Panama Canal

[brian_uk]

We were on Marina on the last Lima to New York Cruise a few months ago. It was a daylight transit and interesting at the first Lock at a Chilean Naval training vessel pulled alongside to take the adjacent channel. It was a Sailing ship and all Ratings were up on the riggings singing and cheering to onlookers.

 

Interestingly when we reached the next Port there were major inspections of the hull as it had been badly damaged during transit....the blame was put on the Pilots on board. Much painting was being done to cover the problem.

 

Brian

[Cabunit]

Forgot one:

 

6. Using the Canal's cams, take a "selfie" of your ship in the locks.

[Hambagahle]

We did the Canal transit on Regent's Mariner in a PH suite with a nice balcony (on the side of the ship). It was the most interesting cruise we have ever done. There was an excellent lecturer on board who had worked 25 years in Panama for the Canal Authority. He spoke on the History of the Canal, the Engineering of the Canal, what we would see and should look out for and then final talk on the day afterwards was a Q&A session. There was also a Panamanian guide who "talked" us through the transit.

 

We got up at 0530 to watch the whole thing. Were up on the top deck till about 0830 when my legs gave out (!) and we went back to our suite and sat on the balcony and watched some more. At that point we ordered breakfast - had "lox and bagels" as we went through ... the locks!!

 

Our cruise stopped at the Gatun Yacht Club for several hours and we took a helicopter flight over the Gatun locks. Incredible!!

 

I would do the cruise again in a flash. But only on either Regent or Oceania... And I endorse the idea of reading "The Path Between the Seas" - it is excellent!

Edited September 15, 2014 by Hambagahle

[R,D,W]

Thanks to all of you for your help. We are continuing to research this cruise using information from your posts. FYI...I am reading David McCullough's The Path Between the Seas. It is fascinating. I want to visit this region even more. Cruise Critic members are not only a wealth of information but also very kind and willing to share. Thank you