Which ship thru panama canal

[pris993]

We did the Coral recently, nice ship, but since it does not have a Crown Grill, I would not go on it again... don't care for steak house menu on the Coral and we are not fans of Sabatini's... so if these issues matter to you... be aware... 

[casofilia]

We have been through both sets of locks.   If you want entertainment while doing one or the other take the OLD locks.  Going through the new ones is like watching grass grow.

[BarbinMich]

We've been through the canal 3 times:  1999 (WB on Celebrity Zenith) and twice on the Coral Princess (WB in 2003 and EB in 2013).  Really liked the Coral, esp. when it was practically new in 2003; but it still was good 10 years later.

[BarbinMich]

On 12/18/2019 at 11:12 AM, nini said:

BTW- We went in January (2018) and it was HOT and HUMID! . . .

I think it's always like that since it's so close too the equator (8 degrees north).

[BarbinMich]

18 hours ago, Punkydog said:

Going on the Emerald in a couple weeks. Have inside cabin. Where on the ship is the best place to view the locks? Also, is there a must excursion? Lastly, Emerald not medallion as yet, correct?

It's best seen from the outside decks, with a quick way to get inside to the a.c. for relief <g>.

[moodyb1]

Definitely go through the old locks. I've been through both the old and the new, and thought the old locks were much more interesting. I agree with Casofilia above.

 

Arlene

[Aus Traveller]

20 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

World Cruise 2019:

 

 

 

I don't know what cruise the Sun Princess was on in June, 2019 when she went through the Panama Canal, but it wasn't a world cruise. From the schedule, it appears she was based in Asia from March until September 2019.

 

The Sun Princess' sister, the Sea Princess does the World Cruise every year, including 2019. She goes through the old locks in the Panama Canal.

[Essiesmom]

4 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

I don't know what cruise the Sun Princess was on in June, 2019 when she went through the Panama Canal, but it wasn't a world cruise. From the schedule, it appears she was based in Asia from March until September 2019.

 

The Sun Princess' sister, the Sea Princess does the World Cruise every year, including 2019. She goes through the old locks in the Panama Canal.

If she was based in Asia, why was she transiting the canal from East to West?  Westbound transit...EM

[Aus Traveller]

1 minute ago, Essiesmom said:

If she was based in Asia, why was she transiting the canal from East to West?  Westbound transit...EM

I don't know, but the Sun Princess didn't do a world cruise in 2019. Maybe someone will know the Sun Princess itineraries for mid 2019.

[Essiesmom]

9 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

I don't know, but the Sun Princess didn't do a world cruise in 2019. Maybe someone will know the Sun Princess itineraries for mid 2019.

Odd, the calendar for her on cruisecal has her in Hong Kong on March 23, then nothing until Hong Kong on Sept. 26.  From cruiseportinsider port schedules I see she was in San Francisco 27/28 June.  EM

[BillB48]

Thought I read somewhere she is going to be used as a floating hotel for the 2020 Olympics.

[Essiesmom]

I was referring to 2019...EM

[nini]

On 12/25/2019 at 12:59 PM, BarbinMich said:

I think it's always like that since it's so close too the equator (8 degrees north).

We were told that January would be the coolest time of year, regardless. 

At least that helped in terms of visiting the other ports throughout the itinerary.

[BillB48]

1 hour ago, nini said:

We were told that January would be the coolest time of year, regardless. 

At least that helped in terms of visiting the other ports throughout the itinerary.

 

I believe the term "coolest" could be a little misleading.  I would agree that January is one of the best months to visit Panama when considering overall comfort.  The high and low temperature vary little during the year, highs are upper 80s to low 90s and about the lowest you will see in the Canal area is 75ish.  The reason January is one of the more comfortable times to visit is normally the Dry Season is in full swing at that time and the trade winds provide a fresh breeze and the humidity is as good as you can hope for in that part of the world.  However, I probably should add that anyone from a temperate climate will probably notice the humidity.  One other plus for January, there should not be much rain!

[nini]

Yes, thank you about the humidity! That really makes an enormous impact

regardless of the temp. 

I have a nice camera and the first time I went out on our balcony (as we reached

further south), I thought my camera lens was broken... it was all filmy.

😉  It was the humidity and temperature change from inside to outside.