vpearlkc Posted April 11, 2019 #1 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Am considering booking a cruise from Miami to LA on the Encore and wonder which side of the ship has the better view as we pass through the canal or are they about the same. Should I book a balcony facing north or south? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakman58 Posted April 11, 2019 #2 Share Posted April 11, 2019 (edited) Personally I don't think it really matters which side of the ship your balcony is on as you cruise through the canal. Don't just stay on your balcony when you go through the new locks, views from the front the back and both sides of the ship are interesting too. Edited April 11, 2019 by Oakman58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare www3traveler Posted April 11, 2019 #3 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Totally agree Wonder all over the ship. Lately the bow has been opened to passengers also. That would be a once in a lifetime experience. ENJOY It is a wonderful adventure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallnthensome Posted April 11, 2019 #4 Share Posted April 11, 2019 I’m on the Panama Canal cruise right now from Miami to LA. Side of the ship hasn’t mattered especially in the Canal. Great viewing all around. The bow opened up for the locks but it was crowded and hot and you were better off viewing from decks above like the observation lounge and even the buffet and waterfront viewing area. What side you book your balcony on doesn’t matter . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillB48 Posted April 11, 2019 #5 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Your best bet for the better views is to be available to go to what ever side of the ship has something of interest. That may be on the bow or other forward location, on an upper deck, on the lowest public deck (in one of the locks, perhaps) or even on the stern. There will be numerous things that will attract your attention and there is just no way to say on which side they will be. Things happen at a leisurely pace so you will be able to position yourself to see items of interest. Pick your balcony for how you prefer the sun, of course it will shift all around during the cruise... there won't be a perfect selection. The geography of the Canal plays tricks with people's mental GPS... the Canal runs north and south in a general direction (for the purest out there, it actually runs from northwest to southeast in the direction you will going). If you want to pick a balcony side based on the Canal alone, then in the direction you are going at the Canal (south), I would choose a port side balcony. This will be facing the east bank of the Canal during your transit. Probably the best time to enjoy the balcony would be during you crossing of Gatun Lake after the ship leaves the Agua Clara Locks. This is the best time to view ships passing you in the opposite direction. For the remainder of the transit be mobile! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vpearlkc Posted April 11, 2019 Author #6 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Thanks for the info. I went ahead and booked a port side large balcony. There will be only 4 large balconies on the Encore and there is not even a list of bars and restaurants etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted April 11, 2019 #7 Share Posted April 11, 2019 1 hour ago, vpearlkc said: I went ahead and booked a port side large balcony. For the reasons BillB48 said above, I think this was a good move. As others have noted, you won't want to be in your cabin when you go through the locks, but after you have transited the locks on the Atlantic side, it will be around lunch time, and a good time to come in from the heat, cool off, and have some food. The crossing of Gatun Lake takes a bit of time, and, as Bill said, it's when you'll be able to see traffic coming in the opposite direction. So sitting on your balcony for a bit and having lunch would work. Enjoy your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted April 11, 2019 #8 Share Posted April 11, 2019 (edited) 8 hours ago, vpearlkc said: Am considering booking a cruise from Miami to LA on the Encore and wonder which side of the ship has the better view as we pass through the canal or are they about the same. Should I book a balcony facing north or south? The view is pretty much the same, but as an FYI you don't want to be on your balcony or in your cabin when you go through the locks, you want to be outside. Doing a full transit, the view is about the same from either side (lots of jungles) except as you transit the locks. BTW the way the canal runs N-S so you would either get an east facing cabin or a west facing cabin. Edited April 11, 2019 by zqvol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwcruiselover Posted April 11, 2019 #9 Share Posted April 11, 2019 I have done a Panama Canal cruise and so far it’s my favorite cruise out of the 45 cruises I have taken. One thing I wish I had done prior to the cruise is to read up on the history and construction of the canal. Several people I met on the cruise had done so and they had interesting stories to tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare www3traveler Posted April 11, 2019 #10 Share Posted April 11, 2019 David McCullough's The Path Between The Seas The Creation of The Panama Canal 1870-1914 is a tough read (very wordy) but worth the effort. