Partial Panama Canal Question

[flyingandcruising]

Does RCL tender in Guton Lake after entering the canal? I heard that it does and you are alowd off the boat ONLY if you have an excursion booked...is this true? Im goin on the Brilliance 11 day in Feb or March.

 

Thanks to all that reply.

[wrp96]

Yes, on the Brilliance you go through the locks at Gatun Lake. Then once in Gatun Lake, they tender off the passengers who are on RCCL shore excursions ONLY. If you want to do something on your own in Panama, you have to wait until after the ship goes back out through the Gatun Locks and is docked at Cristobal Pier.

[flyingandcruising]

Thats what I thaught....thank you very much. but to my follow up question than.....would we need to have an excursion booked through RCL? or is any company ok?

[wrp96]

If you want to get off the ship while in Gatun Lake, you have to be booked on an RCCL excursion. They do not allow people with independent excursions off the ship in Gatun Lake.

[flyingandcruising]

Great, thank you for the quick response

[Sue L]

We are on the March 26th sailing of the 11 day. I just want to follow up on Wrp96's post that is you want to do the full transit of the cruise both ways through the locks you can get off at the shopping area at the Cristobal Pier. It says docking there at around 3:00 - 7:00

 

The Cristobel pier is where all the excursions will return to.

 

We are planning to the Emberra Indian Village tour which has gotten very positive reviews

[flyingandcruising]

No, i was going to to the transit into Guton, than take a tour from there and meet the boat back in Cristobal.

[Sue L]

No, i was going to to the transit into Guton, than take a tour from there and meet the boat back in Cristobal.

 

 

 

That is what we are doing. They tender you off and we are going on the Emberra Indian tour.

[cb at sea]

There is no need to pay for an excursion--you will be "up close and personal" with the locks while on the ship! Go from place to place and deck to deck to get many different views! It's VERY HOT there, and lots of bugs! Wear sunscreen!

Cristobal pier--what a joke! It's a junk "flea market"--lots of cheap t-shirts and knick knacks! You're not allowed to go anywhere BUT the pier- and you really wouldn't want to! Bring binoculars and you will see why!

[Ohunion Cruzers]

Also, on the partial transit, it takes several hours to go through the locks. For those getting off at Gutan, it will be 10:00, or so, depending on the canal traffic. Then going back out, the ship will dock at Cristobal around 3:00, again depending on canal traffic. So, if you stay on board, you won't have much time for any tour at Cristobal.

[leoandhugh]

and who would want to tour Cristobal anyhow; it is a dump with a flea market. it thrives on being a free port and that is about it. and it is Gatun Lake not Gutan. the most interesting feature of the partial transit is just that - going in and out of the locks.