Panama Cruise

I am new to cruise critic. I have been on 3 cruises, 2 carnival, 1 RCI (the oasis). Loved them. My husband & I are looking to go on a through Panama cruise. My husband & I are newly retired. I notice 3 cruise lines through the Panama. NCL, Holland America & Princess cruises. I enjoy good ship ports with interesting shore trips, also enjoy good evening shows on the ship. Any recommendations. Thank you.

I am new to cruise critic. I have been on 3 cruises, 2 carnival, 1 RCI (the oasis). Loved them. My husband & I are looking to go on a through Panama cruise. My husband & I are newly retired. I notice 3 cruise lines through the Panama. NCL, Holland America & Princess cruises. I enjoy good ship ports with interesting shore trips, also enjoy good evening shows on the ship. Any recommendations. Thank you.

There are more than those three lines. Take a look at premium and luxury lines. When you look beyond the cabin price, you may find that their often included perks (e.g., international airfare) translate to great value for a far better experience.

Talk with a good "cruise specialist" TA.

Celebrity also does the Panama Canal. To see an (almost) complete list of ships/cruises to/through the Panama Canal, visit http://www.cruisetimetables.com and choose Panama Canal as a port of call. It will show you who is doing it and their itineraries. There is a forum here for the Panama Canal, under Ports of Call. EM

Sailingalso, you said through the Canal, so I'm thinking a longer cruise say from FL to Ca? Just be aware that there are cruises that do partial transits as well as cruises that will just go to a Panama port and not into the Canal at all. Make sure to pick the specific type cruise you are hoping for!

With the newer wider locks operational, I'm guessing many of the larger cruise ships can now pass through so there are more choices available.

We did hal Panama cruise was not impressed with there shore excursions many people had issues. I am not a fan of mst ships tours.

We did hal Panama cruise was not impressed with there shore excursions many people had issues. I am not a fan of mst ships tours.

We've done the Panama Canal twice. First time (and first cruise) was a 15 night Disney cruise. We enjoyed it very much, however we didn't stop in the canal, so no canal excursions. The stops otherwise we did excursions and liked them. Since we had enjoyed it so much we decided to do another. Second time on Holland America. Again, no stop IN the canal, but I really got more out of the second cruise than the first and we had lots of stops.

Personally, I think going through the canal is about seeing the canal and all it's locks/lakes. I'm not really interested in getting off and seeing the countryside there so much.

We've done both a partial transit and a full transit, and enjoyed the cruises. Both were on HAL because we enjoy those ships. If you're a fan of some other cruise line (RCI, Princess, Cunard, etc.), then take one of their cruises through the canal and you will most likely have a good time. When planning, consider the direction the ship is sailing and select your cabin accordingly. Leaving from San Diego, we picked a cabin on the port side since it would be opposite the shoreline as we headed south to Panama, and have morning sun on the balcony during that time.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

We have done the full transit quite a few times -- both directions. Love these cruises. There is no stopping in the canal only at the other ports you visit.

We have also done several partial transits where you enter from the Caribbean side, go only through the Gatun locks. Here you have a chance to take excursions. Only people who have signed up for the ship's excursions can tender ashore for the excursions.

Lots of cruise lines do both types of canal cruises.

I am new to cruise critic. I have been on 3 cruises, 2 carnival, 1 RCI (the oasis). Loved them. My husband & I are looking to go on a through Panama cruise. My husband & I are newly retired. I notice 3 cruise lines through the Panama. NCL, Holland America & Princess cruises. I enjoy good ship ports with interesting shore trips, also enjoy good evening shows on the ship. Any recommendations. Thank you.

I will do that...thank you again.

Celebrity also does the Panama Canal. To see an (almost) complete list of ships/cruises to/through the Panama Canal, visit www.cruisetimetables.com and choose Panama Canal as a port of call. It will show you who is doing it and their itineraries. There is a forum here for the Panama Canal, under Ports of Call. EM

Thank you. I am looking at panama cruise that goes through the canal in March or April. I only see Celebrity cruises in the fall. I will keep checking.

Sailingalso, you said through the Canal, so I'm thinking a longer cruise say from FL to Ca? Just be aware that there are cruises that do partial transits as well as cruises that will just go to a Panama port and not into the Canal at all. Make sure to pick the specific type cruise you are hoping for!

 

With the newer wider locks operational, I'm guessing many of the larger cruise ships can now pass through so there are more choices available.

Yes I am going for a longer cruise that goes through the canal. I have been researching for a while. Thank you.

We did hal Panama cruise was not impressed with there shore excursions many people had issues. I am not a fan of mst ships tours.

Thank you...good to know. I am leaning more to Norwegian, royal caribbean or Princess.

We've done both a partial transit and a full transit, and enjoyed the cruises. Both were on HAL because we enjoy those ships. If you're a fan of some other cruise line (RCI, Princess, Cunard, etc.), then take one of their cruises through the canal and you will most likely have a good time. When planning, consider the direction the ship is sailing and select your cabin accordingly. Leaving from San Diego, we picked a cabin on the port side since it would be opposite the shoreline as we headed south to Panama, and have morning sun on the balcony during that time.

Thank you that is very helpful. I never thought of that, although my husband is more detailed that way. I hope to go east to west for the time change, as I live in the east. Time change is better to adjust to for me.

There are also small ship cruises for Panama Canal and Costa Rica. These cruises usually run between Colon, Panama (Panama City) and Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica (San Juan) and have multiple stops in nature areas in Costa Rica and Panama. They generally have naturalists on board and provide equipment, e.g. kayaks, snorkeling gear, for exploring.

We are booked on a Windstar Panama and Costa Rica cruise for 2019. Lindblad and Uncruise are two others doing small ship Panama / Costa Rica cruises.

We have done full transit of the Panama Canal twice. Once was RC Legend of the Seas the other Celebrity Infinity.

Be sure to compare the itinerary of each ship you consider.

Wildlife in area is cool saw both two and three toed sloths hanging from trees

Have completed 20 + full transits of the canal, in both directions and at various times of the year.

I am still one of the first out on deck, well before sunrise and before entering the buoyed channel (Pacific Side) or the Cristobal breakwater. Personally, if this was my first Panama Canal cruise I would be more interested in the operation of the locks and scenery than about getting ashore.

Would also suggest signing up for a Panamax ship, or one designed to fit within the original locks. It won't guarantee you use the old locks, but the new mega ships and post-Panamax vessels must use the new locks.

While we no longer use Princess, I have both worked for them or cruised as a passenger for almost 40 years and our best cruises through Panama were always on the Coral or Island Princess.

On 9/26/2018 at 9:00 PM, SPacificbound said:

We have done full transit of the Panama Canal twice. Once was RC Legend of the Seas the other Celebrity Infinity.

 

Be sure to compare the itinerary of each ship you consider.

Thank you for lovely pictures. 

40 minutes ago, Sailingalso said:

Thank you for lovely pictures. 

I'm happy you enjoyed them.  

IMO, the best way to see the canal is to go to Panama and take a small excursion boat through the canal.  With these, you enter the locks and are surrounded by the walls.  Then you rise up out of the ground.  Returning, you do the opposite.  You drop down into the lock.

VERY impressive that way.