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimom30 Posted April 12, 2019 #11 Share Posted April 12, 2019 We are doing the Miami to LA Panama Cruise on the Joy this November. We’ve been watching documentaries and Nat’l Geo programs on the construction of the original canal as well as the new locks. Fascinating! And it makes us super excited for this trip! Enjoy your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted April 12, 2019 #12 Share Posted April 12, 2019 4 hours ago, nwcruiselover said: I have done a Panama Canal cruise and so far it’s my favorite cruise out of the 45 cruises I have taken. One thing I wish I had done prior to the cruise is to read up on the history and construction of the canal. Several people I met on the cruise had done so and they had interesting stories to tell. 3 hours ago, www3traveler said: David McCullough's The Path Between The Seas The Creation of The Panama Canal 1870-1914 is a tough read (very wordy) but worth the effort. I second the recommendation to read "The Path Between the Seas." You'll appreciate even more how extraordinary an accomplishment it was to build the Canal. And BTW, when you are entering the Canal from the Atlantic, just before you get to the Gatun Locks, you can see, on the starboard side, the only remaining remnant of the original French excavation; it will look like a small creek: (photo by turtles06) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellenw Posted April 12, 2019 #13 Share Posted April 12, 2019 I loved our Panama Canal cruise we did last year. The thing I didn't realize beforehand was that it is pretty much an all day event to go through the canal. So you have plenty of time to move around the ship to see everything. And do whatever you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum81 Posted April 14, 2019 #14 Share Posted April 14, 2019 We also booked this trip today for April 2021 and chose a port side balcony. Looking forward to this once in a lifetime opportunity (as we are coming from Australia). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonvoyagie Posted April 14, 2019 #15 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Well we are going west to east next Jan on the Gem - have a suite on the starboard aft corner. Hoping to have my reading on the canal done by then - may have to either buy the book and take it along or check it out from the library. I am hoping that the concierge will open the Haven area for all suite guests - that space would be awesome - but I am not holding my breath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vpearlkc Posted April 14, 2019 Author #16 Share Posted April 14, 2019 3 hours ago, Mum81 said: We also booked this trip today for April 2021 and chose a port side balcony. Looking forward to this once in a lifetime opportunity (as we are coming from Australia). Maybe we will see you on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted April 14, 2019 #17 Share Posted April 14, 2019 7 hours ago, bonvoyagie said: Well we are going west to east next Jan on the Gem - have a suite on the starboard aft corner. Hoping to have my reading on the canal done by then - may have to either buy the book and take it along or check it out from the library You’ll be getting on when we are getting off. Do read McCullough’s book before you leave, you’ll be glad you did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Newleno Posted April 14, 2019 #18 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Some ships go through the old locks, some the new, there is a totally different system for getting the ships through, so if this matters to you, you might want to research what ship and what locks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonvoyagie Posted April 14, 2019 #19 Share Posted April 14, 2019 2 hours ago, Turtles06 said: You’ll be getting on when we are getting off. Do read McCullough’s book before you leave, you’ll be glad you did! Have you visited the roll call page? There are some people doing this as a B2B- while I love cruising I can't imagine that long in a small cabin and seeing the same ports. The 21 day part is why we went with a suite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted April 14, 2019 #20 Share Posted April 14, 2019 18 minutes ago, bonvoyagie said: Have you visited the roll call page? There are some people doing this as a B2B- while I love cruising I can't imagine that long in a small cabin and seeing the same ports. The 21 day part is why we went with a suite. Yes, I’m on our Roll Call. We in fact would have considered the B2B but it wouldn’t work with our schedule. For us, this cruise is more about a winter escape than the ports (some of which we visited on our first Panama Canal Cruise). I hope you enjoy your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonvoyagie Posted April 14, 2019 #21 Share Posted April 14, 2019 31 minutes ago, Turtles06 said: Yes, I’m on our Roll Call. We in fact would have considered the B2B but it wouldn’t work with our schedule. For us, this cruise is more about a winter escape than the ports (some of which we visited on our first Panama Canal Cruise). I hope you enjoy your cruise! For us this is a bucket list - just pre retirement cruise - I plan on retiring at the end of 2020. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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