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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Lines » Panama Canal cruise recommendation (Page 1)

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Author

Topic: Panama Canal cruise recommendation

rbarry
Just Boarded
Member # 1354

posted 06-13-2000 11:09 PM

Any advice on which cruise line does the best Panama Canal cruise? Thinking about an April cruise and would appreciate hearing from the "veterans".

Posts: 1 | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Terri Lee
First Class Passenger
Member # 942

posted 06-13-2000 11:19 PM

I guess I am biased but I would recommend a Panama Canal cruise on HAL. I sailed on the ROTTERDAM V through the Panama Canal,back in December,1995 and I loved every minute of it.
It was my very first experience with any large cruise ship and I have never looked back.
The Panama Canal is quite awe-inspiring,to say the least. One day,I will do it again,I am sure.

Have a wonderful cruise rbarry!!

Posts: 292 | From: Burlington Ontario Canada | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 06-13-2000 11:24 PM

My recommendations are Holland America Line
or Crystal Cruises. I have done the Panama
Canal many times and these are the best for
a canal transit. It's important to have good
viewing forward, sternward, and both sides.
This good viewing requires easy viewing from
both indoors and out on deck. With the
extreme heat and humidity in this area, the
ability to escape indoors periodically is
very much necessary. If I were doing this
cruise again, I would choose one of Holland
America's Statendam class ships.

Good luck and happy sailing!!

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Guest
First Class Passenger
Member # 1157

posted 06-14-2000 04:48 AM

I did Panama Canal on Cunard's QE2. That was the best experience of my life -
need I say more ?

Posts: 1888 | From: Earth | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 06-14-2000 06:48 AM

I am a QE2 regular and love the ship....I
do not recommend her for the Panama Canal
transit.....viewing areas way too limited
for the passengers carried. QE2 is best for
an ocean transit. Also the canal is so
seldom on QE2's schedule, the number of
sailings from which to choose would be very
limited.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 06-14-2000 08:53 AM

We did the Panama Canal on the Zenith and it was great. We picked her because of all the ships it had the best itinerary. Looking over brochures I think Celebrity still has the best itineraires for the Panama Canal and the ships are very nice.

[This message has been edited by jwine (edited 06-14-2000).]

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 06-14-2000 09:16 AM

I have done the Panama Canal on the HAL's Rotterdam V and the Nieuw Amsterdam and enjoyed every minute of it. The NA has a great viewing area at the bow of the ship (can't remember which deck it was as it was so long ago) and chairs were set up there for the passengers. They even served us coffee and pastries in the morning and always had juice and water for us.
Now that I have typed all this I realize that the NA will not be making this trip again as she has been sold. Sorry.
Try one of the HAL ships, they do a great job.
I agree with NAL - you do want a good viewing area. On HAL's new ships there is the Crow's Nest, the wrap around promendade deck, the upper part of the Lido pool area, the Nav deck. and many other areas for viewing. It is very hot and humid - we were lucky on our last trip as we had cloud cover the entire transit so you could stay outside much longer. Remember to drink lots of water or juice - so you won't get dehydrated.
Have a fun trip. It is well worth it.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 06-14-2000 10:05 AM

Hi...having been through the Canal about 30 times, the last was on the Royal Princess in Nov. I would say that she is the best one to do it on for viewing. LOTS of deck space from for'd right thro' to aft where you can be inside as well with a great view.
Now however the one we would do it on is the Marco Polo as she will be alongside for a day and overnight in Balboa before transitting...no one else does that...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

harborman
First Class Passenger
Member # 1248

posted 06-14-2000 03:48 PM

If you can go in March, Celebritys new Infinity will be doing a few canal trips March 10 th and March 24th. Brand new ship and great cruise line. We are on the March 24th trip.

Posts: 147 | From: Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Marcia
First Class Passenger
Member # 1198

posted 06-19-2000 06:49 PM

We sailed out of San Diego, April of 1999 on the Legend of the Seas (RCL) and loved it. We took the advice of our travel agent and took a stateroom with a balcony so that we could sit for part of the day. It is a long transit of the canal and standing on deck in the hot sun gets old. We even ordered breakfast and lunch delivered to the stateroom. We had wonderful service and met a lot of good frinds. We ended up at Fort Lauderdale. It was a wonderful time.

Posts: 101 | From: Hamilton, Oh. U.S.A. | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

mrblanche
First Class Passenger
Member # 714

posted 06-20-2000 09:33 AM

No one else mentioned that a trans-canal cruise is usually made more expensive by the air fare, since you can't by a "round trip" air fare, but fly into one coast and back from the other.

One exception is Princess Cruises, which has at least one ship (this year it was the Crown Princess) which sails into the Canal, turn around in Lake Gaitun, and comes back out, thus returning to her original port.

