When Is The Panama Canal Busiest
Although the Panama Canal is not the busiest manmade waterway in the world , it did see its most active year in 2021, with over 516 million tonnes of goods passing through the Canal.
Therefore, unlike other cruise destinations that ebb and flow depending on the number of cruises in its waterways, the Panama Canals importance to international trade means it is always extremely busy!
However, for slightly reduced tourist numbers, you and your family should cruise the Canal between May and November.
Panama Canal Cruises Travel Tips
- Consider traveling during the off-season, as it is less packed and generally more affordable.
- Do not carry around your passport, but you should have an ID with you.
- Always use bug spray when you are there, the bugs can be tough to get through.
- Don’t be startled or alarmed to hear random fireworks go off.
- Do not go into unfamiliar places alone or during the nighttime hours.
- U.S. money is accepted throughout all of Panama.
- A lot of the beaches in Panama are remote.
- Make sure to pack shorts, sandals, and drink plenty of water.
How To Choose The Best Panama Canal Cruise For You
There are three ways to do a Panama Canal cruise. All three types of Panama Canal cruises are offered by a handful of mainstream, premium and luxury cruise lines.
Not all cruises offer the same ports of call, either. So its important to study itineraries and not just price-shop.
Princess does several Panama Canal cruises throughout the year as does Norwegian. Also, when repositioning to or from Alaska, Australia or on a world cruise, youll find Carnival, Cunard, Holland America and others sail the full 48-mile, coast-to-coast canal transit.
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Panama Canal Cruise Routes
Most cruises are 10 to 15 nights, sailing between Florida and cities in California, or round trip from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Panama Canal itineraries generally include five, six or seven days at sea. There are various combinations of these itineraries, as ships travel between seasons in Alaska and the Caribbean. Here are two of the most common:
14-Day One Way:The 14-day route sails between Fort Lauderdale or Miami and San Diego or Los Angeles and typically visits Puerto Quetzal or Santo Tomas, Guatemala Puerto Caldera or Puntarenas, Costa Rica Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and some combination of the San Blas Islands or Colon, Panama plus Aruba and Cartagena, Colombia.
Good For: History buffs will love the canal transit and the 2,000-year-old Mayan ruins at Guatemalas Tikal. Outdoorsy types will like the rain forest treks in Costa Rica and the beauty of rock formations off the coast of Cabo. Arubas white sand makes beach lovers happy.
11-Day Round Trip:The 11-day route conveniently sails round trip from Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Ports are Limon, Costa Rica Colon, Panama Cartagena, Colombia Aruba and Grand Cayman.
When Are Panama Cruises The Most Affordable
Prices of Panama Canal cruises are dependent on the cruise line you use, the method of booking, the accommodation you book on the cruise, the itinerary you organize, and the number of family members you take on your cruise.
A general rule, the best time to cruise the Panama Canal, in terms of affordability, is December.
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Entering The Pacific Ocean
Almost undetectable, we then began to pick up speed. The next time we glanced over the side of the Infinity, we were passing all the freighters lining up in the Pacific awaiting their transit to the Caribbean. The sun set down behind the Isla Tobaga, a familiar island for us to reflect back on, since we had spent a beach day there earlier in the year. And before we knew it, we were in open ocean. The transit was complete.
Other Fun Things To Do In Sf
Here are a few activities I think you will enjoy during your stay in San Francisco.
Alcatraz Prison Tours: Head over to Alcatraz Island for a self-guided audio tour of this famous prison. It was home to inmates such as Al Capone, Robert Stroud , and Machine Gun Kelly. The worst of the worst were transferred here and on the tour you will learn all about what happened when this place served as a maximum security prison.
Visit the Golden Gate Bridge: Walk along the Golden Gate Bridge for a close-up look at this amazing structure. This important bridge connected Marin County with San Francisco for the first time. Today, you can visit its outdoor museum, take a guided walking tour, or stroll along its pathways on your own.
Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour: The best way to explore a city such as SF is on foot. Learn from the experts on one of these guided walking tours. Sample food, learn about the history of Fisherman’s Wharf, or uncover the hidden stories of Chinatown. Most tours are two to three hours.
See the Sights on a Bus Tour of SF: Ride around the city and learn more about its history on one of these bus tours. Some offer you the chance to explore on your own and others include several hours of guided fun. You will see places such as Golden Gate Park, learn more about how the Haight Ashbury District became famous, and discover more about the days of the Gold Rush.
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What Is The Cleanest Cruise Line
The 3 Cleanest Cruise Lines According to the CDC Viking Ocean Cruises When it comes to passing CDC inspections, Viking Ocean Cruises takes the top honor. With five ships, every Viking cruise ship scored well on their latest inspections. Three ships Viking Sea, Viking Sky, and Viking Star scored a perfect 100.
