Volendam gala nights

[disneychick55]

Does anyone know when the nights of the gala dinners for the January 3 Panama Canal Cruise?  Also does anyone know if the casino is open while going through the Panama Canal.

Thanks for the info!

[terrydtx]

1 hour ago, disneychick55 said:

Does anyone know when the nights of the gala dinners for the January 3 Panama Canal Cruise?  Also does anyone know if the casino is open while going through the Panama Canal.

Thanks for the info!

If I remember right when we did this cruise on the Volendam, the casino is closed because you are in the territory waters of Panama. Our Gala nights were on two sea days, the first on the way to the ABC islands and the second while returning from Costa Rica to FLL.

Edited November 17, 2018 by terrydtx

[crunchii]

It's the 15-day eastbound full-transit, correct? We did the almost identical itinerary (Grand Cayman instead of HMC is the only difference) in Jan. 2018.

 

But we were on Westerdam, so I'm not sure if it will be the same on Volendam, but we had Gala Nights on the first sea day (Day 2), on Corinto day (Day 8), and on Grand Cayman day (Day 14). I was rather surprised that 2 of the 3 Gala Nights were on port days, as we had plenty of sea days. Your Day 14 appears to be a sea day though.

 

Don't know about the casino. Sorry.

[CruiserBruce]

The casino is not open until after you exit the Canal Zone.

[DocJohnB]

Just off the Volendam. Your itinerary will be the same.  Our gala nights were the 2nd night, the night before the transit, and the night after Cartegena.  All were at sea days - which made it nice.

 

BTW, you should look up and have a talk with your cruise director - Justin.  He is also from Chicago.  His first cruise ever as a cruise director.  You will like him, I believe.  If you remember - tell him Jack, the retired sailor from his 1st cruise says hello.

 

Now that I think about it, that 3rd one may have been the 2nd night after Cartegena, but still an at Sea night.

[disneychick55]

Thanks for the info! I will tell him you said hi!

[DocJohnB]

On 11/17/2018 at 1:12 PM, disneychick55 said:

Does anyone know when the nights of the gala dinners for the January 3 Panama Canal Cruise?  Also does anyone know if the casino is open while going through the Panama Canal.

Thanks for the info!

 

When I originally answered the OP, I thought I knew the answer to the question about the casino.  I don't gamble, but love to watch people doing so.  I made a new friend on the cruise who did gamble and I thought I remembered seeing them there on the slots during the transit.  I sent them an email and the response was that the casino was indeed open during the transit of the canal.  Apparently, permission has to be requested prior from the Panamanian officials.

 

It would be good to know if the same happens on your transit.

[disneychick55]

Thanks! I’ll report back when I return.