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Instead, these cruise ships dock at Colon, Panama (the entrance to the canal), and spend a day on the Caribbean side in port. From here, passengers can see the canal however their heart desires, whether stopping for a few minutes on a city tour, or booking a longer shore excursion through a private boat tour crossing the Panama Canal. Passengers can then leave the ship and join a variety of shore excursions. Even though, you won’t see the entire canal this way, you will, however, be able to explore places that you wouldn’t see on a full crossing.
More about the Panama Canal & Central America
Instead, there are distinct times of the day that you’ll want to be more actively viewing. Or take a trip to Panama City itself, a dramatic contrast between glassy skyscrapers and the narrow alleys and colorful facades of the atmospheric Casco Viejo, or old town, dating back to the 17th century. There are excursions to an Embera village, too, where you can learn about the traditional lifestyle of this rainforest tribe. The narrow Culebra Cut, an artificial channel near Panama City, is lined with greenery, while the expanse of the Gatun Lake is dotted with rainforested islands and is a great place to look for wildlife. On a transit from Panama City to Colon, the futuristic skyline of Panama City will be on your starboard (right) side. When you pass through the skinny Culebra Cut between Panama City and Gamboa, you’ll have the greenery of a national park on both sides, so this is a good time to look for monkeys and toucans in the trees.
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Miami to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Miami to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 14:04:23 GMT [source]
Find Your Perfect Panama Canal Cruise
Before we went on our Panama Canal cruise, I never looked into whether we’d be sailing through the new locks, built in 2016, or the original. In the best places to visit in Central America, you’ll discover pristine beaches, dynamic cultures, and diverse scenery full of adventures. Workers cut and dug through the country’s thick rainforest to build the Panama Canal.
What are the Different Panama Canal Itineraries?
Best Panama Canal cruise excursions from Colon and Panama City - The Points Guy
Best Panama Canal cruise excursions from Colon and Panama City.
Posted: Sun, 17 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
It's one of the biggest celebrations in Central America — even bigger than the Christmas holidays for most families, so you can expect crowds during that time. This is also a great option for those who want to see a bit of the canal, but also want to get out and explore the country of Panama. Most partial crossing itineraries will stop in Colon and Gamboa, perfect towns to get a taste of Panamanian culture. Since the Panama Canal is nestled between the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, weather can vary greatly during Panama Canal cruises. With the varying climates of Panama and the mixing weather of two different oceans, it would be best to prepare for some rainy weather during the transit. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site.
Alternatively, some cruises do offer passengers the opportunity to see the rest of the canal in a smaller excursion boat. Even on partial cruises, you’ll still have the chance to see highlights such as Gatun Lake, the Bridge of the Americas, the Centennial Bridge, and the Gaillard Cut, which has literally been cut through the Continental Divide. The duration of a typical Panama Canal cruise can vary, but it generally ranges from about 10 to 16 days. Shorter cruises might focus on specific regions, such as the Caribbean or Central America, while longer ones could encompass a more extensive itinerary, including both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Plan your viewing spot, whether at the bow, from your balcony, or on upper decks. The bow is generally the best spot to view the cruise ship enter the locks, both early in the morning and when returning through in the later afternoon (on partial transits).
Sailing through the Panama Canal
And Princess provides live narration from the bridge while transiting the locks, just one reason we were voted "Best Cruise Line for Enrichment" by Cruise International. These sailings are return trips or trips between ports one the same coast, either the Atlantic or Pacific coast. For many cruise enthusiasts, a Panama Canal crossing is nothing less than a bucket list item. It consists of several artificial channels, man-made lakes and three locks, which lift ships upward as they travel across the Panama isthmus. Cruise ships enter Gatun Lake during a Panama Canal transit, utilizing the Gatun Locks to reach the lake’s elevation.
It's best to keep your feet and ankles covered on the ground as you watch for howler monkeys, toucans and scarlet macaws in the trees. There are crocodiles, snakes and things you don't want to step on, especially wearing sandals in the forests and jungles. This blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month.
