Freedom 9 day or Glory 14 day for Panama Canal?

[KatieBug28]

Hi all! Wondering if I can get your help deciding on a Panama Canal cruise.

 

I'm trying to decide between a 9 day on the Freedom out of Miami, and a 14 day on Glory out of NOLA. Obviously we'd much rather do the 14, but it is more than twice as expensive and much harder with our kids in school (undecided on whether to take them, but would either need to miss school or coordinate care while we are gone). 

 

Any differences on ship, itinerary, etc. that are enough to bump that 14 day into "definitely worth it"? We've been to a few of these ports before, and the Canal is really the only one that is a must do. Also been to both departure ports. 

 

Here are the stops, for reference: 

14 day: New Orleans Montego Bay Aruba Bonaire Cartagena Panama Canal Partial Transit Limón Cozumel End: New Orleans

9 day: Miami Grand Cayman Limón Colón (Panama Canal) Cartagena End: Miami 

 

Would love to hear your thoughts! Thank you!

[icft]

Here's some limited information.

 

We did the Glory Panama Canal cruise in February 2020. Aruba and Bonaire were great as they were quite different from most "Caribbean" islands we have visited. We did the The Colombia National Aviary at Cartagena and if you enjoy birds this is as about as good as it gets - bring your camera. Don't even bother getting off at Limón. And Cozumel is Cozumel.

 

We last sailed the Glory a week ago on its second sailing after wet dock. They did some major refurbishing during its two week wet dock with much of the public areas getting new carpet, ceiling panels and wall treatments. The ship is in really good shape these days, though the wood decks have seen better days.

 

If you stay in a balcony for the Panama Canal transit consider the navigation bridge and Captain's suites poking out. You don't want your view blocked ahead.