summersigh Posted May 13, 2016 #1 Share Posted May 13, 2016 We want to change a booking to the 10-Day PANAMA CANAL SUNFARER Dec 11-21. DH has some mobility problems so spends a lot of time out on the balcony rather than walking about the ship. Knowing that - which side would you choose for this cruise Starboard or Port? (it goes to Half Moon Cay, Curacao, Aruba, In and out of the Canal, Colon and Puerto Limon) Thanks !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted May 13, 2016 #2 Share Posted May 13, 2016 (edited) Doesn't matter, no side is going to allow you a better view. Aft maybe, that is a common discussion here. But no special side port or starboard. Given your situation, I would book aft. Edited May 13, 2016 by CruiserBruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted May 13, 2016 #3 Share Posted May 13, 2016 We have done your cruise a few times on various ships. Most of the time port side has faced the docks and activity. We book port side about 99% of the time and were only disappointed one time when the port side didn't face inland. Since I now have mobility issues we enjoy sitting on our verandah and people watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted May 13, 2016 #4 Share Posted May 13, 2016 We have done your cruise a few times on various ships. Most of the time port side has faced the docks and activity. We book port side about 99% of the time and were only disappointed one time when the port side didn't face inland. Since I now have mobility issues we enjoy sitting on our verandah and people watch. We have also visited these ports and done several Canal cruises. HMC is a tender port. Curacao has been portside most of the time. Aruba has been about 50-50. Colon has always been starboard. Puerto Limon can be either. There is a 50-50 chance on which side is to the dock, and it is not predictable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted May 14, 2016 #5 Share Posted May 14, 2016 I also think an aft cabin would be a good option. Its expensive, but IMO the BEST option would be a deck 5 corner aft-wrap. Something you will never forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peaches from georgia Posted May 14, 2016 #6 Share Posted May 14, 2016 We had port side on the Sunfarer cruise and always faced the port activity which we prefer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summersigh Posted May 14, 2016 Author #7 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Thank ya'll for the good advise. The afts on the decks we'd want are gone so I believe we'll go with port - it was our first instinct but I wanted to know what the CC folks had to say before contacting our TA Monday. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted May 14, 2016 #8 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Our preferred Panama Canal viewing location is our aft-wrap cabin on the port/left side where we can look straight down at the tugs. At the railing of an aft cabin, you should have a great view, too. That being said, sometimes the canal becomes one way for both lanes and port side is not the ideal location to view canal operations. In any case, an aft cabin will be a good choice and you can use your own bathroom while those on the Lido or bow must use the public restrooms. We will be on the Sunfarer for 10 days in Nov so I will have all of our On Locations and menus to share, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summersigh Posted May 14, 2016 Author #9 Share Posted May 14, 2016 That being said, sometimes the canal becomes one way for both lanes and port side is not the ideal location to view canal operations. In any case, an aft cabin will be a good choice and you can use your own bathroom while those on the Lido or bow must use the public restrooms. We will be on the Sunfarer for 10 days in Nov so I will have all of our On Locations and menus to share, Since the Panama Canal is our main objective for this cruise - We'll probably spend the actual canal time up at the Sea View Pool deck or make our way slowly to the crow's nest so we can see the "action" or view from either side. The rest of the cruise DH will likely spend a lot of balcony time :) We'll be looking for your postings after your Sunfarer. We've done a couple of CCL cruises because of itinerary (including sailing out of Charleston SC) but are anxious to get back to HAL. You can only take so many "Hairy Chest Contests" :D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted May 14, 2016 #10 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Since the Panama Canal is our main objective for this cruise - We'll probably spend the actual canal time up at the Sea View Pool deck or make our way slowly to the crow's nest so we can see the "action" or view from either side. The rest of the cruise DH will likely spend a lot of balcony time :) We'll be looking for your postings after your Sunfarer. We've done a couple of CCL cruises because of itinerary (including sailing out of Charleston SC) but are anxious to get back to HAL. You can only take so many "Hairy Chest Contests" :D:D Assuming that you are staying onboard for the entire Canal day, remember that on your way out you likely will want to just relax on your cabin's balcony and see what you can see, as you will be viewing the same areas as going in. After awhile, viewing the lock operations does get a bit boring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summersigh Posted May 14, 2016 Author #11 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Assuming that you are staying onboard for the entire Canal day, remember that on your way out you likely will want to just relax on your cabin's balcony and see what you can see, as you will be viewing the same areas as going in. After awhile, viewing the lock operations does get a bit boring. Yep ... we're going to ride the big boat in and ride the big boat out :D DH says thanks for the suggestion - it's what he was thinking :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted May 14, 2016 #12 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Yep ... we're going to ride the big boat in and ride the big boat out :D DH says thanks for the suggestion - it's what he was thinking :) Here is a tip - make friends with the people in an aft-wrap and maybe they will invite you over for the return portion! We did this and had a very nice party on the way out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted May 14, 2016 #13 Share Posted May 14, 2016 We have also visited these ports and done several Canal cruises. HMC is a tender port. Curacao has been portside most of the time. Aruba has been about 50-50. Colon has always been starboard. Puerto Limon can be either. There is a 50-50 chance on which side is to the dock, and it is not predictable. The recent 2 times we were in Colon, port side faced the terminal and shops beyond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summersigh Posted May 14, 2016 Author #14 Share Posted May 14, 2016 The recent 2 times we were in Colon, port side faced the terminal and shops beyond. Thank you :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted May 14, 2016 #15 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Here is a tip - make friends with the people in an aft-wrap and maybe they will invite you over for the return portion! We did this and had a very nice party on the way out. Our 5190 will be open to one and all for the canal the last week in November. BYOB and we'll try for some chocolate purses if we have an advanced count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedHeadTexan Posted May 15, 2016 #16 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Our 5190 will be open to one and all for the canal the last week in November. BYOB and we'll try for some chocolate purses if we have an advanced count. Walt and I will definitely take you up on that offer. :D Lisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted May 15, 2016 #17 Share Posted May 15, 2016 I too think it does not matter which side you are on. We prefer mid ship and that is our priority for selecting a room. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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