Island Princess: Viewing spots for Panama Canal transit

[coco2/27]

We’ll be in the Island Princess for full transit in the historic locks next month. We’re in an aft cabin (A726 with wrap around balcony).  Should we just hang in our cabin and balcony, and splurge with ordering the Balcony Breakfast, or reserve the Sanctuary couple decks above us, or head to the forward decks and wander (and perspire!) there?  
 

Any advice / recommendations welcome!  🙏

[Waynetor]

We have been through both on the Island and its sister the Coral.  Mostly likely you will go through the old locks.  You should be informed the night before of the estimated time that the ship will enter the channel leading to the locks. There is a person that boards the ship just for the day that will make announcements including history- when we were on the announcements of the cannel  could only be heard on parts of the top deck - not sure abut cabin.   For the most part it does not make a huge diff what side of the ship you are on except at the Pacific end there are good views of the tall buildings in Panama City south of the cannel.  .

If the weather is poor seats in the horizon court are good for viewing but the chair hogs will be up early to grab the best. 

Once through the locks you are in a large lake for a few hours and people will be wandering around then.  

I'd recommend doing your cabin for one set of locks and for the second wander around.  Viewing from the Promenade deck offers a different perspective. 

 

.  . 

[coco2/27]

Thank you so much for responding and providing your perspective and information.  It was just what I was seeking!

[GonzoWCS]

Also don't forget to go on the promenade for at least one lock.    you will see and almost be able to touch the walls.  100 years of engineering working exactly as engineered.  

 

Also please remember it is Panama Hot!  Water and shade!  

 

As stated above it is a full day and you will be going through the old locks. Enjoy and see it from many viewpoints.  Walk about, have a nice lunch while on Lake Gatun.  Remember this; the islands you see are mountaintops before it was a lake.

 

Cheers

Edited April 26, 2023 by GonzoWCS
punctuation

[capriccio]

Check with Customer Service to see if the forward decks below the bridge on decks 9 (dolphin) and 10 (caribe) will be opened.  Every time we’ve been on the Island Princess (Panama Canal) and her sister ship Coral Princess (2X Alaska and The Kimberly, Australia just last week) they have been but it wasn’t always announced.

[coco2/27]

Thank you for the great hints and suggestions!

We’re getting even more excited as it gets closer!

[travelin.sisters]

we did the Panama Canal on the Island in 2017 so it's been a while, but the balcony was nice & you could get the narration from the naturalist on the TV (I don't know which channel, but maybe the ship camera one?)...the buffet area in the front is good for viewing & I think that is where the naturalist was on our cruise but some of my best shots were taken going out the back of deck 8 there is a public space where you can watch the gates close behind you & fill & lift the ship! 

 

oh never mind I missed the aft balcony part...sorry!

 

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by travelin.sisters

[coco2/27]

Thank you 🙏!

 I was hoping the narration would be on the tv; thank you for confirming this, and also that the aft would be good viewing.

 

and we’re Traveling Sisters, too!!!

[StrawberryHill]

We went thru the canal ( west to east ) on the Island and spent the time going thru the first set of locks ( west side ) in the very front of the ship on deck 9 or 10 as was metntioed above.  There are crew doors there that were unlocked.  It was not "announced".  Be prepared to be in the sun the entire time. You can take a chair with you. The view is amazing watching the ships in front of you go thru the locks.   You do not get a sense of  the ship going up and down as you are too high to feel it.  You need to be on deck 7 or lower to get the real feel of the locks.  We were in sanctuary ( open to all ) for the second set of locks( west side ) watching the ships behind us go thru.  You need to be up early befor sunrise to see the myriad of ships waiting their turn and to watch Panama City " wake up".  The day before there were large colored poster boards in the photo studio area with colored markers to make signs for you to hold up from your balcony as the ships photographers were mostly on shore taking phtotos.  Dont know if they do that anymore.  Lots of people brought their own stuff to make signs and hang them from their baconies also.  Going thru the lake was like a sea day, eat lunch and enjoy the views from your baclony of the pool deck etc.  Its a 12-14 hour event depending upon lock traffice etc. We hung out on our balcony for the eastern set of locks.

[Essiesmom]

There is a person on the Celebrity board doing a Live From as Millennium does the canal today, westbound.  He has posted a ton of pictures, and those showing the locks ahead as you enter the canal are priceless, to show you what you will be missing if you stay on your aft facing balcony.  EM

[enfuego4cruising]

We were on the Emerald in February for a full PC transit. We had an aft facing cabin on the Dolphin deck. Being back there during the transit was excellent as it puts you right at the action and offers a 180 degree view. 

The icing on the cake was having the balcony breakfast delivered while we were in the locks. It was perfect and very memorable.  Highly recommended.Since you have one of the few aft facing balconies in existence on the Island Princess, I would say hang on to it.

[enfuego4cruising]

This should not imply that you spend the entire transit on your balcony of course. Get out and appreciate all of the available vistas.

[coco2/27]

Thank you so much for all the sharing of advice / suggestions, and pictures.

The view from the aft looks great, as does the balcony breakfast!

 We were fortunate enough to nab an aft balcony when booking, and then when this suite with the larger wraparound balcony became open, it was even better!  We’re happily in the last planning and packing days, and do so appreciate the Cruise Critic family recommendations and information!