Panama Canal Private Tours when on Royal

[Misnco]

We are on the Jewel next year for a partial Panama Canal cruise. We would like to take a private tour when we are in the Panama canal. However, it seems to get off a Royal ship you must be on a ship's tour...true or not true? Any info would be appreciated and we don't want to be disappointed.

 

Thanks!

[cb at sea]

It's true--and really, you don't need any excursion! The ship is going to pass through some (if not all, depending on the trip) of the locks, and a Navigator will be onboard with running rhetoric about the canal, it's history, operation, etc...

If you move about the ship during the passage, you will get SO much info and scenery!

But if you choose to do the excursion route, it MUST be through RCI--Panama is not a place to roam on your own.

[wrp96]

I know that when I was on the Brilliance, they would only allow people that were on ship's tours to tender off the ship while in Gatun Lake.

[TEXASMUNK]

The only place to disembark is at a private location. This location has an arrangement with the tour companies that work with RCI to allow their staff and buses on property. There are no cabs, vans or any other way to leave this area and it is NOT near any other area where your private tour could pick you up.

[Misnco]

Thanks...for everyone's response. Your info cleared up a lot of questions. Best, Carol