SoTXGirl

Your drink package will "kick in" as soon as you get to International Waters, usually about 2.5 to 3 hours after setting sail. At the very beginning of the cruise you'll have a limited selection of beer, wine and liquor to select from. Also be aware that not all the bars will be open until you reach International Waters. You will be given a $25 credit to your onboard account to cover the cost of the drinks you've purchased. Your Suite and/or Elite mini bar set up will be ready for you in your cabin on embarkation day. I hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise!

We did a Panama Canal full transit on the Island Princess over the holidays. We sailed through the Canal on Christmas day, which I thought was perfect. No worries about stopping at a port where all the shops were closed. We had all the Christmas "extras" mentioned by other posters plus the Canal. The cruise was 15 days long, ending in January after most schools were back in session, so we had very few children on board. This may be an option for folks who don't enjoy cruising with a lot of children and teenagers. We are definitely member of that group.