Essiesmom

First, all of the cruise lines work well with food allergies and other dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, etc.). On the cruise line websites there is always a link to the special needs section where you should alert them to her needs. Once on the ship, speak with the maitre ‘d in your dining room. In the buffet, ask to speak with the cook. As far as choosing a cruise, I like to use cruisetimetables.com. You can research cruises by departure port (cruises from…), or a port you want to visit (cruise to…). It will show you the ships and their itineraries. It’s a great site to wander around in. EM

Just to add to DaKahuna’s reply, his pics are of the Gatun Locks, the last set you will transit, and that is the time to be aft facing as you pull out of the final lock. His pics start on page 13 of his blog/thread. EM

Yes, the canal will be well lit all night. From many, many observations of canal transits, your ship will probably not be in the canal until 0700, possibly not into the first locks (Miraflores) for another hour. Sun will be on the starboard side, but that might also be the best side for views in that set of locks. But it has been stated many times here, the best views of the locks and the transit are not on your balcony, but moving all around the ship. There is an excellent Live from by @DaKahunaon the Celebrity board, onboard the Millennium doing a westbound transit. He shows you why you should not spend your transit on your balcony. EM

Check cruisetimetables.com and choose cruises to…. Select ports in Norway that you would like to visit. It will tell you who calls there and their itineraries. EM

The bed will be by the balcony. You can tell this because the deck plans show the cabins on either side are for 3/4 guests, which means the bed will be by the bath and couch/bunk by the balcony. A picture on cruisedeckplans shows the view is between two lifeboats, mostly of their supports. If you check the S class cabin review tool on the Celebrity board you might find reviews of this cabin, they will be the same for all of the S class ships. Cruisedeckplans.com has a feature to view obstructed view cabins. It rates this cabin as 30%. EM

Shouldn’t that be funtastic? EM

Go to the page on that cruise line loyalty program that shows your status. Make a copy of that and send it to them. That’s what I did with my Celebrity status. EM

Basically, you need an itinerary with two or more sea days. It’s hard to fit in enrichment and expect an audience if every day is a long day in port. Some lines have been known for enrichment. I’ve had great speakers on Princess, HAL, Celebrity, Cunard. Add Crystal (the old) and Oceania. But these were TAs, or longer voyages with many sea days. Princess disappointed me on a Caribbean cruise with two sea days. I’ve been on ships where the most enriching lecture was the art history intro by the art auction people. EM

Heading out through Gatun Locks

We did a full transit in 2013 on Infinity. Day after the transit in Colon we did an excursion to the Gatun Locks (there was a visitors center and observation deck that no longer exists) and the expansion visitors center. I had little idea what we were looking at, though I do now, having dona a full transit through the new locks a few years later. this is distant view of construction at Agua Clara These are from the visitors center, looking down on what will be Agua Clara Looking out to Gatun Lake Looking across at Gatun Locks Last one. You can heave a sigh of relief.

Into the lock

I’ll be on Seaside in August in a fantastica inside gty. At least they let me book as a solo. EM

There are pics of 6175 on cruisedeckplans and it shows a roll in shower. EM this is on Noordam

And some shots from twangster who is on Radiance of the Seas , meeting mid-canal

Pedro Miguel locks

Panama Canal transit today, last leg of 81 day world cruise Liverpool to Southampton Miraflores Locks

Thanks for the great pics of Borealis, formerly Rotterdam for HAL. EM

From the Pedro Miguel cam

@twangster you will shortly be meeting Borealis (Fred Olsen) in the canal…maybe a pic or two…EM

We have a board here for this. It’s called Florida Departures. Under North American Homeports. EM

Waiting to enter first lock at Gatun, and moving from middle to third lock. Your wonderful pictures are a primer on why not to spend your transit in an aft view balcony…

Suggest consulting cruisetimetables.com choosing departure ports. Some ports seem to attract only one cruise line, so you may have to wander a bit. EM

Miraflores locks

I had a stash of euros left over from last Med cruise in 2013. Meant to use in 2020, but that didn’t happen. In February one of my nieces was going to Romania for business, so I sent her the euros, about 120. I’m sure she put them to good use. EM

I don’t think you will see much, if any, from port side. You need to be forward or starboard . Here is a map of the harbor. Where it says Red Hook is where your ship will be docked. To the west (left) is the Statue of Liberty island. Most ships dock with the port side against the dock, so they can pull straight out. If they dock with the starboard side against the dock, and have to back out and turn, you would have a view. maybe Jamie can tell us how the ship was docked. EM