Panama canal Tips?

[ticketsunlimited]

My wife and I along with two other couples that we met on the PG in Tahiti are on the Mariner 3/3-3/17. They are fellow CC members also. Any advise from past Panama Canal travelers? Must see, must do, must avoid, all suggestions would be welcome and much appreciated. All in our late 30s and adventurous.

[Gsel]

A lot of advice will surely come your way. The Panama Canal is one of the most beautiful and educational cruises we have taken. My advice would be to be sure and read up on the history and mechanics of the canal itself. Then find out all you can about the people who built it and those who continue to maintain and build today. Then, even if you don't do all of the above, just watch and listen as you go thru. You will be able to hear the men working and see everything it takes to just get one ship from one side to the other.

We went thru last March on HAL and loved every minute. Good luck and enjoy!

[lrmorris]

Friends of ours recommended a book entitled "Path Between the Seas" about the building and history of the Panama Canal. I bought it and plan to read it on our cruise on the Mariner on 12/27 from FLL to Lima, Peru. Check it out. Linda & Larry (Sorry don't have the author's name offhand)

[Jackie Stanton]

One of the things that makes the RSSC passage so unique is that it takes the entire day. You will cross one set of locks in the morning, and then spend the day in Gatun Lake, where there are several excursions to choose from. Then, in the evening, the ship will have a festive buffet feast on the pool deck, complete with entertainment, while the ship passes through the second set of locks.

 

To my knowledge, Radisson is the only cruise line that does this!

 

The lecturers on board are wonderful, and will give you an entire history of the canal's building. I would also recommend reading David McCullough's "The Path between the Seas".

 

ENJOY!!

[ticketsunlimited]

Thanks very much, I will have the book by the end of the week. Any special "must do" excursions we should do? We are up for going out on our own instead of a "Ship" excursion if there is any you can recommend. Thanks very much in advance.

[neviboy]

If the ship has a lunch barbecue at the Gatun Yacht club, take it. The local Indians put on a show, and local dance groups. Any tour that winds up at the long observation deck is a must.