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?

[Sue L]

We did the Brilliance 11 day and it was wonderful. The ship is beautiful with a ton of glass everywhere, very elegant. The itinerary was perfect for us. I love the practically alternating port/sea days and it was extremely relaxing. If you want to see pictures, click on the link. The pictures while we are going through the canal shows a ship in the other lane of the canal and that is the Coral Princess.

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

I can't speak for the other ships, but we enjoyed our 10-day cruise on Brilliance to the Panama Canal so much we have booked an 11-day cruise on the same ship again.

 

So much of what one looks for in a ship or on a cruise is personal and subjective, so it is hard to advise beyond saying that we really loved Brilliance of the Seas and would sail on that ship almost anywhere.

[FreewayFortune]

We did the Brilliance 11 day and loved it.

[cb at sea]

Ok--the 10 adn 11 day Brilliance cruises have LOTS of sea days! I didn't mind sitting at the pool, but hubby was bored senseless! He prefers more port days--a change of scenary from the ship.

Bear this in mind when you are booking.

The service was outstanding--the food, only so-so. (But I think that is an RCI-wide problem, not exclusive to Brilliance)

Good luck on your decision!

[WAYLIN]

We did the RCLL Brilliance 10 day in March '08 ,Aruba,Panama Canal,Costa Rica and Grand Caymen's. It was wonderful !! I was happy to see so many cruisers using walkers,wheelchairs,scooters and canes and having a great time.I'm a retired RN so I'm probably more observant as to how the staff accomadates guests with special needs. I was impressed. For example,the ship was tendered in the Caymans. The staff lifted the guest in his wheelchair on to the shore boat,secured his chair and helped him get on to the dock on the island. I think you and your Mother will be well taken care of on board.

[traveler/]

Also consider whether you want a Trans-canal complete cruise either E or W, or those that go to Gatun lake and then turn around.

We just were on a repositioning cruise that went trans Canal and it was great because we went through 3 sets of locks and saw bridges as well. However, we were not allowed to get off the ship like you can on the partials.

[Conanc]

Haven't done this yet, but we will be on the Brilliance for a 10 night Panama Canal cruise in January. The reason we chose this cruise vs. the 11 night was that we really wanted to go to Costa Rica.

 

Whatever you decide......enjoy!

[wrp96]

Of the partial transit cruises, I definitely prefer the itineraries on Brilliance over the itineraries on the Coral Princess. Also, there are no ships out there that can beat the beauty of the Brilliance of the Seas (and her sisters).

 

That being said, if you can afford it (money wise and time wise), I think I would take advantage of the opportunity to do the full transit cruise. They just aren't done as frequently and there is something about the opportunity to see the entire canal. I think I like the itinerary on the Summit more than on Quest.

[cruiserJay]

We have done the canal three times: west-east (Radiance), east-west (Celebrity Infinity), and a partial (Celebrity Galaxy). We enjoyed the the full transits to most because of the variety of ports and the length of the cruises. The full transits also mix sea days after just about every port day. To us, this made those trips very relaxing.

 

Most trips offer excursions during the transit, but I would advise staying on the ship so that you can get the canal experience.

[Joby]

Thanks for all of the opinions. It really helps to get some varying opinions and also from people who have experience with the various ships and itineraries.

 

I have a question--I have read that the west-east bound canal itineraries (such as the Summit itinerary) are smoother sailing. I read that the trip going south from LA to the Mexican Riviera is smoother than going the opposite way (north).

 

Any comments on that?

[Joby]

Any opinions on the usual roughness of the sea going from west to east (LA to San Juan)? Is it better to go west to east or east to west USUALLY?

[Cruising Carol]

We live in L. A. area, so always look for trips from or to L. A. We have flown to Florida and gone east to west through the canal. Did this in January both times. No problem with high seas going north to L. A. In November, 2006, we took the Summit from Los Angeles to San Juan. Nice ship and we were pleased that our balcony room was in the shade as we transitted the canal. We were on the port side. We moved around the ship occasionally, but most of the time we stayed on our balcony. It takes 9 hours to transit the canal, so you have plenty of time to have meals, see the locks from the back, go to the top deck lounge,etc. No problem with high seas. We also really liked Curacao.

[gnparend]

I would suggest the Summit b/c of the itinerary. The ports like Acapulco you don't see on the Mex Riv crusies it's too far south.

[familycruises]

We did the 11 day Brilliance and enjoyed it. I will say the crowd tends to be older. We are in our 30's. We traveled with our children, parents & in-laws. We felt like the young ones on the ship. The entertainment was definitely geared towards an older crowd.

My mother was able to do almost everything we did, despite having just had a hip replacement. There are several tours you can do without a ton of walking. We did private tours in Costa rica and Aruba. Let me know if you want a recommendation for tours.

[chitowngoose]

Did the 10 night Brilliance cruise this year, and it was a great time. Beautiful ship, not too big, great itinerary....

But the next time, we'll do the full transit. Too many new ports on the Pacific side that we don't want to miss. With 6 'Caribbean' cruises under our belt, we're hoping the water is bluer on the other side. lol

[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:)

 

We have family in Lakewood, CA. Hoping to fly into LAX and stay over night with them before the cruise.

 

Any last comments either pro or con?

[wrp96]

Go, have a great cruise, and come back here and tell us all about it!:D

[Deloresgardella]

I went through the canal a couple years ago, from FLL to San Francisco on the Coral Princess. Really enjoyed it, was a great cruise. Really liked the sea days. We went in May was pretty hot, spent a lot of time by the pool.

[Joby]

It's nice to have decided. We're really looking forward to the trip and the full canal passage:)

 

Thanks for the help!

[leoandhugh]

Even though you have already decided, and I am sure you will have a wonderful trip, you will generally find that going the way you are - from north to south along Baja California - will generally be smoother than if you were going south to north. This is because the prevailing Alaska Current runs from north to south so going north you can buck right in to the current and the ship can pitch a lot.:)

[Joby]

That's good news about the west-east smoothness :) Let's keep our fingers crossed.

 

Thanks for the info.