What is the partial Panama Canal like without shore excursions?

[Suskies]

We will be on the 3/22/2023 CB 10-Day Panama Canal with Costa Rica & Caribbean. None of the Panama Canal excursions appeal to us, so we're wondering:

1. Where exactly does the ship dock along the Panama Canal?

2. If you're not taking a shore excursion, is it possible to disembark there just to walk around the port area?

3.  When (what time of day, roughly) does the ship traverse the new Gatun locks? We'll have a balcony room and are wondering what we'll be able to experience on board the ship.

 

Thanks!!!

[FantasiCat]

IIRC you weren’t allowed to disembark unless you had booked an excursion. The ship doesn’t dock, it just waits until its turn to start transiting, and the time depends on how many other ships are in line. Looking back through my pictures we reached the first lock at about 8am. I booked a spot in the Sanctuary which had a perfect view over the bow and it was a great experience—shade and comfy lounge chairs and refreshments while being able to see everything. Highly recommend!

[PacnGoNow]

3 hours ago, Suskies said:

We will be on the 3/22/2023 CB 10-Day Panama Canal with Costa Rica & Caribbean. None of the Panama Canal excursions appeal to us, so we're wondering:

1. Where exactly does the ship dock along the Panama Canal?

2. If you're not taking a shore excursion, is it possible to disembark there just to walk around the port area?

3.  When (what time of day, roughly) does the ship traverse the new Gatun locks? We'll have a balcony room and are wondering what we'll be able to experience on board the ship.

 

Thanks!!!

We did not do a shore excursion, as others posted it was crowded and very hot!

You can see it from one viewpoint from your balcony…. BUT do go to different areas, promenade deck, Lido deck for different views.  You have a lot of time to do this through the locks.  
Also, as @FantasiCat mentioned, the Sanctuary is a great spot too!

 

[skynight]

1. Where exactly does the ship dock along the Panama Canal?

The ship passes through the Aqua Clara (Atlantic) locks early in the morning starting around 6am. Once through the locks it anchors in Gatun Lake. Only those passengers on Princess excursions are tendered ashore to a yacht club dock. No private excursions, and no tendering unless you are a Princess excursion. The ship then waits in Gatun Lake until the authorities give permission to exit the locks into the Caribbean. The wait may be an hour or two maybe longer into the afternoon. In March expect it to be very hot, humid with strong sun while the ship is stationary in the lake.

2. If you're not taking a shore excursion, is it possible to disembark there just to walk around the port area?

No as mentioned above. Plus there is nothing at the yacht club dock other than a building and a parking lot. 

3.  When (what time of day, roughly) does the ship traverse the new Gatun locks? We'll have a balcony room and are wondering what we'll be able to experience on board the ship.

Every time we have done the transit the initial approach to the locks is around 6am. There will be a published schedule. As mentioned the ship could exit late morning or into the afternoon. It depends on the traffic and the authorities. Once the ship exits it docks at Cristobal. At that point you can disembark the ship and walk around the dock area. There probably will be vendors on the dock and there might be some local folk entertainment.

The best views going through the locks is from the upper open decks where you can walk around and get 360 degree views. There are also nice views from the promenade deck and all the way up front up the stairs to the bow on the promenade. The Horizon Terrace also offers nice aft views. The morning transit is narrated. The exit is not narrated. If you remain on your balcony you will miss half of the transit views. I don't recommend it. You will also have to tune your TV to the special channel to hear the narration.

While anchored pools, bars, buffet and other food locations are open. There may also be some standard activities like trivia and others run by the cruise staff. It is very peaceful on board.

 

If you have never been ashore in Panama you might want to book a shore excursion. There are interesting sights. 

[Ombud]

I've been to Panama so just skip it now and have tea on my balcony as we exit Gatun Lake. There's also a guest lecture onboard who goes over the story and other highlights 

[JoRoy218]

We did a partial transit as well, through the new locks. Hubby was up and out before dawn to get a place overlooking the bow.  The above suggestions were perfect in that it is a great idea to go up high and move around to see it all. We had an aft balcony cabin and enjoyed the vantage point from there after traversing all the locks.

We took an excursion that day (would never do that again!) and it was incredibly hot and humid. It was a tour at the Visitor Center not far from the ship (mildly interesting) and then a bus &train tour to West coast, Colon.  Nothing much to see, stopped for restrooms and everyone got ice cream. Train ride back which took forever, were supposed to have lunch enroute,  we were handed small boxes of cheese, sausage and crackers with a bottle of water. Long, slow, hot train ride back. We were then delayed going to ship as they were not at the port yet so we were taken to a shopping center to a touristy/souvenir shop to kill time. We were two hours later getting back to ship and actually departed late due to waiting for remaining passengers. So…….you may want to follow above advice and stay on the ship. Locks and canal ARE impressive though!

Just my two cents. 🤷‍♀️

 

Edited December 4, 2022 by JoRoy218

[Essiesmom]

CB - Caribbean Princess did a partial transit yesterday.  Very early approaching the Agua Clara Locks, observed by an Osprey (we have named him Hawkeye);  Time 0703

 

 

Transiting the locks

 

 

 

 

This is your view from the ship if you don't get off.  Straight ahead is the Gatun Yacht Club where the tenders let you off and buses pick you up.  The locks you just came out of are on the right, with visitors center above on hill:

 

 

Going back out

 

 

 

 

Note the time is 2pm.  Yesterday she docked in Colon, not Cristobal.  EM

Edited December 4, 2022 by Essiesmom

[donswife]

One of the nice things about staying on the ship is that the viewing areas are much less crowded on the way back, as is the rest of the ship.

[satxdiver]

When we went in/out of the canal, it was on the Island through the old locks (the new ones were being bult).  We went into Gatun lake and took a Princess trip to Panama City via rail and later bus.  When we returned to the rail head they put us on a bus and took us to Colon to meet the ship.  When they tendered us to shore there was a parking lot full of excursion busses and nothing else.  We have since gone through the canal from SF to PE.  It took all day literally.  We will be sailing in 2024 for a in/out trip to the canal using the new locks and will be staying on the ship for the return through the locks.  

 

It was a special cruise for me as my father always talked about his years during WWII guarding the canal.  I finally was able to see it.