Choosing Panama Canal Cruise

[Mare10]

Great!!!!!  What cabin did you choose?

[Chiliswick]

we dont have a cabin yet. Hoping to get one soon.

[daydreamer16]

8 hours ago, Mare10 said:

I really appreciate everyone's input!!!!!  This research is part of the fun for sure!  For those that recommend the aft cabins have you noticed much engine noise or bumpiness?  On a Hawaiian Islands cruise we had a mini suite in the way aft.... Grand Princess.  The hubby wasn't keen on the noisiness!  

 

After all the tips I've ordered the book that was recommended!!!!!!

 

Love Cruise Critic!

We had E737 for both of our Panama cruises it's the last cabin on the Emerald deck. This was on the Coral and Island. We loved it because the balcony is a little bigger and you have side and aft views. It was a little noisy when we were pulling in and out of ports, but it was worth it for that balcony!

[konatyme]

We just did the ocean-to-ocean LA to Ft. Lauderdale in January (our second Canal cruise).  We were on the Coral and liked it very much.  I prefer LA to Ft. Lauderdale, rather than vice-versa due to the rougher sailing from Mexico north to LA--we were told it's known as the "Baja Bash" because the ship is going against the current and against the winds, resulting in a rougher ride.  (We did a Mexico cruise & experienced the "Bash" firsthand.)

[Ep010835]

Old locks vs. new locks. 

 

Is it purely luck of the draw on which set of locks one travels through or is it possible to select a cruise based on a choice of locks?

 

Like others have said, we’d like to experience both sets. 

[ctompkins]

On 3/15/2019 at 12:34 PM, Georgie562 said:

 

I would definitely go for the 15 day one where you have to fly. That cruise will give you the full Panama Canal transit experience crossing all the locks.

 

The roundtrip from LA although nice because no flying involved, it's only a partial transit experience. I haven't done a partial transit yet but I believe with partial transits you just pass through one set of locks and then turn back around to come back home ( not the full panama canal crossing)

 

So if this is your only Panama Canal cruise, definitely go with the full crossing experience.

 

I went on my first Panama Canal Cruise in November through the new locks. Now I feel obligated to book another one through the old locks. I want to experience both.

We went on the full Panama Canal cruise on the Coral Princess last April!  It was right up there as being my favorite cruise ever.  ABSOLUTELY, do the old locks!!  You will get a great look at what those poor men who built the Canal had to deal with.  If it is in your budget, get a balcony cabin on the Starboard side.  Fly to Ft. Lauderdale and sail to LA.  We were on the last Panama sailing the Coral was doing for the season, before heading to Alaska, so our stops on the Pacific side were not their “regular” stops.

[Thrak]

1 hour ago, Ep010835 said:

Old locks vs. new locks. 

 

Is it purely luck of the draw on which set of locks one travels through or is it possible to select a cruise based on a choice of locks?

 

Like others have said, we’d like to experience both sets. 

 

If you sail on Pacific, Island, or Coral you will do the old locks. None of the other Princess ships can fit through the old locks.

[Ep010835]

1 hour ago, Thrak said:

 

If you sail on Pacific, Island, or Coral you will do the old locks. None of the other Princess ships can fit through the old locks.

 

Excellent advice. Thanks! 

 

Then the CB and Emerald, for example, will always transit the new locks?

 

Makes me wonder about something else. If these three ships can fit in the old locks, then they can surely fit in the new locks. What's to prevent them from taking the new locks rather than the old ones? Maybe the transit cost associated with the new locks is greater than transiting the old locks? Is it purely convention that routes them through the old locks?

 

I get it that the larger ships cannot transit the old locks. Just curious about the other way around. Do these three ships ever transit the new locks (apart from when the old locks are unavailable for one reason or another, of course)?

[Thrak]

I believe the charge for the new locks is greater. Any transit through the canal is crazy expensive. Here's a picture of something most folks have never seen - and never will see. It's a US Navy Zumwalt Class Stealth Destroyer transiting the old locks. Saw this on our recent transit last November.

 

[Ep010835]

5 minutes ago, Thrak said:

I believe the charge for the new locks is greater. Any transit through the canal is crazy expensive. Here's a picture of something most folks have never seen - and never will see. It's a US Navy Zumwalt Class Stealth Destroyer transiting the old locks. Saw this on our recent transit last November.

 

That's really an amazing photo!

[Thrak]

1 minute ago, Ep010835 said:

 

That's really an amazing photo!

 

We went down to IC for coffee one morning and that ship was off the Starboard side of the ship. People were all gawking and checking it out with binoculars and stuff. Nobody knew what the heck it was at first. Finally there was an announcement over the PA letting us all know what it was. Definitely not something one sees every day. It was just a coincidence that it transited at the same time we did on Coral.

[jimlouisesophie]

This is our second time going from the west to the east on the full transit, leaving from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale.  We chose the port side as we will see land leaving San Fran....On the return flight from Ft. Lauderdale, we gain 3 hours flying back to Vancouver due to the time change, as our flight leaves at 1 pm.

[Ofmyheart]

Does the Island use the old locks or the newer wider locks? Doing the full Ocean to Ocean in a few weeks.

[skynight]

1 minute ago, Ofmyheart said:

Does the Island use the old locks or the newer wider locks? Doing the full Ocean to Ocean in a few weeks.

