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The locks in the Panama Canal are 1000 feet long, and 110 feet wide. If I remember right, the QM2 is 1100 feet long, and 200 feet wide? At any rate, she won't fit.
As an aside, did you know that all U.S. Navy vessels are built to Panamax standards? That means that even the largest aircraft carriers will fit into the locks. Even though the huge flight decks are bigger than the locks, the hull, where it sits in the water, will fit into the locks.
Our local news showed her arriving at Ft. Lauderdale and it really looked great...............
They said the most expensive cabin was $37,000. Can that be right? WOW!!!!!!! And someone was in it. Would love to sail this ship, but it won't be this year.
Happy cruising......Anita
The maximum vessel dimensions you mention: are those the maximum dimensions for any ship to fit into the locks, or are those the dimensions of QM2?
Your information on the Canal's dimensions (1000' / 305 m & 110' / 33.5 m) are exactly as I understand them to be. I think the figures for the QM2 are larger than these.
Those are the maximum dimensions for any vessel to qualify to transit the Panama Canal. I got them from a brochure we received when we toured the Miraflores Locks (Pacific end) last month.
Yeah Anne, that $37,000 cabin will be ours next Nov.! (NOT!) I still can't believe we are sailing on that monster of a lady! I think I will be packing my roller skates to make it from one end to the other!
We are looking at the possibility of sailing the Brilliance next year on the 10-day Ultimate Caribbean. According to her measurements, the Brilliance would JUST fit through. EEK! My question is how can you tell if a ship actually goes through and doesn't just visit? Does "(cruising)" in the itinerary mean it goes through? This is probably a dumb question, but I've heard that sometimes a ship gets close enough to see the canal, but doesn't go through and we want to go through. The RCI website was no help. I'm sure someone can tell me. Thanks!
Explorer E. Carib. 1/12/02
Explorer W. Carib 1/18/03
Summit Alaska cruise/tour 8/3/03
Adventure S. Carib. 2/8/04 Yippee!
Kathie: The "partial transit" of the Canal allows you to go through one set of locks - the Gatun Locks - in the morning, putz around Gatun Lake for the afternoon, and go back out at dusk. It gives you the feel of the Canal and, although it isn't a complete transit from the Caribbean to the Pacific, it sure is wonderful.
I've not heard of any ships that advertise "Panama Canal" on the itinerary not going through the Gatun Locks.
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Will the QM2 fit through the canal?
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