Posts: 308 | From: Cedar Hill, TX | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

KruzinKat
First Class Passenger
Member # 260

posted 06-21-2000 07:10 PM

To be honest, I think any of the major lines will provide a great experience - the Panama Canal is an incredible experience no matter what ship you are on. Now, understand, we've only been through once - on RCCL's Legend of the Seas. But it truly was the Canal that made that trip special. You'll definitely want a ship with lots of viewing area. We didn't have a balcony, but I wouldn't have stayed in our cabin even if we had because the trip is a 360 degree experience, which you can't get from staying in your cabin. You want to look forward and astern and view the Canal workings on one side and the wonders of nature on the other - especially the Gaillard Cut, where engineers and workers managed to slice through the Continental Divide. Amazing! And you also want to share reactions with fellow passengers. I'm sure it's also nice to relax in your cabin, but don't think you'll miss out if you don't have that balcony. Legend had wonderful spots to sit and relax while watching the view. And the rest of that itinerary was great, too. Now we're looking forward to another Canal transit - this time on Mercury in September. By the way, we like doing the Pacific to Atlantic itinerary so we end up in our own time zone at the end of the long cruise - no time lag that way. I'm particularly excited about this cruise because we start out in San Diego - a city I've always wanted to visit. We're even taking an extra day to visit the Zoo! We'll also have a whole day in Acapulco - we barely got to see it the first time because that was our embarkation point. Whichever ship you decide on, look forward to a wonderful experience - more relaxed than a Caribbean cruise but just as exciting.

KruzinKat
87 days & a wake-up to go!

Posts: 101 | From: Kingston, MA USA | Registered: Jun 99 | IP: Logged

Lisette
First Class Passenger
Member # 282

posted 06-26-2000 09:13 AM

We went through the canal on RCCL Legend of the Seas, it is a wonderful ship and the crew were fantastic. I must agree that going through the canal is a wonder no matter what cruise line you go on but I found Legend of the Seas to be my favourite crew ship and will sail on her again as soon as I get a chance.

Posts: 32 | From: Mississauga | Registered: Nov 98 | IP: Logged

Molly
First Class Passenger
Member # 853

posted 06-27-2000 06:16 PM

mrblanche,

What port did you sail from? We would like to take a Panama Canal cruise but wanted to make a round trip. Do you know of any other ships that do this? Thanks for your reply.

Posts: 68 | From: Norman Park, GA USA | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

mrblanche
First Class Passenger
Member # 714

posted 06-28-2000 08:21 AM

We sailed out of Fort Lauderdale, and returned there. That way, we (and our parents) could drive down, park, and return to our cars!

Princess does this, and Carnival may also have a "turn-around" type of cruise.

Posts: 308 | From: Cedar Hill, TX | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

luvtocruise
First Class Passenger
Member # 680

posted 06-30-2000 08:27 PM

Molly - Princess does a round trip from Ft. Lauderdale on the Crown Princess. Will be sailing on that ship in 2001.
Can't wait!!

Posts: 20 | Registered: Feb 99 | IP: Logged

Molly
First Class Passenger
Member # 853

posted 07-01-2000 03:13 PM

luvtocruise,

What ports will you be visiting and how long is the cruise? Thanks to you and mrblanche for the replies.

Posts: 68 | From: Norman Park, GA USA | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

luvtocruise
First Class Passenger
Member # 680

posted 07-02-2000 09:25 PM

Molly - The cruise is for 10 days leaving and returning from/to Ft. Lauderdale. Goes to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Limon Costa Rica and Cartagena Columbia, then goes through the canal and turns around in the lake (can't remember the name!) the other days are at sea. Don't remember in which order we hit places. I do know however, that I can't wait!!!
Happy Sailing!

Posts: 20 | Registered: Feb 99 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 07-03-2000 02:10 PM

Molly......

Be smart.....read all the posts and you will
see that Regal and Crown Princesses are NOT
the best choices for the Panama Canal. The
indoor and outside viewing areas are VERY
important on this cruise and these two ships
are greatly lacking in these areas.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

mrblanche
First Class Passenger
Member # 714

posted 07-04-2000 06:17 PM

Actually, if you use some ingenuity, and explore the ship, you'll find there are some excellent locations for viewing the canal from the Crown and Regal Princesses. There is a much underused promenade on deck 7 on both sides. You can not only watch the passage, but do it in the shade!

Posts: 308 | From: Cedar Hill, TX | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Mary
First Class Passenger
Member # 316

posted 07-05-2000 08:26 AM

We are considering the Crown Princess because of the round-trip from Lauderdale. Can anyone tell me the condition of the ship? Is it old and if so, has it been refurbished?

Posts: 35 | Registered: Jan 99 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 07-05-2000 08:54 AM

The Crown Princess has just recently been refurbished (I believe in the past year). I know 7 couples who went on her (roundtrip Panama Canal) in Feb and loved the ship and the itinerary, they are still talking about it.

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

mrblanche
First Class Passenger
Member # 714

posted 07-05-2000 10:45 AM

The Crown Princess is approaching 10 years old. She was the flagship of the Princess line when we first went on her, but that status has passed on.

The Crown was purchased by Princess while under construction for Sitmar cruises. She has a very low passenger count for her size (1600 passengers on a 70,000 ton ship; Carnival approaches 2500 on the same size ship). Several new ideas were tried on her, and some work better than others. Her weak points are the buffet area and the show lounge.

Posts: 308 | From: Cedar Hill, TX | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 07-05-2000 01:42 PM

Crown Princess is in good shape and has the
best cabins, along with Regal Princess, in
the fleet. Her dining room is pretty, but noisy. He main disadvantage for the Panama
Canal is the near total lack of forward
viewing areas inside and out. Apparently
this matters little to some who have made
posts here. If this matters little to you,
go for it, Molly, as you like the itinerary
from Fort Lauderdale.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

LJH
First Class Passenger
Member # 1411

posted 07-06-2000 01:24 PM

I can't help you on a recommendation, but I
am signed up for the April 13, 2001 Panama Canal cruise on Holland America Zaandam.
If you end up choosing this one, we'll have a drink!

Posts: 11 | From: Coon Rapids, MN, USA | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

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