Didn't Carnival Used To Do 7-day Panama Canal?

[zdcatc12]

Am I mistaken that Carnival used to do 7-day Panama Canal cruises? I believe that they were out of Ft. Lauderdale. And I didn't think that it was that long ago. It appears that all that the do now are Journey cruises there.

[joeyancho]

They used to do an eight day that went to the canal (Colon) but not thru it. It included Costa Rica and Belize. It was a nice cruise.

[lemansz20]

Its pricier to do it nowadays, and more fuel costs for the ships. Now they only do it for a reposition, or if a Journeys cruise has a possibility to be efficient going.

[joeyancho]

Its pricier to do it nowadays, and more fuel costs for the ships. Now they only do it for a reposition, or if a Journeys cruise has a possibility to be efficient going.

 

Oil is $27 per barrel. Hasn't been this cheap in years.

[SadieN]

Oil is $27 per barrel. Hasn't been this cheap in years.

 

 

But it was purchased at contract price based on previous, higher prices.

[JMAE]

Yes, it was a great cruise. We cruised the Conquest in January 2003 that cruised to Colon and went on an excursion cruise into the canal. Our kids didn't want to go, but they say it was the best excursion we ever did.

 

I hope they start that cruise again.

[sfaaa]

Probably not a high demand cruise. RCL dropped the route completely in 2015 and NCL cut back the canal sailings by half. The younger crowd would rather hit the beach in Caribbean than to check out the canal and its history.

[Taters]

We did a 10 day partial Panama Canal cruise on the Jubilee back in January, 2000. This cruise left from Miami.

[sweetsixteencruisers]

We booked an 8 day on the Splendor for 12/10/16, while we were on the Conquest in August for the Panama Canal, Costa Rica itinerary.

 

Then, they canceled the Panama Canal portion a few weeks later.

 

So disappointed! So we canceled the Splendor and switched to the Magic with no penalties.

[skyeman27]

I understand that the Port Fee is high, especially full transit...

[Micahs Grandad]

We have done this twice out of either Ft Lauderdale or Miami.

 

They were 8 day cruises going to Panama (just Colon no transit) AND Costa Rica and i think Grand Turk.

 

Great itinerary that we hope comes back with cheaper fuel prices.

[richstowe]

I understand that the Port Fee is high, especially full transit...

Yes . Just looked at 2 HAL itineraries . !5 day cruises both had port fees of over 500 .

Not a deal breaker but certainly high .

[Tapi]

If Carnival brought back the Panama, Costa Rica, Belize itinerary back, I'd book it as soon as it opens for sale!

[TEXASMUNK]

1. When Panama began the expansion project, even though it is being paid for my the US, China and Japan, the partial transit fees skyrocketed.

2. Oil. Yes, cruise lines have contracts, but they are buying on the spot market, so profits are soaring.

3. When the new post panama canal opens, good chance the fees will be reduced and we might see partials again.

[Micahs Grandad]

If Carnival brought back the Panama, Costa Rica, Belize itinerary back, I'd book it as soon as it opens for sale!

 

Would wish they would do it but dump Belize and replace it with GT or HMC or Amber Cove or Roatan or _____.

[Mary Ellen1]

We took this cruise on the Freedom in 2010 -- 8 days (from Fort Lauderdale), stopping at Colon, Costa Rica and Cozumel. Great itinerary. The port fees weren't particularly high because it didn't do a canal transit. We took an independent tour over to the canal locks. This was a great itinerary!

 

We also did a partial canal transit with Holland. We sailed in through the locks, spent a few hours in Gatun Lake, then back out again. Our port fees on that cruise were $265 for a 5-port itinerary. I'm not sure how much of that was for the Panama Canal. My understanding on canal port fees is that ships have to pay a fee for every berth -- not every passenger -- on the ship.

 

Some of the other cruise lines offer something similar -- a port stop in Colon and/or a partial transit. Check it out!

[hbrote]

We took this cruise on the Freedom in 2010 -- 8 days (from Fort Lauderdale), stopping at Colon, Costa Rica and Cozumel. Great itinerary. The port fees weren't particularly high because it didn't do a canal transit. We took an independent tour over to the canal locks. This was a great itinerary!

 

We did the same itinerary on the Freedom and it was a great cruise. We also did the tour through the canal and it was very memorable. We hadn't been on a cruise for years and this one brought us back and we still continue to cruise. Would love to this cruise again

[Bases5]

We did a 10 day partial Panama Canal cruise on the Jubilee back in January, 2000. This cruise left from Miami.

 

We did that cruise also, same ship and all.

It was a really nice cruise.

[CdrescherRBL152]

The 8 day was a great cruise. Did it twice in 2008 and again in 2012. The 2012 cruise was the last time they did the 8 day.

[campdaan]

My first cruise. November 2003. Belize, Costa Rica and Panama.

 

Great itinerary. 2 sea days, 3 ports, 2 sea days.

 

The Legend was brand new. (and the Glory wasn't even built).

 

Brett Alans was the Cruise Director.

[happy traveler69]

we did a Liberty cruise in November 2007 that was labeled an Adventure cruise... Belize, Costa Rica and Panama. loved it!!!

[tropicaledrink]

If Carnival brought back the Panama, Costa Rica, Belize itinerary back, I'd book it as soon as it opens for sale!

 

Same - the rest of my family did this sailing on the Freedom in December 2011. I couldn't get off of work....and I regret missing this one a lot. I would book in a heartbeat!

[stingray310]

We had the Panama, Costa Rica 8 day cruise booked on the Freedom in 2011. But unfortunately we got rerouted to the Eastern Caribbean due to Hurricane Rita. We were very disappointed that we missed that itinerary, but we totally understand the reason we were rerouted. We have always hoped that they would bring back that itinerary so that we could book it again.

 

Breeze 1/2/16

Splendor 1/4/15

Glory 12/28/13

Miracle 6/4/13 (Alaska)

Freedom 10/22/11

Ecstasy 4/2/11

Pride of America 9/4/10 (Hawaii)

Liberty 11/1/08

Valor 10/7/07

Inspiration 10/9/06

Triumph 10/16/04

Paradise 10/5/03

Triumph 9/22/01

Sensation 2/99

Celebration 10/92

Norwegian Sea 10/91

[AmberTeka]

We took the 8 day Panama Cruise on the Freedom three times. Enjoyed all of them very much.

 

Last fall, Carnival had an 8 day on the Splendor doing the same rate. We booked. Our in-laws booked. Then they canceled the cruise to a Caribbean. We all cancelled.

 

then one day when I was sort of doing nothing on the Princess web site, I saw their ten day cruise with partial transit through the Canal. Columbia, Aruba, Panama, Costa Rica, Grand Cayman ...............I did a dummy booking and almost fell off of my chair. I did it again. I called Princess. We had a casino offer, which we had never had before ( we mostly sail on Carnival).............It took 30% off of the LOWEST fare for a category, paid gratuities..+.we get a free steak dinner at the steakhouse. It is a ten day cruise.

 

It is on the Coral Princess. We have a midship balcony on the Baha Deck for about what an inside would cost us now. We were lucky. It sails next December. Astonishing how that worked out. I really look forward to the cruise.

 

I WOULD BOOK CARNIVAL in a heartbeat if they put that 8 day Panama Cruise back on..

Edited January 28, 2016 by AmberTeka

[tncap]

The taxes and port fees for the 14 day Journeys cruise that includes the partial transit are less than $130, and that's with six ports. I guess the sky high port fees are only for full transits.