What does "Touch Canal" mean?

[diesel1973]

16 minutes ago, jelayne said:

The Touch the Canal Cruise is offered in Jan & March 2021 on the Connie out if Tampa.

When checking on X site I chose Dec. 2020 as date and only 1 date showed up. Usually it shows alternative dates. Thanks for the info.

[Georgia_Peaches]

2 hours ago, diesel1973 said:

This cruise seems to be very interesting. Too bad it is only offered over Xmas holidays. Any other time I would seriously consider it.

They have one in March 2021, same itinerary that we are considering.  This thread is timely because I also wondered about the partial transit and if it would offer enough of an experience as the full.  Like another person said..the 15+ day full transit itineraries are a little long for us at this stage in our careers.

[calicakes]

We've decided to book.  I'm waiting for the TA to call me back.  

[hcat]

Hope you enjoy!

Constellation will be a nice ship for this itin!

[RoLoHa]

6 hours ago, diesel1973 said:

This cruise seems to be very interesting. Too bad it is only offered over Xmas holidays. Any other time I would seriously consider it.

I’m doing this itinerary in March 2021

[Algebralovr]

We are looking forward to it as well!
The December cruise is, if I recall correctly, one day longer than the other itineraries.  It spends the next day docked at Colon.  We do an overnight there in Colon.

[MISTER 67]

We have done the partial twice now. On another cruise we docked in Colon and took a great train ride on the Panama Canal Railway all the way down to Panama City with great views of the canal, we also stopped at the Miraflores locks where there is a visitor center with a fine film of the building of the Canal and other information.

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

We did the partial transit twice on Brilliance a long time ago, one of our earliest cruises in fact. If we do the Constellation, it will be fun to do this cruise again. This time I would stay on board and enjoy both trips through the locks instead of getting off at Gatun Lake and taking a tour. Hubby did love the train tour. It was very scenic, but I guess I'm a little impatient and thought it was a long tour. 

What we enjoyed on Brilliance was they had a specialist who talked over the ship's speakers and described everything we were seeing at the locks. That was helpful. 

I read Mc Coullough's fascinating book about the harsh conditions and dangerous building of the canal when we went home, but I advise those who want to read the book, do so before the cruise, not after. It will enrich your experience.

It would be fun to sail out of Tampa, a new experience for us.

[sr4mjc]

No perks on these sailings?   Certainly tempting for Jan 2021...

[calicakes]

33 minutes ago, sr4mjc said:

No perks on these sailings?   Certainly tempting for Jan 2021...

We asked for quotes in AQ and a sky suite. 4 perks in AQ. Classic beverage package, pre paid gratuities, unlimited internet and 300 obc, with another 100 obc from the cruise travel agency. 

 

Sky suite had 4 perks. Premium beverage package in place of classic and 10 percent of the fare back in OBC plus 100 from cruise travel agent. 

[ORV]

On our full transit on the Infinity I was able to reach out and touch the sides of the Canal when in the locks. I'd call that a Touch Canal cruise. 

[calicakes]

So now Friends/Family are telling me that Cartegena, Columbia is dangerous and I should cancel the cruise. 

 

Sigh. 

[foodsvcmgr]

I believe most of the danger has been cleaned up in recent years.

Been there twice and felt no less safe than any other port.

If you are concerned, rather than cancel, just walk around the secured area of the port right off the ship.

Beer garden for local brews, gift shop, small aviary exhibit plus monkeys, parrots, etc. roaming free.

Nice even if you don't venture further afield.

[calicakes]

I'm not concerned.  My spouse is also a law enforcement.  The ship overnights( Dec 31st) there for the cruise we booked.( Dec 23rd, 2020)

[Johnamac123]

On 8/26/2019 at 2:04 PM, calicakes said:

We've decided to book.  I'm waiting for the TA to call me back.  

I did this itin on Princess several years ago, and they had a professor on that presented the entire construction history. Malaria was the biggest hurdle...

 

[CILCIANRQTS]

We did a partial transit on VO a few years ago.

Three locks up to Lake Gatun, then wait a number of hours for our appointed time to go back out.

It was very interesting to watch the gates work - very efficient, but old technology.

The mules are used to center the ships in the locks. They do not “pull” the ship through -  - the ship’s engines provide the minimal propulsion necessary . We had a mule line snap during the transit - VERY dangerous!

Given that the Passage to the Pacific from Lake Gatun is the same process, a partial transit gives you a complete Canal experience.

[TeeRick]

13 hours ago, calicakes said:

So now Friends/Family are telling me that Cartegena, Columbia is dangerous and I should cancel the cruise. 

 

Sigh. 

You should be fine particularly if on a private tour (see Dora) or ship's tour.  If on your own stick to well traveled areas and just be vigilant.  Same advice as any other big city including in the USA.

[Turtles06]

2 hours ago, CILCIANRQTS said:

Given that the Passage to the Pacific from Lake Gatun is the same process, a partial transit gives you a complete Canal experience.

 

I'm confused by your statement here.  Are you saying that if one has taken a partial transit and gone only through the Gatun locks, they've had the "complete Canal experience"?   If so (and apologies if I've misunderstood you), but that's just not the case. 

 

Yes, folks will have seen how a set of locks operate.  But the Canal isn't just about the locks.  It also includes, for example, sailing through and seeing the results of the incredible engineering marvel that opened up a channel between the oceans across the Isthmus and that continues to keeps the Canal open and not filled with mud, that cut through the mountains of the Continental Divide and that holds the mountain walls back from collapsing into the Canal, etc.  Seeing the Culebra Cut is incredible.  And sailing across Gatun Lake itself, watching huge cargo ships and other vessels coming toward you from the other side, is fascinating.   So no, a partial transit is not a "complete Canal experience." 

[CILCIANRQTS]

3 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

I'm confused by your statement here.  Are you saying that if one has taken a partial transit and gone only through the Gatun locks, they've had the "complete Canal experience"?   If so (and apologies if I've misunderstood you), but that's just not the case. 

 

Yes, folks will have seen how a set of locks operate.  But the Canal isn't just about the locks.  It also includes, for example, sailing through and seeing the results of the incredible engineering marvel that opened up a channel between the oceans across the Isthmus and that continues to keeps the Canal open and not filled with mud, that cut through the mountains of the Continental Divide and that holds the mountain walls back from collapsing into the Canal, etc.  Seeing the Culebra Cut is incredible.  And sailing across Gatun Lake itself, watching huge cargo ships and other vessels coming toward you from the other side, is fascinating.   So no, a partial transit is not a "complete Canal experience." 

 

I simply meant that you will have seen the basics of the Canal’s operations - locks in operation, other large ships passing, a sampling of traffic in the lake, etc.