Railroad to Two Ocean's Excursion

[wardwhitty]

We have a carnival Journey cruise booked for March of 2025.  Since they do not go through (or part way through) the canal anymore we thought this might be an interesting way to see the locks and the Canal.  Has anyone done this or have any opinions?

[BillB48]

You will actually see very little of the original locks and even less of the new locks.  While the RR runs on the edge of Gatun Lake for a good portion of the transcontinental trip, glimpses of the Canal are at a considerable distance.  There is about a 5 mile stretch near the town of Gamboa where the RR runs along side the main Canal channel and then crosses the Chagres River which is the primary water source for the Canal.  Views of the original locks are brief and are on the Pacific side where you will get a quick look of Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks.

 

The train trip is pleasant as much of the trip is over fairly remote areas, however I think the main attraction here is the historical significance of traveling on the first and quickest transcontinental railroad.

 

Often times this tour is one way by train and the other way by bus.  How it operates depends on the number of people on the excursion and where they need their equipment after the excursion.  There are times when the excursion is operated as a round trip via rail.  However if you are on the train/bus version you will want to pick the "correct" side in order to maximize your views of the Canal.  The "incorrect" is not what you would call a wasteland, but you won't have a good view of what you came to see.

[wardwhitty]

2 hours ago, BillB48 said:

You will actually see very little of the original locks and even less of the new locks.  While the RR runs on the edge of Gatun Lake for a good portion of the transcontinental trip, glimpses of the Canal are at a considerable distance.  There is about a 5 mile stretch near the town of Gamboa where the RR runs along side the main Canal channel and then crosses the Chagres River which is the primary water source for the Canal.  Views of the original locks are brief and are on the Pacific side where you will get a quick look of Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks.

 

The train trip is pleasant as much of the trip is over fairly remote areas, however I think the main attraction here is the historical significance of traveling on the first and quickest transcontinental railroad.

 

Often times this tour is one way by train and the other way by bus.  How it operates depends on the number of people on the excursion and where they need their equipment after the excursion.  There are times when the excursion is operated as a round trip via rail.  However if you are on the train/bus version you will want to pick the "correct" side in order to maximize your views of the Canal.  The "incorrect" is not what you would call a wasteland, but you won't have a good view of what you came to see.

Thank you so much for this.  We have never been and thought this might be a great way to see the Canal. I am not sure of a bus ride though so I may need to check in to this further.  Thanks again !

[Out of Iowa]

Carnival's Two Oceans by Railroad trip for my voyage will be rail one way, bus the other. It could work out either way, it sounds like. 

 

My question:  when we get to the Pacific Ocean, can I drip my toes in it?  This is important to me - I don't just want to see it, I want to touch it.  If not, I'll choose another excursion. Then put "US West Coast" on my bucket list.

 

[BillB48]

On 6/30/2024 at 12:18 PM, Out of Iowa said:

My question:  when we get to the Pacific Ocean, can I drip my toes in it?

 

I am not sure if you will be able to or not on this excursion from what I was able to read from Carnival's description of the excursion.  While I really don't know how the excursion is constructed in sufficient detail, I do know the passenger terminal on the Pacific side for the railroad is not near the ocean.  It would be logical to start the trip back to the Atlantic side to visit Agua Clara Locks and whatever portions of the old Canal Zone.  They could also include portions of the CZ on the Pacific side as well.  The bottom line is I am somewhat dubious just how close you will actually come to see the Pacific Ocean.  If they are offering the excursion to see the Pacific Locks and Gaillard (Culebra) Cut via a partial transit on a smaller vessel, that would be your best chance to get up close and maybe even personal with the Pacific Ocean.

 

Good luck!