Panama, old canal vs new canal

flyingcolors · October 27, 2019

We have enjoyed the 1914 canal and want to do it again. Is the 2015 route experience very different?

CruiserBruce · October 27, 2019

The issue would be if your ship has to use the new locks or not. If too big for the old locks, it will use the newer locks. A small number of cruise ships sailing the Canal meet this requirement.

Otherwise, can't think of anything that has changed.

BillB48 · October 28, 2019

The canal is the same The only difference would be which locks you use. Since the opening of the new locks in 2016 no ship that could use the old locks has gone through the new locks.

flyingcolors · October 28, 2019

My question is in regards to the scenery of the new canal. Among cruisers who have done both routes, is the new one freshly scarred construction vs the appearance of the original canal?

Essiesmom · October 28, 2019

17 minutes ago, flyingcolors said:

My question is in regards to the scenery of the new canal. Among cruisers who have done both routes, is the new one freshly scarred construction vs the appearance of the original canal?

https://multimedia.panama-canal.com/index.html

I suggest you go to the webcams of the canal to see what the views are. Agua Clara and Cocoli are the new locks. Pedro Miguel cam is currently not working...EM

CruiserBruce · October 28, 2019

8 hours ago, flyingcolors said:

My question is in regards to the scenery of the new canal. Among cruisers who have done both routes, is the new one freshly scarred construction vs the appearance of the original canal?

A little. But the Canal is in a rain forest/jungle, so things grow quickly. Plus, the only real new stuff is the new locks. The main sailing areas of the Canal are more or less unchanged, and that is 90% of the Canal.