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Island Princess 14 NIGHT Panama Canal CRUISE Departing From Fort Lauderdale , Florida Ruby Princess 16 NIGHT Panama Canal CRUISE Departing From Galveston, Texas Emerald Princess 18 NIGHT Transcanal CRUISE Departing From Fort Lauderdale , Florida . The Dreamy Getaway w/ Virgin Voyages. Book by 8/31 and your partner will get 50% off their voyage. Receive an extra $100 toward your prepaid Bar. See low rates on this 14 Night PrincessPanamaCanal departing Fort Lauderdale 1/5/2023 on the Island Princess. Book online with iCruise.com or call 1-800-427-8473.. See low rates on this 15 Night PrincessPanamaCanal departing Fort Lauderdale 1/2/2023 on the Emerald Princess. Book online with iCruise.com or call 1-800-427-8473..
See low rates on this 18 Night PrincessPanamaCanal departing Fort Lauderdale 4/16/2023 on the Emerald Princess. Book online with iCruise.com or call 1-800-427-8473..
- This is one of the most affordable ways to visit Panama.
- Choose what you do, when you do it when booking through the cruise line.
- Do things on board the ship, but also excursions off the ship when you dock.
- Go to special places that you can only visit when you are a part of the cruise line.
- Do not worry about having to pack and unpack or find hotels or places to stay. This is all done on the ship.
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Sail on board Emerald Princess from Princess Cruises for 15 nights, departing on Fri 17th March 2023. Panama Canal Ocean to Ocean Cruise. Voyage code: E307. Call free 0800 197 8050 We are open today between 9am and 8pm. 0800 197 8050. Menu. Home Deals. Latest Cruise Line Deals . Sail on board Ruby Princess from Princess Cruises for 10 nights, departing on Sun 10th December 2023. Panama Canal with Costa Rica & Caribbean Cruise. Voyage code: R333. Call us on 01204 208493 We are open today between 9am and 8pm. 01204 208493. Menu. Home Deals. 2022 Luxury Cruises . The Carnival Corporation-owned brand Princess Cruises announced its 2022-2023 itinerary program for the Caribbean and Panama Canal. In the Caribbean are deployed 6 MedallionClass Princess ships Caribbean, Emerald, Enchanted, Island, Regal, and Sky. Travelers have a choice of 87 departures and 21 itineraries ranging from 4 to 21 days.
Apr 29, 2021 · PrincessCruises has launched the sale of its Caribbean and PanamaCanal itineraries for the 2022-2023 season. According to a press release, 21 itineraries and 87 departures & ndash ranging from four to 21 days & ndash will be offered in the Caribbean onboard the Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Regal Princess, Caribbean Princess, Island Princess, and Emerald Princess. The cruise line said .
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Cabo San Lucas Mexico
Cabo San Lucas is an option on some full transit Panama Canal cruises. Cabo is famous for its party scene, beautiful resorts, and iconic sights like El Arco, or âThe Arch.â Fishing enthusiasts also know that Cabo San Lucas is one of the best destinations for deep sea fishing, especially those hoping to hook a giant marlin.
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Aug 09, 2022 · August 21, 2023-$2,029 in $2,399 ocvw $3,229 Balcony $4,049 Suite. Terms & Conditions: Offer is for new bookings only. Rates are cruise only and include NCCFs taxes/fees are additional. CNMs 10% Onboard Credit is figured on the base fare less NCCF. Select departures have past guest savings. Some rate codes may be under Princesss non . 15 Night Panama Canal with Princess Cruises on Emerald Princess starting Wednesday 1 February 2023 until Thursday 16 February 2023 from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles. 2023 Feb 16, 2023. Choose other date/cabin type to see alternatives min. $698 cheaper Why we like this 15 Night Panama Canal. Caribbean generally offers great beaches.
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Learn From Our Guests Ask & Answer
Even the most seasoned travellers have questions. With Ask & Answer, you dont have to go far to get those questions answered. The bonus the questions and answers come from fellow cruisers!
Learn about the latest ships and destinations by browsing hundreds of questions posted by real cruisers. If you happen not to find what youre looking for, you can even post a question of your own.
Real questions. Real answers. All from real cruisers.
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What Is The Best Caribbean Cruise Line
Many people love Disneys offerings for Caribbean cruise destinations, including a stop at their cruise lines private island in the Bahamas. Others love the discounts offered by Celebrity Cruises, while some cruisers rate Royal Caribbean highly for their diverse choice of destinations, like Anguilla, Aruba, Belize, Puerto Rico, and more.
