BillB48

I am unsure what the "Best of Amador" would entail other than a drive through Ft. Amador on your way to the Old City and Miraflores Locks. Primarily Ft. Amador is the causeway to the small group of islands where the cruise terminal is located (if they ever get it finished) various stores, restaurants and great views of Panama City and the Bridge of Americas. The Biodiversity Museum is also located in Ft. Amador. I don't believe the 1+ hour travel time is entirely accurate for the rain forest an Gatun Lake. I believe that part of the tour description was just copied from the description when the tour operated from the Atlantic side. To go directly to that area would only take 30-45 minutes under normal circumstances.

EM, I checked with my on the scene expert and he confirmed the flag was half staff for All Saints Day.

Most likely it is All Saints Day (Dia de Todos Los Santos) observed much in the same manner as Dia de Los Muertos is in Mexico. Actually it is observed over two days. This is also a big month for Holidays in Panama. Today is Independence Day from Colombia, tomorrow is Flag Day, then comes Colon Day, later in the month there Independence from Spain and I'm sure there are some I have not mentioned.

The cruise lines should be unaffected by any of the reductions in available reservations. Cruise lines are actually treated a little more favorably when making reservations as they have a window up to two years in which to make a reservation. On the other hand all other ships only can make reservations up to one year out.

Cruise ships have reservations for their transit as well as many cargo ships secure their transit with a reservation. Most of the reduction of available transits have come from the elimination of slots that are not reserved. I am sure there are a number of worried meteorologists and Canal officials looking at the upcoming Dry Season, things are not at a point where your Nov 25th transit is in jeopardy... enjoy!

Local issues, the government has inked a new and rather lucrative contract with a Canadian copper mining company. The company and the mine have been operating in a remote region on the Atlantic side for some time. The government has granted some privileges to the company that much of the public is against and this is what has caused the uproar. I honestly don't how much can be attributed to the various political factions jockeying for position for next years presidential (Panama) elections.

To late for an edit, I went looking for the Ruby on AIS and had a difficult time locating her. Finally found her anchored in the anchorage reserved for hazardous cargo which is near the island of Taboga where she has a bunker vessel along side. Think it is safe to assume shore excursions are a no go for today.

The only thing I can add is perhaps they are having concerns about sending a load of passengers ashore since many parts of the country have been beset with massive demonstrations and roadblocks on some of the major arteries. The Canal is operating normally for most the most part.

I have transited the Canal many times and have been on many, many partial transits and the thought of doing laundry during the transit, I can honestly say has never entered my mind!😁 Completely agree, the ferry excursion through the original locks is well worth it. Glad you enjoyed.

A little more in the little news department... My contact sent me a link to a report from a local news outlet. Basically the local tourist industry is unhappy with all the unfulfilled promises concerning the completion of the Amador Cruise Terminal. The Panama Marine Authority (AMP) who is overseeing the development of the Terminal had promised it would be ready by Sept. 23. It now looks like that has shifted to sometime in December. They are also complaining that the pier is being used to moor ships that are undergoing repairs which they assert may be adding to the delay in completing the terminal. Here's the link to the article, it is in Spanish, but Google does a good job. https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/judicial/talleres-de-barcos-se-toman-el-puerto-de-cruceros-de-amador-1221599

A slightly different offering for Who's In The Canal... some pictures of a miter gate being removed and locked up to Miraflores Lake. The miter gate will be laid over where it will look like a barge and later transported in the repair facility at Mt. Hope on the Atlantic side. It will lock up at Pedro Miguel and down at Gatun to reach Mt. Hope where the miter and quoin seals will be renewed as well as a new pintle socket will be rehabbed. At a future date after the matching leaf has been removed the chamber will be dried at the reciprocal pieces in the locks will be renewed. Only the very top of gate is visible in the lower left. Gate was removed from the side wall Moving into the upper level

Would not have seen them without the hint. Looks like just enough rain to make the dining venues crowded!

Must be in competition for employee of the year!

When the Canal started the cross spilling procedure, they estimated it could save the water used by about 5 lockages per day compared to operating normally. Guess the Mars did a turnaround at Ft. Amador?

