Panama Canal cabin

[Baabaaa]

Hi,

 

We are looking at a Panama Canal cruise on the Eurodam.  Is the best cabin for a Panama Canal cruise an aft cabin?  I know they say it’s best to be out of your cabin and walking around the ship but we will most likely spend most of our time on the veranda.  Thanks for your help!🙂

[FlorenceItaly]

We took a full transit PC on a Celebrity ship, and had a corner AFT cabin.  It greatly enhanced the cruise especially as we were going through the canal.

[cabinluvn]

We have done the Panama Canal twice. Once a partial in a corner aft Neptune suite. The second one was the full transit in an aft vista suite. I would not do it any other way. You get the full 180 degrees as you are going through. Grab food and plenty of water and settle in. The only negative is that you cannot hear the narrative from the expert they bring onboard. It is over the PA system and also in your cabin on TV. You can’t leave the door open, so you either do your homework ahead of time and miss the narrative, or you go out of your room and fight the crowds for a good view and listen that way. We chose the former and have not been sorry

[0106]

Although you will want to move around the ship during the day long transit, an aft cabin is the way to go!

 

[Crew News]

Definitely an aft stateroom. 

 

You do not need to share a bathroom with hundreds of your fellow passengers, minibar close at hand, Room Service will deliver to your room, nobody in front of your camera lens, partially covered balcony on most ships, a chair close at hand if you wish to sit down, and you can see both sides of the ship. 

 

Tip:  Keep your curtains closed or the sun will heat up your furniture and will over power the A/C.

 

 

 

[RuthC]

2 hours ago, cabinluvn said:

The only negative is that you cannot hear the narrative from the expert they bring onboard. It is over the PA system and also in your cabin on TV. You can’t leave the door open, so you either do your homework ahead of time and miss the narrative, or you go out of your room and fight the crowds for a good view and listen that way.

Or, you bring a baby monitor. Place the 'baby's' portion by the TV speakers, and take the 'parents'' speaker out on the balcony with you. 
The monitor doesn't take up a lot of space in your suitcase. 

[Banditswife]

We've done 3 full transits.  1st-mid ship veranda, 2nd -inside cabin, & 3rd- the absolute most forward balcony on Carnival.  Each time we were all over the ship checking out different views.  We have never tried an aft cabin, but I am sure it 'd be awesome.  The whole Panama experience is awesome no matter where your cabin is.

[0106]

@cabinluvnUnfortunately, there is as no “expert” on board the Zuiderdam in February 2022.  There was a very poor, scripted presentation in the Crows Nest the day before but no “live” commentary.  We did watch 3 excellent documentaries on out stateroom tv prior to the transit.  
 

We were traveling with another couple and moved around the ship all day.  We went to the bow as we entered the first lock,  we spent time on the promenade deck while in the lock and moved to our aft cabin when leaving the lock.

 

Important note,  be sure to save room for the Panama buns!  Served all over the ship during the transit.

[shipshape sam]

5 hours ago, Baabaaa said:

Hi,

 

We are looking at a Panama Canal cruise on the Eurodam.  Is the best cabin for a Panama Canal cruise an aft cabin?  I know they say it’s best to be out of your cabin and walking around the ship but we will most likely spend most of our time on the veranda.  Thanks for your help!🙂

We have done 2 full transits on Celebrity with aft facing cabins and a partial transit on Princess.  We did not see any advantage to an aft over a port or starboard balcony cabin.  We were up and all over the ship, getting high deck perspectives and then low perspectives.  Do not remember if on Celebrity Infinity or Island Princess, we were on a low deck (3 or 4 I think) and I reached out and touched the canal wall.  Remember too, that there is about a foot clearance on either side.

 

As to time frames if entering from the Caribbean side, you go through 3 locks and rise up 85 feet to Gatun Lake.  Our partial transit was through the Gatun locks(3) and then back out the same locks with a port of call in Columbia.  For a full transit you cruise through Lake Gatun to get to the  Pacific locks which are broken up into 2 locks and 1 lock.  They are pretty close together ( the Pacific locks) as I recall. 

 

It is a great cruise with lots of photo opportunities.  Have a great time.  

Edited October 27, 2022 by shipshape sam

[Queenmom1947]

We did the canal cruise that went into the lake from the east, had a veranda cabin on 7, and it was fine.   We also varied our locations on the ship and found Observation Lounge was wonderful!   The Narrator was a former military man who had been stationed there when the US a was overseeing area and he was so good!     He was training a new narrator so I hope your cruise is as informative.         We then did the bus tour of the area which was okay only because he was on the bus to explain about the base.  BUT awe did make a stop at area alongside the newer canal and saw a ship locking through.    If you don’t do tour, get a cab and go there at very least.       And DO a read up on the canal before you go so you are pre- informed about what you will see!     
Enjoy!!!!

[3rdGenCunarder]

I've done a partial transit in an aft corner and it was great. This time, it will be a regular balcony, but aft. I do go out and walk around, but it's a long day, and room service breakfast on the balcony while you watch the locking, is pleasant.