Excursions on Panama Canal Cruise

[paradise sailor]

Yes, the ferry excursion is specifically for passengers on the partial transit. After the cruise ship enters Gatun Lake, tenders take you to shore and you take a bus to the dock where the ferry is. The ferry holds about 300 people (it’s not really a ferry) on two decks – they serve a lunch and there are plenty of beverages, free soda and water. Great narration, they give you certificates certifying you transited the Canal, take your picture, etc. You can actually put your hand out and touch the walls of the lock as you go through. You go through the Gaillard Cut and the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks and disembark once you get out to the Pacific Ocean. We were on the ferry approx. 4-5 hours to the Pacific. It could take longer if you wait for another ship before going through the locks. Then it was about an hour and a half bus ride back to Colon (no need to get on a plane.) It was probably an 8-hour tour altogether with the bus ride back, etc. but very enjoyable to see some of Panama City and the countryside, too. We got back to Colon just as the ship was docking from its return through the Gatun Locks. It stops just long enough to pick up the excursion passengers who got off on the Lake.

thank you SandyatSea for this detailed information......and also to pspercy for the link to the Ferry.....:D

[paradise sailor]

Where do you pick up Amtrak, and how long does it take to get to Miami?

we pick up Amtrack in Portland Maine....2 hours to Boston....4 hours to New York Penn......about 30 hours to Miami.....very interesting and comfortable ride....not a bad way to travel if you have the time.......:D

[pspercy]

Bit the bullet and changed ours to full transit Miami - Los Angeles, Feb 2017 on Jewel:)

[Landl cruiser]

Yes, the ferry excursion is specifically for passengers on the partial transit. After the cruise ship enters Gatun Lake, tenders take you to shore and you take a bus to the dock where the ferry is. The ferry holds about 300 people (it’s not really a ferry) on two decks – they serve a lunch and there are plenty of beverages, free soda and water. Great narration, they give you certificates certifying you transited the Canal, take your picture, etc. You can actually put your hand out and touch the walls of the lock as you go through. You go through the Gaillard Cut and the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks and disembark once you get out to the Pacific Ocean. We were on the ferry approx. 4-5 hours to the Pacific. It could take longer if you wait for another ship before going through the locks. Then it was about an hour and a half bus ride back to Colon (no need to get on a plane.) It was probably an 8-hour tour altogether with the bus ride back, etc. but very enjoyable to see some of Panama City and the countryside, too. We got back to Colon just as the ship was docking from its return through the Gatun Locks. It stops just long enough to pick up the excursion passengers who got off on the Lake.

 

 

Thank you for this information. We will check it out for our Pearl cruise next month.

[jerseylily]

The ship docks for what looks like 2 hours in the evening in Colon yo pick up tour passengers. Does anyone know if you can get off the ship and stretch your legs if you have not been on the tours?

 

PS I did read somewhere that for those staying onboard they open the crew outside deck and have drinks available out there. Can anyone verify that? Many thanks , we are on the Nov 19th sailing.

[Landl cruiser]

The ship docks for what looks like 2 hours in the evening in Colon yo pick up tour passengers. Does anyone know if you can get off the ship and stretch your legs if you have not been on the tours?

 

PS I did read somewhere that for those staying onboard they open the crew outside deck and have drinks available out there. Can anyone verify that? Many thanks , we are on the Nov 19th sailing.

 

 

We did the partial transit a few years back on Princess, and the ship docked in Colon for about three hours. They allowed us to get off and wander through the market place in the terminal building while waiting for the shore excursion folks to get back.

 

Not sure if NCL does the same thing.