Help with Panama Canal trip?

[Joby]

If you had to choose between the following cruises for a first time trip THROUGH the Panama Canal in January, which might you choose and why?

 

My sister and I will be taking the trip with our Mom who is 77 and not in the best of health. She uses a wheelchair for longer distances and a cane everywhere else.

 

We have been on four cruises, all in handicapped OV cabins:

--the "old" Century (7 nite Eastern Caribbean),

--Horizon (10 nite ultimate Carib.-Cayman, Cozumel, Roatan, TO the Panama canal, Costa Rica...)

--Constellation (12 nite NY, Charleston, Bahamas, St. Martin...) and

--Galaxy (11 nite southern Carib)

 

We enjoyed all of the ships for different reasons. We do like to have the always subjective good food and service, will take some private excursions, I like to dive/snorkel, beaches, like to do some things in the evening--show, casino, strolling around people watching, listening to karaoke, ... Looking for lower key cruise this time.

 

Here's what we have looked at (all prices are rounded up totals):

 

1. Celebrity Summit--14 nite Los Angeles to San Juan (Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Huatluco, Punteranas CR, FULL canal, Aruba, Curacao),

-handicapped 2C balcony cabin on Penthouse deck,

-reg. OV $1800, HC balcony $2300

 

2. Celebrity Quest--14 nite Miami to Acapulco (Jamaica, Santa Maria Col, Cartegena Col, Limon CR, FULL canal, Caldera CR, Huatluco,

Acapulco),

-"regular" OV cabin $2300, regular balcony $2700

 

3. RCCL Brilliance--10 nites round trip Miami (Miami, Aruba, PARTIAL canal, Limon CR, Cayman, Miami,

-reg. OV $1400, reg. E1 Balcony $1700, reg. D1 balcony $1600

 

4. RCCL Brilliance--11 nites round trip Miami (Miami, private island, Aruba, Curacao, PARTIAL canal, Cartenga Col, Miami

- reg. D1 balcony $$1650

 

5. Coral Princess--10 nites round trip FLL (Ft. Lauderdale, Aruba, Cartenga Col, PARTIAL canal, Limon CR, Montego Bay Lamaica, Ft. Lausderdale

-reg. balcony $1600/ $100 SBC

 

6. Coral Princess--10 nites round trip FLL (same itinerary as above except stops at Ocho Rios Jamaica),

-reg. OV cabin $1300/ $100 SBC

 

Opinions? Pros/cons?

[mycruz]

Joby,

 

Can't speak about the Celebrity cruise, but we did take the 10day RT from FLL last year on the Coral Princess(my favorite Princess ship). I met a couple, the husband was in a wheelchair, and they had a great time on the ship. The layout of the Coral was great for them, and they also said that the crew was very helpful. We all went on two excursions together, the Canal by Boat which was the highlight of the cruise and the Mexican Cooking Excursion in Cozumel. Both times there were no issues with the chair. We all had a great time. Not sure if your mother would prefer taking a longer cruise, the 10 day was great! The only disappointment for us was Montego Bay. It was very hot, shopping was not great, we were taken to a guarded "Duty Free" strip shopping area and did not feel very comfortable.

We had a mini on the Dolphin Deck, not my favorite since the balcony was not covered. Next time we'll be sure to have some cover.

 

Hope this helps.

Mary

[Podorama]

If you are going to do the "Canal" do the whole darn thing, one side to the other, full transit. I think you should give the 15 day "Exotic" itinerary on the Island Princess some serious consideration.

[ggprincess2004]

I have to agree with Mary. Coral Princess - I am in love with the ship, she is our favorite in the fleet. I have no preference for the Ocho Rios/Mo Bay port - would stay on the ship in Jamaica.

While the full transit offered by Celebrity would be great, I don't like the fact that you wind up in either SanJuan or Acapulco to fly home from. I also am not in love with the ports on the Pacific side. Actually, we don't cruise the canal for the ports , rather for the wonder that is the canal itself.

The only thing I would say about Princess v. RCC is that Princess will be more subdued, and knowing the layout of the Coral - probably more convenient. The ambience on Princess and the decor is calm, understated, relaxing - but most of the time service is very good to excellent, and I would say the same thing about the food and entertainment. Also, Princess has fresh water pools.