March/April
The best time to go on a Panama Canal cruise is during the dry season, which typically spans from mid-December to mid-April. During these months, the weather is more stable, with reduced chances of rainfall, providing the best conditions for a pleasant cruise and travel experience. A partial Panama Canal cruise usually involves a round trip, departing from and returning to the same embarkation port, providing passengers with a condensed canal experience. On a partial transit, which is what we did, you’ll navigate through the iconic locks of the Panama Canal and into Gatun Lake. Another popular option is Partial Crossing cruise, when the vessel goes through just one lock of the canal and then lets the passengers out in Gamboa or Colon to enjoy the day on the shore. Both partial transit and full transit cruises cruises stop at the islands of Western Caribbean.
Take some photos and video as you go underneath it; if it's too crowded with passengers jockeying for position, head aft on the ship and snap some after you pass under it. You can also spot spectators sitting in the grandstands at Gatun Locks on the Atlantic side and on the balcony at the Miraflores Visitor Center on the Pacific side. The latter will wave and cheer you on since the more infrequent sight of a passenger ship with lots of people onboard is infinitely more exciting than the many cargo ships that sail through each day.
If you prefer to learn more about the locks you will see on your Panama Canal cruise, check out the Miraflores Locks Museum and Visitor Center. With that being said, all Panama Canal cruises can be categorized into three categories– Trans-Canal Crossing, Partial Crossing, and Faux Crossing. Also, it is important to make sure to avoid the loudest staterooms onboard to completely relax on your Panama Canal cruise. There are some Panama cruises running year-round, which are typically shorter in length between 3-5 nights long. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week.
When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Panama’s dry season between January and March coincides with the worst weather in the United States and Europe, making it a popular place to escape for some winter sun. However, the influx of tourists can mean that cruise ports are incredibly busy. This is one situation where a balcony cabin offers a unique perspective, but it isn't really a necessity (unlike on an Alaska or Hawaii itinerary, where you're guaranteed gorgeous scenery on either side of your ship). Bigger ships can only squeak through the canal, with two feet (or less) on either side.
America, around Cape Horn and then visit Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil before heading back to Miami. “The Panama Canal is one of the world’s great engineering marvels, and a Panama Canal cruise should be on everyone’s bucket list,” Joe added. After that, the ship sailed through a manmade lake to the final lock, where it was lowered down to Pacific sea level. “From our arrival outside the east side of the Panama Canal, we were in awe throughout the entire crossing,” said Joe. Extend your cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise.
And even though the crossing is fascinating, let's be honest — it can also be tedious. Ships and passengers spend much time waiting, and 40 ships pass through the canal each day. Since they all line up in Limon Bay to wait their turn, you may be docked there the entire night and start the crossing early morning; you might even be lined up ready to go and still need to wait part of the day. A full transit allows you to experience the entire canal and all the locks. Carnival is a festival in mid-January in Panama City and other towns around the country.
Partial transits often originate in Florida or the Caribbean, enter the canal at Limon Bay and travel 7 miles to the Gatun Locks. They then turn around at Gatun Lake, heading back to Colon and continuing on the itinerary. Here are some Panama Canal cruise tips to help you plan and get the most out of this bucket list experience. For a rainy-day excursion, ride the Panama Canal Railway, one of the world's great train rides. If you're in Panama City, plan an indoor excursion with a visit to the world's first museum dedicated to biodiversity, the Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo. There are plenty of outdoor and historic activities to enjoy during your Panama Canal cruise stopping in Costa Rica.
If you are looking for the best beaches during your Panama Canal cruise, you may want to venture a little out of town to the beautiful beaches Playa Maderas and Playa Hermosa. One of the most special things to do in this city is horseback riding on the beach, so make sure to ask your cruise line if there are any shore excursions like this on your Panama Canal cruise. The best way to find this type of Panama Canal cruise is through searching for Caribbean and Central American itineraries that stop in Colon.
The canal never stops working and you will traverse along with other ships and boats and witness the swift movement of these vessels. Step into the past as you stroll down the Spanish Colonial lanes of Antigua in Guatemala, a picturesque town with pastel buildings and balconies filled with pink flowers. A short trip from the port at Puerto Quetzal, the city is home to museums like Casa de los Sueños, where the history of this town is depicted through art. Add peace of mind and a sense of security to your vacation with a Cruise Plus® Hotel Package. Give yourself a few days to relax either before or after your Panama Canal cruise and take in the sights of a sensational city.
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