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janmojo1

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Posts posted by janmojo1

    NCL Joy

    in Panama Canal

    Posted

    48 minutes ago, BillB48 said:

    Not surprising you are confused, the descriptions that are provided with your itinerary are not really very clear or accurate.  So many times they just have some poor copy writer is some office cubicle gin this stuff up.  It's not just NCL, many of the descriptions provided by a lot of the cruise lines seem to come from a creative writing class.

     

    Based on my experience on the way shore excursions will work when a ship includes a stop in Panama going in the direction you are traveling and from what I can read from their description... you will transit the Canal on Wednesday.  After reaching the Pacific side, the ship will leave the Canal area for the the night and return to Ft. Amador the next morning early for shore excursions.  Here is where I picked up the Ft. Amador, even though they listed it as Puerto Amador... " Cruising through the Panama Canal, your journey is just as memorable as the destination. Departing from Miami, your first stop takes you to Cartagena’s lush residential areas where you’ll admire vintage mansions before cruising the newly-expanded Panama Canal. Renowned for its cobblestoned historic center and colonial-era landmarks, Puerto Amador is a dive into history. Finally, you’ll kick back in Cabo San Lucas for a scenic tour of the rugged coastline and snorkeling."  Here is the link to that page from NCL's website...   https://www.ncl.com/cruises/16-day-panama-canal-explorer-ocean-to-ocean-from-miami-JOY16MIANPICTGPCGPCLPRQPVRCSLLAX?numberOfGuests=4294953449&ships=Norwegian_Joy&state=null&destinations=Panama_Canal_Cruises&itineraryCode=JOY16MIANPICTGPCGPCLPRQPVRCSLLAX

     

    Don't worry if you are looking for a Canal cruise, I think it will be a good one.  Some of the more popular tours that are generally offered are a partial transit on  a small boat through the Pacific Locks and Gaillard Cut.  While this tour would be traveling over some ground you will have covered during the Joy's transit, it will give you an opportunity to see the original locks in operation since your ship will have to use the new expanded locks because of its size.  Tours to visit the Embera Indians and to the old section of Panama City (Casco Antiguo) are popular.  Shore side visits to the original locks and the expanded locks, train/bus ride across the Isthmus and the aerial tram in the jungle canopy at Gamboa are popular as well.

    Thanks for all that info!!  As we get closer, and as NCL posts their excursions, I hope you don't mind if I contact you again if I have further questions.  From all the posts I have been reading on CC, it looks like you have a lot of experience I this area. Thanks again!

    NCL Joy

    in Panama Canal

    Posted

    6 hours ago, BillB48 said:

    I looked at the 2/14/20 sailing of the the Joy and have to say that their description of the transit and stop in Panama leaves room for some confusion!  From reading the description it looks like you will transit the Canal on a Wednesday (Atlantic-Pacific) and then on Thursday call on Ft. Amador for the day and not anchor in Gatun Lake.  This will provide you with the opportunity to do a shore excursion apart from the day you transit.  This is a completely different type of cruise from the one you quoted on 9/25/18.  On full transits, which your cruise is, they normally do not offer shore excursions on the day of the transit. 

     

    Feel free with any other questions.

    BillB48:

    I'm still a little confused.  My NCL itinerary says:   Wed.- Daylight Transit Panama Canal

                                                                                            Thurs.- Panama Canal/Gatun Lake, Panama - 7am-11:59pm

     

    I didn't see anywhere Ft. Amador mentioned; is that where we anchor on Thursday?  Since this is almost a year away, NCL hasn't posted any excursion options for this cruise yet, so I was just doing what research I can to get ready!  I thank you for any and all information you can provide about our trip through the Canal.   (I sure hope we picked the right cruise!) 

    Thanks!

    NCL Joy

    in Panama Canal

    Posted

    On 9/25/2018 at 2:34 AM, BillB48 said:

    Too late to edit but I found I found the Mia-LA sailing beginning Feb 14 after some coffee. That sailing should operate in reverse of what I explained above... Arrive at Canal and pass through Agua Clara Locks on the first day. Ship to anchor, passengers tender ashore for excursions, ship resumes transit the following day through Gatun Lake, Gaillard Cut and then through Cocoli Locks and the Pacific,

    Thanks for that info!  I am on the Joy 2/14/20 and was trying to figure that whole thing out. (kind of confusing to a novice like me!)  Do you recommend getting off and doing an excursion while at anchor on the Lake?

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