Panama canal

Being a new cruiser I am looking for suggestions for the Panama Canal. Any
information would be helpful. Also need suggestions for a travel agent that
knows their stuff! Thanks Tom

I would suggest that you do the complete transit rather than the circle trip
to gatun lake. I think you get the complete experience if you go through
all the locks and under the bridge of the americas.

My opinion is starting in the east and going west as this has port stops
early and builds the excitement of the canal until the end.

One of the most incredible things I have ever done.

"TOMMYDUN" <tommydun@> wrote in message
news:20031102193205.13031.00000130@mb-m14....
> Being a new cruiser I am looking for suggestions for the Panama Canal.
Any
> information would be helpful. Also need suggestions for a travel agent
that
> knows their stuff! Thanks Tom

I agree Steve as the FT RT Panama Canal is actually a W Carib cruise
that passes thru & turns around in the Canal entryway. We already did
the W Carib on the Grand & didn't want to redo it (other than Grand
Cayman) within a year.

"Steve Castle" <scastle@telus.net> wrote in message news:<2rupb.113420$EO3.96459@clgrps13>...
> I would suggest that you do the complete transit rather than the circle trip
> to gatun lake. I think you get the complete experience if you go through
> all the locks and under the bridge of the americas.
>
> My opinion is starting in the east and going west as this has port stops
> early and builds the excitement of the canal until the end.
>
> One of the most incredible things I have ever done.
>
> "TOMMYDUN" <tommydun@> wrote in message
> news:20031102193205.13031.00000130@mb-m14....
> > Being a new cruiser I am looking for suggestions for the Panama Canal.
> Any
> > information would be helpful. Also need suggestions for a travel agent
> that
> > knows their stuff! Thanks Tom

Brenda wrote:
> I agree Steve as the FT RT Panama Canal is actually a W Carib cruise
> that passes thru & turns around in the Canal entryway.

We did the 10 day roundtrip from Ft. Laud. and found it very enjoyable.
If someone doesn't have the time to do a complete transit, this is still
good. You do get to go thru the Gatun Lock, which is an amazing sight.
We intend to do a complete transit some day, but in the meantime found
the round trip very interesting.

sue

I was hoping to find someone who could give me some advice about a Panama
cruise. I just booked for Feb 11, 2004 on the Coral Princess against the
advice of a relative. She hated her Panama cruise. Her complaint was that
it was hot, humid, and rainy the whole time. She went in May. She added
that she thinks that it is now dangerous as well. am banking on the fact
that she went at the wrong time of year and that the ship no longer stops at
Cartegena because of danger. What do you guys think?

Also, we will have a balcony (oolala), so which side of the ship do you
think would be best for cruise views? When at port, do you always disembark
on the port side?

Thanks, Pam

We sailed on the Infinity of Celebrity. I can 't say that either side
is preferable. I was all over the ship when we passed through the
canal.

I loved the trip. You must expect that 100% comfort is not going to
happen whereever you travel. It may be hot and humid and it may rain.
That's weather.

We liked the veranda. Though it was requested we close the sliding
door at night because the air conditioning was working pretty hard to
get rid of humidity. The nights when it was not humid, near San Diego
and on the Carribean side, were really nice with the window open.

I hope you are doing the hole trip, complete transit. It was one of
the most wonderul vacation/experiences I have ever had.

Though we did not know it at the time we had a military escort from
Dan Diego to and through the canal. Apparetnly a bomb threat at San
Diego was the reason. The shp was searched, the escort stayed almost
out of sight until we were near Panama. At Panama the local militray
escorted us through the canal. I never felt unsafe. Partly because I
did not know of the threat, and partly becasue of the confidence the
crew seemed to have. The were very efficient in every aspect of the
voyage. We felt a little like the commercials show, a little royal in
our treatment. We loved Celebrity and the Infinity.

Upon arriving home we went to eat dinner in PHoenix at a Chili's.
when the waitress plopped down our silvereware and paper napkins, we
looked at each other and said, in unison, "Where is Marco?" Marco was
our head tabel waiter on the ship. He was wonderful.

Have and wonderful trip and good luck.