Finally, Princess usually offers a great variety of shore excursions, so if you don't want to plan everyone of them on your own, they do have some really nice offerings. They also pay alot of attention to feedback concerning the passengers' enjoyment/comments re: each tour operator and excursion. The tour guides all know this, and they really do seem to care that they receive excellent ratings on the feedback given to Princess.

These are simply my opinions, I have a feeling you will get some that differ. Whatever you choose, have a wonderful cruise!:)

[ggprincess2004]

I have to agree with Mary. Coral Princess - I am in love with the ship, she is our favorite in the fleet. I have no preference for the Ocho Rios/Mo Bay port - would stay on the ship in Jamaica.

While the full transit offered by Celebrity would be great, I don't like the fact that you wind up in either SanJuan or Acapulco to fly home from. I also am not in love with the ports on the Pacific side. Actually, we don't cruise the canal for the ports , rather for the wonder that is the canal itself.

The only thing I would say about Princess v. RCC is that Princess will be more subdued, and knowing the layout of the Coral - probably more convenient. The ambience on Princess and the decor is calm, understated, relaxing - but most of the time service is very good to excellent, and I would say the same thing about the food and entertainment. Also, Princess has fresh water pools.

Finally, Princess usually offers a great variety of shore excursions, so if you don't want to plan everyone of them on your own, they do have some really nice offerings. They also pay alot of attention to feedback concerning the passengers' enjoyment/comments re: each tour operator and excursion. The tour guides all know this, and they really do seem to care that they receive excellent ratings on the feedback given to Princess.

These are simply my opinions, I have a feeling you will get some that differ. Whatever you choose, have a wonderful cruise!:)

[PescadoAmarillo]

We did the Summit full transit last April, and the Radiance full transit 5 years ago (as well as 3 partial transits on the Galaxy)...

I would vote for the Summit. It was a great cruise, Huatulco was beautiful and quite unique (and a rare stop for a cruise itinerary). The service was unsurpassed. (And this from someone who loves the Radiance class of RC ships). There are so many great viewing places on that ship.

 

Just keep in mind comparing cabin prices...Princess's balcony cabins are MUCH smaller than Celebrity or RC.

 

I think the Celebrity Quest would be great, I would love to try those ships, but wouldn't like to disembark in Acapulco (just for flights/connections).

[Joby]

Thanks to all for the responses so far. I appreciate it :)

 

Podorama, the Island Princess is sold out. I also think the itinerary might be too tiring for Mom.

 

PescadoAmarillo, I din't know that Princess balconies were smaller than Celebrity. Thanks.

[gacruiser123]

We did the 10 day Brilliance a few years ago and enjoyed every minute of it. A beautiful ship. There were several people in wheelchairs and others using canes. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

 

I don't care for Jamaica so if I were to choose, I'd go with the an itinerary that goes somewhere else. But that's just a personal preference. I have not been on any of the other ships you are considering.

 

Good luck, the canal is a great trip. I have been on over a dozen cruises and this itinerary is my second favorite with our trip to Hawaii/Tahiti that we did this year in first place.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Thanks PescadoAmarillo, I din't know that Princess balconies were smaller than Celebrity. Thanks.

The balconies aren't smaller, in fact, on the Caribe decks (except for Sun Class ships) they are larger, but the balcony cabins themselves are smaller. On the Sun Class ships, the balcony cabins are MUCH smaller.

[jff50]

I've done a partial as well as 2 full transits (and have another full transit scheduled for this December on the Island Princess). I'd pick a full transit over a partial.

 

While I have a strong preference for Princess, of those that you listed, the only full transits are the Celebrity cruises. Given that your past cruises have been on Celebrity, I assume you like them--all the more reason to stick with Celebrity. Of the 2 Celebrity options, I'd go with the Summit. It seems like it would be more similar to your past cruise experiences, and the first/last ports are both US ports--which I think would make things easier. I also really like San Juan, and the Summit would allow a post-cruise stay there.

 

I have been on both the Summit (concierge class balcony) and all of the Princess classes of ships. Didn't see any noticable differences in cabin or balcony sizes.

[Gator83]

Joby,

 

I have not been on Celebrity but I did the Partial from Ft. Lauderdale on the Coral and I think that would be a good choice. The ship is really nice and easy to get around. It is less days and less money if any of that is a concern. Instead of doing a full transit you can take an excursion that will take you through the whole canal and bring you back. You do have to take a bus ride there and back; the ride is about 90 minutes (I think). As long as your mom wouldn't have any trouble getting on and off the bus and onto the smaller ship I think she would enjoy the excursion.

