Which ship for the Panama Canal?

babs135 · September 4, 2019

We are thinking of a partial transit (not enough time for a full transit 🤔) in December but which ship? We definitely want to go through the old locks. Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks in advance.

CruiserBruce · September 4, 2019

For HAL, are you seeing any ship besides the Zuiderdam doing partial transits?

All HAL ships except the N. Statendam will use the old locks.

Gigi1977 · September 4, 2019

We did this 1/2 transit on Zuiderdam and loved it. We did the 11 day which included Columbia. Highly recommend. And be sure to order the Panama Rolls on the day of transit with your breakfast! Yummy 😋

VMax1700 · September 4, 2019

In December 2019 I think your only choice is Eurodam!

In December 2020 you have Zuiderdam or Volendam.

You really don't have much choice!

gf42 · September 4, 2019

The Eurodam is doing Partial transit Dec 1 or Dec 11 . It is a great itinerary. There is a small group that we are traveling with on Dec 1 . We got great group rates. Looking forward to a great cruise.

voyageur9 · September 4, 2019

.... in some ways a partial transit offers a greater variety of opportunities to see and experience the canal, including both old and the new locks. Depending on your enthusiasm and willingness to spend a long day the options include .... a full transit to the Pacific on a small vessel after your HAL ship completes the transit of the three Gatun locks with a return by bus or train to meet your HAL ship after it docks on the Atlantic side in Colon, .... and/or a visit to the new and quite spectacular visitor centre and restaurant.

rafinmd · September 4, 2019

No current HAL ship would use the new locks. All but the Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam use the old locks and the existing Pinnacle class ships cannot go through the canal at all because of their lifeboat design. I believe the Ryndam lifeboats will be reconfigured to make a transit possible. In any case I think the old locks are a lot more interesting than the new ones.

Roy

Canadian Cruise · September 4, 2019

Gigi1977

What are Panama Rolls?

Doing the full transit on Nieuw Amsterdam in October 2019.

3rdGenCunarder · September 4, 2019

1 minute ago, Canadian Cruise said:

Gigi1977

What are Panama Rolls?

Doing the full transit on Nieuw Amsterdam in October 2019.

They're breakfast pastries that the ship serves on the canal day. They will have tables set up along promenade deck and especially at the front where the early-birds go to get the best view entering the canal. The bakers stay up all night making lots and lots of them.

The full transit is beautiful. You get to see "the cut," the long channel that was dug to create the canal. You don't see that on the partial transit because that's 3 locks into the lake, turn around and back out. The canal is a marvel of engineering.

If you have the time and inclination to learn about the history of the canal before you go, read "The Path Between the Seas."

Homosassa · September 4, 2019

They are a sweet roll served on deck during the morning transit iof the Canal.

No need to order for breakfast. They will also be available on the buffet and the MDR.

Here is a pdf for the recipe:

https://www.theinsidecabin.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Panama-Canal-roll-reciple045.pdf

Edited September 4, 2019 by Homosassa

Crew News · September 4, 2019

10 minutes ago, Canadian Cruise said:

Gigi1977

What are Panama Rolls?

Doing the full transit on Nieuw Amsterdam in October 2019.

They are custard and mandarin orange-filled sweet buns. Find them with the other pastries in the Lido Market for breakfast on the Panama Canal day.

image.png.70606eca940ff6c842553cec09d07a07.png

Edited September 4, 2019 by Crew News

CruiserBruce · September 4, 2019

47 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

No current HAL ship would use the new locks. All but the Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam use the old locks and the existing Pinnacle class ships cannot go through the canal at all because of their lifeboat design. I believe the Ryndam lifeboats will be reconfigured to make a transit possible. In any case I think the old locks are a lot more interesting than the new ones.

Roy

I thought N. Statendam was also reconfigured to fix the lifeboat problem, so only Koningsdam won't sail in the new Canal locks.

DaveOKC · September 4, 2019

If you can swing it, go on one of the Vista class ships (like the Zuiderdam) and get one of the deck 5 aft-wraps. Huge balcony, completely shaded and a great place to host a party as you traverse the Canal. Can get 40 plus people on the balcony. PLUS, its a great way to watch the operations of the locks - the locks themselves plus the "mules" and other shore operations.