On Thu, 6 Nov 2003 09:07:38 -0500, "Pam7910" <pam7910m>
wrote:

>I was hoping to find someone who could give me some advice about a Panama
>cruise. I just booked for Feb 11, 2004 on the Coral Princess against the
>advice of a relative. She hated her Panama cruise. Her complaint was that
>it was hot, humid, and rainy the whole time. She went in May. She added
>that she thinks that it is now dangerous as well. am banking on the fact
>that she went at the wrong time of year and that the ship no longer stops at
>Cartegena because of danger. What do you guys think?
>
>Also, we will have a balcony (oolala), so which side of the ship do you
>think would be best for cruise views? When at port, do you always disembark
>on the port side?
>
>Thanks, Pam
>

In article <Yxsqb.47459$un.21531@bignews6.>, Pam7910
<pam7910m> wrote:

> I was hoping to find someone who could give me some advice about a Panama
> cruise. I just booked for Feb 11, 2004 on the Coral Princess against the
> advice of a relative. She hated her Panama cruise. Her complaint was that
> it was hot, humid, and rainy the whole time. She went in May. She added
> that she thinks that it is now dangerous as well. am banking on the fact
> that she went at the wrong time of year and that the ship no longer stops at
> Cartegena because of danger. What do you guys think?

I just got off Island Princess, Panama Cruise.(I am waiting for a
flight at Ft. Lauderdale airport.) There is no guarantee about weather
but ours was perfect until this morning here in Florida. It was not too
hot and humid this last ten days, but it is the Caribbean and hot and
humid days are possible. Nothing more dangerous about the ports than on
any other cruise. I think the Corel and Island Panama itineraries are
fine.

--
Charles

James Gemmill wrote:

> I hope you are doing the hole trip, complete transit. It was one of
> the most wonderul vacation/experiences I have ever had.

She said she is sailing on the Coral Princess and I just looked it up,
she is doing the 10 day round trip sailing. Not everyone has the time to
do a complete transit.


> Upon arriving home we went to eat dinner in PHoenix at a Chili's.
> when the waitress plopped down our silvereware and paper napkins, we
> looked at each other and said, in unison, "Where is Marco?" Marco was
> our head tabel waiter on the ship.

LOL. We had the same experience, shortly after our last cruise we went
out to eat. I kept telling DH, this is not the service I am used
to(grin). Cruising does spoil you!!

sue

Pam7910 wrote:

> I was hoping to find someone who could give me some advice about a Panama
> cruise. I just booked for Feb 11, 2004 on the Coral Princess against the
> advice of a relative. She hated her Panama cruise. Her complaint was that
> it was hot, humid, and rainy the whole time. She went in May. She added
> that she thinks that it is now dangerous as well. am banking on the fact
> that she went at the wrong time of year and that the ship no longer stops at
> Cartegena because of danger. What do you guys think?

We did a partial transit on Princess, the end of Feb, a few years ago
and had a wonderful cruise. The weather can vary, as much as it does at
home, we had a great week with no rain.

The ships no longer stop in Caregena. I see you are stopping in Ocho
Rios, Jamaica. I would suggest you do a ships tour there, Jamaica is not
the safest country now.

sue

Since I will be on the Coral Princess, I would love to know more. If you
have the time and want to share some more info could you tell me which side
of the ship would you prefer to stay on (port or starboard) and what
excursions did you enjoy or not enjoy? Anything else you'd care to share
would be welcome as well. Thank you!

Pam

"Charles" <fort@his.com.remove.invalid> wrote in message
news:061120031032585460%fort@his.com.remove.invali d...
> In article <Yxsqb.47459$un.21531@bignews6.>, Pam7910
> <pam7910m> wrote:
>
> > I was hoping to find someone who could give me some advice about a
Panama
> > cruise. I just booked for Feb 11, 2004 on the Coral Princess against
the
> > advice of a relative. She hated her Panama cruise. Her complaint was
that
> > it was hot, humid, and rainy the whole time. She went in May. She
added
> > that she thinks that it is now dangerous as well. am banking on the
fact
> > that she went at the wrong time of year and that the ship no longer
stops at
> > Cartegena because of danger. What do you guys think?
>
> I just got off Island Princess, Panama Cruise.(I am waiting for a
> flight at Ft. Lauderdale airport.) There is no guarantee about weather
> but ours was perfect until this morning here in Florida. It was not too
> hot and humid this last ten days, but it is the Caribbean and hot and
> humid days are possible. Nothing more dangerous about the ports than on
> any other cruise. I think the Corel and Island Panama itineraries are
> fine.
>
> --
> Charles