Train question

[Mamanance]

We are going on Royal Car. in Dec. They offer two types of train rides. One is open air and the other is in a refurbished air conditioned dome car. What would you recommend?

[pa.cruisers]

We are booked for the dome car. Got shut out last time.People who went said it's thebest and view is better. Remember canal area is very hot and humid,we were there in Dec. 90 and very humid

[WCAB]

Will be on Princess in April. In reading posts, the dome train sounds great but I

am wondering if you give up the experience of going through the locks on the ship if you choose the train excursion. Since the objectve of taking the Panama

cruise is to see the locks, I am hesitant to schedule an excursion that would interfere with the ship going through the three locks.

 

Carol

[patnjohn]

Regarding the train, it is the same train. The dome is the last car on the train. Since it is higher up, the view is better. We were on it on 10/30/04. You don't see any locks. Just the markers where the ships have to sail. We saw no ships the day we were in. You also take a bus ride & can see Panama City & the Panamerican Bridge.

[Spender Nui]

I don't know anything about an open air train. The train we took was "The Panama Canal Railroad Company". There were 2 types of cars. Regular train and the dome car. Both are the same tour but the dome car is upscale. There are several regular cars and only 1 dome car. I don't know if there is another railroad tour but I doubt it. We got off the train when we reached the west coast and got on buses. We skirted Panama City, stopped at a yacht club (I think it was) in Balboa, close to the Bridge of the Americas. We then went to the Miraflores Locks for about 45 minutes. We were directly at the locks and were able to go in the grandstands (the old ones -- new ones may be better?) and watch ships transiting. It could be possible to be there and not see a transit. We also were able to climb into one of the "mules" (an old retired one) which are used to tow the ships when in the canal. We've transited the canal 4 times (2 in each direction) and are now liesurely driving to Ft Lauderdale (ain't retirement great?) for the Summit 11 day cruise leaving 11/15. We are booked on the Dome Car again and are looking forward to it. It gives an entirely different view of the canal. Whatever you do, enjoy it.

[CruisingD]

The domed car for my December cruise is sold out. What would you do ? Book the railroad journey but not the domed car . Is it worthwhile anyway or take the ferry excursion?

[choirlady]

I've heard that if you take the train you don't go through the canal? Is that true? I'd hate to go all the way down there and miss that part.

[luv2cruise123]

Do you miss going through the locks if you do the train excursion or any excursion?

[luv2cruise123]

Has anyone done this excursion through Celebrity - I will be on 11/25 sailing from Galveston.