Tour To Panama City from Gatun - Possible?

[Spire2000]

We're on the Zuiderdam in February and pulling into Gatun for 9:00am. The ship lets people off for tours and whatnot, then turns around I guess and heads back to Colon for a 6:00pm departure.

 

Now, my parents have been to Panama City and we're impressed with the Albrook Mall in Panama City and suggested we would enjoy visiting it. HAL does not offer an excursion to Panama City on this cruise.

 

Is this something we should be even considering? Is there a private tour that we might look at for such a thing? Are we crazy for even considering this? How far is Panama City anyway?

 

Thanks in advance!

[BillB48]

On this stop at Gatun Lake you can only leave the ship if you are on a ship's sponsored excursion. If you were able to get off, Panama City would be about 1.5 hrs away. You will be able to get off the ship when it docks in Colon,but there is not time for an excursion then.

[Richard in Panama]

We're on the Zuiderdam in February and pulling into Gatun for 9:00am. The ship lets people off for tours and whatnot

 

"Pulling into" means in this case anchoring in the middle of Gatun Lake to tender folks who've booked HAL tours ashore. No "whatnot." Well, almost no "whatnot" . . . When I worked ZUIDERDAM I did manage a dip in the Canal with the lovelies from the Shore Ex office! But you didn't see this . . .

 

 

Fortunately none of the big caiman were swimming around.

 

Regards, Richard

[Spire2000]

Alright, thanks for your replies guys. One less thing for me to have to worry about.