cost-line. For that reason, they're not sailing Mexican Riviera and US West Coast, since only low-cost-cruise lines are sailing on those itineraries... :rolleyes:

Together with NCL and Carnival, Princess and HAl are also offering those sailings, and those are low-cost-lines - aha...

 

But on the other hand, they do not achieve to offer Central America cruises with partial/full Panama Canal transit for long-term, and also do not offer South America cruises around the horn (except early 2016).

 

Don't they get their ships full on such sailings??!!??

Edited December 24, 2015 by celebrity_fan

[TravelerThom]

That's correct. No Royal Caribbean ships are scheduled for the Panama Canal. You would have to book on Celebrity if you wanted to stay within the RCI family.

RCCL's Azamara also does Panama Canal transits. I can't recall any RCCL ship doing a partial Panama Canal anytime recently; does anyone know if or when?

 

Thom

[grandgeezer]

It's not real recent but we did a full transit on the Serenade of the Seas in October 2009. San Diego to Miami.

[travelgoddess1]

We returned from the last RCI Canal cruise on November 1 (last month). There are none scheduled through at least April, 2017. If there are no ships being repositioned from the Caribbean to Alaska and beyond (and there are not), there are no Canal cruises. Only Vision and Radiance Class are Panamax (plus whatever they are designating Majesty and Empress).

 

RCI used to do partial Canal transits on the Atlantic side, but have not done so for several years.

Edited December 24, 2015 by travelgoddess1

[FLACRUISER99]

Legend did Port Everglades to San Diego And back in 2013.

Edited December 24, 2015 by FLACRUISER99

[travelgoddess1]

Legend did Port Everglades to San Diego And back in 2013.

 

I believe it is now in the South Pacific and not likely to return to U.S ports.

Edited December 24, 2015 by travelgoddess1

[FLACRUISER99]

I believe it is now in the South Pacific and not likely to return to U.S ports.

I know, shes home ported in Brisbane now I think.

[Debde]

RCI used to do partial Canal transits on the Atlantic side, but have not done so for several years.

 

Fingers crossed for this one to return someday!!! :)

[ADS94]

I believe it is now in the South Pacific and not likely to return to U.S ports.

 

This was brought up one of the Empress threads, Legend OTS is booked for Key West, Florida in March of 2016. Coming from New Orleans and going to Nassau. Could be a misfire for 2016 and they meant 2017, or a placeholder.

[LMaxwell]

RCI used to do partial Canal transits on the Atlantic side, but have not done so for several years.

 

That itinerary for 10 or 11 nights is what I am looking for. No need to BOOK NOW, so I will hold out hope for 2017, but then I will have to choose from Princess, HAL, or NCL most likely.

[BillB48]

Think the last partial transits of the Canal offered by Royal was back in 2010 on the Jewel. They started selling for the same cruise for the 2011 season and then changed the cruise to an "Ultimate Caribbean Cruise" or something similar, dropping the partial transit and just stopping in Colon for a full day.

 

Even if opt for a full transit with Celebrity, they are offering a lot fewer transits the ''Canal season.'' Can't be because of a toll increase... they haven't raised them yet!