Holland America Line: 23
If you are looking for an extended vacation where you will enjoy several weeks away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, then the Holland America Line 23-day Panama Cruise is the perfect trip for you. The voyage departs from Vancouver, BC, and arrives at Fort Lauderdale after 23 days of oceanic bliss. Some of the ports of call include San Francisco, Puerto Vallarta, Corinto, Puerto Caldera, Aruba, and Puerto Quetzal. The Holland America Lines Nieuw Amsterdam is undoubtedly a moving piece of art with its robust art collection worth over $3 million.
The ship can accommodate over 2,000 guests. Some onboard activities include the Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. Kings Blues Club, and BBC Earth In Concert. The large capacity of the Holland America Line and the long cruise time can lead to sea fatigue for some passengers. Guests need to be mentally prepared for a long voyage with many sea days. The cruise experience charges rates start from $1,599 per person.
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Transiting The Gatn Locks
The first of three locks we would reach was the Gatún Locks, which was nearly at the mouth of the Caribbean Sea. This lock would lift us up from the Caribbean Sea and deposit us into Lago Gatún. The closed circuit TVs on the ship provided commentary and the bow of the ship was open to passengers. But perhaps it was high atop the upper decks of the ship that perhaps provided the best views.
Upon the upper deck, you could really get a good vantage point of exactly how tight a squeeze this would be for the Celebrity Infinity. You see, at 964.6 feet in length and 105.6 feet wide, the Infinity is what is known as a Panamax vessel, as it is the maximum size able to fit in the Panama Canal. The locks are only 110 feet wide, so this only leaves about two feet on either side to spare! Once the new portions of the canal open in 2015, these dimensions will change, so it was kind of neat to do this transit on a Panamax ship in the original canal, 100 years after it was opened.
The Gatún Locks opened up. We smoothly glided in as if a hand had slipped into a perfectly sized glove. The boat was roped-up to devices that looked like little train engines that appeared to be pulling us in. In actuality, we learned these were more so helping to steer and straighten the massive ship as it entered.
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Tips For Viewing The Panama Canal
Wake up early.
Pay attention to information shared by the captain and/or crew the day before. Find out when your ship is expected to be entering the Panama Canal. And then set your alarm. Youve traveled a long way to see this. Dont miss out on any of it!
This was shortly after 5:00 am, early and dark. Blake and I were on the balcony, while we left the girls sleep awhile longer. When entering the Panama Canal, a special canal pilot comes aboard to navigate through the canal and its locks.
Fun fact for you. There are only two instances when the ships captain does not have authority over their vessel:
Grab something to eat and/or drink and enjoy the show!
I grabbed coffees and teas at the International Cafe and brought them back to our cabin. Then we woke the girls.
Watch from the balcony.
We hung out on the balcony for awhile in our pajamas, waiting for a little more canal action. Be sure to have your TV turned on, as Princess provides live commentary throughout the transit, with lots of canal history and facts.
Then, as we entered the canal, we started moving around the ship for different views.
Youll see something different from each side, and from the front and back. There will likely be an additional ship or two going through the locks in the other lane. Dont miss out on walking around!
Get OFF the ship go on an excursion!
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Gatun Lake And Colon Panama
Colon is the Atlantic Ocean entrance to the Panama Canal. You may be here for a couple of hours, but your Norwegian ship is the perfect vantage point to snap photos of the Panama Canal as you sail on a partial transit. Consider booking an overland journey that allows you to leave the ship in Gatun Lake to take pictures and explore the beautiful scenery nearby. You will be transported to Colon where you will rejoin the ship and continue on your cruise.
Our Panama Canal Transit Experience
The year 2014 marked the 100-year anniversary of the Panama Canal and we were happy to commemorate its centennial when we visited the famed waterway back in March, earlier in our trip. Then, we went to the visitor center at the Miraflores locks and watched a few ships transit them, which grew our fascination of the engineering marvel. As we witnessed this spectacle earlier on our trip, we never imagined that we would be making the Panama Canal transit ourselves, only nine months later. Yet here we were, now back in Colon Panama aboard the Celebrity Infinity, now in December, ready to make the bucket list crossing of continents from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Our initial visit to the Panama Canal March 2014
To be honest, we werent really that excited to be transiting the canal. We booked this repositioning cruise deal, as we often do, simply because it was a comfortable, convenient and economical way for us to get from one place on the map to another. Yet for many people, the entire reason behind booking such a cruise is for The Day you transit the Panama Canal. For us, the Canal was just an added bonus as we were making our way down from Florida to Chile. Yet, it ended up being much more than that.
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