Panama Canal

[Ireland's Call Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ireland's Call]

We are thinking of a cruise that would take us through the canal . Anyone done this ? Where best to start ? LA , SD or SF ?to Miami ? or the opposite way ?.
Best cruise company ?
Thanks
G

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

You might want to check out the message boards on Cruise Critic.

Cruise Critic Message Boards

I have found them to be a good resource on cruises.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

We are thinking of a cruise that would take us through the canal . Anyone done this ? Where best to start ? LA , SD or SF ?to Miami ? or the opposite way ?.
Best cruise company ?
Thanks
G

Well, when u start from the east and head west - FL to the CA - you gain hours rather then lose.

Dh and I have done a Transatlantic staring in Barcelona and ending in FL 0 going in that direction was nice as we crossed 6 or 7 time zones.

All my recent cruises have been with Disney but I have heard very good things about Norwegian Cruise Line.

This is on my to do list as well as an Alaska Cruise.

[cirkus Member Find all posts View Profile Close cirkus]

I have not done the cruise, but recently went to Panama and stayed in the Marriott Panama City and spent 5 days in and about the former Canal Zone. It was one of our most memorable trips. In addition to a partial Transit Tour thru the canal, we spent time in each of the visitors centers, traveled the railroad from one coast to the other, visited an Indian Village where they caught and prepared Talapia out of the river, and did some other touring. We're not typically cruise people and prefer seeing the countryside, but that's not for everyone. I raise it only as an alternative. By the way, the airfare was just over $300 pp and the hotels were not outrageous. If you do decide to go, pick up a copy of The Path Between The Seas, by David McCoullough. Tough read but it made the trip much more enjoyable. The story of the planning and building of the Canal is facinating.
Bill

[Elli Member Find all posts View Profile Close Elli]

We just returned from our Panama Canal Cruise beginning of February. We were on the Coral Princess and really enjoyed it.

As someone mentioned, do check out Cruise Critic BBS - lots of info there.

[Ireland's Call Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ireland's Call]

We just returned from our Panama Canal Cruise beginning of February. We were on the Coral Princess and really enjoyed it.

As someone mentioned, do check out Cruise Critic BBS - lots of info there.

Thanks ...which direction did you go (start/finish) .Was weather good in Feb?Too many days at sea?
Thanks G

[mas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mas]

Thanks ...which direction did you go (start/finish) .Was weather good in Feb?Too many days at sea?

I did a 14 day cruise through the canal in Jan this year aboard the Celebrity Constellation. The cruise was wonderful; departed from Miami and disembarked in SD. I expected the weather in Cartegena and Panama to be humid and in the 90's. The temps were in the high 80's and the humidity wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I would do this cruise again anytime.

Also, after doing a two week cruise, seven day cruises just won't be the same. It was nice going through the first week knowing that we didn't have to leave at the end of the week. I was a little worried that it would be boring spending two weeks on the same ship. Not to worry. I could have easily stayed on the ship and done the trip in the reverse. There were several people blogging on cruise critic that did just that.

[Elli Member Find all posts View Profile Close Elli]

I did a 14 day cruise through the canal in Jan this year aboard the Celebrity Constellation. The cruise was wonderful; departed from Miami and disembarked in SD. I expected the weather in Cartegena and Panama to be humid and in the 90's. The temps were in the high 80's and the humidity wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I would do this cruise again anytime.

Also, after doing a two week cruise, seven day cruises just won't be the same. It was nice going through the first week knowing that we didn't have to leave at the end of the week. I was a little worried that it would be boring spending two weeks on the same ship. Not to worry. I could have easily stayed on the ship and done the trip in the reverse. There were several people blogging on cruise critic that did just that.

Our cruise was similar, departed from Miami. We were told the temps in Cartagena and Panama were in the low 90's, but it felt hotter because of the fairly high humidity.

Even though we enjoyed the cruise, I wouldn't take another one with so many sea days. I did a Med. cruise last year with more ports, and would do a similar one again.