This might be going a little to deep into the weeds for some, but I will throw it out there any way. I was watching the two pax ship while they were in Pedro Miguel and I wondered what was taking so long, mainly why it was taking what seemed to be a longer period to get the HAL ship into the east chamber. Then it dawned on me, they held the spilling of the east chamber down to Miraflores Lake level, instead using it to fill the west chamber where the Radiance is positioned (first picture). You can see where the water in the east chamber is dropping. Where the water would normally go is into Miraflores Lake, however what they are doing is cross spilling through the center wall and filling the west chamber to raise the Radiance up to Gatun Lake level. Now this method will only fill the chamber half way up, so half of the total fill will still come from Gatun Lake. In the end the lockage will only cost half as much water as it would normally be required. In the next picture they have spilled the remaining water from the east chamber to Miraflores Lake and let the HAL ship enter and filled the west chamber the rest of the way with water from Gatun Lake. All this just to save a half a chamber, but it does show to what extent they are going to conserve water. The rain situation is not looking particularly good at this point as this should be some of the rainier times of the season.

Looks like a beautiful day for a transit even though Canal authorities would rather be dealing with a record breaking deluge.

Many moons ago I saved this from a post by Cruise Critic member Hoopster95 when he was on one of the inaugural sailings of the Quantum out of NY. I believe he took the pic while visiting the Engine Control Room. Appears they can retract the funnels to get down the Canal's max air draft on a case by case basis. I am not sure what the minimum clearance is, what I do know is to have unrestricted passage under the Bridge air draft must not be higher than 190'. Above that the height of the tide is considered. I have believed they could squeeze a Voyager/Freedom class under the BoA at low water. Although the 20+' tides are not an everyday occurrence, most days of the month would provide sufficient tidal swing to clear 207'. By comparison the Radiance class ships clear the Sunshine Skyway in Tampa by 5'. If there is a minimum clearance involved at the Canal, it seems like it would be a self imposed standard that may have some flexibility. Where the Voyager/Freedom class may run amuck IMO is the sponson that runs around the MDR on deck 4. For the new locks any protrusion beyond the hull (besides anchors) must be 55' above the waterline. I am not sure there is 55' to the water. I even took a 60' weighted line on one trip to measure it. While in port I dropped the line down, but the wind was strong enough to put a big bow in the line, so the measurement was not accurate. On the bow at one of locks on a Radiance class, a great spot.

Guess everyone gets a turn at the best seat in the house! Didn't even see the bird in the PM pic until I really looked closely.

Practically speaking only the Radiance and Vision class ships are about the only vessels RCI has that can pass through the Canal. The Voyage/Freedom class and Oasis class have air draft issues with the Bridge of Americas. The Quantum class technically can transit, but they have yet to do so.

Canal just seems like it can't catch a break. Rainy Season brings fog season, the fog is there but the rains have been scarce.

Right now the only ships scheduled are Radiance, Serenade and Brilliance. The Serenade has a MIA-LA-MIA this November while the other ships are basically just before or after the Alaska season.

Celebrity will have the identical tour that takes you through Gaillard Cut and the original Pacific Locks, they may have a slightly different name and number for it. The stop at Gatun Lake in the Canal, as Bruce pointed out, only ship's excursions are available. The reason for exclusive ship tours is when you are tendered ashore the cruise line knows positively there is a tour waiting for you. The area around the Gatun Yacht Club is in the middle of nowhere, no town, no commercial area with no commercial transportation. And I am sure being the only game in town the shore excursion department doesn't mind the extra business! It is a great opportunity to experience both the new and original locks.

Your partial transit cruise on the Emerald gives you an excellent opportunity to experience both the new locks and the original locks when you take the Panama Canal and Locks Transit by Boat excursion. The bus ride to and from the excursion also provides a look at some of the country side as well as a great view of the Panama City skyline. The only down side to a partial transit cruise is that you may be tempted to book a full canal cruise. If you do, I would recommend booking a cruise that uses the original locks.

Maybe he heard they taste like chicken? Great screen shot!

Here is a clip of a screen shot for the Nov. 24 partial transit cruise on the Emerald. As I noted above if you try to book it online and are unable to, get to the excursion desk ASAP after boarding and try to reserve it.