 

Have fun whatever you choose.

[woodofpine]

And I'm a Princess fan (first 'real' cruise was Ocean Princess San Juan-Acapulco) but DO A FULL TRANSIT. The fairly new 'partial transits' going into Gatun Lake and turning around really don't do the geographic-engineering of the canal justice; they're not sea-to-sea.

 

PLUS - if you are used to X then you'll likely be more content with X and thus avoid nit picking the lines' differences.

 

Personally, I'd be inclined to go Celebrity Quest because of the unusual ports in Colombia and Mexico. Summit is a much bigger ship if mega-size appeals to you (personally I'm beginning to see the virtues of down sizing).

 

As much as I like Princess, I think the route itineraries make your decision VERY easy. XXXXXXXXXXXX

[Joby]

Thanks for the opinions, I appreciate it :)

 

Now to decide. Isn't it nice to have to make the "hard" decision on which cruise to take??? Wish all decisions were this enjoyable :)

[jff50]

Joby,

 

I have not been on Celebrity but I did the Partial from Ft. Lauderdale on the Coral and I think that would be a good choice. The ship is really nice and easy to get around. It is less days and less money if any of that is a concern. Instead of doing a full transit you can take an excursion that will take you through the whole canal and bring you back. You do have to take a bus ride there and back; the ride is about 90 minutes (I think). As long as your mom wouldn't have any trouble getting on and off the bus and onto the smaller ship I think she would enjoy the excursion.

 

Have fun whatever you choose.

I've done the partial and think it's a great trip--just prefer the full transit. If you do the partial, I think the ocean to ocean on a smaller ship is a must (did that shore excursion). The excavation of the Culebra Cut was at least as much of a challenge as the building of the locks/Gatun Dam--and the excavation/dredging is still going on today.

 

"A Path Between the Seas" is a must read for anyone going through the canal.

[Joby]

I think we've decided on the 14 nite Summit full canal cruise. Now we just have to bite the bullet and do it :)

 

Any last comments either pro or con?

[PescadoAmarillo]

You will love it, the ship and the itinerary, especially Huatulco. If you are very lucky, you will have maritime historian John Maxtone-Graham on board lecturing about not only the Panama Canal but the ocean liners that used to cross the Atlantic.

[Carhut]

I've done the full transit 3 times from Acapulco to San Juan (or vice versa)and a partial once. I found the partial very disappointing after knowing what I was missing. The partial gives you about 25% of the Panama Canal. There is so much more to see but those who do the partial are only seeing a couple of locks and a little bit of Gatun Lake. So it depends if one just wants to go on a cruise or see a historical wonder of the world. Full transit takes about 8 hours or most of a day. Can't really advise you on the ships, as the ones I was on were Sitmar, Princess and HAL.

Good luck on your decision and enjoy what ever you do.

Carole

[Carhut]

Your #1 choice (Summit) has by far the best itinerary as far as I can see if you are looking for good ports to visit.

Carole

[jff50]

You will love it, the ship and the itinerary, especially Huatulco. If you are very lucky, you will have maritime historian John Maxtone-Graham on board lecturing about not only the Panama Canal but the ocean liners that used to cross the Atlantic.

We are stopping at Huatulco on our December Island Princess cruise. Haven't decided on what to do there. What is it that you liked about it?

[PescadoAmarillo]

It is a beautiful port, with 7 separate bays, an authentic fishing village, lots of beach opportunities, good boat trips (either through the ship or set one up after you get on shore), some restaurants, not much shopping at all (this is not a shopping destination), traditional Mexican architecture. It is how, I imagine, Cabo was 30 years ago, developing but not yet developed. The views as you enter/leave port are wonderful, bays with mountains in the background. There are several beaches within walking distance of the ship. You can parasail, jet ski, banana boat, all those typical things within walking distance of the ship.

[jff50]

It is a beautiful port, with 7 separate bays, an authentic fishing village, lots of beach opportunities, good boat trips (either through the ship or set one up after you get on shore), some restaurants, not much shopping at all (this is not a shopping destination), traditional Mexican architecture. It is how, I imagine, Cabo was 30 years ago, developing but not yet developed. The views as you enter/leave port are wonderful, bays with mountains in the background. There are several beaches within walking distance of the ship. You can parasail, jet ski, banana boat, all those typical things within walking distance of the ship.

Sounds great. Thanks.