We'll be doing a full transit of the Panama Canal from the Pacific side to the Atlantic. While we definitely want to be on the ship while going through the locks, we also want to do an excursion while there.
Based on the schedule our time is noted as:
6am-5pm Panama Canal (Cruising Canal) - Tendered
6pm-8pm Cristobal Pier, Panama - Docked
So here are our questions...
1. Will the excursions leave before we enter the locks or after? (If before, we're not sure we want to leave the ship because we'll miss going through the locks - one of the main points of taking this cruise. If after, great...we'll be able to be on the ship going through the locks and then we'll be able to do an excursion.)
2. If we are able to take an excursion, what would your reco's be? (Some in the group would prefer nothing too strenuous so something like doing a zip line would probably be out for them.)
Nope...not much help on replies. But - after doing a lot of surfing, some other posts were helpful. We also got some input from my friend's colleague who lives in Cartegna. Here are the "things to see" in the different ports we're going to be sailing to...
We're looking at excursions that feature...
Cabo San Lucas - Lands End and "Los Arcos". These are the rock outcroppings in the water at the end of the peninsula.
Acapulco - Any trips that have the cliff divers.
Huatulco - Great beaches.
Puntarenas, Costa Rica - Canopy tours in the rainforest
Panama Canal - besides watching from the balcony as we transit the locks, tours of the inner workings of the canal are supposed to be interesting.
Cartegena - Seeing the Old Town area and the forts.
Hope this helps...I'll update when we get back in November to let you know how things went.
Thanks for the info! You are a wealth of knowledge.... keep us... well, me, informed if you have any other updates... like where the best ruins will be.... and maybe the best margaritas!
Depending on the cruise line and schedule , most full transits don't have any tours scheduled.
Check the web page for cruise line if tours are scheduled. When we transited on the Volendam in 06
there where not tours scheduled to problems with unloading and reloading passengers.
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Ships Sailed:
SS Ithaca , Volendam , Mariner of the Seas (x2) , Veendam , Coral Princess , Island Princess (x3) , Emerald ,Sapphire (x3)
We did a partial transit Panama Cruise with Princess about 4 years ago and took the train upgrading to the dome car. THe train was great very comfortable and the ride was nice. It took us along the canal from one end to the other then we boarded a bus to see the Bridge of the Americas and then took us back to the ship letting us see parts pf Panama City. We really enjoyed this tour.
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PANAMA CANAL TRANSIT - Which Excursions?
We did a partial transit Panama Cruise with Princess about 4 years ago and took the train upgrading to the dome car. THe train was great very comfortable and the ride was nice. It took us along the canal from one end to the other then we boarded a bus to see the Bridge of the Americas and then took us back to the ship letting us see parts pf Panama City. We really enjoyed this tour.
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