3rdGenCunarder · September 4, 2019

48 minutes ago, Homosassa said:

They are a sweet roll served on deck during the morning transit iof the Canal.

No need to order for breakfast. They will also be available on the buffet and the MDR.

Here is a pdf for the recipe:

https://www.theinsidecabin.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Panama-Canal-roll-reciple045.pdf

45 minutes ago, Crew News said:

They are custard and mandarin orange-filled sweet buns. Find them with the other pastries in the Lido Market for breakfast on the Panama Canal day.

Delicious! Best way to eat them is on deck, watching the activity around the canal.

For those who want to do the recipe, don't bother with the streusel. As you can see in the photo, it's just a sprinkling. Coarse sugar would be just as good and easier.

3rdGenCunarder · September 4, 2019

31 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

If you can swing it, go on one of the Vista class ships (like the Zuiderdam) and get one of the deck 5 aft-wraps. Huge balcony, completely shaded and a great place to host a party as you traverse the Canal. Can get 40 plus people on the balcony. PLUS, its a great way to watch the operations of the locks - the locks themselves plus the "mules" and other shore operations.

That's where we were 2 years ago. Room service breakfast to watch the second and third locks. For the first lock we were up front. So were lots of other people.

Krazy Kruizers · September 4, 2019

We love the Panama Buns -- wonderful cream filled with mandarin oranges. That is all we have for breakfast on that morning. Eat them out on our verandah. We have only ever experienced them with the powdered sugar. And we have had them quite a few times on different ships.

JandPB · September 4, 2019

We did the 10 day on the Zuiderdam and thoroughly enjoyed it. We had an aft cabin and loved that as well. It gets hot back there though, just an FYI.

Edited September 4, 2019 by JandPB

Krazy Kruizers · September 4, 2019

babs135

If you do have a choice of ships for December, I would go with the Eurodam as she has the Tamarind restaurant.

babs135 · September 4, 2019

5 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

For HAL, are you seeing any ship besides the Zuiderdam doing partial transits?

All HAL ships except the N. Statendam will use the old locks.

According to cruisetimetables.com only the Eurodam is doing a partial transit. However, one online travel agent is also showing the Zuiderdam doing a partial.

CruiserBruce · September 4, 2019

31 minutes ago, babs135 said:

According to cruisetimetables.com only the Eurodam is doing a partial transit. However, one online travel agent is also showing the Zuiderdam doing a partial.

I didn't look at the schedule. Zuiderdam has been doing the partial transits for a couple of years now. I would suggest when you are asking advice on ships, give us the ships you are asking the advice on. I agree with earlier advice to take Eurodam over Zuiderdam. But the difference isn't huge. If there are significant differences in the itinerary, that might be important. But I doubt it.

Nanny normal · September 4, 2019

Just booked Oosterdam for 18th Jan 2020 cruise to Panama Canal, can’t wait.....

DeeniEncinitas · September 4, 2019

Will be on The Rotterdam doing a full transit from San Diego to FLL! 3/11/2020.

Im wanting those PANAMA BUNS NOW😉

Denise😊

VintageGeo · September 5, 2019

3 hours ago, Nanny normal said:

Just booked Oosterdam for 18th Jan 2020 cruise to Panama Canal, can’t wait.....

Looks like you'll be getting off as we're getting on. Keep 'er warmed up for us 😀

On a serious note, thanks all for the heads up on the scrumptious sounding rolls. Another anticipation.....

Lori & George

VMax1700 · September 5, 2019

15 hours ago, babs135 said:

According to cruisetimetables.com only the Eurodam is doing a partial transit. However, one online travel agent is also showing the Zuiderdam doing a partial.

Zuiderdam is doing the 10 day partial transit October 20 - 30; November 10 - 20 and November 20 - 30, all in 2019.

She is doing the 11 day partial transit October 30 - November 10, 2019.

Her next partial transit is 11day February 15 - 26, 2020 followed by her normal 10 day and 11 day partial transits until April 19th 2020.

Which ship for the Panama Canal?

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