Should be the old locks. It was built to fit.

[Ep010835]

1 hour ago, Ofmyheart said:

Does the Island use the old locks or the newer wider locks? Doing the full Ocean to Ocean in a few weeks.

 

On 3/19/2019 at 10:35 PM, Thrak said:

If you sail on Pacific, Island, or Coral you will do the old locks. None of the other Princess ships can fit through the old locks.

 

I've not done either but Thrak alway gets it right! 😀

[Ofmyheart]

The Island and Coral were designed for the canal but I wondered if they switched to the newer canal.

 

Guess I will find out in a few weeks.

[MauiLvrs]

On 3/15/2019 at 1:58 PM, paul929207 said:

We did a b2b. FLL to LA and back. It is also available from LA. Saves flying 

This option provides the best of both worlds....

Round trip

Not one, but two full transits

No flights...

🚢

[ChiefBoats]

On 3/15/2019 at 1:18 PM, Mare10 said:

I haven't posted here in a long time as we haven't been able to cruise for awhile!  We have decided on a Panama Canal Cruise for the upcoming 50th wedding anniversary.  I'm just starting to research.  We live in Southern California so are looking at the 19 day round trip LA or we could fly to Florida and do the 15 day back to LA.  This will probably be our only time to do a cruise to Panama so would love opinions on which cruise to pick.  I think we would prefer the Coral through the old locks just from what I've already read.  Thanks in advance for your opinions!

 

We have sailed on both the complete transit and the 10 day partial transit.  The full transit starts in either LA or Fort Lauderdale and ends on the opposite coast. This is a 14-15 day cruise. We enjoyed this one because it is through the old locks. The 10 day one is via the new locks and it was interesting to see the difference between the operational differences. Which ever you choose enjoy.

 

________________________________________________________

Aug-2019 Caribbean Princess -Greenland/Canada: 2018 Emerald Princess-Alaska:  2017 Caribbean Princess-Panama Canal: 2017 Ruby Princess-Alaska: 2015 Caribbean Princess-Caribbean: 2015Ruby Princess-Alaska: 2015 Emerald Princess-Caribbean: 2014 Emerald Princess-Caribbean: 2014 Royal Princess-Canada/New England: 2014Royal Princess-Caribbean: 2013 Caribbean Princess-Caribbean: 2013 Island Princess-Alaska: 2013 Crown Princess-Caribbean: 2012 Star Princess-Alaska: 2012 Coral Princess-Panama Canal: 2011 Golden Princess-Alaska: 2010 Royal Princess-Alaska: 2009 Island Princess-Alaska: 2009 Island Princess-Alaska: 2008 Island Princess-Alaska

Edited March 22, 2019 by ChiefBoats

[partybarbie]

I've done several Panama Canal cruises, including the 10-day from Fort Lauderdale, the 15-day (complete transit from both directions) and the 19-day, roundtrip from San Pedro.  My favorite one is the 19-day roundtrip.  We have a short flight from Sacramento to LAX, we like the ports better, and the cruise is longer.  We are going again in April 2020, for our wedding anniversary.  We picked the 19-day on the Coral. 

 

My last Panama cruise was a 19-day on the Island Princess (post remodel) and my husband and I had a fantastic time.  The Island is one of my favorite ships.  Our experience was overwhelmingly positive, unlike the experiences of other passengers. 

[Ofmyheart]

Were you ever on the Island pre remodel? If so how is it different post?

 

We took the TA over for the re-model now we will be on her for first time post.

[partybarbie]

1 hour ago, Ofmyheart said:

Were you ever on the Island pre remodel? If so how is it different post?

 

We took the TA over for the re-model now we will be on her for first time post.

I was on the Island five times before the last re-model, even before the Sanctuary was added.  The main differences are the added cabins, removal of the aft Universe Lounge, moving the gym to a lower deck, a smaller casino, removal of the Sanctuary pool, and loss of the aft viewing areas and full wrap around Promenade deck. 

 

Having Late Traditional Dining, and going to the production shows either pre-dinner, or after dinner took care of most issues that others have complained of.  Booking a balcony cabin took care of the viewing issues.  My favorite parts of the ship, Crooner's, and the Bayou Cafe, are exactly the same.  

[caribill]

12 hours ago, Ofmyheart said:

The Island and Coral were designed for the canal but I wondered if they switched to the newer canal.

 

Guess I will find out in a few weeks.

No, the ships that fit in the old locks will continue to use them. The transit fees for using the new locks are significantly higher.

[Ofmyheart]

Caribill, 

 

I should have known you would know the answer to that! I think I was cruising with you on the Island before she went into dry dock, either that or we were on the Caribbean together.

 

Thx for the update!

[jsquared]

We've done the partial transit from FLL through the old locks in 2003 on the Coral, a full transit through the old locks in 2013 on the Island, a partial transit from FLL through new locks in 2018 on the Caribbean, and we're booked on a full transit in 2019 on the Emerald. No matter if you choose the partial or full transit, I would recommend the old locks. While going through any locks is an experience, ships are guided through the old locks with mules (mechanical not animal 🙂 ) and is neater.

 

[Ep010835]

7 minutes ago, jsquared said:

mules (mechanical not animal 🙂 ) 

 

Would you please elaborate.  What’s a mechanical mule?